Lesson 242: "Joy"
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints” (Philemon 7). Joy is not laughing and giggling at all times in all kinds of strife and troubles in your life. Joy is not hugging and saying how glad you are to see someone. That is being happy.
Joy in Jesus Christ that Paul speaks of is when a loved one dies and you know that your know they have gone to the Father and the joy of that knowledge wells up inside and bursts out in the form of tears. Joy is the hope you have of too, joining your Father and you cry hallelujah. Joy is what Paul missed in the church of Galatians when he heard they were turning back to those weak and miserable principles and he asked; “what has happened to all your joy” (Gal. 4:9, 15). On the outside these people most likely looked joyful with parties and laughing but Paul knew their joy in Jesus Christ was gone. When the joy goes there goes your hope and Paul feared they were no longer “working out their salvation”.
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (2 Cor. 7:9-10); this is where Paul found his joy with the church in Corinth. John found no greater joy than to hear that his “children” were faithful to the truth and were walking in the faith (3 John). John proclaimed to everyone what he had seen and heard so that they too might have the fellowship with him, the Father and His Son, to make his joy complete (1 John 3-4). To receive the goal of our faith, the salvation of our souls, should fill us with inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Pet. 1:8-9). James states that we should face trials with joy so that we might be mature and complete in Christ (James 1:2-4). Welcome the message of the gospel of Christ with joy (1 Thess. 1:6); our hope and joy is seeing others saved and serving God (1 Thess. 2:19-20); recall the faith of others with tears, longing to see them so that their faithfulness might fill you with joy (2 Tim. 1:4-6) having the hope they will join you in suffering for the gospel.
Let the joy of Jesus Christ overflow (Phil. 1:26); rejoice in the Lord always and let your gentleness be evident to all (Phil. 4:4). While we were still sinners Christ died for us, this is our joy (Rom. 5:8-11); receive the Word with joy (Luke 8:13); rejoice with those in the presence of the angels when you bring a sinner to repentance (Luke 15:10). Be joyful in God your Savior (Hab. 3:18); do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh. 8:10). Paul told King Agrippa that he would “think himself happy” (Acts 26:2 KJV) and we can do this too and in this happiness we will find the joy of the Lord.