HOW TO HAVE JOY
“Yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” I Peter 1:8. Aim: To know how to experience joy unspeakable.
Introduction: Many people today are unhappy and without joy. It seems that the more things that people have, the more they want, the more unhappy they are, and the less joy they have. Satan will always try to rob us of joy by getting us to sin. He offers us a swap: sin and reap a perceived benefit, which will cost us our joy and peace. Yet some people with very little material things have great joy. Why? Because joy is not based on having material goods.
Joy is inner contentment, calm delight, cheerfulness and gladness.
This joy that we receive at salvation is described as “unspeakable” (412) which means unutterable and inexpressible. It is so wonderful that it cannot be described fully. The next verse (v.9) describes heaven, so this joy that we have continues to heaven. We rejoice with so great joy that words cannot describe it (now), and this joy is full of glory (later when we get to heaven). This joy is only available to believers in Jesus Christ, so the obvious first step is to receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour.
Question: How can we experience this joy unspeakable?
Answer: We experience this joy as we do or think on the following:
1. STAY IN GOD’S PRESENCE
“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11.
Joy is found by: a) following the path of life that God sets out for us, and
b) staying close to God in His presence,
then we experience fullness of joy, pleasures forevermore and sweet fellowship with the Lord.
“Unto God my exceeding joy.” Psalm 43:4. “I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18.
When we draw close to God we experience the exceeding joy of His Person. Habakkuk 3:17,18,19. Even in economic hardship we can rejoice in the Lord. Inner joy and peace does not depend on outward prosperity. Joy comes from staying close to the God of my salvation.
2. HEAVEN
“He shall see his face with joy.” Job 33:26. “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matthew 25:21,23
“I will make thee ruler over many things” is a joyful prospect.
As we think of seeing Christ’s face in heaven, this thought fills us with joy now and joy later in heaven.
We will experience great joy when we enter heaven if we have been faithful to Christ on earth. Faithful service now brings great rewards later.
Christ is able to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. Jude 24.
3. FAITHFULLY ENDURING TRAILS
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5.
When we go through life’s trials, the key is to stay in close fellowship with the Lord. When the trial passes, then joy comes to us as we experience the victory.
“Count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations.” James 1:2,3,4.
This is because testings produce patience, so that we become complete and entire, wanting nothing. We become joyful when we come through trials, victorious in the strength of the Lord.
4. STAY MORALLY UPRIGHT, AVOID SIN
“Shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11.
If we are upright morally in our heart, this is a cause for joy. To have joy, be morally upright and forsake sin, because sin robs us of joy.
“Restore unto me the joy of my salvation.” Psalm 51:12.
It is right to avoid sin and to keep our joy. When we sin, we lose our joy as David did through adultery and murder. We must then confess our sin to God and make things right with others, then God can restore unto us the joy of our salvation. Remember, sin robs us of joy, so let’s avoid sin, and stay upright as the way to keeping our joy.
5. GOD PLANS TO PROSPER US
“Let them shout for joy and be glad........Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Psalm 35:27.
As we serve God obediently, it is a cause for joy to remember that God plans to prosper our hard work for Christ. We all like to prosper in the work that God has called us to do. When we go through difficult times, it is good to know that God will prosper our work for Him. This causes us joy.
“Your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.
6. HOUSE OF GOD
“I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.” Psalm 42:4.
If we want joy we should come to church, the house of God on Sunday so that we can be taught God’s Word, to enjoy the fellowship of believers, and to rest on God’s Holyday. There is joy in God’s house when believers are of one mind in the Word of God and as we praise God in joyful singing.
7. UNITY
(Philippians 2:2 “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” )
There can be no joy in any church unless there is unity of mind and belief. If an entire church all believe the same Bible truths, are of one accord, of one mind, all loving the same things, then there is peace, joy and direction in a church. A church divided against itself cannot stand. Those of different major beliefs should either believe what the church believes, or get out and find another church that believes as they do. Don’t hinder the work of a good church.
True unity can only be based on truth. Then joy can prevail.
8. SOUL WINNING when people are saved.
a) “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Psalm 126:5.
