Learning to Show Joy
Why do I preach some Bible passages over and over? We've read them on the screen together before, why do I have us keep doing it? Same reasons I encourage you to read the Bible every day. I've read it cover to cover - so why do I need to keep on doing it? Several quick reasons - because it's the Word of God; it's truth itself! It's The Authority on all the major questions of life!
Also, because humans are stubborn. I happen to be a human, and I can tell you I'm slow to change. We can see in the Old Testament where God's chosen people continually fought against trusting God and going their own way. And it never worked out good. We are the same kind of people as back then; human nature hasn't changed that much.
And lastly, reading these passages, meditating on them, learning them and living them will help us become more like Jesus! And people need Jesus! Two weeks ago, my message was entitled "Learning to Show Love", revisiting a series on 'the fruit of the Spirit'. This morning's message is about 'joy' - another sometimes misunderstood characteristic that we're supposed to develop when we follow Jesus.
How can people know that we follow Jesus? - Usually by our actions. How do those who are filled with God's Spirit act? Let's turn again to Galatians chapter 5 for the list of characteristics where we find joy. By the end of this series, I want us to be able to quote this in our sleep...
Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (24) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (25) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
If we're supposed to develop joy in our lives, we need to further look at…
I. Understanding joy
We talk about 'joy', we sing about 'rejoicing' in our songs – I want to make sure we really understand it. If we look through different passages, we'll see that joy is supposed to be independent of our circumstances. Peter points this out in 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV)...
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. (13) But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Peter actually links suffering and joy/rejoicing together – not something that many of us would naturally put together. He calls those who are going through hard times to be joyful despite those hard times. I can sometimes do that - but how do we consistently do that? I want to look very briefly at…
A. The word joy
In the Old Testament, when David came home from slaying Goliath, it says that women were singing and dancing with joy. The word translated as joy comes from a root word that means 'to brighten up'. Another time we see the word joy in the Old Testament is in Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)...
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
The word I underlined there is 'rejoice', but I wanted to show you the same verse in the King James version as well...
Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)
The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
I had to recheck that, because it doesn't sound quite right using 'joy' as a verb - but here the word 'joy' in Hebrew means 'to spin around'. It could be literally translated, "God will spin around you with singing". Other times in the Old Testament, 'joy' is linked to leaping and jumping and shouting. "To brighten up", to spin, to sing, to jump, to shout. 'Joy' is a pretty active thing. When I understand 'joy' in that way - am I consistently 'joyful'..? Are you 'joyful'?
In the New Testament, it's interesting that the words for 'joy' and 'grace' both come from the same root word. There seems to be a relationship between joy and grace. So when we think of God's grace, we also need to think of joy...
Two weeks ago I talked about how a big part of 'love' is a choice. In our understanding of 'joy', we also need to recognize that…
B. Joy is a choice
As we go through 'the fruit of the spirit' it appears that all of them are a choice - placing the responsibility on us to respond to God's Spirit in us in a consistent, specific way...
There's a common mistake that people make – confusing 'joy' with 'happiness'. The Bible mentions 'joy' or 'rejoicing' 334 times. But it only mentions 'happy' or 'happiness' 27 times. 'Happiness' is an emotion and can be directly affected by what happens to you. So if all the circumstances are just right, then you can be happy. But joy must be a choice, it must come from inside.
There were several quotes I found that help flesh out this difference... "Happiness is based on what's happening, but joy is based on what we believe." "Happiness is smiling when the sun's out, joy is dancing in the downpour." "Happiness is based on chance. Joy is based on Christ." There are times when we forget that - I forget that.
Over the years, I've had a handful of surgeries and illnesses and various 'down times'. And of course, there's a big reason why we're traveling to Cincinnati Children's Hospital every month. And I have to admit, I've not always chosen 'joy'. Actually, I've found I'm pretty good at pouting and feeling sorry for myself. I would tell myself that I have a right to be upset because of my pain or the frustration of not being able to instantly fix whatever is wrong health wise with my children. My circumstances were not great and I wasn't happy. I allowed my circumstances and my emotions to determine my level of joy.
That's always a problem. And I still need to work on it as tough times continue to come along. I have to force myself to…
II. Keep a proper perspective
I may have been physically unhappy – but what I struggled to remember in those moments - my status as a child of God was unchanged. Even though I may have felt alone and defeated at various times lying in a hospital bed, or next to a hospital bed – I was not alone.
