JOY

INTRODUCTION
This series is about the Fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
o They are attributes developed in our lives after we receive Christ.
o The Holy Spirit lives inside us, but we still struggle with our fleshly nature.
• Last week, we talked about love.
o All the other fruits are connected to love
• This week, we are talking about joy.

Merriam-Webster definition of Joy: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires

• “Happiness” is used 30 times in the Bible—“joy” or “rejoice” over 300 times. They all describe emotions that we associate with gladness, pleasure, great delight, a satisfying experience, and exultation.

Verses like these are hard to understand if we don’t have a biblical definition of joy:
James 1:2 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

How is it possible for the Apostle Paul to write what he does here?
Philippians 4:4 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

• Does Paul really mean always? How is that even possible to feel joy when “bad” things are happening?
• Although joy is experienced similarly by most people, the source of our joy matters.
• The joy of the Lord is different from the joy of the world.
o The joy of the world is temporary and unfulfilling.
 It involves lots of temporary things. Not all of them are bad, but worldly joy can also be brought on by sin.
 Because the joy of the world is based on the here and now, it is circumstantial.

The joy of the Lord is different. It’s all about perspective. It’s focused on godly, eternal things.
Proverbs 10:28 (ESV) The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

• Our joy is connected to our hope.
o Biblical hope is not a wish—it is a certainty based on God’s promises.
o Our hope is to become more like Jesus. (James 1:2-4)
 That only happens through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our hope is also based on our eternity with God.
Hebrews 12:2 (NLT) We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
o Jesus was looking for the joy that awaited Him when He completed the Father’s will for Him.

• A question that inevitably comes up when talking about joy is, “What about sorrow?”
o God knows we will feel sorrow. He even tells us to join people in their sorrow. (Romans 12:15)
o Many believe that the only way to have joy is to get rid of all the sorrow in life, but sometimes our joy actually comes from our pain and sorrow.
“Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things.”
– Kay Warren, Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough

• How do you have joy in your sorrow? Only through the power of the Holy Spirit.
o We remain in Christ, which includes obeying God’s commands. (John 15:10-11)
 God’s commands are for our best life. King David understood this. (Psalm 51:12-15)

Paul gives us another clue about how we can experience joy:
Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Next Steps:
• Make Christ lord of your life. If you’ve already done this, recommit yourself to His lordship.
• Focus on God and His goodness instead of what you don’t have. Joy is a barometer of our spiritual life.
• Surround yourself with spiritually mature people who will sit with you in your sorrow, but also remind you of God’s faithfulness.

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:

Passages to consider: Galatians 5:16-26; Romans 15:13; James 1:2-5
Icebreaker: What brings you delight and pleasure in the summer season?

1. Share something significant to you from this week’s sermon.
2. Read Romans 15:13 and James 1:2-5. Retell one of the passages to someone. What do you learn about God and joy in these passages?
3. How would you describe joy? or How are joy and happiness different/similar? A) Share some of your experiences that remind you of joy.
4. Nehemiah 8:12 says, “… the joy of the Lord is your strength.” How has that played out in your life?
5. When circumstances are not great, what helps you return to an attitude of joy?
6. What will nurturing joy look like for you and the relationships you influence this summer?

Bonus! Try Memorizing Galatians 5:22-25

Passages to prepare for next week, Cultivate! Week 4: Peace
This week, read Galatians 5:16-26; Philippians 4:6-8; Romans 5:1-5
As you read, ask yourself these questions:
• What is the passage saying about God, mankind, and how the world works?
• What do I learn about myself from this passage?
• What response does this require of me in my thinking, believing, and doing?