“JOY” (GAL. 5:22)

INTRODUCTION:

1. If your Bible is open to Acts 12, let’s start reading with v. 7. READ V. 7-12.

2. Peter was miraculously released from prison.

3. Some Christians were praying while Peter was being released.

4. Peter went into the house where these brethren were gathered.

5. V. 13 tells us what Peter did. READ.

6. Peter knocked on a gate and a “maid came to answer”.

7. Now look at v. 14A. READ.

A. Why did this young woman not open the gate?

B. Was she afraid of Peter?

C. Was she called away from the door?

D. Did she think someone was playing a trick on her?

8. The text says she did not open the entry gate “for joy”.

9. What an interesting statement.

I. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I USED TO WATCH THE BRADY BUNCH WITH MY SISTER. I CAN STILL REMEMBER AN EPISODE WHEN MARCIA (THE OLDEST GIRL IN THIS TV FAMILY) HAD A STRONG INTEREST IN BOYS. ONE DAY A YOUNG MAN MARCIA REALLY LIKED CAME TO THE BRADY HOME. WHEN MARCIA ANSWERED THE DOOR SHE WAS SO EXCITED SHE SLAMMED THE DOOR IN THE YOUNG MAN’S FACE.

A. Marcia was carried away when a young man came to visit.

B. The young maid in Acts 12 was also excited.

C. She was so excited she failed to let Peter into the home.

D. It is not hard to understand the “joy” of Marcia Brady.

E. It is not hard to understand the “joy” described in Acts 12.

F. We may have some difficulty with joy and Gal. 5.

(1) Gal. 5:22 says the fruit of the spirit is “joy”.

(2) The joy described by Paul is demonstrated in Acts 12.

G. In fact, if you like good cross references, you may want to pencil in Acts 12:14 by Gal. 5:22.

H. When we examine the word “joy” we find that it is not happiness.

I. People from the world say, “I am happy.” or, “I used to be happy.”

(1) Happiness is something that comes and goes.

(2) Happiness is dependent upon our circumstances.

(3) If things are good, men and women are probably happy.

(4) If things are not going very well, most are unhappy.

(5) Happiness is directly connected to how things are going.

J. Joy is not connected to how things are going.

K. Joy transcends above the things that happen in our lives.

(1) We can have the worst of weeks and still possess joy.

(2) We can have the best of weeks and still have joy.

(3) The life of Paul demonstrates this point.

(4) Paul went to prison.

(5) In NT times prisons were very unpleasant.

(6) Though Paul was incarcerated, he had joy. (Phil. 18)

(7) Paul said in 2 Cor. 6:10, “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”

II. THREE EXAMPLES OF JOY HAVE BEEN GIVEN. TWO OF THEM HAVE COME FROM THE BIBLE. LET’S NOW DELVE A LITTLE MORE DEEPLY INTO OUR STUDY OF JOY. WHERE DOES JOY COME FROM? WHAT DOES IT DO? HOW DOES IT HELP US?

A. I am going to begin this part of our study with the book of Philemon.

B. Paul wrote to a slave owner he had converted.

C. Based upon what is written, Paul was close to Philemon.

D. These two men had created a solid bond with each other.

E. V. 7 says … READ.

F. When Paul and this man could be together there was joy.

G. Spirits were lifted. Both men felt good.

H. Paul and Philemon were edified and strengthened by each other’s company.

(1) I have heard many say, “I don’t need the church.”

(2) “The people at church are hypocrites.”

(3) “I can serve God very well on my own, thank you.”

(4) Compare these ideas to Gal. 5.

(5) We are to have the fruit of “joy” in our lives.

(6) One of the ways Christians do this is through fellowship. Phil. 7.

(7) Watch people talk when tonight’s service is over.

(8) In many of the conversations that take place people will smile.

(9) The joy from conversing with other Christians will be evident.

(10) The joy that comes from fellowship can be seen from across the room.

(11) Joy is something that is often visible.

(12) Joy was evident when Marcia slammed the door.

(13) It was evident when the maid left Peter at the gate.

(14) It is evident in, before and after our worship service

I. One way of achieving joy is being with God’s people.

J. This is not the only source of joy.

K. Our next reference comes from Matt. 2.

(1) Mary was pregnant with Jesus.

(2) When it came time for the delivery, the only place available was a manger.

(3) The local inn did not have any space for them.

(4) Shepherds were in the area where Jesus was born.

(5) An angel came to these shepherds and said what is in V. 10. READ.

(6) The news of Jesus, heaven says, is “great joy”.

