Can you tell the difference Act 3

Another source of our joy is His Law. “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart” Psalm 119:111. Maybe it’s kind of odd thinking of Law as a source of joy. I sadly confess I got pulled over the other week, and did not have a joy experience because of law. We can have a tendency to look at God’s Law the same way. We view His Law as something we break, and then have to pay a big fine for. However, the relationship that we are to have with the Law of God is one that brings us delight and joy. The entire chapter of 119, the longest Psalm, speaks of the delight, hope, goodness, light and joy that we benefit from learning and obeying God’s Law. We may read those verses and wonder how God’s Word and Law can become a honeycomb to our lips, like water to a man dying of thirst, how our heart can pant after it. I think of another verse in 1 John 5 “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2 by this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome”.
How do we get ourselves to a place where His Law can be a source of our joy? Well, for certain, when we are living in a way that is contrary to His Law, joy from this sources is not possible. In fact, my personal experience has been it brings increased misery and stress. It brings misery, because we know the difference, we know what we are doing does not please God . For the follower of Christ they cannot fully enjoy the worldly pursuit of happiness because they hearing and feeling the convicting words of the Holy Spirit. Stress because we know that we are living a dual life, and we are internally questioning “who is the real me”? We look in the mirror and do not want to look ourselves in the eye. Joy can, and will only return when we confess our sins, and repent of our selfish pursuits. But here is a key point, it is not the job of the community of Christ to condemn each other, when one is found out. It is to love in a way that restores the person to strength and hope. We need to let God’s Word penetrate into our hearts, minds and senses – and that can only come through the regular hearing and reading of His Word. We need to come to the place where his Word and Law are a delight and joy to our soul.

A third source is in what God has done. “For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands”. Psalm 92:4.

Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God has done so much for us. The blessings and bounty we have in our lives are because of His constant grace and mercy. We need to consider His works and provisions on our behalf just because He loves us - not because we have earned or deserve them. Our joy comes from simply reflecting on His deeds. We are to be looking for the work of God’s hand in our life and in the lives of others. Those works are all around us. When we see them we find joy.

Fourthly, because of the Holy Spirit dwelling within. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” Galatians 5:22.

The very nature of the Holy Spirit is joy. He dwells within and brings that joy nature into us. Think about that for a moment. God has placed His own eternal presence ‘in’ you. It doesn’t come and go – even when we blow it. He stays, urging, encouraging, and praying on our behalf. The Holy Spirit constantly desires to have our lives draw close to God.

Romans 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We need to let His joy come to the surface.

Fifthly, a great sense of our joy comes from when we are able to share the love of Christ with each other.

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

There is something incredible that happens when God’s people come together and share and encourage one another about the presence of God. Read 1 John carefully, you will see how this is in what we say, but more importantly, how we demonstrate that love practically. So often we talk about everything else – or set other things up priority. Unfortunately we can think we’re being ‘over religious’ when we engage in this kind of talk with one another – but in fact, it is one of the ways that our joy is made complete. It’s no wonder the enemy seeks to do anything he can to disrupt these encounters.

And lastly our prayer life. John 16:24 until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

There is a direct correlation between the depth and quality of our communication with God and the quality and quantity of joy in our lives. I think that we have some discovery to do about what prayer really is. Simply, it is open, honest, selfless, faith-filled, His way, God seeking communication, that may or may not include closing one’s eyes, or even words (Be still and know that I am God). It is depended on our willingness to let 'His will be done" in our lives, and in the lives of others, through us.

This week we have focussed on finding true joy in our lives. As we reflect back, we see that none of the foundations of joy are found in the feelings of happiness, but in decisions of the will. It's not that the feeling of happiness is wrong, God created us with that ability. The problem is when we are lead and focussed on happiness as a immediate goal, rather than the result of a life well lived. Seek joy, and happiness will be added unto you.

Anyway, I was just thinking.

Neil