WEBVTT 00:00:03.947 --> 00:00:09.185 I'm so excited about bringing this message to you today, and so let's get right into it. 00:00:09.185 --> 00:00:09.688 Are you ready? 00:00:09.688 --> 00:00:16.207 You can turn in your Bibles to Romans, chapter 15, verse 13, if you'd like, and it'll be up on the screen in just a minute. 00:00:16.207 --> 00:00:24.329 We're in the middle of a sermon series based on this book, gospel-centered Community, and we still have some of these left in the coffee bar if you're interested. 00:00:24.329 --> 00:00:26.103 They're $10 donations. 00:00:26.103 --> 00:00:29.812 If you don't have $10, give what you can and you can grab one. 00:00:29.812 --> 00:00:31.423 Okay, please take that and use it. 00:00:32.365 --> 00:00:39.473 Over the last few weeks, we've been laying a foundation, a theological foundation, for the concept of gospel-centered community. 00:00:39.473 --> 00:00:58.215 We've talked about the fact that we are created for community, that the culture of this world since the fall of the garden is individualism right In the place of community, and how God uses community to shape us in the gospel and how the gospel also shapes community. 00:00:58.215 --> 00:01:04.180 And last week, mark did a great job of showing us how faith works through love. 00:01:04.180 --> 00:01:08.024 Does anybody practice resting this week in the gospel? 00:01:08.024 --> 00:01:14.626 If you haven't heard that one yet, please go back and watch that on YouTube it's really important or on the website as well. 00:01:14.626 --> 00:01:24.811 So today we're going to turn the corner a little bit as we begin to discuss some of the characteristic marks of a gospel-centered community. 00:01:25.373 --> 00:01:31.474 The title of today's message is A Joyful Community and it comes from chapter 5 in this book. 00:01:31.474 --> 00:01:35.843 All right, so let's look at Romans, chapter 15, verse 13. 00:01:35.843 --> 00:01:47.632 It says May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. 00:01:47.632 --> 00:01:48.962 Let's pray together. 00:01:48.962 --> 00:01:51.546 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:01:51.546 --> 00:01:54.072 Your word is life and light. 00:01:54.072 --> 00:02:15.734 It changes our focus, it changes our attention, it changes our way of thinking and, father, we ask that you would do that by the work of your spirit, that you would transform each of us this day, that we would understand in a greater way the joy that you have promised us as believers in Jesus Christ. 00:02:15.734 --> 00:02:31.610 For those who might be here who do not yet know you, I pray, father, that hearing this message today that you will spark a desire within them to be truly devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 00:02:31.610 --> 00:02:39.251 And Lord, we just give you the glory and the honor and the praise for everything that you will accomplish this day, in Jesus' name, amen. 00:02:40.372 --> 00:02:44.606 Our youngest son's name is Benjamin, and when he was seven or eight years old. 00:02:44.606 --> 00:02:47.312 He was really excited about Christmas. 00:02:47.312 --> 00:02:51.189 Have any of you had children that were excited about Christmas? 00:02:51.189 --> 00:02:55.039 Were any of you yourselves children who were excited about Christmas? 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:57.762 Yes, absolutely so. 00:02:57.762 --> 00:03:11.039 He was really excited about Christmas, so excited that he woke us up at dark 30, which means I don't know what time it was, but it's still dark outside right and he woke us up, woke up the whole household. 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:18.850 We all are dragged into the living room and I don't drink coffee, so it's kind of like you just have to make it right. 