Before I read our story from Home Town Tales, let’s take a moment to briefly review the three aspects of the fruit of the Sprit that we’re focusing on during this series:
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
1) Is demonstrated by being not doing
2) Is developed as Christ followers cooperate with the Holy Spirit
3) Is to be delightful to an unbelieving world
The way we do that as a body is reflected in two aspects of our life together in the body:
• The way we treat each other
• Our corporate worship
The story I’ll read this morning is titled “The Joy of Usefulness”
[Read story]
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS…JOY
Before we begin to develop some principles that will allow us to develop the kind of joy that will be alluring to the world around us, we first need to define what we mean by joy. At first glance, that seems pretty easy, but the problem we often have is that we think of joy as being the same thing as happiness. But the Bible is clear that the two are not synonymous.
In fact, the Bible doesn’t refer to happiness much at all. Depending on your translation there are only somewhere between 14 and 30 times that the word happy, and its related words like happiness, are used. But the words joy and rejoice and their related words are used well over 400 times. So what is the difference?
The origin of the two words immediately gives us some good insight. The word “happy” comes from the root word “hap” which means “chance” or “luck”. We also get our English words “happen” and “happenstance” from that same word. All of those words carry with them the idea that things occur randomly by chance or according to luck.
The primary New Testament word for joy and the one used by Paul when describing the fruit of the Spirit is the Greek word “chara” which interestingly is also the root for the Greek word we translate “grace”. So Biblical joy is closely connected to the operation of God’s grace in our life.
Let’s use this chart to differentiate between happiness and joy:
[Contact me if you want the Word document with this chart]
Happiness Joy
Emotion Attitude of the heart
Conditional – based on circumstances Unconditional – based on confidence in God
Manufactured by man Gift of the Holy Spirit
Temporary Eternal
This is most clearly evidenced in the life of Jesus and the sacrifice that He made on our behalf:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1, 2 (ESV)
Jesus was not happy about going to the cross. He understood what a painful process he would suffer through. But even knowing that, He could have joy because of His confidence in God. He could look past the circumstances to the eternal purposes of God that would be accomplished through those circumstances.
When the fruit of the Spirit is operating within the body of Christ with that kind of joy, then we can be assured that our joy will be attractive and alluring to the world around us where people quickly become disillusioned with the fleeting nature of their happiness.
So let’s spend some time this morning seeing if we can discover how to develop real joy in our relationships with each other and in our relationship with God. Let’s begin with…
• Developing joy in the way we treat each other
Like we’ll find with every aspect of the fruit of the Spirit, there are almost limitless ways in which we can develop joy within our body. But I’ll just focus on three which I believe are most relevant for us:
1) Look beyond our circumstances
The apostle Paul wrote these words to the Philippian church regarding joy:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
Paul instructs the believers to rejoice. In fact, that is so important that he repeats the command again. And as I’m sure you may have guessed, that command is in the present tense, so we could literally translate it “keep on rejoicing”. And in the verses which follow, Paul provides his readers with some insight about how they are to live their lives in order to be able to continually rejoice. For time’s sake, we’re going to skip down to verse 10 and just deal with one aspect of his instruction:
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:10-13 (ESV)
For Paul, the key to being able to rejoice continually was that he was able to look beyond his circumstances and to be content regardless of those circumstances.
What really encourages me about Paul’s words here is that he confirms that this is not something that any of us tend to do naturally. Notice that Paul says that he has learned to be content in whatever situation he is in. And the good news is that if Paul could learn to do that, we can, too.
But this principle of developing contentment which allows us to look beyond our circumstances doesn’t just apply to us as individuals; it also applies to us as a body. If we start looking around at our circumstances and complaining about them, how does that make us any different from the world around us? And how is that going to help us be an attractive and alluring place for people who are looking for real joy rather than just temporary happiness based on their circumstances?
Let’s make this really practical for Thornydale Family Church. Think about some of the circumstances that we face:
o We’re not a big church in terms of number of people
o Like much of the community around us we’re struggling to make ends meet with our finances
o We exist in a community where people don’t seem to be open to the gospel or even just spiritual things in general.
o Many of our efforts to take the gospel outside these four walls haven’t produced any tangible results that we can measure.
