JOY THAT PERSEVERES
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: JOY THAT PERSEVERES
Main Scripture: Luke 2:8-14; Romans 5:1-5; 1 Peter 1:6-9
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
In today’s sermon, Pastor Ryan brought our attention to the source of our Joy as Christians. We learned that the joy we have in knowing God will be the strength to help us persevere through all kinds of trials. Pastor Ryan also took time to show us how to keep joy flowing in our lives when we feel like we’re running on empty. This world is definitely tapping our joy tank more than normal these days but Pastor Ryan assured us that joy from God never runs out! We just need to make sure we stay in fellowship with Him and do His will and we will run on joy!
Notes:
What is Joy?
Closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a result of choice. -Lexham Bible Dictionary
“State of delight and well-being that results from knowing and serving God. (Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 956). Joy is found over 150 times in the Bible. If such words as “joyous” and “joyful” are included, the number comes to over 200. The verb “rejoice” appears well over 200 times. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 956).
JOY is rooted in the Gospel
Luke 2:8-16
Luke 2:10 The good news brings great joy to all. The Messiah, the savior is born.
We receive this Joy when we believe in Jesus for Salvation
The Joy of Salvation - Romans 5:1-5 NLT
Joy is the fruit of knowing we are forgiven, loved, and at peace with God. There’s also a real joy in knowing we no longer inherit eternal death but eternal life in heaven.
Joy is the fruit of knowing God’s faithfulness will carry us through every trial.
What does it mean that we can rejoice when we go through trials? Paul says trials provide an opportunity for God to test and strengthen our faith so it will develop endurance, character, and confidence in our future salvation in Christ. Every time we go through a trial, God brings us through it, developing our confidence in Him, developing the character of Christ through each trial, and giving us greater faith that God will save us at the second coming of Christ.
James said “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing (James 1:2-4 NLT).
Peter said something similar about the joy of salvation: “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:6-9 NLT).
3. Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that we receive at salvation but of course, it grows as we grow in faith and trials (Galatians 5:22).
Jesus called the Holy Spirit our comforter and counselor (John 14:26 AMP). Joy is knowing the comforter and counselor is with us, strengthening and leading us through trials and times of grief.
Remembering this truth is how we remain joyful and persevere through any circumstance!
Pastor Ryan, what do I do if I haven't been joyful or I've been running out of joy?
First of all, there’s time to laugh and a time to cry. There’s time to mourn and a time to rejoice. That is normal and okay. Scripture instructs the church to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. This is how we help each other get through difficult seasons.
Another reason could be that our connection to the source of Joy could be stronger. Joy may not be flowing because we are not in fellowship with God or haven’t tried ways that scripture says bring joy. Let’s make sure we have one thing straight, God is full of joy and His supply is unending so there’s no problem on His end to supply what we need.
HOW WE KEEP JOY FLOWING IN OUR LIVES: (These scriptures are from the trenches of my own seasons of trials. I’ve underlined these as I was in fellowship with God)
Joy comes from our pursuit and praise of God in times of need.
(Read vs 1-3 too) Psalm 34:4-8 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. 7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Psalm 30:8-12 I cried out to you, O Lord. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying, 9 “What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave? Can my dust praise you? Can it tell of your faithfulness? 10 Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me, O Lord.” 11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
Psalm 43:4-5 There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God! 5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
2. Joy comes from repenting of sin that has become a barrier between us and God.
Psalm 51:1-17 Joy flows again when sin’s shame and heaviness is forgiven.
3. Joy comes from following and obeying God’s Word.
Psalm 1:1-2 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
Psalm 19:8 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.
4. Joy comes from waiting and being in the presence of God.
Psalm 16:8-11 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. 9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. 10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. 11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Isaiah 40:31 (One of God’s ways of strengthening us is His Joy)
5. Joy comes from blessing those around us.
Proverbs 11:25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Psalm 141:1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The LORD rescues them when they are in trouble.
Proverbs 12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
Philippians 1:4-5 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Joy and encouragement from being together Romans 1:12, Romans 15:31-32
Share the Joy.
What if you bought a 10-pack of cards and wrote words of gratitude and encouragement for people around you? You'll be a blessing but it also changes your mindset because you spend time dwelling on praiseworthy things!
Close:
Silence the noise of your trials by praising God!
Restore the flow of God’s presence by removing the sin that has become a barrier.
Forsake sinful patterns and obey God’s Word which leads to joy.
Trade the weight of your trials, by waiting in the presence of God.
Turn from focusing on yourself to bringing joy and encouragement to others!
It’s okay if you’re not feeling joyful when you’re going through painful losses and trials, God isn’t asking us to be fake. Just know the Spirit of Joy is in and with you to lift your heart when you need Him. And we as believers must be careful to mourn with and strengthen others!
What I’ve shared with you today are not theories that I hope will work. This message is from the trenches of my own trials. I’ve carried some painful things as a pastor but I chose to set the Lord before me and He has delivered joy in the same way these scriptures teach. This is a real smile.
I choose joy when I dwell with God and do the will of God by blessing and loving others.
Discussion:
What scripture verse stuck out to you from this sermon and why?
What spoke and or challenged you in this sermon?
How does the joy of our salvation help us go through the trials of life?
What were some of the ways we keep joy flowing in our lives and which one have you seen work in your life?
What will you do more moving forward to keep the joy of God flowing in your life?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!