00:03:18.850 --> 00:03:32.251 So we get into the living room and he's so excited he runs to the tree and Amy and I are assuming what that Ben's going to get his presence with his name on them from underneath the tree. 00:03:32.251 --> 00:03:33.173 But guess what he does? 00:03:33.173 --> 00:03:49.905 Instead, he starts grabbing everybody else's presence and delivers them to them and stands by with eyes aglow, waiting for each of us to open the presents that he had had some hand in gathering together for each of us. 00:03:51.247 --> 00:03:57.947 I have to be honest, I was shocked in a good way, right? 00:03:57.947 --> 00:03:59.650 You ever been shocked in a good way? 00:03:59.650 --> 00:04:03.324 And Amy and I glanced at each other, and even some of the older kids. 00:04:03.324 --> 00:04:05.150 We all glanced at each other. 00:04:05.150 --> 00:04:11.013 Some tears began to trickle a little bit, although we had to wipe them quickly because we didn't want to ruin the moment. 00:04:11.013 --> 00:04:20.154 Right, it was a joyful moment, a joyful expression of something really special that Ben had begun to understand. 00:04:20.154 --> 00:04:23.548 You see, ben taught our whole family a lesson that day. 00:04:23.548 --> 00:04:28.872 That lesson is it's more blessed to give than to receive. 00:04:28.872 --> 00:04:34.992 There's so much more joy in giving than receiving. 00:04:34.992 --> 00:04:44.954 He also understood that there's true joy comes many times from putting others before ourselves. 00:04:44.954 --> 00:04:48.805 Joy comes many times from putting others before ourselves. 00:04:48.904 --> 00:05:01.624 So today, in our passage in our scripture, Paul is praying at the conclusion of a long exhortation where he's encouraging Jewish and Gentile believers, who are at varying degrees of spiritual maturity, to think of others before they think of themselves. 00:05:01.624 --> 00:05:03.168 And what example does he use? 00:05:03.168 --> 00:05:07.326 This is the time when you can say the Sunday school answer, and it's the right one. 00:05:07.326 --> 00:05:08.911 What example does he use? 00:05:08.911 --> 00:05:10.235 Jesus. 00:05:10.235 --> 00:05:20.884 He uses Jesus, who came not to fulfill his own desires but his father's right, and to set an example of selfless sacrifice. 00:05:20.884 --> 00:05:23.391 And what is Paul doing in this prayer? 00:05:23.391 --> 00:05:28.401 He's asking God to fill these people, this early fledgling church. 00:05:28.401 --> 00:05:33.810 He's asking God to fill the people with joy, with joy. 00:05:33.810 --> 00:05:40.809 You see, joy is one of the byproducts of knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord. 00:05:40.809 --> 00:05:48.002 Let's give a definition to this, and Lord, let's give a definition to this. 00:05:48.021 --> 00:05:48.944 Biblical joy is more than a happy feeling. 00:05:48.944 --> 00:05:49.826 How many of you know that? 00:05:49.826 --> 00:05:53.052 That has to be true, because do you always feel happy? 00:05:53.052 --> 00:06:00.382 But how many of you know that, even though you don't always feel happy, we can always walk in joy, right? 00:06:00.382 --> 00:06:02.346 So biblical joy is more than a happy feeling. 00:06:02.346 --> 00:06:09.995 It's a lasting emotion that comes from the choice to trust that God is faithful. 00:06:09.995 --> 00:06:12.266 How many of you believe that this morning? 00:06:12.266 --> 00:06:19.588 How many of you know it's easier to believe that when things are going good, if we're honest, right. 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:24.711 But the key that we want to tap into today is joy is not intermittent. 00:06:24.711 --> 00:06:27.928 It's not like happiness, where it comes and goes. 00:06:27.928 --> 00:06:39.291 Joy should be an enduring quality, an enduring characteristic that we express in our lives, that we experience in our lives and that we, as a community are marked by. 00:06:39.291 --> 00:06:42.689 So we're going to start with the ideal this morning. 00:06:42.689 --> 00:06:45.800 We're going to look at how a gospel-centered community should be a joyful community, and then we're going to start with the ideal. 