Joy of the Holy Spirit
Notes
Transcript
At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We praise God as we continue in the sermon series The Comforter. On last week we learned of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and how We have His Power, His Presence and His Promise and as we look at several other qualities of the Holy Spirit we will find out today about the Joy of the Holy Spirit. The good thing about joy my brothers and sisters......is that we can have joy......regardless of our circumstances or situations. Joy is an inner contentment that one can have...... which is not dependent upon what happening externally. Although joy is related to gladness and happiness .....the difference with joy.......is that joy is more of a state of being......than it is an emotion..... Let me say that again......joy is more of a state of being.......than it is an emotion. Emotions can change or even co-exist at the same time......you can be happy and sad at the same time......such as watching your children leave home and go to school......you’re happy that they have grown up and are starting the next chapter in their life, but you’re also sad to see them go..... do I have someone this morning.......
But with joy it’s a whole different ball game........You see my brother and sister....you can be in a state of joy......even when you are faced with difficulties in life. You can have joy.....we you received some bad news. You can have joy.....when you are faced with a difficult decision. Having joy is part of the experience of being a Believer in Christ because it is The Holy Spirit that gives us that Joy. Not only does the Holy Spirit enable us to Joy, there are a few other states that we have through the Holy Spirit...... Let us look at our text this morning.....
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit
Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit
At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Not only do we as believers have the Joy of the Holy Spirit, we see that Jesus also rejoiced in the Holy Spirit. Jesus experienced the Joy of the Holy Spirit
Jesus had sent out the seventy disciples with authority to cast out demons.....and do the work of the Kingdom by spreading the good news of the Gospel......and when the seventy had gone out and come back ....they express their joy of being able to cast out demons..... they had authority over all the power of the enemy. Satan himself could not prevail against them.
When they reported to Jesus all that happened........that brings us to our text............At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said “I thank you, Father...”
Luke: An Introduction and Commentary 4. Jesus’ Joy (10:21–24)
Jesus goes on to thank God for his revelation. What it is that is revealed he does not say, but we would naturally refer these things to what the seventy have just learnt. Jesus gives thanks that the revelation has been made on grounds other than that of human wisdom (the wise and understanding as such have no access to it). God has spoken to the lowly, those who are no more than babes.
Jesus experienced the Joy of the Holy Spirit......
We can rejoice even in opposition
We can rejoice even in opposition
But I believe that the Holy Spirit will allow us to rejoice even in opposition.......
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,
Paul wrote.....you became imitators of us and the Lord.....in spite of the persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit. What Brother Paul was trying to tell us is......
Following Jesus doesn’t make us immune to suffering. In fact, it makes us a target for suffering.
Paul was run out of town for preaching the gospel......people wanted to kill Paul for spreading the good news.......but listen.....
Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Then He said, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5:11-12) There’s glad, and then there’s exceedingly glad. Jesus said we should be exceedingly glad when we suffer for his sake.
That doesn’t mean that you give a fake smile on your face and ignore the pain.
No, the pain is real. But in the midst of your pain, you can make the choice to rejoice.
The Psalmist wrote, “Weeping may endure for a night; but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
It would be wonderful if life was a bed of roses and we would never suffer. But that’s heaven, not earth. Job knew a little about trouble and he wrote, “Man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:7)
We can receive the joy of the Holy Spirit and rejoice when we go through it......
The Holy Spirit prompts believers to rejoice
The Holy Spirit prompts believers to rejoice
But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.
Peter understood that through the Holy Spirit we can rejoice and have joy even in the midst of suffering.......The Holy Spirit will prompt us to rejoice.
Peter calls on us to not only embrace the reality of suffering, but also rejoice in the midst of suffering.
(I think you will agree with me that it is hard and difficult to rejoice in the midst of suffering.....
I know that trials are beneficial...... but if truth be told.....it can be difficult to rejoice in the midst of them.
However, that is expected of us.
FBC......This is easier when we realize that God has not only allowed the trial, but is planning to use it in order to make us stronger in the faith. .....Can I get an amen!!
Fruit of the Holy Spirit is Joy
Fruit of the Holy Spirit is Joy
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
The Holy Spirit gives us the Fruit of the Spirit.....and the Fruit of the Spirit is Joy......
Not only does the Holy Spirit give us Joy....... I believe that it is through the Holy Spirit that we can have Peace......
The Holy Spirit gives Peace
The Holy Spirit gives Peace
The Holy Spirit brings a sense of well-being, contentment and wholeness to believers whatever their outward circumstances. Peace is an indication of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Believers can have the resource of Peace
Believers can have the resource of Peace
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Believers can have peace in difficult situations
Believers can have peace in difficult situations
for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.
You see my Brothers and Sisters.......Brother Paul was in prison during this time, but it was through the Holy Spirit that he had peace.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 11: Ephesians through Philemon B. Paul’s Circumstances Would Turn out for Salvation (1:19–26)
Paul viewed his deliverance as being accomplished by two means. The first was the effective prayers of the Philippians on his behalf. The second was the support furnished by the Holy Spirit, who is here called “the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” These two means were not necessarily unrelated, inasmuch as Paul may have regarded the Philippians’ prayers as being answered by the Spirit’s increased activity on his behalf.
You may be going through some difficult times right now.......you may be experiencing a health issue.......a financial issue.....a relationship issue.........an issue at work.........but I believe that whatever you’re faced with......the Holy Spirit can give you peace in your situation.......
But not only does the Holy Spirit give us peace in the predicaments .........He gives us peace with God......
Believers can have peace with God
Believers can have peace with God
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
The real victory in living the Christian life is to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance and receive His empowering. What Paul is trying to tell us is that as Children of God.......through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have peace with God......
it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
This means that you can begin drawing on the spiritual wealth of your Heavenly Father from the very moment you get saved! You’re a child of the King!!
The Holy Spirit inspires our Praise
The Holy Spirit inspires our Praise
The Holy Spirit inspires believers to extol, worship and thank God. His aim is to glorify the Father and the Son.
True praise is inspired by the Spirit
True praise is inspired by the Spirit
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Many believe that worship is just sing praise songs and lifting hands and hearts to God. But that is only one part of what true worship is. As believers we are to worship God with everything with-in, with-out and around us.
The Holy Spirit inspires us to worship God in spirit and in truth. And My brothers and sisters…I’m going to fill you in on a secret .........the entire reason for our worship ......is because God deserves it.
Praise is the result of a convicted heart
Praise is the result of a convicted heart
I believe that the Holy Spirit will help a convicted Heart give praise.....
But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, “God is really among you.”
When an unbeliever experiences the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.....it is also the Holy Spirit that will cause that person to bow down before God and worship him..........
All of us who are believers at one point were unbelievers......but it was through the power of the Holy Spirit that convicted our hearts and we gave our lives to Christ......and worshipped God the Father....
But not only does the Holy Spirit inspire praise for a convicted heart.......... He inspires Praise for a converted heart.......
Praise is the result of a converted heart
Praise is the result of a converted heart
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”