How To Life life with a Joy that is Full

Afternoon to everyone. It's actually a little surprising delight to see so many people here. It was interesting on the way over right when I was about to leave a tornado warning hit Bloomington, and it was coming down. As I drove by the lake, I live at... it was flooding, so definitely good to get outside of... once we got outside, it was a little bit harrowing. I think there was probably a foot of water I drove through at one point. So, you know, you just never know as you're making your drive out. You're like, God will make it work. It's all good. So, for those who are stayed at home, be safe. Glad you're well, and happy Sabbath. We all want happiness, don't we?

Time to time struggles with it. There are people who claim that joy is in short supply in this world these days, and it's not hard to believe if you look at the events that have gone around us, like we've heard in the sermonette. There is anger. There is unrest. They're going through.

These situations are things that cause many people to lose joy. Please turn to John 16 and verse 24. John 16 and verse 22. Let's start in 22. Happiness can be a serious problem as a Christian. Our daily lives can be filled with distractions. We can have work. We can have tension. We can have stress. We can have sickness. The difficulties and challenges block our vision to the kingdom of God, to what's supposed to matter most in our lives, and it can make it seem distant, seem really, really far away. We can sometimes question if it really has to be this way. Have you ever done that with God? You have those conversations with God, and you say, Why, God? Why don't you make life easier? John 16 verse 22.

Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask me nothing. Most assuredly I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you. Until now you have not, I'm sorry, you have asked nothing in my name, ask and you will receive that your joy may be full. I love that phrase. It's actually what inspired this message. Your joy may be full. That word full literally means to the very, very top with no ability to put anything else in. Full. Have you ever felt that way? Do you always feel that way? Probably not. Part of the problem is that joy is often misunderstood. A key thing that we need to realize is that we tend to equate happiness and fun with joy. They are not comparable. They are totally different ideas. A key thing to realize is that happiness is conditional. Happiness is conditioned by and often dependent upon what happens to us.

It's an appropriate reaction to certain circumstances. You get a promotion. You have a child. You receive a compliment. Happiness always depends on what's happening to us.

If people treat us nicely and things are going well in our lives, then we are happy. If our circumstances aren't favorable, we are unhappy. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3, verse 4, there is a time to weep. There is a time to laugh. There is a time to mourn. There is a time to dance. Being happy all the times. Please realize it's not even chemically possible. So it's just face the realities. We all have times when we are going to feel unhappy. Don't sleep for 24 hours and see how you're doing. You're going to trigger a little easier, right?

If we expect otherwise, it will just make us more unhappy. Even for Christians, joy is often confused with a good emotional feeling. Friends, feelings are fickle. That's not what God is talking about. Joy is not dependent on circumstances like happiness is. Joy is a divine dimension which is based on an overarching viewpoint about life and about its purpose. True joy is shown throughout Scripture as a profound quality of life that transcends events and disasters that are faced by God's people. It transcends them. Today we're going to discuss how we can live life with a joy that is full. No matter what we're enduring at the moment, Jesus offers all of us a joy to our lives that circumstances cannot steal. The joy that comes from following Jesus Christ is a constant companion and it's a gift from Him to us. Please turn to Ecclesiastes 2 and we'll read from verse 1 to verse 11. Because I really think the best way to understand this contrast between happiness and joy comes from what Solomon taught in Ecclesiastes. See, physical things absolutely do give us a type of happiness. And Solomon is a great example because he experienced everything that he can even imagine. And we see that in Ecclesiastes 2. It was like this pursuit that he had. Solomon literally had it all. Now realize God wants all of us to enjoy physical things. Don't mess, don't mix that up. We're not meant to live in suffering in a monastery. That is not what the Bible claims. Look at God's creation, right? That was made for mankind. Physical things were designed to give us happiness. But when happiness is based on physical things, right? There's a huge problem with that.

