J = JESUS
o = obediance
y = You
If you are Obedient to
Jesus then you will have everlasting JOY
Definition
of "joy." "Joy is an evidence of the presence of God in your
life." If God is in your life, if you are filled with the Spirit of God,
then this fruit of the Spirit will be obvious in your life.
I am Always Joyful
John 16
20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn
while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to
joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain
because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish
because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I
will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me
anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my
name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in
my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control…”
We tend to equate “happiness” with joy but they are two totally
different ideas because they each spring from a different source. One comes
from the world around me. The other originates directly from the Spirit of the
Living God. Happiness is conditioned by and often dependent upon what is
“happening” to me. If people treat me good, if things are going well in my
life, then I’m happy. If my circumstances aren’t favourable, then I’m unhappy –
that describes me as I was flying over the back of that dangerous dragon!
Joy, on the other hand, throbs throughout Scripture as a profound, compelling quality of life that transcends the events and disasters which may dog God’s people. Joy is a divine dimension of living that is not shackled by circumstances. The Hebrew word means, “to leap or spin around with pleasure.” In the New Testament the word refers to “gladness, bliss and celebration.”
To have the fruit of joy ripen in our lives is to recognize the journey involved in getting there. It takes time, diligence, patience, and hard work to make a grapevine produce grapes. Fruit is not instantaneous because it has to overcome weather, bugs, weeds, poor soil and neglect.
Joy, on the other hand, throbs throughout Scripture as a profound, compelling quality of life that transcends the events and disasters which may dog God’s people. Joy is a divine dimension of living that is not shackled by circumstances. The Hebrew word means, “to leap or spin around with pleasure.” In the New Testament the word refers to “gladness, bliss and celebration.”
To have the fruit of joy ripen in our lives is to recognize the journey involved in getting there. It takes time, diligence, patience, and hard work to make a grapevine produce grapes. Fruit is not instantaneous because it has to overcome weather, bugs, weeds, poor soil and neglect.
If we want to see this fruit ripen in our lives, we desperately need the
Holy Spirit to prune away whatever it is that hinders our joy and then empower
us to make some choices that move us closer to a lifestyle of rejoicing. We
need to guard against three common Joy Busters and we need to cultivate some
Joy Builders into our lives.
Joy Busters
Before Paul wrote to the church at Galatia about the Fruit of the Spirit in chapter 5, he asked a very penetrating question in Galatians 4:15: “What has happened to all your joy…” That question needs to be asked in the church today. What has happened to all my joy? What has happened to all your joy? William Barclay has said that “a gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms, and nothing in all religious history has done Christianity more harm than its connection with black clothes and long faces.” Let’s look at three common joy stealers that often give us long faces.
1. Unsatisfied expectations. Do you ever feel like you’re just going through some joyless routines in life? If the truth were known some of us are discontent with the way our lives are progressing. It could be that your expectations for your marriage have not been met. Or, maybe your kids aren’t living like they should. Perhaps you don’t have everything you want – a bigger house, a nicer car, and a better job. I’m convinced that a spirit of discontentment can rob many of us of joy. Listen to how Paul discovered the secret of being content with what God had given him in Philippians 4:12: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Joy Busters
Before Paul wrote to the church at Galatia about the Fruit of the Spirit in chapter 5, he asked a very penetrating question in Galatians 4:15: “What has happened to all your joy…” That question needs to be asked in the church today. What has happened to all my joy? What has happened to all your joy? William Barclay has said that “a gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms, and nothing in all religious history has done Christianity more harm than its connection with black clothes and long faces.” Let’s look at three common joy stealers that often give us long faces.
1. Unsatisfied expectations. Do you ever feel like you’re just going through some joyless routines in life? If the truth were known some of us are discontent with the way our lives are progressing. It could be that your expectations for your marriage have not been met. Or, maybe your kids aren’t living like they should. Perhaps you don’t have everything you want – a bigger house, a nicer car, and a better job. I’m convinced that a spirit of discontentment can rob many of us of joy. Listen to how Paul discovered the secret of being content with what God had given him in Philippians 4:12: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Paul calls contentment a “secret.” There’s a mystery about it. He also
had to “learn” how to live with unsatisfied expectations. Likewise, we must
learn to live with plenty or with little. Contentment doesn’t come when we have
everything we want but when we want everything we have.
2. Unresolved conflict. Our joy evaporates when we allow conflict between ourselves and another person to go on. When someone’s offense against us occupies our mental and emotional attention, we have little left over for the Lord. Anger clouds the eyes of our heart and obscures our view of God, draining away our joy.
