Christian Living

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The New Testament makes it very plain that our source of joy comes from a relationship with Jesus. Jesus Himself spoke of two ways that we might find joy in Him. He said, “if you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete”. The 2nd thing Jesus said was, “Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, ,and your joy will be made complete”. These 2 statements verify that the source of joy available to us comes from our relationship with Jesus, but the question asked is when does this joy appear?

To answer this question we can look in the book of Philippians and see how the apostle Paul experienced joy even when he was confined in jail, a time which would be for most people a time where joy would seem impossible.

Joy appeared when Paul prayed for others, Philippians 1:4. “allways in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy”. When Paul took his eyes off his own circumstances and focused on the Philippians, he experienced joy. What a lesson for us today. 1st we need to quit looking and worrying about ourselves and asking God for our own needs, and begin thinking about our friends and asking God to help them in their needs. Lifting up others in prayer is certainly an experience of joy.

Joy appeared when Paul saw God’s plan being fulfilled, Philippians 1:18. “What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice”. Paul rejoiced while in jail knowing the Gospel was being preached. Even though he was out of service, so to speak, Paul didn’t lose his joy over others taking his place. He experienced Joy because the Gospel was going forth. This is another great example to follow, especially for ministers of the Gospel who sometimes become overcome with jealousy when others are getting noticed for their preaching. We should be joyful that the Gospel is still being preached today no matter who is taking the message of the gospel forth.

Joy appeared when Paul saw others living lives pleasing to God, Philippians 2:2. “Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, (being) of one accord, of one mind”. This directly ties to the 1st thing Jesus said mentioned above that provides us a source of joy, that we obey His commandments. Loving God and loving each other is the great New Testament commandment. To obey this commandment will find ourselves like-minded, in one accord, of one mind, and having the same love one for another. This most certainly will be pleasing to God and will provide us a rich source of joy today.

Joy appeared when Paul knew he was pleasing God. Philippians 2:17-18. “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all, for the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me” . Paul’s goal in life was to please God in everything. He sought to please God in all of his trials such as this time in his life being imprisoned. Knowing he was in God’s will brought him joy. What another great lesson for us today. Sometimes we seek to stay in favor with God just enough to stay comfortable. When we do so we rob ourselves of an abundance of joy that comes from striving hard each day to do God’s will.

Joy appeared when Paul focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:1, “Finally, my brethern, rejoice in the Lord”. Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord alway; (and) again I say, rejoice”. Paul encouraged others to do what he did: rejoice in the Lord! Paul did not manufacture joy, but he chose to find joy in worshiping Christ. Paul had already experienced and proven to himself that joy would be the result of staying focused on pleasing Christ.

Joy appeared when Paul remembered the limitations of his human abilities, Philippians 3:3, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”. Paul had no confidence in his flesh, that is, he did not look to himself or his circumstances as a permanent source of joy. Paul knew that Jesus and his relationship with Him was the only source sufficient to bring him joy.

If Christians do one thing that short circuit joy in their lives, it is confusing pleasure and joy. Both have a place in our lives. There are many things God has created for us to enjoy and bring us pleasure, but the thing about pleasure is that it is temporary and has a different source than joy. If you try to make life’s pleasures the source of your joy, as soon as those pleasures have run their course or taken away, your joy disappears. Pleasure is temporary but joy endures. Indeed true joy has it’s source in God and His faithfulness, which is new every morning. (Lamentations 3:23).

As we go on we make other discoveries about joy. We see that it is produced in us by the Holy Spirit, and is a fruit of His presence, (Galatians 5:22). Joy is not linked with material possessions, but is rather an overflow of salvation, (Acts 8:8; 16:34). It is true that even pagans can find pleasure in the good things God has given to all human beings so liberally. But the Christian knows a heightened joy; a joy that is rooted in the bond that exists between believers who have come to love each other. The deeper our relationship with Jesus and with His people, the greater the joy that awaits us, and the less that joy is dependent on external circumstances.

How often do you experience the true joy of knowing Jesus?

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