Week 4: The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength, Day 5: My Joy and My Crown

Today’s Treasure: Philemon 7 – “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.”

Five major catalysts for JOY:
(1) Joy is the result of Salvation
(2) Joy is the result of Discovery
(3) Joy is the result of Restoration
(4) Joy is the result of Abiding (remaining) in Christ
(5) Joy is the result of Relating God’s way to God’s people

The fifth and final catalyst for joy is ‘Relating God’s way to God’s people.’

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”

I gain joy through sharing God’s word with each of you. I gain joy each time I see you at Bible Study, Sunday Worship, FAR, church events, etc. I gain joy from knowing you are growing in grace; you are using your gift for ministry; you are fellowshipping with other believers. All of you are my joy and my crown.

Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to meet together so that we may encourage one another toward love and good deeds. Do you enjoy being with fellow believers? If not, and you don’t know why, ask God to reveal the reason. As a believer, don’t just be a member on the church roll; be an involved member of the community. Our fellowship with one another should bring us joy.

You bring me joy…I am joyful when I see God use you for ministry, I am joyful when I see you maturing in Him through prayer and Bible Study, I am joyful when I see God blessing you spiritually and naturally, I am joyful just because YOU are in my life! You are my glory and my joy! It is a joy to serve you!

Week 4: The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength, Day 4: Abiding Joy

Today’s Treasure: Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Five major catalysts for JOY:
(1) Joy is the result of Salvation
(2) Joy is the result of Discovery
(3) Joy is the result of Restoration
(4) Joy is the result of Abiding (remaining) in Christ
(5) Joy is the result of Relating God’s way to God’s people

The fourth catalyst for joy is ‘Abiding (remaining) in Christ.’ For the past few months, our Bible Study lesson has focused on the importance of abiding in Christ. We’ve been studying John 15:1-17; read the first few verses below…

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

Abiding joy comes from remaining in the vine, which is Jesus Christ. We cannot bear fruit (the fruit of the spirit) unless we remain in Christ, the vine. If we do not bear fruit, we will be cut-off. How can we remain in Him and not be cut-off? By obeying His commandments. Through obedience, we will bear fruit and experience great joy.

Our joy is complete, or full, in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11). Is your joy incomplete? Seek the presence of God; seek Him in prayer and bible study.

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11

Week 4: The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength, Day 3: Restoration Joy

Today’s Treasure: Psalm 71:20, 23 – “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again…My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I whom you have delivered.”

Five major catalysts for JOY:
(1) Joy is the result of Salvation
(2) Joy is the result of Discovery
(3) Joy is the result of Restoration
(4) Joy is the result of Abiding (remaining) in Christ
(5) Joy is the result of Relating God’s way to God’s people

We’ve studies week 1 and 2, Salvation and Discovery; now we look at the next catalyst for joy, ‘Restoration.’ The joy of being restored from…

Troubles – though we know we will have troubles, we must remember that our suffering is only for a little while (I Peter 5:10). Our suffering will be followed by restoration, strength, the ability to stand firm, and the ability to remain steadfast. Restoration is coming!

Displeasing God because of sin in our life – God hates to be separated from His children. God yearns for us; he longs to restore us back to Him; he has great compassion for us. He has loved us with an everlasting love and unfailing kindness (Jer. 31:3). When we change our thinking and turn from our sin, God will restore our joy.

Discipline – Discipline means ‘teaching.’ Hebrews 12:6-7, 10 – “because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.”

If you are in need of restoration, know that restoration is coming! God desires to fill you with His joy.