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:57.653 This morning, we're going to look at how a gospel-centered community should be a joyful community, and then we're going to deal with reality, which is answering the question why isn't joy always a defining characteristic of our lives or our community? 00:06:57.653 --> 00:07:01.766 And finally we will draw some conclusions. 00:07:01.766 --> 00:07:05.952 We're going to look at taking some steps to grow in joy. 00:07:05.952 --> 00:07:06.855 Are you interested? 00:07:06.855 --> 00:07:09.206 I hope so, because here we go. 00:07:09.206 --> 00:07:11.394 So let's look at that first category. 00:07:11.394 --> 00:07:16.103 A gospel-centered community should be a joyful community. 00:07:17.324 --> 00:07:23.752 The first point underneath that heading is God fills his people with joy. 00:07:23.752 --> 00:07:30.122 The scripture says may the God of hope fill you with all joy. 00:07:30.122 --> 00:07:33.249 May the God of hope fill you with all joy. 00:07:33.249 --> 00:07:38.444 This isn't something that we have to work for or earn or deserve. 00:07:38.444 --> 00:07:50.600 This is something that is a free gift from the God of hope, free gift from the God of hope. 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:58.495 The God of hope gives to his people all the joy that is necessary for us to face, whatever it is that we might face, knowing that we can trust him fully, amen. 00:07:58.495 --> 00:08:05.132 Second point is believing the gospel is the key to experiencing joy. 00:08:05.132 --> 00:08:07.208 This seems pretty simple at this point, right? 00:08:07.208 --> 00:08:08.543 But how many of you know? 00:08:08.543 --> 00:08:17.425 You can know it, you can understand it, you can tell other people about it, but if you're not experiencing it in your own life, it's not going to make much of a difference. 00:08:17.425 --> 00:08:18.750 Is it Right? 00:08:18.750 --> 00:08:25.468 The scripture goes on May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. 00:08:26.389 --> 00:08:35.972 In believing, in believing, scripture consistently describes joy as a result of believing the gospel. 00:08:35.972 --> 00:08:45.433 Believing the gospel a byproduct of knowing Jesus and believing the gospel is that we should be filled with joy. 00:08:45.433 --> 00:08:49.946 We're not there yet, are we? 00:08:49.946 --> 00:08:53.284 I can even tell this morning we're not there yet, but we're going to get there. 00:08:53.284 --> 00:09:01.230 I didn't start out the beginning of this week filled with joy, but I'm ending it up filled with joy and I'm grateful for it. 00:09:02.061 --> 00:09:10.025 We must believe what we must believe that God created human beings, that he created man and woman and placed them in the garden. 00:09:10.025 --> 00:09:22.865 He made them in his image and in his likeness, and Adam and Eve in the garden disobeyed God's commands and because of that, sin came into this world and caused a separation from God. 00:09:22.865 --> 00:09:31.865 And then all of us, except for Jesus, have been born in sin and because of that we die. 00:09:31.865 --> 00:09:34.389 We are spiritually dead to God. 00:09:34.389 --> 00:09:47.014 Jesus came into this world in a place in time in history and he lived a perfect life, the one that we could not live, and he died the death that we deserve to die. 00:09:47.014 --> 00:09:52.072 He did it in our place, taking our sins upon himself. 00:09:52.072 --> 00:09:54.279 This is the gospel that we believe. 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:59.371 This is the gospel that, if we believe it, should produce joy in our lives. 00:09:59.371 --> 00:10:06.841 Not only did he die taking upon himself the sins of the world, he was buried and how many of you sins of the world he was buried, and how many of you know? 00:10:06.841 --> 00:10:13.793 On the third day he rose again from the dead and he is alive and well. 00:10:13.793 --> 00:10:24.073 Forty days later, he ascended into heaven, where he was made what King of kings and Lord of lords, and he will rule and reign forever. 