Hebrews 12:14-15 challenges us to not allow relational ruptures to fester because bitterness can set in: “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
2. Unresolved conflict. Our joy evaporates when we allow conflict between ourselves and another person to go on. When someone’s offense against us occupies our mental and emotional attention, we have little left over for the Lord. Anger clouds the eyes of our heart and obscures our view of God, draining away our joy.
Hebrews 12:14-15 challenges us to not allow relational ruptures to fester because bitterness can set in: “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
If you’re still itemizing people’s mess-ups, the fruit of joy will be
squashed in your life. Paul recognizes the link between joy and unity in
Philippians 2:2: “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the
same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
3. Unconfessed sin. This third joy buster is perhaps responsible for chasing more joy out of lives than any other. Guilt can gut your joy faster than anything I know. Sin can send joy far away.
David understood this very well when he attempted to ignore the promptings of the Spirit. Take a look at Psalm 32:1-5: “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’ -- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
3. Unconfessed sin. This third joy buster is perhaps responsible for chasing more joy out of lives than any other. Guilt can gut your joy faster than anything I know. Sin can send joy far away.
David understood this very well when he attempted to ignore the promptings of the Spirit. Take a look at Psalm 32:1-5: “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’ -- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
I love how this Psalm ends. After David owns his sin, his joy returns.
Notice verse 11: “Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you
who are upright in heart!” Did you catch that? He was not able to rejoice and
experience the joy of the Lord until he confessed his sins! That’s very similar
to what David wrote in Psalm 51:7-8: “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be
clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.”
Before we move on to some positive joy builders, I want to give the Holy Spirit an opportunity right now to do some pruning in your life. Let’s take a couple minutes as I walk through these joy busters. Allow God’s Spirit to prompt you to acknowledge confess, and repent.
• Do you have some unsatisfied expectations that have led to a spirit of discontment? If so, determine to do whatever it takes to learn the secret of wanting everything you have and not necessarily having everything you want. When you do, you’ll begin to experience joy in even the small things of life. Confess your discontentment to Him right now.
• Are you involved in some conflict with someone? If so, confess it to God and make plans to meet with that person face-to-face so that you can be reconciled and get back on your journey to joy.
Before we move on to some positive joy builders, I want to give the Holy Spirit an opportunity right now to do some pruning in your life. Let’s take a couple minutes as I walk through these joy busters. Allow God’s Spirit to prompt you to acknowledge confess, and repent.
• Do you have some unsatisfied expectations that have led to a spirit of discontment? If so, determine to do whatever it takes to learn the secret of wanting everything you have and not necessarily having everything you want. When you do, you’ll begin to experience joy in even the small things of life. Confess your discontentment to Him right now.
• Are you involved in some conflict with someone? If so, confess it to God and make plans to meet with that person face-to-face so that you can be reconciled and get back on your journey to joy.
• Is God’s hand heavy upon you right now because of some sin that you’ve not confessed and repented of? Don’t keep silent any longer – it will only chew up your joy. Acknowledge your transgression and taste the joy that was once yours. Then you’ll be truly glad and rejoice in the Lord again.
As a result of some discontment, some conflict, and some open sin, David
had tubed out spiritually. His joy was a long-lost memory. And yet, he boldly
prays in Psalm 51:12, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…” God honoured
his prayer, and He will honour yours.
1.
Recognize Gift we learn to see the Almighty not as a
taskmaster, but as the God of the Universe with a smile on His face. When I
first discovered Zephaniah 3:17 I had to read it several times because it was
such a new thought for me. Listen to how God feels about you: “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.”
God delights in you and breaks out into song when He thinks about you! That’s hard to believe, isn’t it? I love how the Living Bible paraphrases this verse: “Is that a joyous choir I hear? No, it is the Lord himself exulting over you in happy song.”
Psalm 104:31 says, “May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works.” Isaiah 65:18-19: “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people…”od as joyful. We can be helped greatly in our journey towards joy
God delights in you and breaks out into song when He thinks about you! That’s hard to believe, isn’t it? I love how the Living Bible paraphrases this verse: “Is that a joyous choir I hear? No, it is the Lord himself exulting over you in happy song.”
Psalm 104:31 says, “May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works.” Isaiah 65:18-19: “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people…”od as joyful. We can be helped greatly in our journey towards joy
As we view God this way, we will discover that He takes great pleasure
in us. He is the Good Gardener who toils over us with constant care. He waits
patiently for His fruit to ripen and with great joy He longs to gather in the
harvest. Since there is enthusiasm in everything He undertakes and sweet
satisfaction in all He does, His joy can be transmitted directly to us by His
Holy Spirit who lives within us. That’s exactly what Nehemiah discovered in
Nehemiah 8:10: “…The joy of the LORD is your strength.”
I pray that we’ll experience the Lord’s joy as well.
