Joy

 (Message by Pastor Philip Joseph on Sunday, 9th Oct 2011. Happy reading!)

Jesus said to His 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

It is my prayer today that you do, not just hear and understand this intellectually, but also experience the joy Jesus gives. This joy that we are speaking is not some imagined ‘feel good’ factor of knowing God, nor is it related to what is happening around us; it is not some psychological advice to bring health to your body; This JOY that Jesus gives, is real, tangible and experiential. Jesus says, that our heart will rejoice and that no one will be able to take it away from us! (John 16:22)

What this means to us is that there is a joy that is permanent; yes, everlasting joy- an overflowing, abundant, never-ceasing joy, in Jesus Christ. And in that prayer of John 17, Jesus prayed for His disciples: ...that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. (John 17:13)

We have joy that is not dependent on circumstances around us; nor situations and seasons that we go through. Therefore, never lose the joy that Jesus has given you. Paul writes from a prison cell (the last place anyone would imagine for a joy-filled life, let alone encourage others to be filled with joy) saying: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (Phil. 4:4). One can imagine Paul as he writes this, being filled with extreme joy; and he makes doubly sure others too know what he is talking about, he says...(in case you did not get what I am saying, the first time) Again, I will say, rejoice!

Beloved, it is God’s will for us to be filled with joy always. Because it is His joy that He is giving us! Look at Psalm 32:11. It says: Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! These are God’s commands to follow- that we be glad and rejoice... and shout for joy!

Beloved, it is God’s will (1 Thess. 5:16) and God’s command for us to be filled with joy. Rejoice! Now what do you do when you are filled with joy? I do not know about you, but during my drives, I often sing! Psalm 33:1 says: Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. And yet again in Psalm 118:24: This is the day that the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Therefore, each day of your life, as you wake up in the morning, notwithstanding your circumstances, obey the Lord’s command: Rejoice!

• We rejoice for what God has done for us in the past;
• We rejoice for what God is doing for us today;
• We rejoice knowing what God has kept in store for us, someday yonder!

(i)                 God’s Done Joy

We can be filled with joy, “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” (Col. 1:12) O what a wonderful, wonderful day, Day I will never forget...After I wandered in darkness away, Jesus-my Savior, I met! From the kingdom of darkness, into His kingdom of light-what a transforming selection! Yes, we have been qualified by our Father in heaven!

I remember as a small kid, when they used to divide teams, and being filled with joy for being selected in one team or the other. Think about our national selection-being able to represent the country in any sport; what a joy! But we, as God’s people, have something of far more value than any national selection- being qualified by our heavenly Father! What a joyous moment for us-when the transaction was made quickly by our Father, to purchase us by the precious blood of Jesus Christ-God’s own Son.

Jesus, while He was on this earth, told His disciples: “...do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20). It is wonderful to have a ministry... of working miracles and driving out demons... but we rather rejoice in this: our names are written in heaven. Our selection is sure! Rejoice!

Do not wait for some ‘gift’ from God to be filled with joy. The best Gift is already given-Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son... Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

(ii)               God’s Doing Joy

Eph. 5:18-19 says: And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always...

Paul uses the present continuous tense to describe the joy being filled with the Holy Spirit: singing and making melody in your heart... Yes, Joy is a heart condition, and every day, we must seek a fresh infilling of joy that comes from His indwelling Spirit. God’s kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The kingdom life is so full of joy-not yesterday’s but today and each new day!

Jesus has promised that he will supply our lack, if only we ask... and our joy will be made full. Our joy is our birthright-being born into the family of God! God is willing... and God is able to supply all our needs. Paul, while in prison in Rome, rejoiced greatly... when God miraculously supplied his lack, by sending help and finance from the church at Philippi (Phil. 4:10). God will make thw wilderness blossom; and bring out streams in the desert. God is willing; God is able; and God will do it for you-trust Him. Rejoice!

(iii)             God’s Will-Do Joy

James 1:2 gives a radical view of joy. It says: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

It is not a question of if, it just a question of when we fall into various trials; our God is a God of reason and purpose, and He has some special plan for each one of us. But in His general plan for all His saints, He wants yyou and I to have patience. What joy, if only we could count it! There may be others who fret and worry about what is happening, while we, knowing what God will do, can be filled with joy, as we wait to see our faith displayed. Maybe we don’t understand what is happening around us-but we do know and count what is happening within us-patience.

The challenge before us is whether we will be people who only see with natural eyes, or are we willing to see by faith? Habakkuk had this tremendous reason and faith for joy-he just chose to rejoice in spite of the circumstances. It says in Hab. 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls- yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; ...” A bleak, dreary and gloomy today does not mean any lack of joy in the believer’s life. It is just another reason proving God’s faithfulness to us and an occasion for us to count it all joy. Therefore we rejoice!

Call it the kingdom lifestyle, if you wish; the truth is that joy does not depend on what we see now! Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13). If you are a Habakkuk in the making, you are a kingdom person... and no circumstance is going to put you down. Rejoice!

