“Joy Inexpressible”
I Peter 1:3-9 (quotes taken from the NKJV unless noted)
Wakelee Church ~ Holy Humor Sunday, April 3, 2005
Theme: Christ’s joy lives in us when we remain focused on our belief of God’s promises.
Introduction – Joy is often a hard thing to come by….
Illus. Questions that have Confused humankind!!
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?
If the professor on Gilligan’s Island can make a radio out of coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?
Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They’re both dogs!
If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all those Acme supplies, why didn’t he just buy dinner? And why did he keep buying from Acme with their dismal product performance?
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he can’t wait to stick his head out the window into the wind?
Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?
Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
More seriously, one of the OTHER questions that has confused humankind is where to find joy. We look for joy in what we own, how many children we may have (or not have), our job status, or our friendships. But joy still seems to be illusive.
And this morning as we come into this place to celebrate Holy Humor, Christ’s last laugh – his victory over death, the headlines speak more of death than victory. We hear of Terry Shiavo and find it difficult to find any joy. We here of John Paul II, and no matter what your political or theological view, it’s hard to find joy in his passing.
I also fully realize that many have given up on joy as well. They can point to each day of their lives and tell you stories of stress, sorrow and pain, how one unjoyful situation seems to follow another to the point that they can’t remember the last time they felt “joy” in its purest form.
Joy is often a hard thing to come by….
I – The Bible talks a lot about joy…WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE JOYFUL!
But, as Christians, we are called to a life of joy. According to the Strong’s Concordance, the word joy and its derivatives appear almost five hundred times in the whole of Scripture. Moses talked about joy. David wrote about joy. The prophets predicted joy. Jesus proclaimed joy. The disciples taught joy.
Illus. But joy seems to hang on your point of view doesn’t it? It reminds me of a story where one enterprising man asked the Lord, “Lord, how long is a million years to you?”
The Lord replied, “To me, a million years is like a second.”
Carrying one step further, the man asked, “Lord, how much is a million dollars to you?”
The Lord said, “To me, a million dollars is like a penny.”
Thinking he’d found a loophole, the man asked, “Lord, may I have a penny?”
The Lord answered, “Sure, just a second.”
Joy depends upon our point of view. It’s interesting to note that one of the last notes attributed to Pope John Paul II told the world to, “Be of good cheer!” Even in the midst of death, he realized the need to focus on the joy of eternal life. In fact, when it was announced that he had went to be with his Father, some on the steps of St. Peter’s Square applauded.
Isn’t that the message of Scripture? The Bible says that we are to be a joyful people, even in the midst of all that happens around us. But is this really possible?
*****in the insert, not spoken
Especially in the Psalms… (taken from the NIV)
“The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.” – Psalm 19:8
“My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.” – Psalm 28:7
“Clap you hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” – Psalm 47:1
“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you…” – Psalm 71:23
“…I sing for joy at the worlds of your hands.” – Psalm 92:4
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad…” – Psalm 96:11
“Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.” – Psalm 98:8
“Shout for joy, all the earth.” – Psalm 100:1
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”– Psalm 118:24
In Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the KJV and RSV…
199 entries for “joy, joyed, joyful, joyfully, joyfulness”
284 entries for “rejoice, rejoiced, rejoicest, rejoiceth, rejoicing”
15 entries for “enjoy, enjoyed”
TOTAL = 498 entries
*****
II – Peter’s equation for inexpressible joy…
Peter would have said yes! The scholars tell us that Peter was sitting in Rome when he wrote I Peter, just before Paul arrived on his fourth missionary journey. Thirty or so years after the Resurrection of Christ, Peter wrote a Spirit-inspired letter that dealt with primarily Christian persecution and suffering.
Throughout his discourse, he continually lifted up Christ as the perfect example. Through his sinless life, his endurance of suffering beyond all limits, and his unwavering commitment to truth, Christ offered the greatest example.
So it should come as no surprise that Peter started this letter in a spirit of joy, and especially an inexpressible joy that comes from God’s promises and our acceptance of them.
Illus. While we were at the Rock’n’Bowl Friday night with some of our youth, we had a ball by just being silly and focusing on fun. I think we were able to get almost ten games in total, but one of the most memorable parts of that night for me, will be when we shared our pizza.
After we’d plowed through three pizzas, and six plus pitchers of pop, we actually had some left over. And even though I’d promised the leftovers to one of the youth, we ended up sharing them with a group of young adults in the lane next to us.
When I made the offer, I think they almost fell off their chairs. We ended up with just about one pizza left after putting our leftovers together, and these youth mowed through them like it was a gourmet meal and they were on a stranded island.
Peter tells us that Christian joy should be just like that…a gourmet meal on a stranded island of discomfort, a gourmet meal on a stranded island of disbelief, a gourmet meal on a stranded island struggles and pain.