00:10:24.073 --> 00:10:37.628 And, by the way, just in case you need reminding, he will very soon, in my opinion, return to this earth and he's going to make all things as they should be once again. 00:10:37.628 --> 00:10:40.033 He's going to make all things new. 00:10:40.092 --> 00:10:48.754 I love the verse in the last temper of Revelation, where it describes Jesus saying behold, I make all things new. 00:10:48.754 --> 00:10:53.048 That's his job, that is the thing that he's very best at. 00:10:53.048 --> 00:10:55.086 Has he made you new? 00:10:55.086 --> 00:11:02.504 Has your face experienced that newness yet? 00:11:02.504 --> 00:11:05.648 Experienced that newness yet? 00:11:05.648 --> 00:11:11.554 Are you expressing the newness that God has created in you? 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:22.046 1 Peter, chapter 1, verse 8 and 9, ties this idea of belief and joy together. 00:11:22.046 --> 00:11:23.668 Again, it says though you have not seen him, you love him. 00:11:23.668 --> 00:11:36.594 Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and what you believe in him, and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, overwhelmed by joy. 00:11:36.594 --> 00:11:41.927 I can't even explain it, I can't even I can't find the words to express it. 00:11:41.927 --> 00:11:53.111 It's overwhelming, it's overflowing, it's more than enough, it's abundant, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 00:11:53.111 --> 00:12:00.827 Do you realize that our destiny was eternal separation from God in hell? 00:12:00.827 --> 00:12:03.650 That was our destiny. 00:12:03.650 --> 00:12:26.134 We were born headed for hell, and yet Jesus intersected himself and took our place and gave us a way to be made right with God, so that we could live in this life following after him, and that we know in the life to come that we will live with him forever and ever and ever. 00:12:26.134 --> 00:12:30.326 This is the gospel, this is the good news. 00:12:34.660 --> 00:12:45.192 Not only are the first two points true in this category, but the third one is also the Holy Spirit empowers us to live joy-filled lives. 00:12:45.192 --> 00:12:46.505 We have no excuse. 00:12:46.505 --> 00:12:56.033 We got God the Father, god the Son and God the Spirit, all three wrapped up in us, being able to live life this way. 00:12:56.033 --> 00:13:07.692 It says may the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. 00:13:07.692 --> 00:13:09.321 What is hope? 00:13:09.321 --> 00:13:11.885 Hope is an earnest expectation. 00:13:11.885 --> 00:13:18.142 Hope is knowing that God is in control and that I can put my trust in him. 00:13:18.142 --> 00:13:24.451 You see, the Holy Spirit is God's local agent or representative here in this earth. 00:13:24.451 --> 00:13:34.208 He works on behalf of God the Father and God the Son, and he also guess what he produces in us the fruit of joy. 00:13:34.208 --> 00:13:36.192 Where is that found? 00:13:36.192 --> 00:13:41.567 Come on Bible scholars, galatians, chapter 5, verse 22. 00:13:41.567 --> 00:13:45.934 My two-year-old granddaughter, emma, who's sitting in here. 00:13:45.934 --> 00:13:50.274 She knows this verse backwards and forwards, but I have to read it still to get it in the right order. 00:13:51.037 --> 00:13:53.543 But the fruit of the Spirit is love. 00:13:53.543 --> 00:13:57.370 Let's say it together the fruit of the Spirit is love. 00:13:57.370 --> 00:14:05.669 Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self--control. 00:14:05.669 --> 00:14:09.201 Against such things there is no law. 00:14:09.201 --> 00:14:10.904 These are not prohibited. 00:14:10.904 --> 00:14:13.789 You can get as joyful as you want to get. 00:14:13.789 --> 00:14:17.503 You can express as much love as you want to express. 