Psalm 66:1-4: “Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of
his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So
great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows
down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.’”
Our collective worship of God on Sundays should be the culmination of our individual and private worship during the week. We make room in our lives for God’s joy through the traditional disciplines of prayer, Bible reading, Scripture memory, meditation, fasting and singing. Then, whatever service you come to on Sunday, it’s our prayer that you come ready to revere God and ready to rejoice. Our two worship teams are committed to plan services that focus on the holiness and awesomeness of God and provide elements that lead us into joyful exuberance. As we rehearse who God is by celebrating His attributes, the fruit of joy will begin to blossom in our lives.
When David focused on God’s character in Psalm 28, he couldn’t help but break out into joy. Listen to verse 7: “The Lord is my strength and shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.”
3. Reaffirm your commitment to others. The first two joy builders are vertical and have to do with how we view God and how He views us. If we’re serious about drinking deeply out of the rivers of joy, we must also make sure that we are doing OK on the horizontal dimension by living in biblical community with others. We can’t do it alone. Romans 12:15 challenges us to “rejoice with those who rejoice…” We’re not able to do this unless we’re connected to others. If you’re not in fellowship with believers, your joy will leak out.
When contemplating whether or not it would be better to die and spend eternity with His Lord, the Apostle Paul concludes that it would benefit the church greatly if he hung around for a while. Look at Philippians 1:25-26: “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.”
Reignite your passion for evangelism. One of the best ways to build joy
into your life is by talking to others about Jesus. Philemon 6: “I pray that
you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full
understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”
Luke 15 records for us how much rejoicing takes place when the lost are found. When the lost sheep is recovered, verse 5 says that the owner “joyfully puts it on his shoulders” and then goes home and calls his friends and neighbours together and declares in verse 6, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents…” Jesus reminds us in John 4:36 that we can be filled with glad joy when we participate in the process of evangelism: “Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”
Not only do we appreciate God’s gift of grace in our lives when we tell others about Jesus, we also get to see the inexpressible joy of those who experience the new birth.
Luke 15 records for us how much rejoicing takes place when the lost are found. When the lost sheep is recovered, verse 5 says that the owner “joyfully puts it on his shoulders” and then goes home and calls his friends and neighbours together and declares in verse 6, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents…” Jesus reminds us in John 4:36 that we can be filled with glad joy when we participate in the process of evangelism: “Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”
Not only do we appreciate God’s gift of grace in our lives when we tell others about Jesus, we also get to see the inexpressible joy of those who experience the new birth.
5. Release your problems to the Lord. One of the hallmarks of Christian
joy is that it can be experienced in the midst of intense sorrow and loss.
Often we define happiness as the absence of something undesirable, such as
pain, suffering, or disappointment. But Christian joy is the proper response to
the presence of something desirable: God Himself.
In Acts 16, the authorities beat Paul and Silas. After they were severely flogged, they were thrown into prison. In order to make sure they didn’t escape, they were put in the inner cell and had their feet fastened in stocks. If that were me, I’d be more scared than I was when I flew down the Dragon’s Tail! Verse 25 says that Paul and Silas “were praying and singing hymns to God…” This word for praying is not the word used for making requests but rather the word used for praise, or worship. Instead of asking God to get them out, they turned this tough situation into an opportunity for rejoicing.
In Acts 16, the authorities beat Paul and Silas. After they were severely flogged, they were thrown into prison. In order to make sure they didn’t escape, they were put in the inner cell and had their feet fastened in stocks. If that were me, I’d be more scared than I was when I flew down the Dragon’s Tail! Verse 25 says that Paul and Silas “were praying and singing hymns to God…” This word for praying is not the word used for making requests but rather the word used for praise, or worship. Instead of asking God to get them out, they turned this tough situation into an opportunity for rejoicing.
The only way to have an attitude like this is to release our problems to
the Lord. Because He’s in charge we can have joy – no matter what happens. Paul
put it this way in 2 Corinthians 7:4: “…in all our troubles my joy knows no
bounds.” James 1:2 challenges us to “consider it pure joy…whenever you face
trials of many kinds.”
This takes a conscious decision. We’re commanded to work at it. While we can’t manufacture joy we can give our problems to the Lord by leaning on Him with everything we’ve got.
This takes a conscious decision. We’re commanded to work at it. While we can’t manufacture joy we can give our problems to the Lord by leaning on Him with everything we’ve got.
6. Remain close to Jesus. As we established last week, the only way to experience the fruit of the spirit is to be obedient to Christ and submit to the Spirit on a daily basis. To discover joy we must abandon the search for it and go looking instead for the one who is Himself joy. Joy is the flag that flies over the castle of our hearts announcing that Jesus is in residence today.
