Laying Hold of Joy

Pastor Ky Martin • August 17, 2022

Joy.


The idea seems simple enough on the surface. We all know that we should be joyful and we are often reminded that we have every reason to be so. 


And yet we often find ourselves in a place where joy is the last word we would use to describe ourselves. That leaves us wondering how Paul could be so joyful in such terrible circumstances while our joy can be instantly annihilated by one dirty dish left on the table.



What is joy?


Before we go any further, let’s consider biblical joy for a moment. Though this is not a full definition, let’s consider how joy is different than happiness...


  • Happiness is used to describe positive feelings that result from temporal circumstances.


  • Joy, on the other hand, is used to describe a deep sense of contentment and satisfaction that transcends one’s outward circumstance.


This distinction can be helpful. Being able to rejoice in all circumstances does not mean we are always happy. It's rare (and probably inappropriate) for someone to be happy at a funeral. Joy, on the other hand, will often accompany a Christian attending the funeral of a loved one. When the deceased is a brother or sister in Christ, we can rejoice that the person has been freed from the struggle of the flesh, and that we will be reunite with them again in glory. Knowing this helps us to grieve, but in a way that is very different from those who have no hope (1 Thes. 4:13). Joy can be present even amidst tears.


But sometimes it is not…


Most, if not all, of us have had moments or seasons that we would describe as joyless. There are times (maybe you are in one now) where the idea of being able to rejoice despite the circumstance seems far fetched, and “the peace of God, which surpasses understanding” (Phil. 4:7) has alluded us. That often leads to a sense of guilt and questioning...


  • Does my lack of joy indicate spiritual immaturity?


  • I can’t just make myself feel more joy… so how do I “fix” that?


  • Is it just a mind game of redirecting my thoughts to more positive things?


  • But joy is a fruit of the Spirit so shouldn’t it be something I just have, not something I have to create or work for?


There is no quippy phrase I could toss out that would answer all of those questions in one fell swoop. But there are a number of things that contribute to our joy or lack thereof. Paul’s writings (especially Philippians) give us a wealth of things that can help us experience the same joy that Paul experienced in prison. 



(1) Joy must be laid hold of.


It does not always come effortlessly just because we are in Christ. If it did, there would be no need for Paul to remind the Philippians to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:2). Paul, by God’s grace, was supernaturally joyful as he wrote Philippians, despite terrible circumstances. But that was not his permanent, 24/7 mood. He says in Chapter 2 that if Epaphroditus had died, he would have had “sorrow upon sorrow.” The letter to the Philippians may have had a much different vibe had Epaphroditus died. God does not expect us to live in perpetual glee. He knows there will be ups and downs. As the Psalmist says, “he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). Like other fruits of the Spirit, the attitude is ours in Christ, but must be laid hold of. Like the shield of faith in Ephesians 6, it is provided by God, and put on by us.



(2) Joy comes through abiding in Christ.


Jeremiah 17 says the man who trusts in the Lord is “like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought..” Through devotional habits such as regular scripture reading and prayer, we tap directly into the life giving waters of Christ, who is the source of all joy. The more connected we are to God, the more equipped we will be to joyfully endure life’s storms.

Let me throw out one disclaimer here. A lack of joy is not always a result of spiritual immaturity. The answer to someone who is struggling with depression is often not as simple as, “Pray and read the bible more.” If you believe you may be suffering from depression, please let your community group leader or one of our pastors know.



(3) God brings us joy through others.


While personal devotion is perhaps the most direct route to the source of joy, let’s not overlook God’s ability to extend his living waters to us through others.


In his book, “Things of Earth,” Joe Rigney gives us a great example of how God used his wife to supply streams of joy amidst season of drought and depression. He said, “I remember the loneliness and the fear, the nights spent staring at the ceiling and the terrifying sense of despair that would wash over me in moments of hopelessness and fatalism… And, in later seasons of doubt, the unshakeable hope that stable tenderness of my remarkable wife. Her words, her hope, her touch anchored me in ways that defy my explanations. I felt the comfort of God in my wife’s presence.”


Biblical joy is found, first and foremost, directly in the person of Jesus. But God also supplies his joy to us through the relationships He provides.



(4) Joy comes from an eternal perspective.


No matter how bad life gets, we, as Christians, still have hope, because our hope is not in this world. My dad often comments that he cannot comprehend how unbelievers can get through life without any hope of something better to come. When a loved one passes away, we need not ignore or push aside our grief. But we must not stop there. In the midst of trials and loss, we must also set our minds on the reality that Jesus will one day wipe away every tear, and that death will be no more.