We will never feel fulfilled if that's the math we're using. Ecclesiastes 2, verse 1. I said in my heart, come now, I will test you with mirth, joy, same word. Therefore enjoy pleasure. But surely this also was vanity. I said of laughter, madness, and of mirth, joy again. What does it accomplish? As you read verses 1 through 3, realize what you're seeing is almost this pendulum swing from side to side as he is talking through wild extremes, from extreme to extreme, to see if he could find where joy resides. Solomon tried to live this epicurean life, right? Eat, drink, and be merry. Only do what gives me happiness. And then he swung all the way the other way. I can't even enjoy laughter. Swinging from side to side. Verse 3. I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine while guiding my heart with wisdom. So get the combination of words there, because I find it fascinating. He's not talking about drunkenness. Notice the word drinking and wisdom are linked with the word while. So what he's doing in a sense is he's saying, I'm going to spoil myself with top quality $200,000 bottle of Chateau Lafitte Rothschild Bordeaux while living with wisdom. Then he goes to the other pendulum. And how do I lay hold on folly? So now he's trying to experiment with bad and foolish things. Till I might see what good for the sons of men to do under heaven. All the men who lived in heaven. I acquired male and female servants and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem and Jerusalem before me. Now, we're human. We've all participated in this concept and this dialogue imagining if only we were rich, which is a very fun thing, it's really more than we have. Billionaires don't feel rich because they wished for more than they had. It's ironic. But anyway, we all have this concept. Can you hear this dialogue about if only I won the lottery? If only I didn't have to work for a living? If only I could buy whatever I wanted? Solomon! You want to know what it's like? Look at Solomon!

And please realize everything that Solomon mentions is offered to us by God. It can bring us happiness at time's source of happiness. Verse 8, I also gathered for myself silver and gold in the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the son of men, and musical instruments of all kind. He even had the best concerts. I've always wanted to see Billy Joel in concert. I longed to see the Eagles in concert prior to Glenfry dying. There are all sorts of Broadway musicals and shows that I would love to go to. Solomon had them brought to him. Family and friends come on over. We're having a concert at the palace. Pretty cool. Verse 9, So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired, I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labors. And this was my reward from all my labor. Now let's get his reflection verse. Then I looked on all the works of my hands, had done and on the labor which I had toiled, and indeed all was vanity and grasping for wind. There was no profit under the sun. New Living Translation for that verse says, But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was also meaningless. Like chasing the wind, there was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

Vanity literally means vapor, breath. And Solomon tried to look all sorts of places. He tried to look to wisdom, to wine, to pleasure, to lusts, to accomplishments, to possessions, to power, to wealth, go on and on, you name it. Solomon didn't refuse anything to himself. He looked for joy and happiness in physical things, but found it didn't last. If we look there, it won't last. If that's all there is, then life is meaningless. It's useless, like capturing wind in a bottle. We can seek, we can be attached to physical objects and physical experiences. And they aren't bad in themselves, but they aren't enough. Our first core lesson is that joy is a contented way of life, not predicated on good things happening. Joy is a contented way of life, not predicated on good things happening. See, if we equate joy simply with happiness, good things happening, then basically we're into what I would call Satan's Pavlov Happiness Theory. Go back to Eve. If you eat from this tree just outside your reach, then you'll find everything you want and you'll find contentment. It's not going to happen. Joy is not found when everything goes our way. We will feel loss. We will feel despair in life. Joy is the ability to transcend this, not avoid experiencing loss. Joy is more than an emotion. It's more than a possession. It's more than experience, and it's more than a religion. Joy is a way of life. It's a state of being that does not come from the outside in. Realize that. Joy can be boiled down simply to the word contentment, but it's a special type of contentment. The essence of joy is based on the abiding knowledge within us that our life has purpose. It's generated by God living inside us from the inside out. That's the source of joy. The second core lesson is joy is a gift from God. Joy is a gift from God. There has to be more to life than physical things and satisfying self. Solomon's journey of discovery is ours, right? Some people are just happier by nature than others. That's not what we're talking about. That's chemical. We all need something that carries us through times when we're struggling, when things aren't going so good.

Some try to find this through drugs. Some try to find it through overeating. Some try to use indulgence. All end up unfulfilled. Lasting joy will only come from God. A trap we can fall into is to say, since I am not feeling happy, then God is not with me. That's turning the math totally backwards. Joy starts with us realizing it's a gift from God and comes from His Spirit. We realize we need God to feel joy, or our life is going to be hollow. That's the Solomon journey in Ecclesiastes. That's what he learned. Joy means we believe God's final outcome is good. See, happiness is based on what flows toward us.