John 15:10-11 puts it this way: “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
If we want the kind of joy that is complete, lacking nothing, then we must remain close to Jesus. Apart from Him we can bear no fruit. Jesus said it clearly in John 15:4: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
Now don’t mistake happiness for joy. It’s easy to do that. The Bible
mentions "joy" or "rejoicing" 330 times. But it only
mentions "happiness" 26 times. Happiness depends upon what happens to
you. So if all the circumstances are right, then you can be happy. But joy
comes from inside.
I.
SOME ENEMIES OF JOY
A. Sometimes we’re robbed of joy by the differences between generations. There have always been generation gaps, but it seems to me that generation gaps are more obvious now than they’ve ever been before.
A. Sometimes we’re robbed of joy by the differences between generations. There have always been generation gaps, but it seems to me that generation gaps are more obvious now than they’ve ever been before.
B. A second enemy of joy is unresolved guilt. A lot of people are unable
to accept themselves, & to accept the forgiveness of God.
You may have come through a divorce & you feel that you’re inferior in the sight of God. Or you may have had a brush with the law & you feel that you’re not welcome in God’s house. Or that people would not understand if they knew the secrets of your life.
You may have come through a divorce & you feel that you’re inferior in the sight of God. Or you may have had a brush with the law & you feel that you’re not welcome in God’s house. Or that people would not understand if they knew the secrets of your life.
David was the same way in the O.T. He had committed adultery, & he felt enormous guilt over it. He wrestled with the guilt & finally came to God in Psalms 51:12 & prayed, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation..."
C. A third enemy might be a wounded ego. A lot of us walk around with our feelings exposed, just waiting for someone to say the wrong thing or not to say anything at all. And it happens. People don’t always act the way we would like. They don’t always say the right things. Sometimes they offend us, & our feelings are hurt. We feel unloved & unneeded & left out.
D. The fourth enemy of joy is unpleasant circumstances. All of us, I think, begin life with unrealistic expectations as to what life is going to be like. I know that I started out thinking, "Well, I’ll marry the perfect woman." And I did. "And we’ll have perfect children." And we do. And that we would live in the perfect house, & make lots of money. Which we haven’t. And we would be wondrously happy all of our lives, & there would never ever be any problems.
But problems do come, & they come to everybody. You may lose your job. Your children may disappoint you. There may be heartaches. Your health may break. Problems do come. But here’s the good news. Even though the circumstances are unpleasant, God still wants to give you joy, to change who you are, & the way you think.
A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF JOY
The writer of Hebrews looks back at that & writes these words in
Hebrews 12:2; "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of
our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross & scorned its
shame."
How can there be any joy in a cross? I hope we’ll understand how that can be true. Listen carefully now, as we consider the question, "How can we experience that kind of joy?"
How can there be any joy in a cross? I hope we’ll understand how that can be true. Listen carefully now, as we consider the question, "How can we experience that kind of joy?"
HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THAT KIND OF JOY?
A. I believe, first of all, that we need to develop & maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
A. I believe, first of all, that we need to develop & maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Listen to what Jesus says in John 15:5,6, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me & I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away & withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire & burned."
Jesus is saying that when we become Christians we’re like a branch attached to the vine. Jesus is the vine, & we’re the branches. As long as we’re attached to Him we’ll bear fruit.
That is where it begins. When we are attached to the vine it means that we have accepted Jesus as our Savior. If you’re here this morning & are not a Christian, then you need to become one. You can never have the joy that this passage talks about until you are attached to Him.
B. If you’re a Christian, & there isn’t much joy in your life, then you need to be reattached to the vine. One of my concerns about the church is that there are detached branches that are dying, but they don’t realize it yet. They look alive, they sound like they’re alive, but in reality they’re dead, because they’re no longer attached to the vine.
So you need to be reattached, & there are some basic things that you have to do to make that happen in your life.
1. First of all, you need to read the Word. You can’t know what God’s will is, or what God wants for you until you read His Word. So read the Word, & spend time in prayer. Seek His will in your life.
2. You also need to attend church. Now that’s pretty basic, I know. But there are people who think you can be a good Christian & not attend church. I disagree, because we need each other. We just can’t make it by ourself.
Until you’re rejoicing in the fellowship of believers, until you’re spending time with brothers & sisters in Christ, you’ll never have a firm attachment to the vine. So come to church. Learn from one another, & grow with one another. And the joy of the Lord will be your strength.
Peter explains that in a wonderful way in the 4th chapter of 1 Peter. He
says in vs’s 12-13, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful
trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But
rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be
overjoyed when His glory is revealed."
Secondly, we need to give ourselves in service for others. One of the
biggest problems in our world today is that we have become so selfcentered that we no longer experience the joy of
serving others.