It would be easy to look at those circumstances and begin to think that we’re really insignificant to God or that we don’t really have an opportunity to make an impact on the community around us. It is easy to think that we shouldn’t keep taking the gospel to the world around us. But that would rob us of our joy.
Instead, we need to look beyond those circumstances and recognize that God has called us to be salt and light right here where He has placed us. And He has placed members of this body all throughout our community on a daily basis where each one of us has often limitless opportunities to stand up for Jesus and make an impact for the kingdom. And He also gives us as a body opportunities to penetrate our culture with the gospel. But we can only have a lasting impact for the kingdom of God if we look beyond our circumstances and just be faithful to God wherever He wants to use us.
2) Find our joy in the things in which God finds joy
In Luke chapter 10, we find the account of Jesus sending out seventy two of His followers to the surrounding cities to preach the gospel and to prepare the way for Jesus. The 72 returned with joy based on what they had experienced, but Jesus cautioned them about where they were to find their joy:
The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:17-20 (ESV)
As we’ll see again in just a moment, God finds joy in those who repent and commit their lives to Him. And since that is where God finds His joy, it is clear that is where we are to find our joy also.
For me, some of the most joyful moments in the life of this body have been when we gather together to be part of the baptism of someone in our church family who has committed his or her life to Jesus. And I’m convinced that the main reason those events are so joyful is that we’re rejoicing in the same thing in which God is also rejoicing.
And what that should lead us to do as a body is to be investing our lives in other people rather than investing in getting more “stuff”. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having nice things. In fact, the Bible is clear that God wants us to enjoy those material things that He has blessed us with as long as we acknowledge that they come from His hand and give thanks to Him. But where we get into a problem is when we start longing for those material blessings rather than longing for the God who graciously provides them for us.
I’m really grateful for the estate that has provided us with the funds to develop and furnish our lobby and lounge and update some of our technology here at church. But none of that was done merely for the purpose of having more nice stuff. It was done with an eye toward having a place where all of us would be proud to bring our unbelieving family and friends so that they can interact with our church family and be introduced to the gospel. The real joy won’t ever come from the nice furniture and TV displays, but rather from the lives that will be impacted as each one of us take the time to invest in the lives of others.
3) Share our joy with others
In Luke chapter 15, Luke records three parables that Jesus told that give us some further insight into what gives joy to God and also provide us with the last principle we’ll look at this morning regarding how we can develop joy within our body. Because of our limited time, I’m only going to read one of the three parables, but that should be adequate to illustrate this third principle:
So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:3-7 (ESV)
The first thing we see at the end of the parable is a confirmation that God and His angels find joy in those who repent and commit their lives to Jesus.
But there is another important principle contained in this account. You’ll notice that when the man finds his lost sheep, he doesn’t just keep that joy to himself. He calls together his friends and neighbors so that they can rejoice with him. We find the same thing in the other two parables in that chapter. The woman who finds the lost coin and the man whose lost son comes home also called others to rejoice with them.
Paul confirms this same principle in Romans 12:
Rejoice with those who rejoice…
Romans 12:15 (ESV)
Although this appears rather easy to do on the surface, it may in fact be the most difficult of the three principles we’ve looked at this morning to actually carry out. I think it is really hard for us to share our joy sometimes because we are worried about how others are going to react to it. And conversely, sometimes it is really hard for us to share in the joy of others when maybe we don’t have that same joy in our own lives.
Let me give you an example. In the past several months we have had the privilege of praying for those in our body who have been miraculously cured of cancer in their bodies. And for most of us, it is pretty easy to rejoice with them in that healing that God has provided. But what about some others that we have prayed for where God, in his complete wisdom and sovereignty, has chosen not to bring physical healing? Have you ever thought about how hard it must be for them to rejoice in the healing of others? Or how hard is it for all of us to rejoice in those situations where God chooses not to heal?
It’s really hard sometimes to do what Paul instructs us to do with these words:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
And yet when we’re able to do that, when we all rejoice together regardless of the circumstances, that becomes some fruit that is very alluring and attractive to those around us.