Freed to Serve

April 28, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 27, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:11-17 This is the beginning of a section addressing how God's people now function in this world. It begins with aliens and exiles and continues with servants, wives, husbands, and finally, all of you. 1.) Our identity defines our actions. We are sojourners and exiles (temporary, passing through, not at home) We have a heavenly citizenship Actions We abstain from the passions of the flesh Keep conduct among the Gentiles honorable (our conduct is for the benefit of other people) Honorable conduct wins souls… sojourners, exiles, and soul winners “Peter’s point is that believers’ behavior creates a context in which people will listen to God’s word. He is not teaching that ‘good deeds’ in themselves convert unbelievers, but they establish an environment for the Gospel-word to do so.” -Barnett 2.) Our identity defines our expectations (Unbelievers will respond to honorable conduct in 1 of 2 ways) Some will speak evil against us as though we are evildoers Some will see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation 3.) Our identity defines our view of authority (Does anyone here ever just want to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it? That’s why laws exist) Be subject to every human institution (for the Lord's sake) This includes governors and emperors (no distinction between good/bad) The will of God... by doing good, we silence the ignorance of foolish people 4.) Our identity defines our view of freedom Don't use freedom as a cover-up for evil We are freed to serve God Honor, Love, and Fear Discipleship Questions: 1.)Why is it so important to understand our identity before talking about our behavior? 2.) How might this reality impact your parenting? For real, what are 3 ways that you can apply that this week? 3.) How is good conduct a form of evangelism? 4.) What do these verses say that we can expect from others? 5.) How can we honor a government that isn't always honorable? Seriously, what are 5 things we should immediately stop doing and 5 things we should immediately start doing? 6.) What are some tangible ways to honor others? Love the brotherhood? Fear God? Honor the Emperor? 7.) Should we fear the Emperor?

Cornerstone

April 22, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:4-10 Everyone must accept or reject Jesus. He is the cornerstone. We choose to accept Him as the foundation of our lives or toss the truth aside. When we come to Jesus… We become part of His People 1 Pe 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. The cornerstone is The New Temple. From this we learn that following Christ entails joining his community, the church…The freelance Christian, who follows Jesus but is too good, too busy, or too self-sufficient for the church, is a walking contradiction. -Daniel M. Doriani We join a royal, holy, priesthood 1 Pet. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Because of who Jesus makes us. We receive God’s mercy Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms….Now repentance is no fun at all. It is something much harder than merely eating humble pie. It means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into for thousands of years. It means undergoing a kind of death. Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Discipleship Questions: Why is it impossible to be neutral about Jesus? Why do you believe that Jesus truly is the Son of God? Do you ever have doubts about this? If yes, what are they? According to 1 Peter 2:9, who are we after we come to Christ? Why does Paul say (in 1 Corinthians) that if Christ is not risen, our faith is in vain?

Born Again

April 16, 2025
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 2:2-3 Why do our souls ache for certainty? We are so eager for certainty that we will look for it in all the wrong places. - Certainty in our Finances [show slide from news] - Certainty in our Jobs [Acts 17:24-27] - Certainty in our Health [Covid] - Certainty in our Abilities [Ecclesiastes 3:11 “God has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”] “Things that have never happened before are happening every day.” -Morgan Housel In these verses, God gives us what our souls ache for! 1.) You must be born again of imperishable seed - We have all been born of perishable seed o Impure souls o Disobedient to truth o Unloving insincerity toward others o Lack of loving effort o Impure hearts - We are withering grass and falling flowers - The imperishable seed is the living and abiding Word of God o Does not wither o Does not fall o Does not let us down o It remains forever o It MUST BE PREACHED! But still, how can we be certain that we have been born again? 2.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your relationships When your relationship with God changes, God changes your relationships! - Sincere brotherly love - Love earnestly - Put away… o Malice o Deceit o Hypocrisy o Envy o All Slander 3.) If you are born again, hope will be seen in your appetite for God’s Word - Like newborn infants - Long for the pure spiritual milk Discipleship Questions: 1.) Where are some unhealthy places where you look for certainty? 2.) Why do you do that? 3.) What were some evidences of your perishable seed before you came to Christ? Any of that still lingering that needs to be repented from? 4.) Why does Peter call the Word of God the imperishable seed? 5.) In light of the text, how would you describe being "born again" to a 5-year-old? 6.) How has imperishable hope proven itself in your relationships? OR How might it if you lean into loving others earnestly? 7.) Why does Peter tell us that hope will be seen in our appetite for God's Word?
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