The Impact of Joy

The Impact of Joy

12/19/2021 - Dave Riddle 

Luke 2:10 - Good news of great joy! 

Joy is Not the Same Thing as Personal Happiness

• Happiness is circumstantial

  • Joy is different

• 1 Peter 1:8 - …inexpressible and glorious joy

  • “Joy unspeakable and full of glory“

  • Joy = chara (χαρά) a calm delight

• Pipe dream or attainable reality?

Joy is Commanded

• Philippians 4:4 - Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again rejoice.

  • An imperative.

Joy Requires Intentionality & Commitment

• Colossians 3:2 - set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.

  • Set your mind = phroneō (φρονέω) To direct one's mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for

Joy Can Become Our Orientation

• Galatians 5:22 - The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…

How Do We “Set Our Minds…”?

Remember How Loved You Are

• The love we experience on Earth pales in comparison to the love the Heavenly Father has for us.

Remember Who(se) You Are

• 1 John 3:1, 1 Peter 2:9-10 - This is our identity! This is who we are!

Remember What You Have

• 1 Peter 1:3-7 - …an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading…

John 15:11 -  “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”

• Complete, full, overflowing = plēroō (πληρόω) - to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim

His Mission = Our Mission

His Mission = Our Mission

The Gospel of John - Part 20 • 2/7/21

Key passage: John 7:1-13

Family

• John 7:3-5 - Jesus’ brothers: if you are who you say you are, why don’t you go to the party and do some miracles for everyone to see.

Divine Timing

• John 7:6 - My time has not yet arrived, but your time is always at hand.

  • chronos vs kairos

    • kairos (greek: καιρός) No direct English equivalent

      • The right time

      • The critical time

      • The opportune moment

    • Implies, not the convenience of the season, but the necessity of the time at hand.

    • “Kairos is when eternity steps into time”

• John 7:7-8

  • Go to the festival! It’s time for you to go, but I’m working with a different agenda/priority/kairos

  • The world hates Jesus because of who he says he is, and what he says he is there to do.

  • plēroō (Greek: πληρόω) - to make full, fill up. literally, to cram (a net), level up (a hole or hollow).

Power Brokers 

• John 7:9-11

  • They want to eliminate Jesus.

  • They fundamentally misunderstand who Jesus is.

The Ordinary People

• John 7:12

  • there was lots of murmuring about Jesus among the crowds.

  • “Murmuring” gongysmos (Greek: γογγυσμὸς) - grumbling, muttering, whispered debates.

What’s The Takeaway For Us?

• In the same way that Jesus’ brothers, the power brokers, and the public misunderstood Jesus, people misunderstand our decision to follow Him.

  • if you live the way Jesus calls you to live there are going to be people who respond to you in the same way these people responded to Jesus.