Incoming experiences, things that happen to us, that is based on getting. That is based on receiving. That is not based on God's nature. Joy is a gift from God, not a condition we demand of Him. We never should list conditions of God that must happen for us to be happier. We aren't supposed to go to God and say, God, if you give me this, then I will finally feel joy and I'll serve you. That's not the way it works. It doesn't work that way. Joy is based on what's going on within us, how we think, and shows itself in what flows out from us toward others. That's the way joy works. Biblical joy is talking about a joy produced in us from God. And so when we talk about joy as a product of God's Spirit, it means we recognize it's something we can't produce in ourselves. We were appointed by God to bear fruit after baptism. But don't take that too far. Realize the concept. We won't be perfectly joyful instantly as soon as we're baptized, right? We still feel a lack of joy after coming out of that water. The point is that all fruits of God's Spirit are learned. They require effort. They take a long time to grow and to develop. And it's actually developed as we realize we need more patience and kindness and mercy and joy. It's learned through the process. Turn to Jude 1 in verse 24. Jude 1 in verse 24. Now Jude is this beautiful poem of praise to God. And God desires us to have a certain amount. None of us are able to do what we really want the most, and that is gain eternal life. But God is able. That's the origin of joy. He can present us faultless because of Christ's sacrifice that paid the penalty for our sins. Romans 16, 25 describes us to establish us. God sets us firmly on a joyful foundation if we let Him. If we let Him. If we want to see this kind of fruit ripen in our lives, then we desperately need the Holy Spirit to weigh whatever is hindering our joy. And then we have to let it empower us to make daily choices that make us closer to a lifestyle of rejoicing. It's a process. See, the point here is that joy is a gift from God that comes from and is a fruit of His Spirit. It's a divine gift that basically involves God saying, I got this. But faith is just trusting that God has this. That's our journey in life, isn't it? That's basically what it's about. It's more than just happiness, and it involves us giving up parts of ourselves. Because see, it's every one of the fruits of the Spirit.

Our carnal nature will resist it, but we have to give up those parts of our life that resists Godly joy. That leads to the next core lesson. Obedience is required for joy to be full. Obedience is required for joy to be full. You don't need to turn there because you know it well. Solomon concluded his journey in Ecclesiastes by stating in Ecclesiastes 12, 13, and 14. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. It's the essence of joy. There's nothing wrong with having a family, with having a career, and even having wealth. Happiness is a God-intended gift for us to enjoy fully as long as we put fearing God first. That's the rub. That's the human balancing act. Fear God and keep His commandments. One of the reasons we keep the commandments is so we have true joy in our life by living the right way. Turn to John 15 verses 9 through 11, and we're going to see another example that Jesus used very similar to the verse we started this sermon with. As we saw in this first verse, Jesus regularly links obedience and joy. It's an interesting connection that He makes over and over.

John 15 in verse 9, and we'll read through verse 11. As the Father loved me, I also have loved you, abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, result? You will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. From this passage, we see that joy is the byproduct of obedience, and that Jesus Himself is the source of our joy. Now, I think it's safe to say that joy is one of the most elusive fruits for us in these times, and I would argue that as we get closer and closer toward the end times, it'll become harder and harder to hold on to.

Jesus said that if we obey, His joy will remain in us. So the first thing we must remember is that when the Bible gives us a promise, like your joy may be full, we will only receive that promise by faith. We will only receive that promise by faith.

I read an analogy that I love. This is what it says. It says, Think about faith as the money or the currency that pays for everything we get from God. Isn't that an interesting way to look at it? Think of faith as the money or currency that pays for everything we get from God. If our lives are lacking in faith, our lives will be lacking joy. If our lives are lacking faith, we'll be lacking in everything we're trying to find from God, or that He promises to us.

Now, we can still have joy, but it's going to be this joy that's kind of on life support. It's going to be just barely surviving, and I don't want to live that way. I want a joy that's outflowing, and you just can't help but see it in me. That's what we're trying to get toward. Living in God's love is living in a spirit of willing, joyful compliance. A lot of people in modern Christianity don't like that last word, but it's a journey of living in a spirit of willing, joyful compliance.

