A Sure Pathway To Living An Overcoming Christian Life.
Bible Passages – Matthew 7:15-23 | Luke 3:1-9 | Galatians 5:16-23 | Revelations 1:7b, 11b, 17b | Revelations 21:8
Introduction
The Fruit of the Spirit – Joy 2 | Gal 5:22-23 | Nehemiah 8:10 | Isaiah 12:3 | Romans 14:17
WHY DO YOU NEED JOY AS A CHILD OF GOD?
Joy is fundamental to the Christian faith and life. If not why will Nehemiah and Apostle Paul say salient things about joy.
Why Did Nehemiah declare That The Joy of The Lord Is Our Strength – Neh 8:10
Why Did Paul or John also declare that we should be filled With Joy? Acts 8:8; Rom 8:8; Rom 14:17; Rom 15:13
THE DEGREE AND LEVEL OF JOY THAT THE LORD WANTS US TO HAVE AND EXHIBIT
Joy Unspeakable – This Should Be The Ultimate Description of the Work and Results of the Work of The Fruit of The Spirit -Joy – in the Believer: 1 Pt 1:8-9
Joy is bigger than happiness, they are not the same and not of the same class
Joy is always associated with deliverance
Joy is always associated with something attached to or to do with God and not necessarily a man
There is the distinction
My life must become a generator of joy
My life must become a reservoir of joy
I must become a distributor of joy – everywhere and everyday John 7:38-39
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Isa 12:3
Remember out of your belly shall flow rivers of living waters – what does water bring – life – what does River bring – abundance – fruitfulness and joy You must believe it first; You must accept it; You must imagine it.
1. You must pattern your thoughts after it
2. You must work towards it in the power of God
3. This joy is not dependent on what is from outside of you, but that which is within and from within you.
Remember that greater is he that is in – 1 John 4:4
4. It cannot be affected nor determined from the outside.
5. Jesus in your heart as Lord and Saviour brings joy
6. You may not look strong physically but mighty within
For all nations what is inside the ground and inside the sea is vital for their poverty or prosperity – mineral resources
7. It is not something you turn off and on
JOY AND HEAVEN
Heaven is a place of light and joy. There can be no joy without light, neither can there be light without joy. Matt 5:114-16
– You cannot have the light of God and you then do not have the joy of the Light
– So light and joy are like five and six.
WHAT JOY WILL DELIVER TO YOU
Many things a Christian should have and be basking in are attainable only in joy. Without joy you cannot have them.
No wonder Nehemiah 8:10 – the joy of the Lord is your strength
No wonder Ps 100:4 – say – I will enter into his gate with thanksgiving and his courts with praise
– You cannot sing to the Lord without joy in your heart and your total being.
– Joy and Hearing from the Lord – Isa 12:3
– You need the joy, and the joy of the Lord to hear from the Lord.
– You need joy to pray – no faith without joy – Heb 11:11
– You Need Joy To Activate The Promises of God – Heb 11:13-16 | Heb 11:11 | Heb 11:13-16
– Your faith is shaky if not accompanied with joy, rest on joy and backed up with joy – I will joy in the God of my salvation.
– You cannot operate in the Holy Ghost without this fruit of the spirit called joy
THIS JOY, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – Neh 8:10;
– This joy is the Holy Spirit in deep relationship with you,
– This joy is you receiving a revelation
– This joy is the wine of the believer- be fill with the Holy Spirit not with wine
– This joy makes the believer rejoice
– This joy makes the believer a worshipper
– This joy makes the believer thirst for more of God
– This joy of the spirit is what moves the believer to do all he does in God and for God
– It is this joy that makes the believer sing and want to sing all the time
CONCLUSION
Joy largely comes from an obedient heart, a godly heart, staying in the presence of God, a heart that pants after God. It comes out of hope, faith and wonders of who God is and what He does and has promised.
2 Peter 1:4 | 1 Thess 5:16-18 | 2 Pt 1:5-8
Follow this biblical formula: Add to your life gratitude, humility, forgiveness, faith, hope, patience and love. Take away resentment, anger, fear, worry, materialism, greed, jealousy, complaining and pride. The result? Joy!
Joy is Spiritual, Supernatural and Essential
God is joyful—far more than any human being ever was! It’s tragic that many people think of God as somber and stern rather than cheerful and smiling with a great sense of humour.
He is enjoying His creation, and especially the delightful anticipation of many new “sons of God” (Rom 8:14; Romans 8:19).
True followers (imitators) of God will be joyful also. Psa 68:3 says, “Let the righteous be glad; . . . let them rejoice exceedingly.” God desires that we serve Him “with joy and gladness of heart” (Deut 28:47).
Paul spoke of the “joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess 1:6). It is through His Spirit that God shares and communicates His joy.
