Joy Sermons by Rev Mike Jones
JOY FROM JESUS
Jesus left us His joy in His “will” when He told us How to obtain full Joy- John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
I John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full
John 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
[He also gave us His “Glory”- John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
And His Peace- John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.]
So Turn that frown upside down and Enjoy Life Today by seeking FULL JOY. If you are going to have Joy why not have all the Joy you can enjoy! Jesus prayed in His great Priestly Prayer just before His death that we would be filled full of His Joy- And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves (John 17:13).
The Bible tells us how to obtain this full Joy:
1) Ask God in Faith for the things you need so you can enjoy life: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:24).
2) Follow the directions God has given us in His Word about how to live, and enjoy, life: These things write we unto you, that your joy may be full (1John 1:4).
3) Make Jesus your life coach constant companion [After all, it is HIS JOY that fulfills us!]- Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalms 16:11).
Psalm 51:- RETURNING JOY
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit (Psalms 51:11-12).
A common expression I hear more and more is, “I’ve lost my Joy”. That is a sad state of affairs for anyone but especially for a Christian. What caused this situation to develop?? And once we get past the problem, how can we return Joy to our life and work??
WHY WE LOSE OUR JOY:
1) In David’s Case it was SIN (For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me (Psalms 51:3). Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice (Psalms 51:7-8). We don’t like to admit it but that same thing is also the reason for many Christians to lose their joy
2) In the Case of Israel it was SEPARATION FROM GOD’S PEOPLE AND PLACE– (Psa 137:1‑2) By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. When you get out of God’s Will and God’s Work you find that life loses it meaning and joy disappears like the morning dew.
3) Focusing on SELF PROBLEMS (“worry of the world”) instead of GOD’S PROMISES: (And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves John 17:13). Troubles, Trials, and Temptations sap our strength and rob us of our joy.
HOW DO YOU GET JOY TO RETURN??
1. A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD– Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)
A) Be sure of the Assurance of your Salvation
B) Sins confessed and repented of so you will have Peace WITH God as well as the Peace OF God
2. WITNESSING OF YOUR FAITH– They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psa 126:5-6)
A) The Joy of EXPECTATION (Faith) as you sow- Purpose to Life
B) The Joy of HARVEST when God gives us Fruit
3. ABIDING IN CHRIST– These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:11)
A) Christ is the CENTER of your life so Circumstances don’t defeat
B) The Holy Spirit is the COMMUNICATOR of your life so you know when to run and when to rest. When your life is directed by the Spirit you joy in the fact that you are joined to the greatest work in all the World, bearing Fruit with Christ. (Remember that Fruit is for OTHERS; not for the branch producing it).
4. PRACTICE PRAYING FOR THINGS WHICH BRING JOY TO YOU AND GOD– Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)
A) Prayer EXPOSES US to God- He sees our Heart
B) Prayer Exposes GOD to us- We realize life is a journey and God is walking with us as we travel it.
Don’t let the Alittle Foxes@ of sin steal your joy. Re-establish your relationship with the Lord and maintain your confidence in Him. That will bring a joy to your life that nothing in this world can take away from you.
HOW TO ENJOY LIFE
There are a lot of “formulas” for happiness in the world today, Yet it seems more and more people are enjoying life less and less. Here are 6 Bible principles for enjoying life that will work for you if you will work them.
- COMPLAIN LESS– (1 Pet 3:10) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: It is amazing how much more you enjoy life when you don’t let your tongue get ahead of your brain.
- GIVE MORE– Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38)
- LAUGH LOUD– Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. (Ecclesiastes 5:19-20)
- PRAY HARD– Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24)
- LIVE RIGHT– Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Heb 1:9) You never regret doing right. You are never ashamed of being righteous.
- DRAW NEAR– Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psa 16:11)
CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN– Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. (Haggai 1:5-6) Sin causes the UNSAVED to have no relationship with God, No ability to produce meaningful change in their life, and No hope of Heaven. When a CHRISTIAN sins he loses Fellowship, Fruit, Rewards, Testimony, Blessings. Sin Destroys Lives, Divides Families, Distresses God, and Dooms a person to Hell.
Here are 10 Consequences of Sin:
- One Sin leads to more sins- deeper and deeper you are drawn into it’s captivity
- Sin invites God’s discipline
- Time spend in sin is forever wasted
- Sin grieves God
- Sin impacts those around the sinner
- Sin keeps me from serving God as I should
- Sin blocks my Prayer Power- If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalms 66:18)
- Sin makes me a captive and a fool
- Sin hardens my heart against others and against God
- Sin will find you out- But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23)
JOY
JOY IS TO BE ANTICIPATED- Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Isa 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
JOY IS NOT DEPENDENT ON CIRCUMSTANCES- Hab 3:17-18 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
THE SECOND FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS JOY- Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Eccl 5:19 Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Acts 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
1 Pet 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
2 John 1:12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.