View Resource Online
THIS JOY
1 Peter 1:6-9 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
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:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
I. Weights and troubles
1. Things that are happening around us
a) Economic uncertainty
b) Family Turmoil
c) Safety and Security
2. Things that are happening to us
a) Physical problems
(1) Sickness and disease
(2) Ongoing medical conditionsb) Emotional issues
(1) Fear and anxiety
(2) Depression
3. Yet the Bible talks about Joy over 150 times
a) Joy is labeled as one of the fruit of the Spirit
(1) It is 2nd only to love
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
b) Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost is the Kingdom of God
(1) If we are in the kingdom then we are supposed to have joy
(2) Not that we are out of the will of God
(a) But there is more for you today than what you are living with.
II. Definitions
A. Unspeakable
1. I can’t talk about it
2. I don’t want to talk about it
3. Indescribable
a) Impossible to describe
b) Exceeding description
4. Beyond Words
B. Joy – defined
1. Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness
a) (BDF) Intense and the greatest feeling of happiness
III. This Joy
A. Was not given by…
1. World
a) Alcohol
b) Drugs
c) Entertainment
d) Sins
2. Things
a) House
b) Car
c) Possessions
d) Money
3. Friends
a) Relationships
b) Experiences
4. Family
a) Parents
b) Spouse
c) Children
5. Health
a) Sickness
6. Devil
a) Or any evil
B. They didn’t give it so they can’t take it away
1. World
2. Things
3. Friends
4. Family
5. Health
6. The Devil
2 Corinthians 4:7-9 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
C. Paul was…
1. Lonely
2. Suffering
3. In bondage
4. Through Trials
5. Through Struggles
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
IV. This Joy Is…
A. My comfort
B. My strength
1. The Joy of the Lord is your Strength
C. My reward
1. They that sow with tears shall reap with joy
V. Your Joy
A. This Joy is for you!
1 John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
B. This joy is based on…
1. My relationship with Jesus Christ
2. Through His Spirit inside of me
a) Joy comes in the morning
b) Calvary was the morning of the new day
(1) Joy comes when you get to Calvary
VI. Joy Expressed
A. Simple Translation
1. 1st Peter 1:7-9
a) Though you never saw Jesus you love Him. You don’t see him right now either but you believe and you are glad. You don’t know how to express just how happy you are — it is glorious.
B. Definition #2
1. The expression or manifestation of such feelings
a) Nobody knows you’ve got joy if you don’t express it
b) Smiling – Martin Luther
c) Singing – Joyful noise
d) Clapping – Clap and Shout unto God
e) Jumping
f) Running
g) Dancing
2. Red Sox won the World Series
a) People on the field
b) People crying
c) People hugging
d) People shouting
e) People dancing
f) People telling
Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