Do you want to know why the writer of Hebrews says, "He endured the cross, scorned the shame because of the joy that was set before Him?" Do you want to know why the cross was an object of joy for Jesus?
Here’s why, because He didn’t do it for Himself. He did it for us. He went to the cross for us. And there’s joy even in a cross when you’re doing it for someone else.
Do you want to know why the writer of Hebrews says, "He endured the cross, scorned the shame because of the joy that was set before Him?" Do you want to know why the cross was an object of joy for Jesus?
Here’s why, because He didn’t do it for Himself. He did it for us. He went to the cross for us. And there’s joy even in a cross when you’re doing it for someone else.
Thirdly, "Focus on the eternal & not the temporal." The
reason Jesus could endure the cross is because after the cross came the
resurrection. As we go through the experiences of life we need to see that one
day there’s going to be a glorious resurrection when we will be with Jesus,
too.
Paul writes, "Therefore we don’t lose heart. Though outwardly we waste away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Our light & momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" [2 Corinthians 4:16-18].
Look in the mirror & you’ll see yourself wasting away. Look at your material possessions, & you’ll see them wearing out. The whole world is winding down. Everything is wasting away.
But inwardly, we’re being renewed every day. So don’t look at the things you can see. Look at the things you can’t see, because they last forever.
Paul writes, "Therefore we don’t lose heart. Though outwardly we waste away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Our light & momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" [2 Corinthians 4:16-18].
Look in the mirror & you’ll see yourself wasting away. Look at your material possessions, & you’ll see them wearing out. The whole world is winding down. Everything is wasting away.
But inwardly, we’re being renewed every day. So don’t look at the things you can see. Look at the things you can’t see, because they last forever.
The fruit of the Spirit is love expressed in joy.
It’s the evidence of God’s presence in your life.
Develop A Winning
Attitude
Philippians
3 Pressing on
Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already
obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take
hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider
myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is
behind and straining toward what is ahead,
Focus on the Future. (Philippians 3:12-14)
He counsels Christians to focus on the future. He says: “Not that I have already obtained all this (he is referring back to verse 10 where he says he wants to know Christ and the power of His resurrection) or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Paul confessed that he had not arrived in his Christian life. “He had not become perfect.” As long as we live in a human body we will be limited by this body. In the power of the Holy Spirit you can have perfect love and perfect motives, but you will not achieve perfection until you reach heaven. In this life you will lack some wisdom, some strength, and make mistakes.
If Paul wanted to he could have boasted – he had started many new churches, influenced many to know Jesus, and traveled widely as a missionary. He was totally honest and live with integrity when he said: “I have not arrived spiritually.”
Here is a great lesson you can learn from Paul. He said, “This one thing I do. I forget all my past accomplishments and I press toward the future.” Prior to my transformation experience on the Damascus Road when I saw the risen Christ, I pursued with a passion Christians to put them in jail and cause havoc in the church. Now with that same passion I pursue Christ.”
Paul did not testify that when he accepted Jesus as his Messiah and Lord on the road to Damascus that he arrived. As long as he lived he would be on the stretch for God.
When you surrender your life to Jesus it is your beginning. It’s like stepping on the first step on a long stair case. You keep walking up the stairs until you walk into the arms of Jesus in heaven. The stairs are not an escalator that carries you up without any effort. You have to move up step by step.
Christians in the early church practiced basic spiritual disciplines to maintain spiritual health and growth. (Acts 2:42-27):
He counsels Christians to focus on the future. He says: “Not that I have already obtained all this (he is referring back to verse 10 where he says he wants to know Christ and the power of His resurrection) or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Paul confessed that he had not arrived in his Christian life. “He had not become perfect.” As long as we live in a human body we will be limited by this body. In the power of the Holy Spirit you can have perfect love and perfect motives, but you will not achieve perfection until you reach heaven. In this life you will lack some wisdom, some strength, and make mistakes.
If Paul wanted to he could have boasted – he had started many new churches, influenced many to know Jesus, and traveled widely as a missionary. He was totally honest and live with integrity when he said: “I have not arrived spiritually.”
Here is a great lesson you can learn from Paul. He said, “This one thing I do. I forget all my past accomplishments and I press toward the future.” Prior to my transformation experience on the Damascus Road when I saw the risen Christ, I pursued with a passion Christians to put them in jail and cause havoc in the church. Now with that same passion I pursue Christ.”
Paul did not testify that when he accepted Jesus as his Messiah and Lord on the road to Damascus that he arrived. As long as he lived he would be on the stretch for God.
When you surrender your life to Jesus it is your beginning. It’s like stepping on the first step on a long stair case. You keep walking up the stairs until you walk into the arms of Jesus in heaven. The stairs are not an escalator that carries you up without any effort. You have to move up step by step.