When we go out and share the gospel with tears of concern over people’s lost condition then God promises that we shall reap in joy as people get saved. There is joy in seeing people saved.
b) “My brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown.” Philippians 4:1. “What is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” 1 Thessalonians 2:19,20.
Those Paul led to Christ were his joy, hope, glory and crown. Leading souls to Christ brings us joy.
c) “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” Luke 15:10.
We should share in the angel’s joy by trying to lead people to Christ. Events on earth can make heaven rejoice. This proves that those in heaven know much of what happens on earth. Let us be soul winners so as to make heaven’s angels rejoice and share in their joy.
9. KEEP CHRIST’S COMMANDMENTS
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:10,11.
If we keep Christ’s commandments, Christ’s joy will be in us and our joy will be full. Those who rebel against God’s commands, lose Christ’s joy. Thus rebels look angry. Obeying God brings joy.
10. CONVERTS WALKING IN TRUTH
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” III John 4.
When we lead people to Christ, it is our greatest joy to see them walk in truth, in true Bible doctrine, taking their place serving the Lord in a sound Bible teaching Church. It is a grief to see new Christians going back to their old ways or following false doctrines. How do new converts walk in truth? By being taught God’s Word properly as they sit under a sound Bible teacher.
11. PRAYER
When we ask in Jesus Christ’s name, we receive, and our joy will be full. John 16:24. If you are unhappy, check and see if you have had a good prayer time that morning.
Prayer brings joy. No prayer brings no joy.
12. REVIVAL
“The people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake….and there was great joy in that city.” Acts 8:4-8. When the Samaritans turned to the Lord, there was great joy in their city.
13. SUCCESS IN MISSIONS
“Paul and Barnabus declared the conversion of the gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.” Acts 15:3.
We can have great joy by supporting soul winning missionaries. When they report multitudes turning to Christ, we experience great joy with them as we have shared prayerfully and financially in their work. Their blessing becomes our blessing.
14. FINISH YOUR LIFE’S WORK
“That I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry........” Acts 20:24.
If we finish our life’s race with joy without being disqualified, we have joy on entering heaven, not having given in to the devil. We must finish the work that God has given us to do on earth.
We lose our joy if we disgrace Christ by sin, and drop out of the ministry.
15. A HAPPY MARRIAGE brings joy
“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity.” Ecclesiastes 9:9.
If we succeed in our career, but fail in our marriage, we lose our joy and have great misery. Men must constantly court and love their wives in order to maintain a happy marriage. Men, watch for the danger signals in your marriage and fix the problems before it’s too late.
16. FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
“With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3.
“Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.” John 7:37.
We can be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit as we take in the water of the Word (Eph. 5:26) from the wells of salvation. As we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we bring forth the fruit of the Spirit of love, joy peace,.....(Galatians 5:22,23).
17. THE WORD OF GOD
“Thy words were found and I did eat them: and thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” Jeremiah 15:16. When we read and seriously meditate on God’s Word, applying it to our life and obeying it, we experience great joy and rejoicing. Great joy comes from obeying God’s Word.
18. THINKING OF THE FUTURE MILLENNIUM
“The joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion...” Psalms 48:2.
When we think about when Christ will return to the earth in person to judge righteously and put down all evil, we are excited to see the joy that the whole earth will experience as Christ rules as King from Jerusalem over a regenerated earth.
“Everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10.
When feeling down, think of the future joy that you’ll experience when you come to Jerusalem in the Millennium weekly and monthly (Isaiah 66:23), along with everybody on earth, to receive Bible teaching from Christ in a joyful, festival atmosphere.
19. CHRIST’S FIRST and SECOND COMINGS
Wise men rejoiced with exceeding great joy as they saw the star over the stable. Matthew 2:10.
So do we rejoice as we see Christ’s coming drawing closer. Angels brought the shepherds good tidings of great joy to all people. We experience the joy of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Luke 2:10.
CONCLUSION: Joy comes by doing things God’s way. Sorrow comes to by doing things man’s way. Follow these principles and you will have real joy and purpose in life. Remember the sorrow that Israel experienced because they disobeyed God and did not serve Him joyfully. Deuteronomy 28:47.
