Joy

Joy

Joy

  • Nehemiah 6:15-8
    • What is joy? Is it based on circumstances? Is it an emotion or a concept? 
      • One of my favorite commentators writes this

“in any definition we may give of New Testament joy, is that we do not go to a dictionary; we go to the New Testament instead. This is something quite peculiar which cannot be explained; it is a quality which belongs to the Christian life in its essence… The world has never seen anyone who knew joy as our Lord knew it, and yet He was ‘a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.’ So our definition of joy must somehow correspond to that.”  Martin Lloyd Jones

  • It can mixed with sorrow and grief and yet still be joy? Interesting… 
    • It is an emotion. To say it’s simply a concept strips joy of it’s true nature. It is a response. But it begs the question, a response to what? 
      • Camping trip in Yosemite. Fear was a response. I didn’t say “Now, let me think about this. There is probably a bear. Bears are big. Bears are dangerous. Conclusion: I should feel fear here, so I will now decide to be afraid.” Emotions don’t work like that. They are a response. 
  • In review of last week, I asked Does God test us? From the text we saw a biblical narrative of God blessing his people, and then allowing and even causing oppression, adversity, etc. but WHY? Because it’s a glorious work of his grace that he uses it to establish our faith all the while “see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139. Everyone prayed for that, right? No? Remember you might end up on a beach smelling like dead fish someday and you can’t say you weren’t warned. 
    • I challenged our perspective on trials, we saw in James 1:2, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds
  • Joy is not based on our expectations of a pain free, lack of trouble, life. 
  • The NT defines the word joy as “cheerfulness; calm delight”
    • It is an emotional response, but like last week, changing our perspective on trials taps into a deeper reality of God’s goodness and sovereignty thereby increasing our confidence in who he is, so changing what we look at for joy may help us experience “pure joy” 
  • Do we pursue joy? 
    • Q. 1. What is the chief purpose for which man is made?
      • The chief purpose for which man is made is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
  • Our very purpose is connected to the idea of joy. To enjoy God forever! It is painful & honest & cheerful & weeping over our sin & heart searching and stretching JOY! 

Joy is found in the goodness of God

  • Please turn to Ezra 8:1, page 403 in the pew bibles. Read / pray
  • -Review context
  • –In Nehemiah 6:15, The wall is finished! 
  • 52 days, an amazing feat! So much so (read vs. 16) A true work of God! 
  • Chapter 7 he appoints leadership and then lists out an enrolled genealogy
  • 5 days later, they call a church meeting and read the word over the people. 
  • The people are hearing AND understanding! 

#1. Joy in hearing the Word vs. 8:8-9a

  • vs. The day is Holy, WHY? Because God is speaking. It’s not that God wasn’t speaking but the biblical history shows us that God was speaking but no one was listening! 
    • Our in house theologian, Elliot, in our community group study of the text, said, “Not only did God speak, but it’s not going to voice mail, they are listening.” 
      • Hear and listen. 
    • Faith comes from hearing the word, Romans 10:17
    • Sancitified by the word, John 17:17
    • These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11
  • When we read the word it is a reminder that “Joy is found in the goodness of God”

#2. Joy in our grief over sin. Vs. 9b

  • James 5:16, confess your Sins that you may be healed
  • Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10–12
  • Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Luke 15:7
  • When we take our sin seriously there “Joy is found in the goodness of God”

#3. There is strength in joy vs. 10

  • What did God do? He saved us, he set us free! We have joy in the salvation of our God. 
    • If nothing else, we have this! 
    • Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20
  • When we remember our salvation “Joy is found in the goodness of God”

#4. Joy a discipline. Vs. 11 

  • Have joy… do it! Like love in a marriage, it’s a decision! 
  • looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
  • “Joy is found in the goodness of God”

#5. Joy in obedience! vs. 13-16

  • Be doers not just hearers, When we do what Jesus says it builds our life on the Rock! 
    • Q. 1. What is the chief purpose for which man is made?
      • The chief purpose for which man is made is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
    • Q. 2. What rule has God given to direct us how to glorify and enjoy him?
      • The Word of God, which consists of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how to glorify and enjoy him.

Is it possible that living God’s word and Gods way is the path to joy? Why? Because we continually see that God is good, that he is in control, and our joy, our calm delight, looks over our worldly circumstances and sees God in all his goodness and grace! 

  • This is why nothing can steal our joy! Because it’s based on a truth that will never change! 
  • Bear story- “Joy: a calm delight, in the goodness of God”
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