Sermon Recap | Essential Joy

Many things steal our joy; yet, we’re confronted with a startling fact as we read our Bibles: Joy is essential to the Christian life.

A joyless Christian is like an out-of-shape marathon runner. You can’t be a dedicated marathon runner and remain out of shape. The very act of running marathons will burn away the fat that hinders you and develop the muscles that enable you to run.

Following Jesus will burn away the fat that hinders you and develop the muscles that will enable you to experience joy.

In Psalm 4:7, David writes, “You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and new wine abound.” In God, we can find gladness greater than when we can afford name brand ice cream and regular meals out at Carrabas.

David wrote in Psalm 16:11, “You will make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

For lunch today, I’m having delicious BBQ chicken. After the meal, I will experience fullness of chicken. That’s language of this verse. That joylessness you feel is your soul’s hunger pains. Your soul growls for a fullness found only in God.

The arrival of Jesus Himself is announced in terms of our joy. The angel speaking to Mary says, “Don’t be afraid for I bring you good news of great joy,” in Luke 2:10. The gospel is about joy.

Jesus told His followers in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” Discipleship is about joy.

Romans 14:17 says that "the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit".

The fruit of the spirit is joy – Galatians 5:22. As Christians, joy should sprout from in our lives like apples from an apple tree.

Not only is joy available, it’s commanded: "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" (Psalm 32:11) "Rejoice always!" (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

True joy is always and only found in God through Jesus. If you seek joy in people, your career, entertainment, possessions - anything but God – you’ll remain empty.

You may have asked yourself: Can I ever be joyful again? On all the authority of Jesus Christ and the word of God I tell you yes. Through Jesus, you can be vibrant and overflowing with springs of living water. You can be joyful.

As we study Philippians in the weeks to come we’ll see a portrait of a joyful people and how this joy that transcends circumstances works itself out in different categories of life.