Christians in the early church practiced basic spiritual disciplines to maintain spiritual health and growth. (Acts 2:42-27):
The early Christians devoted themselves to: the
Apostles Teaching, to worship, prayer, and Christian fellowship. As a
consequence the Lord added new believers to the church day by day.
To focus on the future means that you do as Paul practiced in his life: “Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead…”
Paul had much to forget. He could have lived with regret his entire life. He regretted leading in the stoning of Stephan, a lay minister and devout follower of Jesus. He regretted causing havoc to the church of Jesus Christ.
Paul may have dealt with bitterness…Bitter for being lead astray by Pharisees and Jewish scholars. Bitterness is unresolved anger turned inward. Bitterness becomes hate. Hate toward someone that has wronged you. Bitterness is the opposite of sweetness. Instead of sweetening everything in life, it sours everything in life.
By the grace and love of God Paul could testify that he was forgetting all that was past.
It is only by the grace and mercy of god that you can forget the past. You may have had experiences in the past that caused you deep hurts. You may have been abused, experienced injustices, bitterness, hatred, and rejection by those you loved. Forgetting – healing of memories – only comes from the grace and love of God.
To dwell on the past or focus on the future is up to you. It is a choice you make. You can wallow in the past or chose to focus on the future. Paul testified in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.”
To focus on the future means that you do as Paul practiced in his life: “Forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead…”
Paul had much to forget. He could have lived with regret his entire life. He regretted leading in the stoning of Stephan, a lay minister and devout follower of Jesus. He regretted causing havoc to the church of Jesus Christ.
Paul may have dealt with bitterness…Bitter for being lead astray by Pharisees and Jewish scholars. Bitterness is unresolved anger turned inward. Bitterness becomes hate. Hate toward someone that has wronged you. Bitterness is the opposite of sweetness. Instead of sweetening everything in life, it sours everything in life.
By the grace and love of God Paul could testify that he was forgetting all that was past.
It is only by the grace and mercy of god that you can forget the past. You may have had experiences in the past that caused you deep hurts. You may have been abused, experienced injustices, bitterness, hatred, and rejection by those you loved. Forgetting – healing of memories – only comes from the grace and love of God.
To dwell on the past or focus on the future is up to you. It is a choice you make. You can wallow in the past or chose to focus on the future. Paul testified in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.”
Live with A Servant’s Heart. Phil. 2:1-13
Paul declared that person’s with a winning attitude first “focuses their life on the future.” Second, they “live with a Servant’s heart.” A person with a winning attitude is one that has a servant’s heart.
Paul encourages each of us when he writes: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Jesus is our model and example.
Jesus humbled himself. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is equal with God. Jesus did not have his beginning in a lowly manger. Jesus existed before this world and universe were created. Jesus humbled himself and took on the form of man. He became a human with flesh and blood. He felt pain. He felt anger. He felt sorrow. Jesus said: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
Jesus served others. Jesus said he did not come to earth to be served and to serve others. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Jesus did not come as a superstar. He came as a lowly carpenter. Jesus was never too proud to do whatever it took to glorify His Heavenly Father.
Jesus demonstrated how to serve with a towel and basin. Jesus took on the role of a servant to his own disciples. His logo would have been a towel and basin and not a whip and chair like a lion tamer.
At the last supper in the upper room his disciples were sitting around the table. Their feet were dirty and smelly from walking all day on the dusty roads. Jesus took a towel and basin and went to each one and washed their feet. When Jesus finished he said: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:15
Jesus encouraged others to lead. From the beginning of his public ministry Jesus developed a team ministry. He chose 12 disciples to become part of his ministry team.
Paul declared that person’s with a winning attitude first “focuses their life on the future.” Second, they “live with a Servant’s heart.” A person with a winning attitude is one that has a servant’s heart.
Paul encourages each of us when he writes: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Jesus is our model and example.
Jesus humbled himself. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is equal with God. Jesus did not have his beginning in a lowly manger. Jesus existed before this world and universe were created. Jesus humbled himself and took on the form of man. He became a human with flesh and blood. He felt pain. He felt anger. He felt sorrow. Jesus said: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
Jesus served others. Jesus said he did not come to earth to be served and to serve others. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) Jesus did not come as a superstar. He came as a lowly carpenter. Jesus was never too proud to do whatever it took to glorify His Heavenly Father.
Jesus demonstrated how to serve with a towel and basin. Jesus took on the role of a servant to his own disciples. His logo would have been a towel and basin and not a whip and chair like a lion tamer.
