22 Aug Joy-Lets (Discovering Five Sources of Joy from the “Throne Room”) PART 4

A few weeks ago (we had a temporary interruption with our missions update) we began our
series. Let’s review beginning with our opening three scriptures on joy.

The Bible tells us:

1. “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps. 118:24)
It is a choice to rejoice! One of the greatest truths you can ever learn as a Christian is
that you are not a slave to your feelings! Let feelings in your car, but never let them in
the driver’s seat! Feelings are meant to be felt…but they are not meant to be
followed!

2. “Rejoice in the Lord and again, I say rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4)
Never place the reigns of your emotional well-being in the hands of anything or
anyone…other than Jesus!

3. “Rejoice evermore.” (I Thess. 5:16)
This little verse is power packed with revelation. The Greek word “evermore” literally
means “from this time on” or “from this point on.” You see, this verse always updates
itself and will allow you to keep your life constructive. Remember this: You can’t live
your life from “there.” You can only live your life from “here”!

Then we began to share with you “5 Supernatural Sources of Joy”:

1. The Word (John 15:11)
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy
may be full.” The Greek word translated “joy” is “chara,” which means “to be glad or
cheerful.” The Greek word translated “remain” is the word “meno,” which means “to
abide or dwell.” The Greek word translated “full” is “pleros,” which means “to level up
something that is hollow” or “to be crammed full.”

2. Answered prayer (John 16:23-24)
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Verily, verily I say to you, whatever you ask
the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name.
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
Please remember these two very important things when it comes to prayer:
1) Praying is not just for comfort, but praying is for results!
2) God’s promise is God’s “Yes.”
You see, the Bible tells us “All the promises of God are in Him yes, and amen” (II Cor.
1:20). If God has promised you something in His Word, you don’t have to ask Him if
it is His will. His promise IS His “Yes.” His Word is His will!

This month let’s continue….

3. Fellowship with God (I John 1:3-4)
This verse says, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also
may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His
Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
The Greek word translated “fellowship” is the word “koinonia” which means
“partnership.” In the Old Testament, King David wrote by the Holy Spirit in Psalms
51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy Holy Spirit.”
This powerful passage is referring to the time David committed adultery with Bathsheba
and was out of fellowship with God for about one year (see II Samuel 11-12). In Psalm
51 David is repenting and is coming back into fellowship with God. David’s joy is being
restored! In the New Testament when we sin, we are not out of relationship with
God, but temporarily out of fellowship with God.

If I am impatient and unkind with my beautiful wife, Anne…we are still married and in
relationship with God. However, we are temporarily out of fellowship with one another.
It will take me repenting and asking her for forgiveness to regain fellowship and the “joy
of our marriage.”

Please allow me to give you Two Fellowship Facets:

1) When you mess up…fess up! Don’t cover up! The Bible tells us in I John 1:9, “If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.” This verse is designed to help restore you once again
to fellowship with God. Remember this: Admit it! Quit it! Then forget it!

2) You will never be sinless. However, God wants us to eventually sin…less! You
and I will always sin but as we grow and renew our minds to the Word of God,
we should sin less (see I Peter 1:14-15, I John 2:1).

Next week we continue in our series “Joylets” – (Discovering Five Sources of Joy from the “Throne Room”)