“The Journey to Joy”
John 15:1-12
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This morning’s message is one that the Lord laid on my heart awhile back and with God being my helper I’d like to preach on the subject of joy in the life of a believer. The very first thing we need to clarify is that we are not talking about happiness. Happiness differs from joy on several points. Happiness depends on happenings, on what’s going on around us. If things are going well we are generally happy but if not then we are unhappy; happiness is transitory, fleeting and volatile. It can and often does come and go in an instant! Unbelievers, being made in God’s image even under the fall and under the curse can have a certain taste of happiness. Joy on the other hand depends of God. Someone wrote, No God, no joy; No God, no good. www.desiringgod.org
Happiness is based on an experience or other external stimulus. For instance, getting engaged to be married may result in happiness. Happiness also tends to disappear when the situation changes. If, shortly after becoming engaged, a person wrecks his/her car, the happiness generated by the pleasurable experience of becoming engaged will most likely disappear because of the terrible experience of wrecking the car. The Greek word translated "happy" in the New Testament appears approximately fifty times in the New Testament. Five times it is translated "happy" and forty-five times it is translated "blessed" (numbers vary in different translations).
On the other hand, joy is based on internal well-being or the anticipation of well-being. To follow the above example, an engaged couple is often not happy. Circumstances in their lives—disagreements, for example—are not pleasurable and generate unhappiness rather than happiness. But, at the same time, most engaged couples would say they have joy almost all the time because of their anticipated marriage. The joy they have is independent of the current circumstances. The New Testament has several words that are translated "joy" or "rejoice" in the New Testament, and they appear several hundred times.
One of the most striking places is in James 1:2, where the Scripture says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." Having "trials of various kinds" will definitely not lead to happiness, but Christians are told that it is reason for joy. The reason for joy is found in the following two verses, "for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Joy here is based on the anticipated results of the trials, not the trials themselves.
Another place in Scripture that emphasizes joy is the entire book of Philippians. Paul wrote this book from prison in Rome, which was not a happy place. He begins with a profession of joy in chapter 1, verses 3 through 6, when he says "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." He didn't say that he was happy—indeed, circumstances fought against that—but he prayed with joy because of the confidence he had in the anticipated results of God's work. He admits that some were preaching the gospel thinking it would cause trouble for Paul, but he goes on to say, "… what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice" (Philippians 1:18 NIV). Paul goes on to exhort the Philippians to seek a relationship with God that will bring them joy.
It is evident in the Scriptures that joy because of our relationship with God is to be desired more than happiness in our circumstances. Happiness may be good, but joy is much better. Happiness is often fleeting because circumstances change, but joy in Christ is eternal. www.compellingtruth.org
We should also recognize that many who profess to be believers do not have this joy that the Bible is talking about. You can recognize this absence of joy in their conduct, their communications and their countenance! I’m convinced that sinners get the wrong idea about the Christian life by watching professing Christians. They think that the Christian life is a life of drudgery and a lifestyle to be avoided until later in life. I read an interesting anecdote about the Puritans who were very strict in their behavior. They said that, “eating ice cream was a sin because anything that gave you that much pleasure had to be a sin!” It must also be acknowledged that this absence of joy in many professing Christians is due to the fact that they have never been saved. The most miserable thing in life is for someone to try to live a changed life without being changed! It’s absolutely impossible.
What can we learn about the joy that Jesus speaks about in our text?
I. The Promise of Joy
a. A personal relationship
Joy is promised to those who “abide” in Jesus and this involves “keeping His commandments,” (v.10) there can be no joy apart from a continuing obedience to the Word of God.
John 17:13 And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness. GNB
Notice the connection between what Jesus speaks and His joy in us.
b. A promised result
If we keep His word we have the promise of His joy. This joy is implanted in our souls by the Holy Spirit at the moment we truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We receive His joy, the joy that is promised to all those who keep His Word (commandments)
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
1 Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
c. A powerful response
When happiness is going out, joy is coming in!
II. The Progress of Joy
a. The filling
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
b. The feeding
Jerimiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
c. The following
For the joy of Jesus to “remain” in us we must continue following Him or “’abiding” in Him. There is only one thing that can keep a born again, blood bought believer from continuing to experience the joy of the Lord and that is sin! Sin is a joy stealer and a joy robber. No one knew this better than King David…
Psa 51:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
III. The Pinnacle of Joy
a. It is effervescent
John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
When I was a boy we would go to my grandparents house and they had a pump, one of those kind that you have to prime with water. There was always a can or jug of water filled and ready by the pump and after you got your water you would fill the can up for the next time. That is not a good description of the joy of the Lord. You don’t have to prime it or pump it up or manufacture it. If Jesus is living inside of you then it’s like an artesian well springing up own its own! It bubbles up from inside of you and is not affected by external stimulus.
b. It is exceeding
Two times the Bible mentions the phrase “exceeding joy”
1 Pe 4:13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy…
What is this exceeding joy? I believe it is what the Apostle Peter describes as “joy unspeakable and full of glory”
1 Pet 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth every need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.
Refrain:
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.
I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing, I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.
I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face.
I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll;
It is like a great o’erflowing well,
Springing up within my soul.
c. It is everlasting
Isa 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Review:
1. Happiness is determined by external happenings while joy depends on having a relationship with Jesus. Remember Jesus said that His joy is available to those who obey His Words.
2. Sin is the only thing that can rob us of our joy. Keep good accounts with the Lord. You can forfeit the joy of the Lord but it can be restored to you when you repent of your sins.
3. If you are not experiencing joy here and now then you will not in the hereafter.