(7) Happiness is something that comes and goes. It is temporary.

(8) For a Christian, joy does not come and go.

(9) We were lost but now we’re saved.

(10) We were once enemies of God but now we are children of God.

(11) Once the devil was our lord but now we have been turned over to the Lord.

(12) Previously we had no hope but now we are full of hope.

(13) In the past we had no inheritance … we had eternal separation …now we have the promise of a kingdom especially prepared for us.

(14) As a non-Christian death may have been a concern … now we have eternal life before us.

L. The gospel and our obedience to it is a source of joy.

(1) From the moment of baptism until the present time, no matter what happens in life, we can

reason as Paul did. I am a Christian. God is my Father and an inheritance is waiting for me.

(2) I may be persecuted. I may be imprisoned. I may be beaten.

(3) I may be laughed at, scoffed at and mocked.

(4) I may be stripped of my possessions. I may be unjustly killed.

(5) No matter what happens, I know who I am and what I have, therefore I have joy. No one can take that away.

(6) We may not be happy but we can have joy.

(7) This is a great message for our children.

M. Acts 5:41 says that some Christians were beaten because of their faith.

N. The beatings were not the happiest moments in the lives of these men.

O. The beatings hurt – they were painful. The text says they “suffered”.

P. Nevertheless, the text also says these men “rejoiced”.

Q. The same thing is true of Jesus according to Heb. 12.

(1) The cross was not a happy experience – it was unpleasant.

(2) From the beatings to the nails (spikes) the whole process was horrible.

(3) Jesus never did say, “I enjoy this.”

(4) What was true of Jesus is found in Heb. 12:2. READ.

R. Jesus “endured” (not enjoyed) the cross.

S. He could do this because He knew of the “joy before Him.”

(1) Being a Christian is to be a source of joy.

(2) This joy is something no one can take from us.

T. Another basis for possessing joy is found in Lk. 10.

(1) Jesus sent out 70 men on what has been called a “limited commission”.

(2) These 70 men came back full of joy.

(3) This band of disciples was excited.

(4) They said, “Even the demons are subject to thy name.”

(5) These men saw what God had done and it brought joy.

(6) When we pray to God and our prayers are answered this should be a source of immense joy.

(7) When we find doors being opened for opportunities this should be another reason to have great joy.

(8) Hearing that people have obeyed the gospel should be a source of joy.

(9) Paul said he was glad (had joy) that people had obeyed the gospel. Rom. 16:19

(10) Seeing other people obey God or seeing God act should radiate joy in our lives.

U. Joy comes from more sources than what have been given.

V. Another source is found in a unified congregation.

W. Not all congregations of the church have been or are unified.

(1) In some places there are cliques and small groups.

(2) Group A has little to do with Group B.

(3) However, Group A and Group C get along with each other.

(4) Listen to Phil. 2:2. READ

(5) Joy is made “full” when a congregation is unified.

(6) No cliques. No in-fighting. No skirmishes.

(7) The church can be a place of incredible joy or it can be a place of incredible frustration.

(8) God intended the church to be a place of joy.

(9) Each of us can help this happen.

(10) A unified church is a joyful church.

X. Another passage that tells us about joy is 2 Jno. 4.

Y. Something filled the apostle John with joy.

Z. Here is what it was. READ 2 Jno. 4.

(1) Most here know that just because “Church of Christ” is on a sign it doesn’t always mean

the people who make up that congregation are following God’s word.

(2) Some congregations hold to the truth; others have departed from it.

(3) When a congregation stays with God’s plan, it is a source of joy.

(4) I have read letters from and spoken with brethren who have worshipped with congregations that left the truth.

(5) When speaking with these Christians the frustration and level of agony is always the same.

(6) Being part of a group that departs from the truth is painful.

(7) We may not think about it too often, but if we worship with a congregation that is abiding in truth, this is a source of joy.

(8) Some cannot appreciate this until they have attended a congregation where departure from the truth takes place.

CONCLUSION:

1. Some have heard of Charles Spurgeon, a famous denominational preacher.

2. One of Mr. Spurgeon’s classes dealt with facial expressions.

3. He said that it was important for a facial expression to harmonize with what is being said.

4. Spurgeon illustrated his point in this way:

5. When you speak of heaven, “Let your face light up. Let your eyes shine with reflected glory.”

6. He continued with, “When you speak of hell … your ordinary face will do.”

7. We have many reasons for joy.

8. This fruit of the spirit is one that is often undeveloped or neglected.

9. We can and we must have joy. If you lack joy, we will do our best to help you.