“Joy”(part 2)
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Pastor Tim Keller used the following example to show how to find ultimate joy and satisfaction in Christ:
Do you remember when your mother used to say, "Don't eat candy before meals?" Why did she say that? Because she knew it would ruin your next meal. The trouble with eating candy is that it gives you a sugar buzz, and then you don't feel hungry. Candy masks the fact that your body needs proteins and vitamins. The sugar buzz from candy masks your hunger for the real nutrients that you don't have.
Things like sex, power, money, and success—as well as favorable circumstances—act like spiritual sugar. Christians who have these spiritual candies may say, "Sure, I believe in God and I know I'm going to heaven," but they're actually basing their day-to-day joy on favorable circumstances. When the circumstances change, it drives us to God, because when the sugar disappears, when the candy gets taken away, we're forced to pursue the feast that our souls really crave. We'll hunger for the spiritual nutrients we really need.
Joy is something extraordinary and continues to bring continued wonder. At least to me. Have you even just sat and deeply thought about what James meant when he told us to take joy when we face trials and tribulations. When Paul tells us to rejoice in our sufferings? Jesus tells us in this world we will experience tribulation and that the world will hate us because of him, but we would receive the joy that He Himself possessed. Real satisfaction, Real exultation, real strength.
So you see there is something clear and definite that we see in the Scriptures. All throughout the scriptures… in the OT in Isaiah and in the Psalms. God’s people in this world are supposed to be full of joy. We are called to it… and we should see the undeniable truth that we Christians really have no right to be discouraged or unhappy about how things are in the World. Joy does not come unless we are satisfied. Christ is our satisfaction. Joy does not come unless there is a reason for exultation. Christ is our exultation. Joy will bring strength to overcome all. The Joy of the Lord is our strength. Lets look at this more today.
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.
Fellowship
Joy
Everlasting Life
The first thing we will look at today is how vital biblical fellowship is to the life of a Christian. Second, we will explore a bit the nature of joy and how important it is to overcoming the patterns of the world. Finally, we will see the wonderful expression, foundation, and encouragement for the joy of a Christian it is and always will be Christ and His Gospel.
Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world cause us to lose hope because of the emptiness of the promises of the world and the lifestyle it promises, it is the good news of the Gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit that will cause us to face suffering and persecution joyously proclaiming “blessed be the name of the Lord.”
I. Fellowship
- Fellowship means far more than we might think.
A. After the apostle gives us a beautiful introduction and informs us that he is a eye witness and an ear witness to Jesus the Son of God made flesh and now he wants to tell us why.
1 John 1:3
We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
B. Let’s talk about fellowship today. This word in modern evangelicalism has been used much and over time it might for some of us lost its full meaning. Going out to have coffee to talk. Going out to lunch. Going downstairs to eat donuts and have coffee before service. Even coming over to our house to have a BBQ. Going over to someones house to have dinner play games watch movies. This is all great ways and opportunities to fellowship, but this word means more than just hanging out.
C. Many of us have heard the greek word used here. Koinonian used here … or Koinonia. Participation fellowship - the act of sharing in the activities or privileges of an intimate association or group. And what is it that we get to share in? Christ.
D. Only believers in Christ can have this kind of fellowship. We may have friendships in the world, but only Christians share and celebrate genuine fellowship with each other and with the King of kings.
E. So you see that koinonia has two foci. A horizontal and a vertical. John teaches us that our fellowship is not only with other believers (the horizontal aspect) but is also “with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (the vertical aspect).
Allen, D. L. (2013). 1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family. (R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p. 26). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
F. All throughout the known history of religion humanity has done everything possible to try to bridge the gap, the canyon, the chasm between God and man. That clear separation that we all feel or felt deep down inside. But the news that we are hearing from John today is that the bridge is Christ and is Christ alone. It continues...
John teaches us that our fellowship is not only with other believers (the horizontal aspect) but is also “with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (the vertical aspect).
G. John implies here in this passage, and will make clear later in the letter, that fellowship with God is not possible apart from fellowship with Jesus. You cannot be in fellowship with God but not in fellowship with his Son Jesus and vice versa. And in this fellowship we share all that Christ has for us. Can you say “inheritance.” Can you say “partakers of the divine nature?”
Allen, D. L. (2013). 1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family. (R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p. 26). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
H. But it is also horizontal… we fellowship with each other. And when it comes to fellowship with each other, one clear cross reference in the gospel of John.
John implies here in this statement, and will make clear later in the letter, that fellowship with God is not possible apart from fellowship with Jesus. You cannot be in fellowship with God but not in fellowship with his Son Jesus and vice versa. Think
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
John
Allen, D. L. (2013). 1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family. (R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p. 26). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
I. So here you have it. The answer to one of life’s problems. You are never alone anymore. Even if you think you are, remember Christian...
