Having Joy

Paul in Galatians chapter 5, was telling the people that if they live a sinful life and abandon the Spirit of God, that you will be in conflict with God and that one day you would be judged for it;
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22

God desires each one of us to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. By doing so, we will bear fruit in our lives.

Today we looking at joy! Do you have joy in your life? You may think that a silly question, but based on the actions of many believers, sometimes it is difficult to know the answer. A lot of Christians have a reputation of being grumps, gripers, complainers, narrow minded and negative about everything that happens in their lives. There is no way this would of us, but come on, sometimes Christians are even accused of being boring!

A waitress at a local restaurant stumbles and spills a tray of tea all over this guy. Well, he went ballistic! He started shouting and cursing at her. You’re so stupid! I can’t believe you could do such a stupid thing! This is a brand new suit and it cost me $300. I want to see the manager! Thoroughly shaken, she went to get the manager, and the manager came out and asks, is there a problem? The guy replies, is there a problem? She ruined my $300 suit. It’s brand new, and I want a new suit. The manager says, we will be glad to get your suit cleaned. Accidents do happen, and were sorry about this. No, no, he said, I don’t want my suit cleaned. I want a brand new one, and I demand a check be made for $300 now. Well, to avoid a bigger scene, the manager goes back to his office, writes out a check for $300 and brings it to him. Still fuming, the customer leaves.

This happened at noon on a Sunday morning! Why would someone be wearing a suit on Sunday morning? Do you suppose he was just at church? Do you think maybe he heard a story about “love your neighbor”?

A little girl once asked her mother, “If God is bigger than us, and He lives in us, wouldn’t he show through? “

When we are Christians, Jesus ought to show through. The Bible tells us to be Christ-like.

The first thing we need to realize is that there is a difference between joy and happiness.

The Bible mentions joy over 330 times and happiness only 26 times.

Happiness depends upon what happens to us. If the circumstances are right, then we will be happy.

Joy comes from inside. We can possess joy even when we are going through a rough circumstance.

Joy is spiritual practice growing out of faith, grace, gratitude, hope and love. We invite joy into our life when we invite Jesus to dwell in our life. It is not only about emotions, it is about a relationship.

We may not always feel happy, but we can still have joy in our heart because Jesus Christ dwells within us.

Now after saying that- we are given two options this morning.

Maintain or receive that kind of joy or not maintain it or receive it and allow all the “joy suckers” to steal it or keep it from us. We have a choice this morning!

Chief justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.”

Yes, clergy, even other Christians can steal your joy if you let them. Circumstances can rob us.

“Joy sucker” is defined as anyone or anything that robs us of what God intended us to have. That deep abiding inner peace and joy that Jesus Christ promises when we obey His commandments.

This joy does not depend on circumstances because it rests in God’s sovereign control of our lives.

We have to be careful that we don’t let joy suckers steal our joy

Here are some things to think about:

We don’t have to lose our joy because of trials in our life.

Romans 8:28 says: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
You are probably tired of hearing this scripture in so many lessons but it is very significant in our Christian “walk”.

God is working things out for those who are called according to His purpose. The people that are living obedient and love the Lord. He is working things out!
- You may have lost a job
- You may be in a tough relationship
- You may have pressure at work
- Missed a promotion
- Maybe, even someone at church said a wrong thing…. Don’t let them steal your joy!

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

Nehemiah 8:10c tells us – “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

A gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms. It is an oxy-moron. Two things that should not go together.

Sometimes the devil steals our joy by unsatisfied expectations.

Most people can never be content where the Lord has us at the moment. Paul says- “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:12) Contentment doesn’t come when we have everything we want. It comes when we want something and we are willing to wait on God for it.

Lost joy can be restored. David writes- “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Psalm 51:12) David at this point was a bummed out, depressed believer, where joy was a memory. He cried out to God, and God restored him. He will restore us too, if we let him.

Billy Sunday said: “The trouble with many is that they have just enough religion to make them miserable.”

How do you get joy back if you have lost it?

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:2

Some of us need to realize that we have a broken spirit and only God can fix it.
Here are some keys to joy that God gives:
Gratitude- Thank Him for what He has already given us, instead of complaining about what we don’t have.
Compassion- some of us are so wrapped up in our own lives that we miss opportunities God gives us to make an impact in other people’s lives.
Giving to others- Real joy comes from God as we give back to others.
We cannot be stingy with God’s love. It has to be given away so we can receive more.
Contentment- some of us God can’t bless, because we have not learned to be content where He has us right now.

Selfish, condemning people cannot experience God’s real joy because God’s joy is based upon overflowing love that is poured out and refilled by the Holy Spirit active in our lives.

God is asking us this morning, what is your problem?
I sent my son to die for you.
I have given you a resurrected life,
I have sent the Holy Spirit to be with you and guide you.. What is your problem?
Why don’t you have joy overflowing?
Why don’t more people have the joy of the Lord in their life?
The last one is forgiveness
We cannot forgive and they have stolen our joy. We can’t do that on our own. That is a God thing!.

Cry out like David did “Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. Joy suckers do not like to be around Jesus, so stay close to Jesus! “remain in me, and I will remain in you” (John 15:4) that is His promise!