JOY

feeding . . . gathering . . . carrying . . . leading . (Isaiah 40:11)

Dear family,

I covered a lot of ground on Sunday so I suggest you get the tape or download the MP3 for follow-up! Remember the main point, that we have an opportunity, to use Paul’s term to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 1:24) to be a “helper” of another’s joy. The fruit of the Spirit that is joy should equally be a mark of corporate identity, and I spoke about ways that we could increase the joy of a community, not just our own personal lives.

I thought you might be interested in the compact summary I put together of Jonathan Edwards’ argumentation for taking joy seriously (to use a C.S. Lewis term!) Edwards argues that at the end of the day, there are two primary distinguishing marks of a transforming work of the Spirit of God: love to Christ and joy in Christ. Regardless of any other manifestations or miracles, that’s it. Assess your life and your ministry, assess transformation and revival by these he argues, and he had seen it all. Is there an increase in your love for Jesus and is there an increase in your joy in Jesus. Is there? To quote him: “Joy in Christ is one of the most basic exercises of true faith and its nature is supernatural and glorified. True faith must consist in holy affections.” Edwards bolstered his argument with other pertinent observations.

  • The fact is that scripture teaches that the activities of the heart and will are strong and vigorous. “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord…be joyful in hope.” (Rom. 12:11)

  • We cannot live without affections: they were given by the Creator and are the well-spring of our actions.

  • Things only take hold of us in so far as they affect us.

  • He argues that all of this is equally inferred by biblical descriptions of a heart that is estranged from God, that is described as hard and unaffected and joyless.

  • The most eminent saints, he points out, were people of strong affections. Strong apostolic ministry, global mission, is born in strong apostolic affection. Why are we surprised then that Paul mentions joy more than any other apostle. Over 21 major mentions and treatments. Next comes John with 9!

Jonathan Edward’s observations about this vigorous affection of JOY are direct and simple so let me use them as a convenient summary to at least agree we are dealing with something of great import and magnitude. I am reducing a mass of biblical material to a sound byte so don’t judge God or Edwards by my presentation here! It will at least serve to throw you in to the biblical argumentation and truth about joy.

  1. It is the strong affection of God: “He will exult over you with loud singing…” (Zeph. 3:17)

  2. It is the strong affection of heaven: “Let us rejoice and give him glory” (Rev. 19:7)

  3. It is the strong affection of Jesus: “Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit said I praise you father…” (Lk. 10:21) 4

  4. It was the strong affection released through the incarnation: “I bring you good news of great joy” (Lk. 2:10)

  5. It is a strong affection and fruit of the Holy Spirit: “The fruit of the Spirit is joy” (Gal. 5:22) “The kingdom of God is (a matter of) joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17)

  6. It is the strong affection that is the accompanying and sustained gift and manifestation of salvation and knowing God through the finished work of Jesus Christ: “In his joy he went and sold all he had” (Mt. 13:44) “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Mt. 15:7-10) “The ransomed of the Lord…. ever-lasting joy will crown their heads…joy will overtake them” (Isa. 35:10)

  7. It is the strong affection that characterizes those who love God and are revived: “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love so that we may sing for joy all our days” (Ps. 90:14) Lack of joy is a sign of unrevivedness or back-sliddenness. “Make me hear joy and gladness that the bones you have broken may rejoice…Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Ps. 51:8, 12)

  8. 8. It is the strong affection that inspires, accompanies and results from spiritual duties:
    a) Prayer: “I always pray with joy” (Phil. 1:4); “I will give them joy in my house of prayer” (Isa. 56:7); “ask…and your joy will be complete” (Jn. 16:24)
    b) Word: “The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart” (Ps. 19:8); “When your words came…they were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jer. 15:16); “You welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:6)
    c) Gatherings: “At his tabernacle I will sacrifice with shouts of joy” (Ps. 27:6); “They offered great sacrifices because God had given them great joy!” (Neh. 12:43)

  9. It is the strong affection that is the source of spiritual strength and release: “The joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh. 8:10)

  10. It is the strong affection that will always be the fruit, the outcome, the product of truly spiritual ministry: “We work with you for your joy” (2 Cor. 1:24)

  11. It is a strong affection that is independent of circumstance: “Blessed are you when you are rejected…rejoice and leap for joy!” (Lk. 6:33)

  12. It is a strong affection that is commanded: ”Be joyful always” (1 Thess. 5:16) Lewis understood this: “In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him.”

  13. It is a strong affection that God withdraws as a judgment or punishment: “The joy of the harp ceases…all joy is darkened” (Isa. 24: 5-8)

Any questions about the necessity for joy as a fruit of our lives?

Joyfully yours and wishing to be a helper of your joy,
Stuart

http://www.christourshepherd.org/pastlet.htm (and follow links to download MP3 audio of sermon)

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HOUSING AVAILABLE (for women): -Alexandria: Sept 1 – Looking for CF to share Kingstowne 4 BR/3.5 BA townhouse with three. $584/mo +utils. Room upstairs shares full bath with one roommate. Shared living room/dining room/kitchen/ basement living room/upstairs attic storage/and laundry with washer/dryer. Free gym membership. Summer outdoor pool. Near shopping, I395/495, walking/biking trails. Missi, missi.evans@yahoo.com

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