And it goes far beyond just doing what we're told to do. Turn to a very fascinating set of scriptures. Deuteronomy 28, 47-48. Deuteronomy 28, 47-48. And I have a question for you as you turn there. How important is it for you to exercise godly joy in your life? How important is it for you to exercise godly joy in your life? See, many people have this idea that Christianity is just a matter of keeping the Sabbath in obeying. This next verse shows you that is not the case.

Andrew Murray was an early 20th-century South African writer, and Murray wrote, Joy is not a luxury. Joy is not a mere accessory in the Christian life. It is the sign that we are really living in God's wonderful love, and that love satisfies us. Interesting perspective. Our joy is a witness to God above. It is a witness to ourselves invertibly, and it's a witness outward to express that we understand and we know that God loves us, and that love from God is truly enough for us.

Jesus never stopped walking following His Father's will, and His example is one for us. Great example verse that you know very well. Psalms 23 and verse 1 says, The Lord is my shepherd, and what? I shall not want. It's enough for us. Let's read Deuteronomy 28, 47, as a contrast. It says, Please notice, it didn't say that they didn't serve Him. It says, So God gave them over to be under the control of the people who were satisfied with slaves and people who only served them because they had to.

That made oppressors happy. That doesn't make God happy. We can keep the Sabbath and not appreciate God. We can go to the feast and be miserable because our hotel or our room is not what we wanted. We can come up with all sorts of examples like that. Turn now to Psalms 51 verses 3 through 4.

Psalm 51, 3 through 4. Christian joy is essentially the enjoyment of God. That helps. Christian joy is essentially the enjoyment of God. It's the fruit of fellowship and obedience. Joyful obedience. And we all are going to have times where our attitude is wrong. It's part of our journey. We're going to have these times where we aren't being filled with joy and contentment for what we have, but ire for what we don't. Right?

We sin. We realize we need to repent. We need to be reconciled with God. We need God's Spirit to renew the joy within us of His kingdom. Psalm 51 verse 3. We see David doing that. For I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight, that you may be found just when you speak and blameless when you judge. Now notice verse 12. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me by your generous spirit. See, David recognized he needed forgiveness, and he needed grace badly. Right? Am enabling joy. That's the path to joy. Sorrow and regret are really appropriate reactions to sin and error. Right? But they aren't things we're supposed to wallow in.

Sorrow from a godly perspective leads us to change. It leads us to repentance and forgiveness, and obedience, which leads us to joy and ultimately salvation. It's a process.

There's sorrow over suffering, but there's joy in knowing God's plan provides answers. It provides solutions. Grace is to look earthly realities in the face, and see it's sad in its tragic parts, to even experience outrageous unfairness, and yet feel in our deepest being that it's a blessing for us to be alive on God's earth. Grace is the power to see life clearly, admit it sometimes within this joyful center of where God wants us to focus to realize it's alright. God has a greater plan. And that leads to the next core lesson. Christians find joy by looking beyond the trials. Christians find joy by looking beyond the trials. Turn to James 1, verses 2-4. James 1, verses 2-4. Joy is this deeper inner rejoicing promise to those who abide in Christ and who obey His commandments. Again, a reminder, it doesn't depend on circumstances because it resists, I'm sorry, because it rests in God's sovereign control of all things. It's finding satisfaction in God, in His will, in His plan. Again, context on the two verses I've read to you so far were said when He was about to die and be crucified. And at that time, He was telling the disciples He wanted them to have a joy that was overflowing like He had because of the thought of being able to see the Father. James 1, verses 2. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Now, as you know, that Greek word translated here is perfect is teleos. It doesn't mean absolute perfect. I'm being absolutely perfect with no faults. It means mature. It means complete. And in some cases, that word is used to describe fruit that ripens or that's ripe, which is kind of an interesting analogy if you connect it with what we're talking about. It coming as a fruit of God's Spirit because we as Christians go through this process of becoming more mature and complete fruit of God. And that's, in a sense, what's being pictured here. Verse 4 says, But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be or become perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Again, context. It doesn't just mean enduring and being patient, but having this cheerful anticipation of our ultimate success. Yes, it's tough right now, but I know I'm going to get through it. I know I'm growing spiritually, and there's going to be a success at the end, and I'm happy about that. Perspective. Count it all joy means a full joy, not just a little bit of joy with a whole bunch of sadness and grief. That's not what this verse is saying. Circumstances don't have to destroy our joy. Rather, joy involves a choice. If you're not feeling joy, realize joy involves a choice. It's how we approach life, what we have faith in, and what we're expecting.

