Who Could Use More Joy?
I LOVE BEING HERE FOR PASTOR PAUL & JUNIE
It’s been a minute since I’ve been here, but I always love it.
Today: JOY
[STORY] “Where?!” When our girls were little they learned this song and we sung it together with emphasis: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. [DALENE OR I WOULD ASK] WHERE?? Down in my heart. WHERE?? Down in my heart to stay! –
You might be wrong about joy…
Before we begin, let’s deal with some wrong thinking about joy:
YOU MIGHT BE WRONG ABOUT JOY
- “I need the right circumstances to be joyful”
For some people, joy is 100% circumstantial. Is that how it’s supposed to be? We’ll look at that today.
- “Someone else took away my joy”
Maybe you would say today, “I could be joyful if it weren’t for …” (fill in). Have you given someone else the power to control your joy? Risky!
- “If I give joy away there will be less of it for me”
‘If joy is in limited supply, I better keep what I have for myself. If I give it away I won’t have any for myself.’ Is that true?
- “Joy isn’t a choice. You can’t choose if you have joy or not”
It comes down to this. Is my joy within my control or not? Is it voluntary, like a smile? Or involuntary, like a sneeze?
ONE OF THE BIBLE’S ROYAL FAMILIES OF WORDS
- ‘chara’ : JOY – from χαίρω (chaírō) glad, happy
- ‘charis’ : GRACE – flavor, especially unmerited favor
- ‘charisma; charismata’ : GIFT, GIFTS (charisma, charismatic)
It all Starts with joy, Results in grace and Expressed in gifts.
THE JOY PARTY
Background on Nehemiah 8
This was a time in Israel long, long after the reign of King David and King Solomon. The people had been forced from the land into exile by the Assyrians and the Babylonians. They were scattered. Then God moved on a Persian king to let them rebuild Jerusalem, the Temple, and their nation.
The prophet Ezra went first, followed later by Nehemiah. Under Nehemiah the walls were being built, but it was hard, hard work. Now they could do what they couldn’t do in exile. They could hold their national feast day together in Jerusalem. It was party time!
There was still work to do, but they took some time to celebrate. This holiday on the first day of the seventh month was the Feast of Trumpets, a festive two-day celebration. This gathering was epic! Later in the chapter Nehemiah says it hadn’t happened this way since Joshua! (17)
The scene of Nehemiah 8
So, everyone gathered together in a huge open square in Jerusalem. A huge wooden platform was constructed where Ezra and other leaders stood and ministered. When the sun began to rise, Ezra began to read the scriptures. He read and read and read. During the reading there were those among the crowd who helped them hear and understand what was being read. He read from sun-up until the sun was high in the sky at noon. As Ezra read, something began to happen:
Read [Nehemiah 8:8-12 NKJV]
(v.8-9) The people began to weep and mourn when they realized how far they had gone from God’s Word. They were genuinely emotional.
(v.10-12) They were told, ‘Don’t weep and mourn. Be joyful! Throw a party! Share what you have! Turn those frowns upside down! And they did! It worked! National mourning became a national celebration!
Ezra the priest said these words “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (say together) That is a powerful statement.
- Today is a joy-check. How’s your joy?
- Today is a strength-check. How’s your strength? (They’re related)
- JOY IS A PARTY YOU THROW FOR YOURSELF
- GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO HAVE JOY
Ezra saw them mourning and weeping and knew something had to be done. Have a party! Throw a party! They needed and invitation. Sometimes when I’m down I don’t feel like I have permission to be joyful. With such serious issues surrounding us, I can’t throw myself a joy party, can I? I think you can. Here’s your permission:
Read [Philippians 4:4 NKJV]
- You and I can control our joy level
This huge crowd was all mourning and weeping. Ezra told them, by the inspiration of God, ‘Don’t be sad but be joyful. Here’s how to do it: Throw a party.’ It worked! Verse 12 said they rejoiced greatly.
YOU have control over your joy-level. Not circumstances. Not someone else. Not others. Not a crowd. You have control. When you choose joy you throw a party for yourself. Go ahead! Do it!
- JOY IS A PARTY YOU THROW FOR OTHERS
- TAKE JOY IN BRINGING JOY TO OTHERS
Opening gifts to give to others
[STORY] Mom’s genius present code Mom tried everything to surprise us with presents. She would hide them, but we always found them. (My brother). One year she tried a new approach. Instead of putting names on packages, she put a clever code. Only she had the master decoder. Even if you found the presents you didn’t know which one was yours.
Christmas came and no one knew what they got! We all gathered around the tree – presents with coded tags filled the floor. We were excited. But mom hid the codes so well that she couldn’t find them. She figured she remembered anyway, so she gave me a present to open. It was a beautiful perfume kit. Mom said, “Give that to your sister. It’s hers.” As presents were opened that Christmas, you almost never opened your own present. You opened a present, learned who it was for and handed it over to that person. It was hilarious! It was fun!
Opening a present to give to someone else was a riot. Imagine opening a present thinking, “I wonder who this one is for” and then giving the present to someone else, not keeping it for yourself. It was exciting. It was the most memorable and enjoyable Christmas morning ever.
- Don’t just have a party for yourself. Include others
Nehemiah and Ezra said, ‘Don’t just throw a party for yourself. Include others. Make yourself sweets, and make portions for those who don’t have portions of their own. Give! Share! It will increase YOUR joy!’
HERE IS THE BIG SECRET: There are few things more joyful than bringing joy to others. Don’t just be a joy-keeper; Be a joy-giver. Also – You can’t give joy to others if you don’t have joy yourself.
Do you care about the joy of others? Ezra and Nehemiah said to enjoy good things AND share with others – think about their enjoyment.
- JOY IS A PARTY YOU THROW FOR GOD
** “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” God is the source of joy.
- EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU.
Jesus was invited to a party in John 2. Good move! In fact it was a wedding. Even better! While He was there, the wine ran out. Wine in scripture represents joy, abundance, life! It also represents His blood shed to bring us these things.
His mother came to Jesus and told Him, “The wine has run out”. Then, she told the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” You know the story. Jesus made new wine and it was even better than the first wine.
- Has your joy run out? Let Jesus fill you up today
Is your joy missing? Has it run out? You can look to a lot of things for new wine, but nothing will work. It’s in the water …
- GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO HAVE JOY
- FIND JOY IN BRINGING JOY TO OTHERS
- DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU
APPLICATION
God is the Author of Joy. All joy ultimately finds its beginning in Him. Wherever you find joy comes from Him. There certainly are counterfeits to joy – but true joy comes from Him.
Close your eyes and receive from Him as I read this verse: Read [Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV]
[CALL BACK] End by starting, “I”ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart” WHERE?