00:14:17.503 --> 00:14:18.684 You want to have peace. 00:14:18.684 --> 00:14:20.669 That that is overwhelming. 00:14:20.669 --> 00:14:21.751 Go for it. 00:14:21.751 --> 00:14:23.605 There's no law against it. 00:14:23.605 --> 00:14:24.711 It can be ever increasing each one. 00:14:24.711 --> 00:14:25.113 No law against it. 00:14:25.113 --> 00:14:30.427 It can be ever increasing Each one of these fruit of the Spirit can be ever increasing in our lives. 00:14:30.427 --> 00:14:31.730 There's no limitation. 00:14:33.312 --> 00:14:38.625 So the conclusion, my friends, is clear God's people, are you God's people? 00:14:38.625 --> 00:14:42.269 All right, so it's talking about us, right? 00:14:42.269 --> 00:14:48.836 God's people ought to be consistently and recognizably joyful. 00:14:48.836 --> 00:14:53.585 Come on, let's go. 00:14:53.585 --> 00:14:57.489 That's the cry of the generation. 00:14:57.489 --> 00:15:01.368 I love watching athletes and my kids. 00:15:01.368 --> 00:15:13.793 Whenever, like when my kids are playing video games, I'll hear them in the other room, levi, who's usually very subdued and subtle, and are playing video games, I'll hear them in the other room, levi, who's usually very subdued and subtle, and all of those things I'll hear him. 00:15:13.793 --> 00:15:14.054 Let's go. 00:15:14.054 --> 00:15:19.032 I don't know what he was doing, but it was exciting, you know. 00:15:19.052 --> 00:15:19.874 So let me ask this question. 00:15:19.874 --> 00:15:23.472 Let's bring it down for a minute. 00:15:23.472 --> 00:15:26.285 Are you a joyful person? 00:15:26.285 --> 00:15:27.589 Do people see you that way? 00:15:27.589 --> 00:15:30.120 Because you might say, oh yeah, I'm joyful. 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:43.385 What if we did a secret poll of your family, an anonymous poll, no names involved, and we just asked one question Is pop pop joyful? 00:15:43.385 --> 00:15:47.530 I'm joyful, he is. 00:15:47.530 --> 00:15:49.254 Is Mom joyful? 00:15:49.254 --> 00:15:52.081 Whatever the case is, what would the answer be? 00:15:52.081 --> 00:15:55.687 How about your friends? 00:15:55.687 --> 00:16:01.302 Well, we meet at Hardee's and talk about all the problems in the world. 00:16:01.302 --> 00:16:04.889 I guess that could be. 00:16:04.889 --> 00:16:06.740 You could have joy somewhere in there. 00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.221 I don't know. 00:16:08.543 --> 00:16:13.072 Coworkers, oh no, no, I have to be so careful at work. 00:16:13.072 --> 00:16:14.801 I cannot let people know I'm a Christian. 00:16:14.801 --> 00:16:16.943 I might get fired. 00:16:16.943 --> 00:16:21.312 I'm being facetious, aren't I? 00:16:21.312 --> 00:16:23.455 How about our neighbors? 00:16:23.455 --> 00:16:29.664 Facetious, aren't I? 00:16:29.664 --> 00:16:31.751 How about our neighbors? 00:16:31.751 --> 00:16:33.057 I have been tested in this regard. 00:16:33.057 --> 00:16:37.986 I'm literally on the HOA and I'm still having problems with the HOA. 00:16:37.986 --> 00:16:40.817 Can you imagine that I'm on the board Doesn't seem to matter. 00:16:40.817 --> 00:16:41.700 I'm joyful, though. 00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:44.846 I'm joyful, though. 00:16:44.846 --> 00:16:48.953 How about your Sunday afternoon waiters? 00:16:48.953 --> 00:16:55.178 Would they consider you a joyful people? 00:16:55.178 --> 00:17:05.156 Oh, how about that traffic incident? 00:17:05.156 --> 00:17:08.307 Are we joyful people? 00:17:08.307 --> 00:17:09.951 Let's take it off of individuals, all right. 00:17:09.951 --> 00:17:11.012 Let's move it to community. 00:17:12.042 --> 00:17:14.089 Is tcc known for radical joy? 00:17:14.089 --> 00:17:24.786 Would outsiders spending some time with us comment on the deep joy that they see our lives displaying within this community? 