To experience God's abundant joy and our overflowing joy that He promises, it involves a choice.

It's a habit of mind which finds its source in the Spirit of God. It's this matter of attitude that stems from our confidence in God and the belief that He's at work, that He's in full control, regardless of what's happening to us in the moment, what's going to happen, or what has happened in the past. It's that confidence, and it's hard. It's very, very hard as a human. We must stay on our guard and not get robbed of joy because of any of life's happenings. It's very different than what we've talked about with happiness at the start, right? Where happiness is conditioned on what's happening to us. Instead, we must stay on our guard and not get robbed of joy because of any of life's happenings. Whether the trial is circumstances, whether it's people, whether it's the future of the past, the answer is to abide in God, to be obedient to His Word, and to receive that joy from Him. Right? It's really thinking beyond the trial. That's the lesson that I'm trying to get at. Thinking beyond the trial. Because during a trial, a Christian can't find joy looking beyond the obstacle unless they look toward God's kingdom. But if you do, it's just a distraction in the way toward the greater course of where we're aiming. Turn to Hebrews 12, verses 1 through 2. Hebrews 12, verses 1 through 2. The joy of God does not erase all unhappiness. Just put it out there, and the Bible is very clear about that. It gives us the power to move through it, to experience purpose, power, and meaning as we go through it. That's what it is. Because even God felt grief. He felt anger. But it didn't destroy His joy. That's the contrast. It's a profound blessing God does and is able to do this. Because can you imagine if God had a bad day? We'd all be gone. So, that's what we're trying to work toward. Hebrews 12, verse 1.

What we read here is a contradiction in terms from any human perspective of trying to read it. It speaks of Jesus about to go this excruciating experience of being crucified. But at the exact same time, it speaks of a joy overflowing that was set before Him. Outwardly, during that 24 hours, less than that by the time this was said, but if you think of the 24 hours before His crucifixion, there were very, very, very few external stimuli that would justify this. His disciples were selfish and carnal. He knew where they would get to, but at that time, He wasn't getting external stimuli to help Him feel this way. All of us, ultimately, in this life as a Christian will be tested. It's part of our calling. And God, in His love and His molding us, has to come to the point of recognizing we aren't simply affected by external stimuli. We aren't requiring happiness to obey. He wants to confirm we aren't just Christians from the outside in, but we are His disciples. That's what He's testing us for. We as His followers need to have an understanding of His love and this contentment that's so entrenched in us that nothing from the outside can tamper with what God has given us on the inside. And we can't do that ourselves. That's when we fail. We lose that perspective, and we try to do it our own, or we get distracted by our wants. God's Spirit is the only thing that makes that possible. The Lord is our shepherd, and we shall not want. If you want to put that in reverse, calling yourself Christians and not having that internal contentment and peace of heart is in itself a contradiction to us believing in Christ as in us. We have to keep working toward that. It's a way of testing ourselves. And the reason we sometimes get trapped feeling joyless is that we lose sight of that long-term goal. It's human nature. And if we lose sight of that long-term goal, then what happens? We start to feel self-pity. We start to feel depression. All these human features that Satan likes to attack us with. And we echo the voice of Cain. Oh, my punishment is far greater than I can bear. But the reaction to out-virus is in the Bible. But painful. Nevertheless, afterwards, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. See, we see our loving Father is shaping us for some amazing purpose that's down here below. Those, though, of God's spirit of joy are not mindful that there's a purpose that's being worked out. Are we seeing the obstacle? Are we seeing the goal? It's one of the big challenges to joy. And notice what it says at the end of verse 11. It says, the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it, trained in righteousness and joy. And that doesn't happen overnight. You know, it's not like, give me patience and give me now! It's this learning journey we go, and it doesn't happen by God installing this joy bug in us. You know, that's not what you pray for. God, give me a joy bug so I could always be missing the context of the whole thing. It takes time, and it takes devotion. God's character trait of joy flows even in circumstances of trials. We're not happy about falling into trials or suffering. Don't think you need to be happy about it in that sense, but we can still have a different word. Joy is not the product of what's happening to us, but it's a product of how we think. It's a product of how we react. It's a product of our perspective.