Romans 5:1-8 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (3) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; (4) perseverance, character; and character, hope.
(5) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (6) You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (7) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. (8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Our emotions change according to circumstances, but joy comes from knowing…
A. The unchanging truth
The truth is that no matter what happens in this life, I'm forgiven and God loves me! That fact will not change based on any circumstances because of the grace of Jesus Christ! Circumstances will change, but I can know that even in the roughest times, the most uncertain of times, God is in control! - Whether it feels like it or not. God is always very much aware of my circumstances and He is always working His purposes in those situations.
Now, as I said, I've had various 'hard times'. And when I don't keep the proper perspective, when I don't focus more on God's unchanging truth - I end up miserable. It's hard to transcend circumstances, but it's not impossible with God. When we have God's Holy Spirit in us, we can accomplish things that seem impossible!
Whatever my various 'hard times' - I'm standing before you just fine now. But my situations are nothing compared to what many have dealt with. I've never dealt with the loss of a spouse, or a child. I've never been through a difficult divorce. I've not lost a parent, yet... I've never been broke and out on the street. I've never lost a limb, never battled cancer or a life altering health condition. But some of you have...
There are some who have to live with frustrating, painful medical situations for years – sometimes the rest of their lives. But we have seen those among us who face these difficult times and still choose joy! That's part of the beauty of being a part of God's Church! – We get to see others who are stronger in the faith than we are and we can see their testimony, we can draw on their strength.
It's all about perspective…
Romans 8:15-18 (NIV)
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." (16) The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (17) Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (18) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Knowing the truth and the hope of the future can bring joy. - What can take it away?
B. Focusing on self
I've come to the conclusion that there's nothing that can steal our joy that's not under our control. If something 'steals my joy' it's only because I allow it to. Joy is a choice, so what things affect that choice? I think our biggest obstacle to choosing joy many times is simply us. When our focus is all about us and our needs, we may miss out on joy. We see this in James 3:13-16 (NIV)...
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (14) But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. (15) Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. (16) For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
When our focus is only on us, we allow less than ideal circumstances to make us unhappy, and then we allow our inward thinking to steal our joy. A friend of mine told me to think of joy as an acronym, J.O.Y. – "Just overcome yourself". When we sit and pout about all the things that aren't right in our lives, we certainly tend to be less joyful. When, however, we redirect our focus on to others – selfishness tends to fade away.
Even secular, non-faith based counselors will tell us, one of the best cures for depression is serving others. When we overcome ourselves and focus on others' needs rather than on our own needs – our attitude will improve greatly.
Another self-centered obstacle we tend to allow to get in the way of joy is resentment. We look around at others whose circumstances seem better than ours and turn it back on ourselves and we ask, "Why me?" We resent that they appear to have it easy. We feel sorry for ourselves and allow it to become anger towards those who are happy. J.O.Y. – "Just overcome yourself".
Our resentment can lead to missing out on God's grace. We have a choice, we can pout and ask "why me?", or we can seek God and choose joy. When you look at it that way, it doesn't sound like a hard choice at all.
So What?
What are some practical ways to work on choosing joy in our lives? Focus first on giving rather than receiving. It helps keep our focus off of ourselves and our circumstances. Second, focus on fixing relationships rather than on your 'rights'. If you hold grudges or resentment towards others – you will have a very hard time being joyful.
And third, focus on God's power rather than your problems. Circumstances change, God's power doesn't! I promise that even as a follower of Jesus, you will have hard times in this life. But there is no situation too dire, too dismal or too difficult for God to handle! Remember, God is with us, God will help us, and God does have a plan for you!
If we don't develop the characteristic of joy in our lives, if we don't choose to be joyful – no one will be drawn to Jesus through us.
Each week, I ask you to bring a friend to services next week. If they never see the joy that comes from knowing the grace of God, the joy that comes from knowing the truth that we are saved through Jesus and will spend eternity in Heaven – if they don't see that joy, why would they want to come? Followers of Jesus should be the most joyful people on earth!
If, however, we live lives full of joy despite the worst that this world can throw at us – people will want what we have; they will be drawn here and have an opportunity to know the God who loves them! Someone's joy brought us here – let's share that joy with someone this week!