The words of our text sometimes seem impossible to achieve. Rejoice always? But God never gives commands that are unattainable. Regardless of the circumstances, each of us can be joyful. As we mature in Christ, we will see that this is true.
Mature Christian joy is not something that is “worked up to” by singing and testimonies or even preaching. It involves a constant peace and contentment that is present even in the “valley of the shadow of death.”
Joy is defined as a state of happiness or delight: bliss. It is an emotional and spiritual design that, in Christ, all is well. How sad indeed that many of God’s children never reach this stage of Christian maturity. They just never seem to grow. They never seem to get out of the “baby stage” where all they can process is the “milk of God’s Word.” They are constantly unhappy, always causing strife and trouble. The problem is this is the case of many of God’s churches today. They are filled with babies who have never grown up. The pastor, unless he makes a definitive attempt not to, becomes a “baby-sitter”
instead of being able to equip the members for acceptable service for God.
True, many pastors do not preach and teach the Word as they should, but there are many more who do. It is a two-way street. What the pastor, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, preaches and teaches has to be accepted by the members. If this is the case, that particular member who does not accept the truth of God’s Word, will never develop mature Christian joy.
The Basis of Mature Christian Joy
Of course, God is the basis for all Christian joy. It is in Him that we find salvation. King David wrote and sang a song about this in Psalm 35:9.
Psalms 35:9 KJV 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
Only in God is there rescue from the sure torments of hell and then the eternal condemnation in the lake of fire. David saw plenty of reasons to be 12
joyful in his salvation. David saw a definite relationship between jo and salvation. Upon losing his joy because of a backslidden condition, which resulted in great sorrow and dismay for him, he wrote this in his prayer recorded in Psalm 51:12:
Psalms 51:12 KJV 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Thus, we see that apart from God and His free salvation, no one can be joyful.
Many may seem to have joy, but if there is no salvation, there is no real joy.
We cannot obtain joy separate from salvation, but keeping that joy rests on some other things also.
David pointed to some of these things in his request for the restoration of his joy, as recorded in Psalm 51. He indicated that the Christian must have the right view of God. He saw God as being loving and merciful. He further beheld Him as being forgiving. Certainly, there would be no cause of rejoicing in a God Who was not loving, merciful and forgiving, because these are all the things that are desperately needed by sinful men.
David also pointed out that we must have a right view of sin if we are to be joyful. All sin is against God. The person who seeks true joy cannot hold onto any “pet” sins because they will stand in the way of that fellowship which is so vital for rejoicing. The only way for sin to be deleted is through confession and repentance. True joy follows the forgiveness of sin which comes from repentance.
Furthermore, David realized that he must have a right view of himself. He saw himself as being guilty, in need of forgiveness. You will note that David did not pray to be saved again, only for the forgiveness of his sin that he had committed concerning Bathsheba. Any child of God who stubbornly holds onto his sins by refusing to admit that he has them will never be joyful.
God wants to give joy to all His children. Notice what James wrote in James 1:17.
James 1:17 KJV 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
It is a fruit of the Spirit according to Galatians 5:22, and is available to all who will accept it His way.
Galatians 5:22 KJV 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,….
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God Wants Full Joy For His Children
The phrase, “full joy,” is used at least four times in the New Testament. It means that He wants complete joy for His own. A look at these four Scripture passages should convince us that God really intends for us to be happy.
On one occasion, Jesus taught His disciples by using a vineyard as an object lesson.
John 15:1-11 KJV 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
He taught them their relationship to Him. After telling them that true believers are in Him, He told them to produce fruit, love and keep His commandments. He said in verse eleven, These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Jesus emphasized that in order for joy to remain in them and be complete, there must be more than salvation; there had to be a life of fruitful service for Him. This proves that we are not saved for ourselves, but for God and His service.
At a later time, Jesus taught His church that complete joy was connected with prayer. That is found in John 16:24.
John 16:24 KJV 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
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Saints who pray by faith and see their answered prayers experience a special joy. This joy comes from being assured that they are not alone with their needs in this world. It’s no wonder so many saints are not rejoicing when we look at the neglect of prayer. I realize that it is so easy NOT to pray. In fact, Satan will do all he can to keep us from praying.
The apostle John wrote a letter about security of the believer in I John 5:13.
1 John 5:13 KJV 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
He gave several ways that we can know we are saved. At the beginning of the letter John in chapter 1 verse 4, wrote, And these things write we unto you, THAT YOUR JOY BE FILL. We cannot possibly have full joy unless we are secure in our salvation.
Later, John wrote a second letter about still another thing with which full joy is associated in II John 12. KJV 12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
It was something that a letter could not accomplish, face to face fellowship with other Christians. This is another important reason why faithful church attendance is so important. It provides times of regular fellowship with other saved people.
Joyful Regardless of Circumstances
Joy that rests in the accomplishments, abilities and moods of the individual comes and goes as those things fluctuate. Mature Christian joy is “in the Lord.” This means that joy rooted in Him remains constant because He remains constant.
We rejoice “in the Lord,” earthly possessions play no part in it. Habakkuk said in Habakkuk 3:17-19, that even if all his crops failed and his herds did not reproduce, he would still rejoice in the Lord.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 KJV 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the 15
God of my salvation. 19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
Oh, that the modern saint would have the same joy! We should be able to lose everything we own and remain joyful.
Joy from God does not depend on our physical welfare. After having been beaten by the Jews, the apostles rejoiced, not because they like whipping, but because they had been counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ. Paul and Silas sang praises to God in the Philippian jail. Their backs were bleeding, and they certainly did not want to be in jail. This joy was possible because it was in the Lord rather than in their own circumstances.
Acts 16:25-34 KJV 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
Peter wrote to people who were under extreme persecution. He encouraged them in I Peter 1:8.
1 Peter 1:8 KJV 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Thus, God teaches that Joy is not dependent on physical welfare. Mature 16
Christian joy does not even depend on physical life itself. Here is what Job had to say about it.
Job 13:15 KJV 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
In Acts 7:59, 60, Stephen died with true joy in his heart.
Acts 7:59-60 KJV 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Paul, in Philippians 1:21, wrote:
Philippians 1:21 KJV 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
These all had joy in Christ.
Other Lessons About Mature Christian Joy
Sometimes sorrow must precede joy. In Nehemiah 8:9-12, all the people wept because of their guilt when they heard the Word of God.
Nehemiah 8:9-12 KJV 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. 12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
However, they were joyful as shown in verse 12. Evidently, they not only heard and understood the Word of God, but also repented of their sins.
Strength comes from the joy of the Lord. In the joy of the Lord comes strength against despondency and depression, against giving up when times 17
get rough, and against sin. Perhaps one reason why we suffer so much from spiritual weakness today is our failure to claim the full joy which God gives.
The joy of the Lord produces charity. The people sent portions of food to those who had none in Nehemiah 8:10. The love of God is seen in people who are joyful.
Nehemiah 8:10 KJV 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
The presence of true joy will cause us to be a better witness for Christ. This joy is a must because lost people are pointed to Christ by it. Joy anticipates glory to come. Paul said this in reference to the saints in Romans 5:1, 2. As we anticipate the second coming of Christ and all the events connected with it, joy can burst forth.
Romans 5:1-2 KJV 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Conclusion
Do you have joy? If not, then why not? You need to find out and solve the problem that is keeping you from having joy.
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How To Be Kind
Romans 12:9-13 KJV 9 Let love be without dissimulation.
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.