Hopefully that's starting to sink through. Gary Petty had a really interesting, provocative question that he posed to himself when he was struggling with joy. And I'll share it with you. Remember, this is a context to apply to yourself when you're struggling. He said, Do I love God enough that I find happiness and joy in obedience to Him rather than my own desires? If you think about the times you're struggling, that's the kind of answer to how you'd answer that one, but it's a great reflection question. Do I love God enough that I find happiness and joy in obedience to Him rather than my own desires? See, when we're struggling, we're more focused on our own desires than God's human nature. We aren't loving God as we should. Another way to ask that is, do we trust God enough to wait for His answer because we believe He wants joy and happiness in our lives?

It's at those tough, self-focused times that people question if God wants them to be happy, because they're looking at the moment. They're not looking at the big picture. Jesus wasn't happy when people spit on Him. He wasn't happy to be beaten or put on the stake. Yet there was a joy that was overflowing because He saw God's purpose. And you know what that joy was? That joy is for us. God the Father was not happy to see Jesus go through that.

The only benefit was us. The joy that was set before them is us, His future family. Turn now to 1 Peter 4, verse 12-13.

Regardless of the outcomes of our circumstances, we all have the right to expect ultimate victory and deliverance. That's what the Bible promises. And that's the hope that we can fix our minds on. Our present circumstances aren't the end of the story. They may be icky at the moment, but they're not the end of the story. Everything will turn out exactly as God has promised. 1 Peter 4, verse 12. Beloved, do not think it's strange concerning the fiery trials which is to try you. Again, another one of these ouch verses. There's no vagueness there. As though some strange thing happened to you. But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. Intellectually, we get this. But wow, that's hard to understand during hard times, isn't it?

It's hard to even understand during times of inconvenience.

God doesn't always help us avoid those either. And if you think about it, He lets us experience inconvenience at the right times and in the right way to accomplish His purpose. Because it shapes us for when the real trials hit us. A different way to look at inconveniences when they hit us along the way. And it's important to remember because we're getting ready for something that's incredible. And that's the promise we have. You don't need to turn there. One of your favorite verses, people know it very well, is 1 Corinthians 10.13. It says, No temptation has overtaken you, except such as is common to man. But God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. But with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it. No matter what that temptation, it's not more than you and I can take. God won't suffer you to be tempted beyond what you're able. Now, humanly, we like to focus on the part that says He'll make a way of escape. But remember, the end of that verse is also to keep in mind that you may be able to bear it.

It's a perspective thing. God is making us able to handle all things, and we'll have the right helpers for us, too, throughout our lives. I've learned that many times over in the last six years since Renee died, many times someone comes along that we may not expect to comfort or to support, and that's a role we play in each other's life. It's a beautiful thing. The point is that God is in charge, right? He knows if and when we need a trial. He knows when we need a break. We may disagree with God sometimes on that, but faith knows He knows, and we're at peace with that. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not need. I shall not want. The biggest reason to count on all joy is to realize what the trial is doing in us, right? James tells us that trials produce patience. Patience produces maturity, completion, and there's this expectation of the conclusion of the whole matter, right? The kingdom of God. Let's transition to the final core lesson about joy, and that is this. Joy is not just for self, but to share with others. Joy is not just for self, but to share with others. The more we say, I'm going to try to center my life on me being happy, the harder it gets to ever feel happiness, right? It's this interesting thing that you see people working on. I'm going to work on being happy. If we center our life on our happiness, then we can't focus on others being happy. If you play that through, their job is to make me happy, right? And at that point, the result is that we lose our friends, which makes us more unhappy. It's this little cycle that starts happening. We get trapped in a way of thinking that only makes it worse. Joy comes from outwardly caring for others instead of always being motivated by personal desires. Remember, that's the difference between happiness and joy.

