GOD’S RECIPE FOR JOY!
John 15:9-17
INTRODUCTION: Today we want to talk about how we can have the fullness of Joy that is offered to us in God’s Word. How to have fullness of joy in our hearts and how to learn God’s recipe for joy. John 15:11. Joy is the birthright of every child of God. Our God has provided for all of His children to have conspicuous joy, continuous joy and contagious joy. Joy is the second birthmark of the child of God with love being the first: Galatians 5:22-25. If you are not living a life filled with love and joy you are living beneath your privileges as a Christian. If we simply remain in Christ, the Holy Spirit will produce love and joy in our lives: John 15:1-5. Do you sometimes run out of energy? Nehemiah 8:10; John 15:11.
- THE SOURCE OF OUR JOY!
John 15:11: You see this is not your joy, this is Jesus joy that He is offering you! Hebrews 1:9: the word “joy” means to jump, to leap!” Luke 1:39-45. Our Lord Jesus, although a man of sorrows was also a very joyous person who loved parties. Jesus brought life and joy wherever He went. God’s joy is only found in relationship with Jesus Christ! John 17:13; John 10:10. The source of this life is Christ Jesus; the source of this joy is Christ Jesus.
2. THE STABILITY OF CHRIST’S JOY!
Now, let’s look at the stability of Christ’s joy: John 15:11. The last word in that verse is “complete!” The joy of the Lord is not a joy that comes and goes, this is a joy that is constant joy. We need not only conspicuous joy, we need continual joy. We are never to be without the joy of our Lord Jesus! Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16. The joy of the Lord allows us to rejoice even as tears are streaming down our faces. Our Lord Jesus was facing the cross on the next day when He spoke: John 15:11. The constancy of our joy is linked to the source of our joy. Proverbs 5:18; 1 Timothy 6:17. Our God wants us to rejoice mainly in Him; not just rejoice in the things or people He blesses us with. Jesus also had sorrow in His life: Isaiah 53:3; Isaiah 61:3; John 16:19-22. The joy our Lord gives to us is steadfast even in sorrow or tribulation: John 16:33; 2 Corinthians 7:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:6. If we get our primary joy from our Lord Jesus, no matter what is happening around us, He is still our primary joy! Romans 8:28-29. The joy of the Lord will last through our losses: Hebrews 10:32-37. Our primary joy must come from our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ because only He does not change and if our primary joy is in Him we can truly have joy that never ends.
3. THE JOY OF THE LORD IS SUFFICIENT!
John 15:11: Our Lord promises us sufficient joy as long as we stay in His presence: Psalm 16:11; 1 Peter 1:8. Only in our relationship with Jesus Christ can our joy be complete. Jesus is both necessary and enough to keep us in fullness of joy! Fullness of joy, completeness of joy is only found in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.
4. THE SECRET OF THE JOY OF THE LORD!
John 15:11: Sadly, not every Christian has the joy of the Lord in their hearts. The most miserable people I know are Christians that are out of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter, after he had denied knowing Jesus went out and wept bitterly. King David after his sin with Bathsheba prayed for what? Psalm 51:12-13. Going to heaven without the joy of the Lord in our hearts is like flying second class. So, what is the secret of walking all the days of our lives in the joy of the Lord? John 15:1; John 15:5. A branch is totally dependent upon the vine: John 15:5; Galatians 5:22-23. The joy of the Lord is part of the fruit of the Spirit. As we learn to be totally dependent on our God for His joy to be complete in us we are filled with complete restfulness in Him. Philippians 3:13-14; James 1:5-7; Matthew 6:19-24. Truly, we have one great need in life to have the joy of the Lord be complete in us and that is to abide in Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. We belong to our Lord exactly as a branch belongs to the vine. John 15:11: What had Jesus told them? Jesus said their relationship to Him must be like that of a branch to the vine. We are to abide in Him, we are to rest in Him, we are to draw all our strength from Him, and we are to be totally, totally committed to Him. When we do that we will find the joy of the Lord filling our hearts and running over!