JOY Unspeakable and Full of Glory, Huh?

Romans 15:13-17

Begin with the rescue of the men in FL working on the damn. Their statement, like many others, Every day I recall the rescue and I will be eternally grateful and I have learned to enjoy each moment of life. Imagine the joy flowing as he and his family shared together that night around supper! (Have someone tell about the excitement of being spiritually alive.??”

I. The case for joy

A. Eph.2:4-5 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)[1]

1. We’re all still born, dead until salvation

2. That’s how god views humanity

B. Because of all that Calvary stands for how do you thing He reacts when someone says YES to Christ?

1. Could there be a little bit of joy in heaven?

2. Perhaps our problem is one of REVERSED PROPORTION

3. It might be better stated that we either don’t know or remember our fallen state & destiny.

C. I wonder how we would live if we had a vivid picture of ourselves being snatched from the fires of hell in our minds?

II. The call to joy

A. What is it any way, this joy thing?

1. It is feeling, emotion

2. More, a reflection of inner peace & contentment

B. Much more: It springs forth from God himself.

1. Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit

2. I Peter1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

3. John 15:11These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and {that} your joy may be made full.

C. Consider Jesus: Heb. 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1. Proverbs – over & over contrast the folly of the love of things with the joy of Godly wisdom.

2. No on has more cause for joy than those who are Christians: Ill. Jeremy Taylor

III. The catalyst for joy

A. I know what it is not: THINGS. Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

B. This joy rises above circumstances and focuses on the very character of God. Things like: God’s righteousness, salvation, mercy, creation, The written Word, His faithfulness, prayer, and God’s characteristics as well as His acts are all a cause for rejoicing.

C. Back to our text

1. 14-15 we need a reminder to continue on JOYFULLY, and SMILE! Remember all that you have to be joyful about and do it!

2. Our salvation alone aught to be enough to last until we get to heaven.

3. 13 – pray about it!

D. But look at the mess our country, world is in: James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters,* when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. Consider it all joy. Why? One word: JESUS.

CONCLUSION: Picture in your minds your destiny outside of God’s grace. SAVED? So, where is your joy, enthusiasm? I Peter 1:8 says 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy (joy unspeakable & full of glory).[2]

When was the last time you ran up to someone and said, “I’m alive”?!

Romans 15:13-17: 13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul’s Reason for Writing

14 I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters,* that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. 15 Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, 16 I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. 17 So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God.

Reverse Proportion

“Martin Luther wrote in his book Table Talk: “The greater God’s gifts and works, the less they are regarded.” We exhibit a degree of thanksgiving in life in reverse proportion to the amount of blessings we’ve received.

A hungry man is more thankful for his morsel than a rich man for his heavily-laden table. A lonely woman in a nursing home will appreciate a visit more than a popular woman with a party thrown in her honor. A Russian who finally gets his own copy of the Holy Scriptures after seventy-five years of state-imposed atheism is more thankful for his little book than we are for all the Christian books and magazines and translations that overflow our shelves.” (end)

[3]

The seventeenth-century minister Jeremy Taylor was persecuted for his faith. His house was plundered, his family driven out, and his estate confiscated. He wrote: I am fallen into the hands of publicans and they have taken all from me. What now? They have not taken away my merry countenance, my cheerful spirit, and a good conscience; they have still left me with the providence of God, and all His promises … my hopes of Heaven, and my charity to them, too, and still I sleep and digest, I eat and drink, I read and meditate. And he that hath so many causes of joy, and so great … (should never choose) to sit down upon his little handful of thorns.[4]

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[1]Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Eph 2:4-5

* Greek brothers; also in 1:16, 19.

[2]Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. 1 Pe 1:8

* Greek brothers; also in 15:30.

[3]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 736

[4]Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 737

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Reverse Proportion; Jeremy Taylor

Source: Magazine Name, January 1, 2006