Let's read...actually, let's reread. John 15, but this time we're going to read 9 through 13. I intentionally left off two verses there, because I wanted to get to this point. John 15, 9 through 13 this time. Joy is not just for self, but is to share with others. And when people see that kind of joy in us, it's actually one of the most powerful magnets or witnesses to the world around that God is working in us, that there is a mighty God who loves us, who forgives us, who gives us strength that we can't have on our own. We need to seek God's kingdom first. What does that mean? That means fulfilling His desire to have many sons, others in His family, brought to glory. It's not about me being brought to glory. His desire is to bring many sons to glory and daughters, making God number one. That's really the great secret to joy. We then can fit our physical desires in, but it's when we get those in reverse, we get in trouble. John 15 verse 9, As the Father loved me, I also have loved you, abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, there's going to be a link to this verse. So remember, we read that earlier. You will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you that my joy may remain. It can, frankly, be expressed in any of the fruits of the Spirit. Patience, kindness, mercy, go through them. That's the way you're showing it. And you all know from having felt that when somebody shows that toward you, you feel God's love surrounding you. We do the same for others. So to grow in joy, fleshly in nature of the mind, which is focused primarily on self. And here comes an irony. If you want to increase the joy in your life, focus more on others.

One of the best ways to build joy in our lives is to focus on something other than our own circumstances. Happiness circumstances on others and creating circumstances for them. When we're suffering from unhappiness, do the opposite of our instinct. Serve someone else suffering more than you. It goes against human nature. You know, I'm unhappy. Someone else is happy. I'm deeply grieved. I'm going to help someone else grieving.

It works because it reflects God's nature, which enables this joy that's overflowing. Even that Christ had when he was about to be crucified. Focusing is an example on that because we're here today as first fruits, not to save our own skin, but to do the job bringing many sons to glory. You make that connection to joy, and you see scriptures in a whole new way throughout the whole Bible. So let's conclude this message. What is joy? What is joy?

Often we define happiness as the absence of something undesirable, like pain or suffering or disappointment. Joy isn't pie in the sky. It doesn't come and go like the wind. Joy is something that we choose to express. Yes, Christian joy is the proper response to the presence of something desirable. God Himself and His Spirit living in us.

That's Christian joy. It's a matter of attitude that comes from God's Spirit indwelling us in our confidence in God, the belief that He's at work, that He's in full control in the midst of whatever has happened to us, whatever is happening to us, whatever is going to happen to us in the future. Martin Rinkert was a pastor in 1636 during the 30-year war, and it was probably one of the worst wars in the history of the world in terms of the sheer number of deaths, epidemics, and economic results. In a single year, think of this one, the pastor buried 5,000 people in his parish, 15 a day on average. Can you imagine? It was this terrible time. I don't know about you, but if I'd spent the year conducting 5,000 funerals, I would be struggling to write a song of thanksgiving for my children.

And yet, during this time, Martin Rinkert wrote a musical prayer for his children. It's in our hymnal today. Page 117. It goes, Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices, who underst things has done, in whom his church rejoices. 5,000 people died. His church is rejoicing. It's fascinating those who have the least to thank God about thank Him the most. As we have read multiple times today, Jesus said that our fellowship with Him and the Father will cause our joy to be full.

In the Greek, that word full, again, means crammed full, so no more can be added. And that's the type of joy that God desires for us. He wants us to have every single ounce of joy that He has made available to us. And as a child of God, we have access to that amount of joy.

God would like to give us joy as a gift. And the joy can be an abundance or can be what some people describe as momentary happiness, right? That's based on our current situation.

Just think, God would like to put joy in you, because that's what He says throughout the Bible. How much joy we walk in, though, is aligned to our relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. And remember the sign that was mentioned in the quote I mentioned earlier. Our relationship with Christ will be evident in our conduct, in our communication, in our character, and in our joy. That's a sign of whether you are letting Christ work through you. Are we walking in the fullness of God's joy?