• Developing joy in our worship
1) Give thanks to God regardless of our circumstances
We saw this principle just a moment ago when we looked at the passage from 1 Thessalonians 5 that commanded us to give thanks in all circumstances. Let’s face it, it’s pretty easy to give thanks to God when things are going well, but when the going gets rough that is often a different matter.
But you’ll notice that Paul didn’t instruct us to give thanks for all circumstances, but rather in all circumstances. And the only way we can do that is to keep our focus on God and not on the circumstances.
How many times have you heard someone begin their conversation with these words – “under the circumstances…” Well God doesn’t want us to live under the circumstances. Someone once said that circumstances are like a mattress – when you get on top of them you can get a good night’s rest, but if you live under them, you’ll suffocate.
Perhaps the greatest example of living out this principle in the Bible is that of Job. After Job had everything taken away from him the very first thing that he did was to worship:
Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job 1:20, 21 (ESV)
Those words are the inspiration behind one of my favorite songs that we’ll sing in just a few minutes – “Blessed Be Your Name”. The theme of that song is that no matter what our circumstances are we can give thanks to God and praise Him.
I don’t know about you, but often when I show up at church on Sunday morning I’m distracted by my circumstances which tend to rob me of my joy. But as the worship team practices and we begin to lift up praise to God those circumstances begin to fade into the background. But it’s not until all of us join together and raise our voices to God in unison that those circumstances no longer come to mind and my joy is restored.
2) Invest our lives in the kingdom of God
In Acts 5, we find the account of how the apostles were arrested by the Jewish officials for preaching the gospel. Although many in the council wanted to kill them, a man named Gamaliel convinced them to release the men, but not before they were given a stern warning and beaten:
…when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Acts 5:40-42 (ESV)
Because these men were devoted to investing their lives in the kingdom of God they could rejoice even when they were beaten as a result of their faith. We see here that God brings great joy when we work together to advance the kingdom of God.
There is great joy when we join together as a body to invest our lives in the kingdom of God. And while there is a need to constantly evaluate the methods we use to try and penetrate the world around us, the joy is found in the process of being obedient to Jesus and doing our best to penetrate the world around us with the gospel regardless of what results we might be able to see in this lifetime.
This week, I was asked to perform a memorial service for the brother of a guy I went to high school with. And to be real honest, I had a busy enough week without having to prepare for that service or give up part of my Saturday for that service. But it was really I joyful experience for me because I got to present the gospel to a small group of people among whom I will probably never have another chance to do so. I will never know on this side of eternity whether that effort bears any fruit or whether I was merely planting a seed or watering it. The joy comes from being faithful to God to invest in His kingdom regardless of what results we can see. And that is true for us as a body as well.
3) Share our joy with God
Five times in the Psalms we are commanded to “make a joyful noise to the Lord”. As we have seen, our joy comes from God, but God wants us to give that joy back to Him in our worship, especially in our corporate worship. Every time we meet together as a body of believers our meetings should overflow with genuine joy when we consider who God is and what He has done.
That’s why sometimes I’m really perplexed when we seem to be able to express joy, or at least happiness, so much easier in other areas of our lives than we do in our corporate worship. People don’t seem to be afraid to express their emotions as they root on their favorite sports team or go to a concert by one of their favorite musicians. We don’t seem to have any problem expressing joy when we celebrate someone’s birthday or some other milestone in their life.
But for some reason when we gather together to worship that same level of enthusiasm and joy often seems to be missing. Instead of paying extra for the front row seats, we get here early so we can sit in the back. We sometimes sing songs to God while our minds are clearly in another place and it shows on our faces and in our body language.
I’m not suggesting that we try to artificially manufacture joy in our worship. Obviously raising our hands or clapping or anything else we do just to put on a show for God or for others doesn’t please God at all. But what I am encouraging us to do is to focus on God and the joy that He gives and then just let that naturally overflow in the way that we respond to Him as we praise Him for who He is and what He has done. Because that kind of response to God is contagious to others and also very attractive and alluring to an unbelieving world.
The fruit of the Spirit is joy. Let’s all work together to make this body a place where our joy is exhibited in the way we treat each other and in the way that we worship God together.