00:17:24.786 --> 00:17:33.173 I do have to say this Most people, when they've been around us for a period of time, say that they experience love. 00:17:33.173 --> 00:17:50.513 That's very rare and I would agree with that, but I haven't heard many people lately and I'm not, there's no, not pointing fingers here but I haven't heard a lot of people lately acknowledging or saying about us that we wow, you guys are a joyful people. 00:17:50.513 --> 00:17:53.924 Is that a problem. 00:17:53.924 --> 00:17:58.286 Is that really a big deal? 00:17:58.286 --> 00:18:03.748 Here's where it's a problem. 00:18:04.961 --> 00:18:07.008 Our lack of joy is a missional issue. 00:18:07.008 --> 00:18:11.626 It's a gospel issue. 00:18:11.626 --> 00:18:22.991 For the glory of God, for the good of others and for the cause of the gospel, we must relentlessly pursue joy. 00:18:22.991 --> 00:18:30.153 It's one of the very things that God uses as an attractant to unbelievers. 00:18:30.153 --> 00:18:37.049 Here's a great quote by Martin Lloyd-Jones. 00:18:37.049 --> 00:18:39.385 It's great and hurts. 00:18:39.646 --> 00:18:52.050 Too, christian people too often seem to be perpetually in the doldrums and too often give this appearance of unhappiness and of lack of freedom and absence of joy. 00:18:52.050 --> 00:18:57.112 There's no question at all but that this is the main reason. 00:18:57.112 --> 00:18:59.828 This is back in the 1900s, middle 1900s. 00:18:59.828 --> 00:19:06.788 This is the main reason why large numbers of people have ceased to be interested in Christianity. 00:19:06.788 --> 00:19:19.691 In a world where everything has gone so sadly astray, we should be standing out as men and women apart, people characterized by a fundamental joy. 00:19:19.691 --> 00:19:24.170 My friends, there's a problem. 00:19:24.170 --> 00:19:33.394 My friends, there's a problem Because I don't believe that I am, and this is what the Lord had to do with me about this week. 00:19:33.394 --> 00:19:41.009 I am not walking in joy in the way that I should be, based on the truth that I know. 00:19:41.009 --> 00:19:45.305 So why isn't joy? 00:19:45.345 --> 00:19:49.517 Let's move on to our second kind of outlook here. 00:19:49.517 --> 00:19:53.767 Why isn't joy always a defining characteristic of our lives or community? 00:19:53.767 --> 00:19:55.691 Why isn't it? 00:19:55.691 --> 00:19:57.134 What is the problem? 00:19:57.134 --> 00:20:01.624 Let's look at maybe a few of the reasons why. 00:20:01.624 --> 00:20:07.534 Number one if we lack joy, our real problem is unbelief. 00:20:07.534 --> 00:20:13.787 If we lack joy, our real problem is unbelief. 00:20:13.787 --> 00:20:17.313 We do not believe what the Bible says. 00:20:17.313 --> 00:20:22.311 If we lack joy Now again, I'm not talking about happiness or being giddy or, you know, silly. 00:20:22.332 --> 00:20:23.977 I'm not talking about happiness or being giddy or silly. 00:20:23.977 --> 00:20:24.980 I'm not talking about that. 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:33.173 I'm talking about this disposition of hope that we carry with us that expresses itself in joy and in peace. 00:20:33.173 --> 00:20:47.253 If we haven't put our hope and confidence completely in Jesus, we won't experience lasting joy in our lives. 00:20:47.253 --> 00:20:50.588 If we haven't done that, we won't experience it. 00:20:52.394 --> 00:20:57.307 Many times the reasons that we don't believe is because we have confused two theological terms. 00:20:57.307 --> 00:20:59.813 We're going to take a few minutes and talk about those. 00:20:59.813 --> 00:21:04.391 The first one is justification, and we're going to give some definitions here. 00:21:04.391 --> 00:21:19.954 Justification refers to God's once for all declaration of forgiveness and pardon and so much more Justification. 00:21:19.954 --> 00:21:24.742 It's actually a legal term. 00:21:24.742 --> 00:21:49.940 Let's look at it like this Imagine that you're in a courtroom, god is the judge and you are guilty of every charge that's been levied against you and you're about ready to receive the guilty plea, except for one thing God, in his mercy, has given you the ability to put your faith and hope and trust and belief in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. 