Reclaiming Your Joy

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• By Rev. Devadosan Sugirtharaj
• Posted 07/05/2020
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Fruit of the Spirit Sermon Series

Reclaiming Your Joy

1 Peter 1:3-9

Rev Dr Devadosan Sugirtharaj

Introduction

• One of the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit is Joy. It is given to all believers by the Holy Spirit to experience every day. John 15:11: Jesus said: I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
• The meaning and understanding of joy from the world’s perspective are different from the biblical perspective. In this world, joy is understood as an emotional expression or mood when something good happens. However, the Bible tells that it is God’s provision for all his children to live with all the time whatever the circumstances are
• The Christians are always called to be joyful all the time. Phil.4:4; 1 Thes.5:16

Context

• Peter wrote this letter to the Church as an appeal to all believers not to turn away from the gospel and also to live as witnesses of Christ through their lives as born again and baptized people in Christ.

Word Study

• Joy: In the Greek New Testament, chara is the word used for joy. It means a feeling of inner gladness, rejoice, and delight. It is used as a feeling of happiness based on spiritual realities, not just the circumstances, It is used as a part of God’s very essence. It is a deep-down sense of wholeness in the heart of the believer who knows the Lord.

What are the reasons for joy by the Holy Spirit to dwell in our lives all the time regardless of circumstances?

1. We become the born-again people of God and are saved. This is the reason we are growing in the joy, 1 Peter. 1:3-5.
   •  Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit for all who are born-again and are part of God’s family. Peter used it in the past tense.
   • 1 Peter.1:3-5: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance [b]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
   • By the power of God, we have been saved by his grace and become his children not only in this world but also in the heirs of his inheritance in heaven. Born-again life is a new creation in Christ and becomes the children of God through salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ

• Ephesians.2:1-5: And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
• Titus.3:4-5:4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
• When we are born again, the Holy Spirit makes us give joy in our lives and it grows day by day by his power.
• Biblical illustration: Luke 15: The parable of lost sheep, coin and son: Joy is the effect of salvation
• Sermon illustration: Behind the walls of Rinaldo Faria’s average-looking office building in the Villa Formosa neighbourhood is what he calls a “joy factory.”For 25 years, Rinaldo has been bringing joy to Brazil’s children by producing a popular television program named “Patati Patatá” after the two clowns who star in the show. Over the years, Rinaldo has assembled 33 pairs of “Patati Patatá” clowns who take the fun, educational assemblies into schools throughout Brazil. His office is filled with television awards, photos and newspaper clippings that catalogue his success as an entertainer and producer. Yet in front of the awards lays an open Bible, making it clear that Christ–not fame, success or acclaim–is the source of Rinaldo’s joy.

2. We become protected by the power of God in the present especially in sufferings. This is the reason we are growing in joy.

•  Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit for all believers when they go through sufferings and tests but realize that they are protected by the power of God and become matured. Peter uses it in the present tense.
• 1 Peter 1: 6-7: 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been [c]grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
• Peter anticipated that the believers would face suffering in this world and they are considered as trails so that God may purify their faith with trails and also may make them matured in faith. He used the metaphor of faith as gold and trails as fire.
• Zechariah 13:9: I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
• Malachi 3:2b-3: “But who can endure the day of His coming? and who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. 3  He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi,and [a]purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord.
• Isaiah 48:10: 10  Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
• God purifies our faith with trials by helping us realize the inadequacy of anything but trust in Him in these situations. He shows that our faith is genuine by demonstrating that our joy in trials rests solely on confidence in Him and His promises.
• Temptation focuses on bringing down someone and flesh, devil and world do it but test focuses on bringing us up and God tests our faith to grow and flourish.
• Biblical example: Joseph in the Old Testament. Psalm 105:17-22 He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. 18  They hurt his feet with fetters, [a]He was laid in irons. 19  Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him.
• 20  The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free. 21  He made him lord of his house, And the ruler of all his possessions, 22 To [b]bind his princes at his pleasure And teach his elders wisdom.
• Sermon illustration: When Stanley went out in 1871 and found Livingstone, he spent some months in his company, but Livingstone never spoke to Stanley about spiritual things. Throughout those months Stanley watched the old man. Livingstone's habits were beyond his comprehension, and so was his patience. He could not understand Livingstone's sympathy for the Africans. For the sake of Christ and His gospel, the missionary doctor was patient, untiring, eager, spending himself and being spent for his Master. Stanley wrote, `When I saw that unwearied patience, that unflagging zeal, those enlightened sons of Africa, I became a Christian at his side, though he never spoke to me about it.'

3. We become the people who inherit glory and inheritance in Heaven in the future by His grace. This is the reason we are growing in joy.

• Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit for all believers when we place our hope on the inexpressive glory in the Kingdom of God.. Peter used it in the future tense.
• 1 Peter 1: 8-9:8 whom having not [d]seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
• All Christians will receive the inseparable and glorious living hope on eternal life with God in his kingdom and they see it when Christ comes back.
• Colossians.3:3-4:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
• Romans.8:11, 18:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [a]through His Spirit who dwells in you.18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
• Biblical example: Stephen. Acts.7:54 When they heard these things they were [h]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
• Sermon illustration: A man despairing of happiness in life had climbed up on the parapet of the Brooklyn Bridge and was about to leap into the river when a policeman laid an arresting hand upon him and drew him back. But the man protested to the policeman, saying, "You do not understand how miserable I am and how hopeless my life is. Please let me go."The kindhearted officer talked with him and said, "I will make this proposition to you. You take five minutes and give your reasons why life is not worth living, and then I will take five minutes and give my reasons why I think life is worth living, both for you and for me. If at the end of the ten minutes you still feel like jumping from the bridge I will not stop you."The man then took his five minutes, and the officer took his five minutes. The result was that at the end of the ten minutes they joined hands and both leaped from the bridge. Hope is not an argument. Hope is a great instinct of the soul.

Conclusion

• Joy is one of the Characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit and is a gift of Christ to all believers. It does not swing based on the moods or circumstances but it is always in our hearts as it is given to us. Our joy is given to us all times to experience and grow. The reasons are:
  • We become redeemed people of God and new creation
  • We become protected by the power of God in the sufferings
  • We become the people to inherit glory and inheritance in Heaven by His grace.

Reflective Questions for Discussion and Prayers

1. What are the factors making you feel that you live a joyful living and how is it different from happiness? What are the factors killing joy in your life?
2. We become born-again Christians by being saved by Christ. Joy is the gift of Christ to those who are redeemed. Do you have this joy? If so, how this joy of the Lord make your life different?
3. We become protected by the power of God. Joy is never taken away from us though we are going through trails. What are temptations you face from flesh, world and devil? What are the trails you face in your faith life and how does God protect you from these? How does your faith in God grow whenever you face trails?
4. We become the people to inherit glory and inheritance in Heaven. This is called living hope. We live with God forever and ever. How does this hope help you to praise and celebrate God in your life situations? How does this hope affect your life and make a difference?