At the last supper in the upper room his disciples were sitting around the table. Their feet were dirty and smelly from walking all day on the dusty roads. Jesus took a towel and basin and went to each one and washed their feet. When Jesus finished he said: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” John 13:15
Jesus encouraged others to lead. From the beginning of his public ministry Jesus developed a team ministry. He chose 12 disciples to become part of his ministry team.
Practice
the Praise Principle. Phil. 4:4-9
Paul throughout his life accentuated the positive. He practiced the praise principle. Phil. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Paul throughout his life accentuated the positive. He practiced the praise principle. Phil. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Paul
practiced the praise principle even when confined to a prison. He looked beyond
his confinement, beyond lonely nights, and beyond hardships. He said to
Philippian Christians praying for him: “Don’t feel sad for me. Praise the Lord
because what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. The
Roman guards have heard the good news of the Gospel. Jesus is changing lives.”
From Phil. 1:12-14
Do you think the Apostle Paul ever got discouraged? Sure he did. While confined to prison Paul mentions many friends that came to him and gave him comfort and encouragement. His friends kept him encouraged in his service for the Lord. The best leaders have times of discouragement. The key is to not stay down in the pit of despair.
Do you think the Apostle Paul ever got discouraged? Sure he did. While confined to prison Paul mentions many friends that came to him and gave him comfort and encouragement. His friends kept him encouraged in his service for the Lord. The best leaders have times of discouragement. The key is to not stay down in the pit of despair.
There
are several practical things you can do to practice the praise principle.
(1) Practice giving thanks in every circumstance for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thess. 5:18
Why not try practicing saying positive words to everyone you meet? Positive words build people up and create a creative, loving, positive atmosphere. When you speak critical, negative words you create suspicion, mistrust and an attitude of failure. The Proverb writer wrote “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
(1) Practice giving thanks in every circumstance for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thess. 5:18
Why not try practicing saying positive words to everyone you meet? Positive words build people up and create a creative, loving, positive atmosphere. When you speak critical, negative words you create suspicion, mistrust and an attitude of failure. The Proverb writer wrote “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
(2).
Surround yourself with positive people. The Apostle Paul continually recruited
prayer partners. His prayer partners build him up in prayer and with
encouraging words. Negative people do not pray for you and tend to pull you
down.
When you are surrounded by positive people you can turn obstacles into opportunities. Paul surrounded himself with a team of positive people; therefore he could write: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” (2 Corinthians 4:8,9 Living Bible
By an act of your will you can chose to live by Phil. 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
In your family and marriage what do you look for? Do you look for faults, what is wrong, or do you look for ways to bring the best out of your mate and children? How do you break a negative, nit-picking, fault-finding, destructive cycle in a marriage? Stop centring on what’s wrong. Start looking for what is right and good and focus on those things. The fact is there is good and bad in everyone. The difference is what you focus on.
Tell your children how much you appreciate them. Give them more praise than criticism. If your children or spouse can’t find appreciation at home they’ll find it some where else. Everyone needs to be appreciated.
This week you can enjoy a winning attitude.
1. Focus on the future
2. Live with a servant’s heart
3. Practice the Praise Principle
When you are surrounded by positive people you can turn obstacles into opportunities. Paul surrounded himself with a team of positive people; therefore he could write: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” (2 Corinthians 4:8,9 Living Bible
By an act of your will you can chose to live by Phil. 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
In your family and marriage what do you look for? Do you look for faults, what is wrong, or do you look for ways to bring the best out of your mate and children? How do you break a negative, nit-picking, fault-finding, destructive cycle in a marriage? Stop centring on what’s wrong. Start looking for what is right and good and focus on those things. The fact is there is good and bad in everyone. The difference is what you focus on.
Tell your children how much you appreciate them. Give them more praise than criticism. If your children or spouse can’t find appreciation at home they’ll find it some where else. Everyone needs to be appreciated.
This week you can enjoy a winning attitude.
1. Focus on the future
2. Live with a servant’s heart
3. Practice the Praise Principle
Disobedience
snatches away your JOY
Webster’s
Dictionary defines obedience as; “obeying or ready to obey or being submissive
to another’s will.” The bible describes obedience in the Old Testament as
specific commands of God as contained in the law and in the New Testament as a
higher spiritual and moral relation is sustained than in the Old Testament.
I am Always Obedient to God
Job
22:27 “You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfil your vows.” And the Lord answered my prayers
with what follows.
Following the Lord and being obedient isn’t usually easy and requires a lot of thought. Before each and every action we do in day-to-day activities, I pray that I will be obedient, as the Lord wants me to. I want to be a role model and lead as many people to Christ as humanly possible, because I think each and every one of us at least owes Christ that. He died on the cross for our sins and washed away our sins with His blood so that each and every one of us could have eternal life.
