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Back to Sermons Index Back to Home Page 6th August 2006 PMJOYFUL LIVING Pastor Colin Meadows Readings: John 15:11, Luke 24:36-53
· Joyful living is for now! Most of us have a deep desire to be happy. For this to happen however we feel life needs to be running smoothly. When things go well, when our relationships are strong, and we have money in the bank, then we will be able to feel positive about life and we can be happy and people of joy. The dilemma for most of us is that life seldom goes that way. Many people see very little to be joyful about. Others struggle with personal issues. The Australian Institute has done studies on happiness in Australia. A 2003 survey found that 80% of Australians felt we have become too self-centered and materialistic and this had led to a lot of unhappiness. We have valued wealth and consumer goods above relationships and health. Australians spend around $10.5 billion dollars each year buying things they never use or throw quickly away. Nearly one third of adult Australians take drugs or prescription medicines daily to get through life. What should our response be as Christians to the challenge to be joyful? The Bible has a different perspective on joy. We are called to be people of joy right now, irrespective of our circumstances. Jesus expressed this clearly in John’s Gospel: John 15:11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” For the joy of Jesus to flow in our lives we need to submit to him as Lord. To share the joy of Christ in our lives – that is the challenge. · Just what is joy? Joy is a confident exuberant trust in God, irrespective of our circumstances, that enables us to tackle each day with passion and hope. The joy which the Bible speaks of thus comes from being in relationship with God. He must be central in our lives for he is the source of our joy. Christian joy is delight and contentment in God. Several words for joy are used in the OT. They cover such meanings as ‘have a bright and shiny countenance’, ‘leaping about’, ‘shouting’ or ‘moving about with enthusiasm’. Joy in our hearts towards God will thus cause us to want to express this outwardly in our lives. Psalm 33:1-3 “Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” Joy thus flows from being in relationship with God. When we examine the NT we find further a strong connection between the words for grace and for joy. Without the grace of God, there would be no joy in our lives for it was because God’s grace that salvation has come. As we remember the grace of God demonstrated in Jesus Christ, then from within our hearts will well up a great sense of joy. Such joy is the product of the work of the Holy Spirit. We will then allow such joy to flow out of the abundance of joy that God puts in our hearts. Yes, Joy, a confident exuberant trust in God, irrespective of our circumstances, that enables us to tackle each day with passion and hope. But how does such joy flow out of our lives? · Joy flows from meeting the Risen Christ! When Jesus died on the cross, the disciples were shattered. They had hoped that he was going to redeem Israel, yet now all seemed lost. Then Christ appeared in their midst! We find the record in Luke 24. As they examined his nail pierced hands and feet they were overcome with joy. They first needed to meet the risen Christ before their lives were transformed and filled with joy. The same is true for us. We need to encounter Christ raised from the dead. In other words, we need to hear and believe the gospel. Just what is the gospel? Jesus spelt it out for us. Luke 24:46 “The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” The Apostle Paul spoke of the same gospel. 1 Cor 15:3 “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” Believe the good news that Christ died for our sins and is not risen for evermore. Meet the risen Christ and believe in him. They your heart will be filled with joy! · Joy flows from reading God’s Word! The early disciples were still unsure after meeting Christ, so he went further to help them on their journey of faith. He opened their minds to the Word of God. Luke 24:45 “Then he opened their minds so that they could understand the Scriptures.” We too need to allow the Holy Spirit to open our minds to God’s Word. The Spirit of Christ wants to lead us into truth, if we are willing to be led. Set aside time to be taught by him. Open up the Bible and get started. Remember that the Old Testament is part of the Bible is God’s Word too, not just the New Testament! Jesus makes this very clear. Luke 24:44 “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” That covers every part of the OT. Let us be students of the whole Bible, not just the NT!! Look for Jesus in Deuteronomy 18, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 as a start. Then as we read and understand and apply God’s Word to our lives then transformation will begin. Yes, joy flow from reading God’s Word. · Joy flows from the indwelling Holy Spirit! As we meet daily with the resurrected Christ in prayer the joy of the Lord will bubble up within us. As we meditate on His Word, the joy of the Lord will flow into our hearts. The disciples however were given a further instruction by Jesus at this time that is very important. Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” What was this power that was to clothe them? The wonderful Holy Spirit of Christ. We find that in the book of Acts. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you…” The early disciples needed to wait until the day of Pentecost to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Not so with us! The moment we put our trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells our lives and begins to empower us for joyful living. Draw on his strength each day and allow him to empower you to live a life of joy. We see this clearly in the life of Christ himself. Luke 10:21 “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit…” Despite opposition and difficult circumstances he faced, Christ allowed the Holy Spirit to fill him. Yes, joy flows from the indwelling presence of God’s Spirit. · Joy flows even at times of suffering. When difficult times come, most of us struggle to see God at work. Our human response is to feel that God has left us, that there is nothing positive that can come out of what is happening in our lives. Such is not the case. Our Lord has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He has further promised to bring good out of the pain of life’s experiences, whether they be good or bad. In our world today it is estimated that around 60,000 Christians annually are killed as a result of their faith. The early disciples too knew what it meant to suffer. They were often in danger of their lives as both the Jewish leaders and the Roman authorities sought to stamp out their faith. Month after month they suffered for their faith. How did this effect them? Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” For the Christian, suffering is not meaningless. God intends to use it to mould our characters so that we become more like Christ. The Apostle Paul was very aware of this. Romans 5:3 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” The Apostle Peter had the same awareness. 1 Peter 4:12-13 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” Allow God to work through the difficult times in your life to bring forth his joy! Yes, joyful living is for now, joy flows from meeting the risen Christ, joy flows from reading God’s Word, joy flows from the indwelling Holy Spirit, and joy flows even in times of suffering. Let us be disciples who allow the joy of the Lord to flow in our lives.
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