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- You may feel alone sometimes, but you are never alone. Fellowship with God and Christ takes care of life’s spiritual loneliness.
You may feel alone sometimes, but you are never alone. Fellowship with God and Christ takes care of life’s spiritual loneliness.
J. But it does not stop there. Another one of God’s answers to life’s loneliness is fellowship with other Christians through a local church. Christians have more in common with other Christians than they do with unsaved friends you have lots in common with and even members of their own family. That’s why Jesus talked about leaving father and mother and following him. There is a fellowship among those who know Christ that is sweeter and closer than even that of blood relatives. That’s the nature of Christian fellowship.
That’s why Jesus talked about leaving father and mother and following him. There is a fellowship among those who know Christ that is sweeter and closer than even that of blood relatives. That’s the nature of Christian fellowship.
Allen, D. L. (2013). 1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family. (R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p. 27). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
Allen, D. L. (2013). 1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family. (R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p. 27). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
II. Joy
- John’s joy would be complete when he shares mutual fellowship with his readers/hearers.
John’s joy would be complete when he shares mutual fellowship with his readers/hearers.
A. John is saying that when we have fellowship with you all, our joy is full. John says this again in relationship to fellowship.
I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.
B. John even writes of Jesus’ heart on the matter of joy.
I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.
- In all three examples, Jesus is concerned that the disciples’ joy might be “full” or “fulfilled.” In two of these three references, Jesus speaks of “my joy” remaining in the disciples and that “my joy” might be “fulfilled” in the disciples. John is concerned that his joy and that of his readers/hearers may not only be sustained but may increase to fullness, in fulfillment of Jesus’ words. When Christ’s joy is fulfilled in us, then will our joy be full!
C. Christian joy is far removed from what is commonly construed as happiness, which is dependent upon outward circumstances. It can certainly include such, but Christian joy is much deeper and richer in meaning.
In all three examples, Jesus is concerned that the disciples’ joy might be “full” or “fulfilled.” In two of these three references, Jesus speaks of “my joy” remaining in the disciples and that “my joy” might be “fulfilled” in the disciples. John is concerned that his joy and that of his readers/hearers may not only be sustained but may increase to fullness, in fulfillment of Jesus’ words. When Christ’s joy is fulfilled in us, then will our joy be full!
Allen, D. L. (2013). 1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family. (R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p. 28). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
D. Joy describes a reality in life of genuine satisfaction intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Joy is a spirit of exultation regardless of circumstances. Joy is a sense of supernatural strength that can only come from the Lord:
Christian joy is far removed from what is commonly construed as happiness, which is dependent upon outward circumstances. It can certainly include such, but Christian joy is much deeper and richer in meaning. Joy
And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
Allen, D. L. (2013). 1–3 John: Fellowship in God’s Family. (R. K. Hughes, Ed.) (p. 28). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
Joy describes a reality in life of genuine satisfaction intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. Joy is a spirit of exultation regardless of circumstances. Joy is a sense of supernatural strength that can only come from the Lord:
E. I have seen the joyless eyes of miserable people in many cities around the world. I have observed the joyless faces of people in Third World countries, clawing and scratching to eke out an existence for themselves and their families. Even those fortunate enough to be in decent economic shape along with those who have anything and everything money can buy might sometimes experience happiness, but without God through Christ they can never experience genuine joy.
E.
F. The wisest and richest man who ever lived found that out when he sailed the high seas of life in an effort to find fulfillment. The man on whom the world exhausted itself and for whom the world was not enough discovered the bitter truth that at the end of every paycheck, the bottom of every bottle, and the morning after every one-night stand there was no joy in Mudville. So he tells us in his personal memoirs known as Ecclesiastes. Mighty Solomon had struck out. Only God can grant joy to the human soul.
G. Remember that true joy can only be had by those who have been adopted into God’s royal family through his Son, Jesus. The banner of joy will only fly over the castle of our lives when the King is in residence there. Joy is the response of the soul that is rightly related to God through the knowledge of Christ as our Savior and Lord.
The crown of joy can only be worn by those who have been adopted into God’s royal family through his Son, King Jesus. The banner of joy will only fly over the castle of your life when the King is in residence there. Joy is the response of the soul that is rightly related to God through the knowledge of Christ as our Savior and Lord.
III. Everlasting Life
- Life and life more abundant found in Christ and in Christ alone.
A. Christian today we have reason after reason to rejoice and to be full of joy. We have a family all over the world and a Lord that has brought to us life and life more abundant.
B. But sometimes we find it hard to get though the week feeling full with the joy of the Lord. We continue to be controlled by our circumstances and issues surrounding us.