00:21:50.681 --> 00:22:04.766 And so, when the gavel goes up, it comes down and God says not guilty, we are forgiven. 00:22:04.766 --> 00:22:18.261 He looks at us and he says Neil, you are forgiven, you are freed and you are pardoned, because the guilty verdict has been placed on my son, jesus, for your sin. 00:22:18.261 --> 00:22:21.803 That's what justification is. 00:22:21.803 --> 00:22:25.880 But that's not all that. 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.201 It is. 00:22:26.201 --> 00:22:27.345 There's more. 00:22:27.345 --> 00:22:32.761 I feel like I'm doing an infomercial, but wait, there's more. 00:22:32.761 --> 00:22:35.214 I've got a scripture, you've got a scripture. 00:22:35.214 --> 00:22:42.063 Oh my gosh, lord, I didn't plan on being silly. 00:22:42.063 --> 00:22:47.066 Okay, moving on, lord. 00:22:47.066 --> 00:22:48.210 I didn't plan on being silly. 00:22:48.210 --> 00:22:48.813 Okay, moving on. 00:22:54.795 --> 00:22:57.321 Not only are we forgiven from all of our sins and we are made righteous just as if we had never sinned. 00:22:57.321 --> 00:22:57.742 Can you imagine that? 00:22:57.742 --> 00:23:13.647 Just as if I never had an evil thought, just as if I never had the wrong motivation or wrong attitude, just as if I never spoke a word that shouldn't have been spoken, just as if I never committed those sins that I shouldn't have committed. 00:23:13.647 --> 00:23:19.500 Justification clears the record, clears my record. 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:24.079 It takes it away, it erases it. 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:26.141 It's a clean slate. 00:23:26.141 --> 00:23:34.840 That in itself is amazing, remarkable, miraculous, whatever word you want to use, and that alone should make us joyful. 00:23:34.881 --> 00:23:36.586 But there's more to justification. 00:23:36.586 --> 00:23:38.701 There's a second aspect to it. 00:23:38.701 --> 00:23:44.846 You see, jesus' record of perfect righteousness is also credited to us. 00:23:44.846 --> 00:23:48.974 Jesus's record of perfect righteousness is also credited to us. 00:23:48.974 --> 00:23:53.338 So it's not that he took not just as powerful, it is that he erased all of our sins. 00:23:53.338 --> 00:24:01.005 But it's like if you went back in time and every wrong thought that you ever had was made right, every wrong word that you ever spoke was made right. 00:24:01.005 --> 00:24:03.467 Every wrong motive and every wrong attitude and every wrong action and every wrong, all of those things was made right. 00:24:03.467 --> 00:24:09.145 Every wrong motive and every wrong attitude and every wrong action and every wrong, all of those things was made perfect. 00:24:09.145 --> 00:24:15.785 That's what justification does. 00:24:15.785 --> 00:24:20.236 Do you believe it? 00:24:20.236 --> 00:24:30.525 It so. 00:24:30.525 --> 00:24:35.410 It's just as if I've never sinned and just as if I did everything right. 00:24:35.410 --> 00:24:39.496 That's justification, excuse me. 00:24:41.058 --> 00:24:42.962 So the next word is sanctification. 00:24:42.962 --> 00:24:44.766 Let's give a definition for that. 00:24:44.766 --> 00:24:54.875 Sanctification refers to our ongoing transformation into Christ-likeness, that is, a cooperative effort between us and the Holy Spirit. 00:24:54.875 --> 00:24:56.821 This is ongoing. 00:24:56.821 --> 00:25:07.661 This is from the point of our salvation experience and it will be completed when, when Jesus returns or we pass from this life into the next right. 00:25:07.661 --> 00:25:13.226 And I want to mention this morning, we've had a couple of deaths in the last couple of weeks. 