Following the Lord and being obedient isn’t usually easy and requires a lot of thought. Before each and every action we do in day-to-day activities, I pray that I will be obedient, as the Lord wants me to. I want to be a role model and lead as many people to Christ as humanly possible, because I think each and every one of us at least owes Christ that. He died on the cross for our sins and washed away our sins with His blood so that each and every one of us could have eternal life.
In
Titus 3:3-8 it is written, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient,
deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in
malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and
love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things
we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of
rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously
through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace,
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
In
turn, we must be able to obey His every word as best we can. hearkening, i.e.
(by implication) compliance or submission.
In
prophetic utterances, future blessing and prosperity were conditioned upon
obedience: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land”
(Isaiah 1:19).
In the
New Testament obedience is through Jesus Christ. The importance of obedience is
just as greatly emphasized. Christ Himself is its one great illustration of
obedience. Philippians 2:8 says, “ And being found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!”
So
Jesus humiliated himself in order to be obedient, even unto death of the cross.
In Hebrews 5:9 it says, “ and, once made perfect, he became the source of
eternal salvation for all who obey him.” This act is a supreme test of faith in
Christ. Indeed, it is so vitally related that they are in some cases are almost
identical. "Obedience of faith" is a combination used by Paul
to
express this idea Romans 1:5 says, “Through him and for his name’s sake, we
received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to
the obedience that comes from faith.” Peter designates believers in Christ as
"children of obedience" 1 Peter 1:14 says, “ As obedient children, do
not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” Thus it
is seen that the test of fellowship with God in the Old Testament is obedience.
The bond of union with Christ in the New Testament is obedience through faith,
by which they become identified and the believer becomes a disciple.
So in order to be obedient to Jesus, you must have faith.
So in order to be obedient to Jesus, you must have faith.
Disobedience is defined in the Webster Dictionary
as disobeying or rebellious, and the
Bible Especially in the New Testament there seem to be two rather clearly
defined
uses of the word, one objective and practical, the other ethical and psychological
uses of the word, one objective and practical, the other ethical and psychological
1 Peter
2:7-8 says, “Unto you therefore, which
believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the
builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of
stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being
disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” Ephesians 2:2 says, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”
believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the
builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of
stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being
disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” Ephesians 2:2 says, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”
Ephesians 5:6 says, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”
And Colossians 3:6 says, “For which things’
sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” The classic
phrase of New Testament literature (in Acts 26:19 which says,
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.”)
“Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.”)
1
Timothy 4:11-13 says, “These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy
youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in
charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to
reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” I think of the hundreds of Christians
who were tortured and/or executed for their faith and obedience, and then only
to respond with love toward their jailers and executioners.
You be Joyful
Always
I’m
Trading My Sorrows, I’m Trading My Shame, I’m Laying it Down for the Joy of the
Lord
Eph. 4:22-32; 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
Eph. 4:22-32; 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
Psalm
9:1-2 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvellous
things you have done. I will be filled
with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
Mark
8:35 - "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you
give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save
it."
Give up
anger - Embrace Patience
Give up resentment - Forgive as you have been forgiven
Give up Pettiness - Grow in Maturity
Give up Bitterness - Extend Forgiveness
Give up Jealousy - Learn the secret of trust
Give up Complaining - Focus on Gratitude
Give up Gossiping - Speak of righteousness, truth, love
Give up Pessimism - Become one who thinks positive
Give up resentment - Forgive as you have been forgiven
Give up Pettiness - Grow in Maturity
Give up Bitterness - Extend Forgiveness
Give up Jealousy - Learn the secret of trust
Give up Complaining - Focus on Gratitude
Give up Gossiping - Speak of righteousness, truth, love
Give up Pessimism - Become one who thinks positive
Give up Hypocritical Judgments - Think respectful thoughts
Give up Gloom - Look for the beauty and blessings in all things
Give up Discouragement - Praise God for the encouragement in Christ
Give up Worry - Trust God for all needs met in Christ Jesus
Give up Hatred - Dwell on what is true, noble, right, praise-worthy
Give up Rights - Follow the example of Christ’s relinquishing all
Give up Burdens - Cast all your care upon Him for He cares for you
Give up Offense - Blessed are you when men revile and persecute you
Give up Excuses - If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.
"We have a choice. We can carry the world on
our shoulders, or we can say, ’I give up, Lord; here’s my life. I give you my
world, the whole world.’"
Paul
wrote, "I am sorrowful yet always rejoicing, poor yet making many rich,
unknown yet well known, of bad report yet of good report, dying yet behold we
live, punished yet not put to death, pressed but not crushed, persecuted but
not abandoned, perplexed but not in distress, put down but not put out. Always
bearing in my body the death of the Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus might be
made manifest in our bodies." (2 Cor. 4; 6)
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