If you are really joyful, show it in your face. Let your spouse and those close to you know you as a joyful person; everyone who meets you must sense your inward joy. Our God is a joyful Person. It is written about Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, that He endured the cross, despising the shame because a joy was set before Him. (Heb. 12:2). And it is His joy that He has given us; and it is His joy that abides in us and it becomes our joy. For God anoints our head with oil; and our cup runs over (Psalm 23:5). In His presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). And the ransomed of the Lord shall sing for joy-with everlasting joy on their heads (Isaiah 35:10).

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Cor. 2:9)

I remember being filled with a sense of joy on going abroad the first time; and seeing Germany-all neat and tidy, my heart was filled with joy. And seeing New York city in the US, filled with grandeur and majesty, I was overwhelmed by what I saw. But beloved, we are going to a better place! I am sure we will be floored, my brothers by what we see on that day! There is no place like that here on earth... a place filled with glory, and a city bright; God Himself being the light. And there is a Person waiting for us, who is full of glory (1 Peter 1:4-6).

I have written (spoken) in so many words (more than 1500 words) of the importance of every believer being filled with joy. It is God’s will, and it is God’s command that we must do and obey! Rejoice! Let me close with just two words; even if you forget all that I have spoken, remember these two words from 1 Thess. 5:16: REJOICE ALWAYS! It is the will of God-the Father, God-the Son Jesus, and God-the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Reasons To Rejoice, Always

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph; typed by Grace Nesaraj)

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I will say, Rejoice!

Do you think it is really possible, humanly speaking, to be filled with joy always? Human experience tells us it is not possible. But you know what? It is God’s will for us to rejoice always; to pray without ceasing and in everything to give thanks (1 Thess.5:18). It is POSSIBLE, because it is the will of God concerning you and me.

Isaiah 61 prophesies about Jesus’ ministry thus: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me.” And one of the things talked about Jesus is that He gives us the oil of joy in exchange for mourning. What a wonderful exchange! Jesus Himself demonstrated a life full of joy and happiness; although born in a crib, working as a carpenter, dying as a criminal. Why do I say this? Because just a day before Gethsemane, this is His prayer: “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” It’s a joy that the world cannot give; a joy that the world cannot understand; and a joy that no one can take away! We cannot buy it, we cannot attain it, we cannot earn it; but we receive it!

Paul shares this same joy with the believers in Philippi. Phil.4.4 is the theme of this book. The word ‘joy’ or ‘rejoice’ occurs 16 times in this short letter of Paul. Remember, Paul himself is in prison for the sake of the gospel. Yet, full of joy, he writes to the church at Philippi “Rejoice…” and incase you did not get what he said the first time, he says, “Again, I will say, Rejoice!”

Rejoice in the progress of the gospel

Paul explains that whatever that has happened to him has helped in the furtherance of the gospel (Phi. 1:12). And in v18 he concludes, he will rejoice because ‘Christ is preached’. We rejoice too, that the name of Jesus is lifted up!

What is Paul trying to tell us in Phil. 4:4? In order to understand, we must read the verses above and below, understand the entire theme of the book, and look for similar verses in the entire Bible (the context principle).

One day, the disciple came to Jesus pleased with the fact that the demons were subject to them. Jesus answered that they should rather rejoice that their names are written down in the Book of Life! Whatever the circumstances, we have this assurance too; forgiven and clean in trusting Jesus as Savior, our names are written down in Heaven. The present may be unpleasant, but there is a bright future ahead. One of the secrets for joy is looking forward to something great and glorious.

Rejoice in serving Jesus

Phil. 2:17: “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”

Another reason to rejoice is in serving Jesus, we see the increase in the faith of those who believe. It does not matter that much what happens with us. Paul endured hardships and countless difficulties; was thrown into prison! And yet even there he rejoiced, singing praises to God. What happened? God caused an earthquake, the prison doors were thrown open; the prison guard received salvation.

Satan must have thought that he had done a good job with Paul putting him behind bars. Paul may have thought that he would have to endure the prison cell for long. But God’s ways are higher, and His works greater. You know what! God did more through Paul’s prison life than when he was outside. Paul wrote his letters to the churches during those times! What a treasure for us today.

Rejoice in serving others

Freely you have received, freely give! This could very well sum up Paul’s attitude in serving others (Phil. 4:1). Give out in order not to give in! Live a service-centered life and not a self-centered life. You have a choice to be like the Dead sea, that has only inflow or like the Sea of Galilee, that has both an inflow and an outflow; you have a choice to be stale and useless or to be a life-giving blessing to others.

Paul could have thought let us minister to me now , encourage me and serve now that I am in prison, But no he was not self centred. When pastor Epaphroditus from Philippi, comes with a financial gift to Paul in Rome, Paul blesses those who gave “Now my God shall supply all your needs…”

I tell you, God shall supply all your needs too when you serve others in Christ. Whether you have little or whether you have more, God looks down from heaven to care for your every need. The right hand of the Lord does valiantly (Ps. 118:15). Underneath his everlasting arms, we take refuge. His eyes are upon the sparrow and His eyes are upon us. He cares for you, and therefore you can always have joy.

May the joy of Jesus be our strength. Amen.