Joy unspeakable

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." Jesus (John 15:11)

As I sat at my kitchen table preparing this lesson on joy, I had every intention of just going through the motions of explaining the meanings of the word, quoting locations and idioms we need to keep in mind.  But, the fact of the matter is joy, for most of us, has been stolen from us.  We go about our daily lives beaten and dazed from all sorts of events that have occurred, not even realizing that the real damage is the joy and peace of our Father has been systematically ripped from our hearts.

This is not a new phenomenon.  Since the battle of the heavens with Satan and his minions against the righteous forces of God, we here on earth have been battered by the bitter, hateful enemy of our Heavenly Father.

The writer of Ecclesiastes speaks of the drudgery of life, much of it folly. But, this is not the state of mind God wants us to be in.   In fact He has inspired many writers to share the hope and joy of His salvation for us (Psalms 51:12, Habakkuk 3:18).   That we can in fact be joyful, even in stressful, anxious times of our lives.   Let us examine this concept this week, and maybe comfort each other as we learn of the comfort God has for us in the form of joy.

The Importance of Joy:

Joy in the Word of God takes on a few aspects.  First, it is an emotion of elated happiness (1 Kings 1:40).  It can mean that a person is a joy to another.   It is an attitude that we should have, especially in terms of our relationship with God (Psalm 119).  In other parts of the scriptures, the joy of the Lord is referred to as our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Joy fights depression, anger, stressful attitudes, anxiety and helps us enjoy the moment by recognizing truly funny things.   But, the most important aspect, I believe, is the product of growing our faith, and emboldens the peace that comes from our being sealed in the promise of our salvation.  The writer of Hebrews said about Christ;

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

He used an interesting phrase "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross".  I don't believe Christ was very joyful that he was about to be impaled onto a tree.   In fact, in the garden he was recorded in asking if there was another way to accomplish his task (Matthew 16:39).  He knew it wasn't going to be very pleasant. Besides the physical pain and agony, he would "endure" all the sins of the world cast upon him, causing for the first time in his life the separation of him and our Heavenly Father.

How amazingly terrible that must have been.  No, this was not to be a joyous occasion.  What the writer of Hebrews was referring to was the events after the cross, the victory over death and sin, and the ability of all to achieve this victory without the physical sacrifice that Christ had to endure on that cross.  Paul writes;

O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. But thanks [be ] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Christ knew that for us to experience salvation, to understand what real joy was, he was the only one that could finish it, thus the author and finisher of our faith.   He knew that this would create an opportunity for our everlasting joy...not just a momentary emotion, but an eternal experience.

It was for this purpose in fact, that He came to this earth, to fulfill all the prophecies and law. Lest we forget, man's righteousness is nothing but filthy rags.  And, without the protection of Christ's grace and righteousness, we would be no better off than those of the old testament times.

The Practical Application of Joy:

Joy helps us get through tough times in life.  James understood the importance of joy when he explained that we should count it as a joyous occasion when we face trials because these tests help us grow our faith, our patience and most importantly facilitate our spiritual perfection.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James 1:3,4

Those of us that know Christ as our Savior have a certain security in all we do. We do have a safety net.  As we learned of righteousness, Christ's righteousness hides our sins from God's view, and his grace casts it away from us.  We can feel joy because of this assurance.  This is the reason we can experience joy, unspeakable joy, as it is a miraculous position to be in.

Given this fact, we then should be driven to share our joy with others. This isn't a guilt trip here.  I don't want anyone to feel any pressure from me on this.  But, if you knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Christ could change a friend or family member's life, I bet you'd want to let them know.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.            Romans 15:13,14

Many of us have tried to share the good news with our friends and family.  Here's some more good news.   God still has that person's life in mind...oh yes he does. He loves them as much as He loves us.  In fact, the Bible says there is more joy in Heaven when a sinner repents, than 99 just (righteous) persons that need no repentance (Luke 15:7).  Be joyful in the fact that God has it under control.  We just need to keep sharing the good news, and trust that God will handle the rest.

So, when life sucks, when the rent is due, or that child has stretched the last nerve.  When the car doesn't start, or the traffic keeps you from getting to work on time...again, rejoice in the Lord, for He still loves you, and you are still His child...no matter what Satan throws at you!  Remember, whatever comes your way, as you see the victory, your faith will become a stronger and you will become a more capable warrior for God's kingdom.

Our exercise this week is simple.  Keep up our daily quiet time, and add to your journal times that you are tested this week, but had victory over it.   As an example, when you are about to lose your temper, but you don't, or when you are tempted to lie to someone, or when you feel like cussing but don't, write it down.   Maybe you have a drinking problem, or feel like quitting, but are able to overcome those things, even if it is just once, write it down.

Remember, victory over trials will cause growth, and our joy will grow because of it.  If you feel you can, write about your victories this week in our comment area below. Others will be encouraged by your victories too.   I pray you will be filled with joy unspeakable this week!

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as [with] a shield. Psalm 5:11,12

Here are a few scriptures to consider for your personal quiet time.

Psalm 67                       Ecclesiastes 2:26

Isaiah 51:11                  Matthew 13:44

Luke 15:7                     John 16:21,22

1 Peter 1:8-11