From Practice to Promise

TAKE JOY |  PART 4

FROM PRACTICE TO PROMISE

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Phil. 4:4-9

 “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (4:9)

 “Joy is what you feel when you see the sparkle in someone’s eyes that conveys ‘I am happy to be hanging out with you’” - Dr. Allan Schore

Our brains look specifically to the face of another person to find joy.

God’s face is connected to joy in the Bible

“For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of Your presence.” (Psalm 21:6)

Hebrew translation: “You make him happy with joy WITH YOUR FACE” 

• SEEK the face of joy (Jesus)

“...You will shine like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Phil. 2:15-16)

We seek Him through his Word.

“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jeremiah 15:16)

The more we hear God’s words, the clearer Jesus’ face becomes

• SURROUND yourself with the church body 

Specifically those in pain and suffering

“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.” (Phil 4:4)

[insert photo of Haley - send to Glenn]

“Maybe those in suffering are more prone to witnessing and experiencing joy because we are more open to looking for it.”

“ Joy does not remove our pain but it gives us strength to endure. Joy has a relational component to it so “joy in suffering” means that God and our community are glad to be with us in our distress. They do not allow us to suffer alone. We are able to bear our suffering like Jesus” - The Other Half of Church

Joy can co-exist with pain and sorrow

“I know that I will remain and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.” (Phil. 1:25)

Rhythms/ Practices to experience more joy:

• Seek the face of joy
• Surround yourself with the church body

1. SURRENDER to the Holy Spirit in you

“… for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”(Phil. 1:19)

JOY HAS GRIT

“Joy is tenacious. It fights. It grips the promises of God and won’t let go. And joy is not a mere good mood; it is an anchor in our storms, an immovable rock to stand on when the waves of life threaten to flatten us.” - Matt Smethurst

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13-15)

 “So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” ‭‭(John‬ ‭16:22‬)

The promises: 

Jesus is constantly interceding for you 

We have access to the God of peace and His presence is with us – take joy!