Are You Experiencing Joy?

Are You Experiencing Joy?

Text: Ephesians 5:17-21 (KJV)

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but

be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Illustration: * D. L. Moody is short with someone on a train.

* “the birds stopped singing” in his heart.

Introduction:

* In our test we are instructed to be filled with the Spirit.

* Immediately following the instruction to be filled with the Spirit, we are given the evidence of a Spirit filled life- Joy

* Just as a thermometer is used to determine the severity of a child’s sickness, the presence of joy, or lack of joy, can be an indicator of our spiritual health.

* I would like to spend just a few minutes reminding ourselves that a presence of joy in the heart of a believer is the normal state of a Christian.

* If you find yourself with no joy as you hear this sermon, it may indicate that you have a spiritual problem. I. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the day that great joy would accompany salvation:

Isaiah 12:1-3 (KJV)

1 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

* If your salvation does not bring joy into your life, there may be something wrong with your salvation.

Illustration:

George Mueller’s salvation experience:

* Young Mueller’s life was marked by all kinds of sins, he was a constant liar, he cheated people, stole from his father’s tax collections, rented expensive hotels ran up bills, skipped out owing money. Lied to his parents about attending college, gambled and wasted away his father’s money.

* Hearing, in a little gathering of Christians, a man praying and kneeling, God reached down and saved Mueller.

* Even Muller himself, looking back, was amazed that his salvation experience was first marked by great joy. Even before sorrowful repentance.

Quote from Muller’s Journals:

“This shows that the Lord may begin his work in different ways. For I have not the least doubt, that on that evening, he began a work of grace in me, though I obtained joy without any deep sorrow of heart, and with scarcely any knowledge.”

My personal salvation experience

* When you are filled with the Spirit, the very simplest of pleasures bring great joy.

II. The Holy Spirit brings great Joy into the lives of Believers.

Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Romans 14:17 (KJV)

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace,

and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13 (KJV)

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy

and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope,

through the power of the Holy Ghost.

III. The early church was filled with Joy.

Acts 8:4-8 (KJV)

4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

Acts 13:48-52 (KJV)

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 15:3-4 (KJV)

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles:

and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

IV. Jesus prayed that those who believed on Him would have Joy.

John 17:11-13 (KJV)

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and

these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

V. One of the greatest sources of joy is the fellowship with other believers.

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

VI. Our joy is not diminished by our trials.

1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 (KJV)

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction,

with joy of the Holy Ghost: 1 Peter 4:12-14 (KJV)

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,

happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

John 16:33 (KJV)

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Mark 6:45-50 (KJV)

45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them,

Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

James 1:2-12 (KJV)

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

VII. When we grieve the Holy Spirit we can lose our joy.

Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Psalm 51:1-13 (KJV)

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 0Conclusion:

* Have you lost your joy today?

* Does the salvation you profess bring joy into your life?