I had the opportunity to share what the Lord taught me about JOY at last week's homecell meeting.
Starting off my study it was clear that the Bible was filled with the message of joy and how it can be part of our lives if we chose to love the Lord. It is impossible to condense all the messages into an hour long chat, so I took a small part and shared the following:
Joy
Joy as an emotion is experienced through our senses and our thoughts. Because we are human:
When we experience positive emotions and thoughts, we are happy.
When we experience negative emotions and thoughts, we are unhappy.
Jesus teaches us about joy that is not based on our senses, experiences, surroundings or thoughts. How is this possible we ask ourselves?
John 15 (NIV)
v1: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the gardener."
v7: "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you"
The answer to the above question lies in an intimate relationship with God. The moment you have an intimate relationship with a person, you care so much about them that you know what they need, be it, emotionally, financially. You are willing to let your own needs take second place to the needs of the one you love.
In an intimate relationship with God, you are willing to submit to God's will, because you know that His will for your life is perfect.
Jeremiah 29:11, 13
v11: "For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (that is my favourite verse!! - just imagine what the Lord Almighty has planned for you and me!!!!)
v13:"You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with ALL your heart.
To live in obedience within God's will means freedom from bindings by satan. He will try his best to keep us living in sin, but we have to look past this temporary cross towards God's perfect plan for our lives like God promises in Jer.29:11. "Plans to give you hope and a future"
Paul explains in Phil. 4:11, how he was able to follow the Lord in good times and in bad:
"...I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances"
We should be willing to follow through humiliation and need and in the good times.
Isaiah 1:19;20. "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword."
The Lord has life lessons to teach us during good times and bad times.
THE HOLY SPIRIT AS SOURCE OF JOY:
Rom 14:17."for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,but of righteousness, peace and JOY in the Holy Spirit."
How do we then receive the Holy Spirit and this promised joy?
- It is given to those who ask the Father for it: Luke 11:13.
- It is given to those who live obediently: Acts 5:32
- It is given to those who live in Him, so that He can fill them with His presence. John 14:23
When Jesus went to John to be baptized, he did it as an act of obedience. Like a parent who rewards a child who is obedient, the Lord rewards Jesus' obedience by giving him the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove.
Matt. 3: 13-15 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
Matt. 3:16-17 "As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
Obedience is not just complying to the letter of the law as given in the 10 commandments and as Jesus taught in His sermon on the mount (Matt.5,6,7)(Matt. 5:17) - it is something more personal and intimate between you and God, born in a loving relationship.
The Word also says:
2 Cor. 3:6 "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Obedience originating in a feeling of obligation has no life in it. Jesus speaks about obedience born in a loving relationship.
I found this wonderful example of obedience that was not commanded, but a deed done to indicate level of commitment in a loving relationship.
2 Sam.23: 14-16 "At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead he poured it out before the Lord.
As I previously said, the topic of joy has many more dimensions but we'll look into that at a later stage.