As Christians, we have a promise! It’s a promise that no one else can claim. It’s a promise that is reserved especially for God’s children. It’s a promise that in incorruptible, unspoiled, and eternal. God’s promise is simply this…a living hope…an unfading covenant…of salvation to those who hear God’s voice and follow.
And when a human being accepts that promise, and focuses on that promise, something miraculous occurs. Peter says, “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory….” (I Peter 1:8b)
It’s a simple equation…
God’s promise (an incorruptible, unspoiled inheritance) (vs. 3-4) +
Belief in God’s promise (a powerful, genuine faith in Christ lived) (vs. 5-7) =
Inexpressible joy (based on the salvation of our souls.) (vs. 8-9)
Peter’s equation for inexpressible joy can be ours as well. When we focus on God’s promise, believing in it with a powerful, genuine faith, then joy has no choice but to come.
III – Why do we need this joy? – It keeps us motivated!
“Why bother?” you ask. “Why bother using all that energy to remained focused when the it seems that we don’t have enough energy to keep going?”
Illus. And this question of energy is what really drives our decision making, doesn’t it? It reminds me of the story where a cop pulled over a car and approached the driver, who happened to be a nun. “Why were you only driving 23 miles per hour on the highway?” he asked.
"Well,” she said, “the sign said 23 miles per hour.”
“That’s not the speed limit,” the officer said, “that the highway’s name Highway 23.”
Then, looking at the other nuns in the car, he asked, “Why do they look so shaken up?”
The nun blushed and said, “We just exited Interstate 196.”
Why bother? Energy. Joy provides the energy. Joy keeps us motivated. Joy keeps us going. Joy clears our hearts and minds and provides a faith, that although tested by "fire is much more precious than gold." Joy leads us into praise and worship. Joy honors Christ and gives Him all the glory.
Peter also answers the why question in verse 13. And while we didn’t hear that today, here it now from The Message translation…
“So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now.” – I Peter 1:13 (The Message)
Joy points to the receiving end of our faith and says, “the salvation that you have received” is big enough, strong enough, and able enough to meet anything that gets in its way.
IV – How will this joy affect us? – Christ’s joy will be living within us!
And when the full realization of that joy gets in you, then life as we know it changes. But we have to believe it will happen for its full affect.
Illus. – Have you heard about Bill and his friend Isaac. They were looking through the Bible and Bill found the passage about Moses crossing the Red Sea on foot and pointed it out to his friend, who replied, “That’s actually the Sea of Reeds, which at that point was actually very shallow so they probably crossed over in just two feet of water.”
“Oh,” said Bill, and he continued to read, somewhat disappointed, until he came across the rest of the story and shouted, “Isaac, you’ve got to read this, it says here that the whole Egyptian army drowned in just tow feet of water!”
When we believe in the inexpressible joy of Christ, then it begins to live in us. Just as the song we learned in Sunday School taught us..."The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength."
That is why Jesus told the disciples “These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full,” (John 15:11) and prayed to His Father in Gethsemane, “…these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves…” (John 17:13).
Jesus’ purpose was clear…he wanted his joy to be our joy. He wanted the joy he experienced in the promises of His father, to be the joy we fully experience. So even when we face the Gardens of Gethsemane’s in our own lives, we too can say, let the joy of Christ continue to live in us!
Conclusion – When does it happen? - “Joy comes in the morning…”
It’s interesting to note that back in 2003, many proposed to Mel Gibson that he follow up his powerful movie on the sacrificial love of Jesus, "The Passion of the Christ," with an even more challenging sequel titled, "The Resurrection of the Christ." Why? There was a need to focus on joy. After the crucifixion, the resurrection and the Risen Christ’s many appearances to his disciples led to an explosion of joy and celebration throughout the land.
The Joyful Noiseletter, the folks who brought us “The Risen Christ by the Sea” put it like this…
"At the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples: ’These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.’ (John 15:11) Astonishing! Here is a man who knows he will soon be chained, beaten, whipped, scourged, brutalized, and crucified, and he’s talking about joy! When he walked the earth, Jesus was a joyful teacher and healer, and after the crucifixion, he was a joyful, triumphant Risen Christ.” What greater story could be told?
Illus. It reminds me of one last story…
Three families sat down to eat dinner. The hostess said to her young daughter, “Honey, would you say the blessing for us?”
“I don’t know” replied the youngster, “I don’t know what to say.”
“Just say what you’ve heard Mommy say,” her mom assisted.
“Okay,” the daughter paused and then began, “Dear God, why did I invite all these people over?”
When we’re in the midst of unjoyful times, it’s hard to be thinking joyfully. But the Pslamist wrote...
“Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.” – Psalm 30:5
When the disciples were at their lowest, joy came on Easter morning. When we are at our lowest, joy comes when we too, experience our faith in the Resurrected Christ.
God’s promise + our belief in God’s promise = inexpressible joy!
And the church says…Amen!
Closing Song - #310 – He Lives
Benediction – Here these words from Paul’s letter to the Romans as our benediction…
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