00:25:13.226 --> 00:25:33.559 Gail Wortley went to be with the Lord and also Patricia Nooner passed away yesterday and we loved them dearly and we pray for the families and for all of those that are around them. 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:37.835 Thank you for those, patty and others, that have been such a remarkable example of the body of Christ to people when they're in the very the most difficult, some of the most difficult moments of their lives. 00:25:37.835 --> 00:25:39.436 So thank you. 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:54.557 Philippians, chapter one, verse six, says and I am sure of this Philippians, chapter one, verse six, says and I am sure of this that he who began a good work who's he who began a good work? 00:25:54.557 --> 00:25:58.125 God, jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:25:58.125 --> 00:26:00.699 I don't know about you, but that sounds like a promise. 00:26:00.699 --> 00:26:05.462 And when God makes a promise, how many of you know he's not a God that he should lie. 00:26:05.462 --> 00:26:08.563 It's not a man that he should lie, right. 00:26:08.563 --> 00:26:20.436 So he's going to complete the process of sanctification in our lives and again, we know that that will happen when we see Jesus, when we're made completely. 00:26:20.436 --> 00:26:22.843 That will be the fullness of it, the completion of it. 00:26:23.443 --> 00:26:29.646 Romans 6, verse 19, says I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. 00:26:29.646 --> 00:26:41.846 For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification. 00:26:41.846 --> 00:26:43.923 So we see the cooperative effort. 00:26:43.923 --> 00:26:53.940 God is going to do his work of bringing us closer and closer to him, causing us to act more and more like Jesus over life and over time. 00:26:53.940 --> 00:27:04.603 But he also is requiring of us, by faith, to step out and to respond to the ability that he gives us by his spirit to make the change that make sense. 00:27:04.603 --> 00:27:08.390 So that's the difference between justification and sanctification. 00:27:08.390 --> 00:27:13.926 Justification is a completed work. 00:27:13.926 --> 00:27:20.883 It's all the way done, doesn't need to be redone, doesn't need your addition or your addendum. 00:27:20.883 --> 00:27:23.727 It is finished, right. 00:27:23.727 --> 00:27:27.151 The work of sanctification is an ongoing process. 00:27:27.151 --> 00:27:35.832 It's us continuing to grow and to change and to become more like Jesus. 00:27:35.872 --> 00:27:43.111 How many of you smoked cigarettes when you came to know Jesus? 00:27:43.111 --> 00:27:44.055 And you don't have to raise your hand. 00:27:44.055 --> 00:27:50.617 Whoa, this is a judgment-free zone, right? 00:27:50.617 --> 00:27:54.369 No, but many people smoke cigarettes or cursed a lot, or were addicted to drugs or alcohol whatever it is told lies all the time. 00:27:54.369 --> 00:28:08.380 And over time the Holy Spirit began to remove those things, the desire for those things, out of our lives and we began to respond to his conviction and him drawing us closer to himself and further away from those things. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:10.243 Right, that makes sense. 00:28:10.243 --> 00:28:13.998 That's the work in the process of sanctification. 00:28:13.998 --> 00:28:19.729 It's called maturing, growing up as a disciple of Jesus Christ. 00:28:20.996 --> 00:28:23.340 Now here's the real problem. 00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:34.148 The great mistake that often steals our joy is this Our confidence in our justification tends to be based on how we're doing in sanctification. 00:28:34.148 --> 00:28:36.500 Does that make sense? 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:39.284 Let me make it as real as I can. 00:28:39.284 --> 00:28:44.827 So I prayed for three hours yesterday. 00:28:44.827 --> 00:28:49.284 Man, I'm on fire. 00:28:49.284 --> 00:28:54.483 I can do whatever God wants me to do. 00:28:54.483 --> 00:29:07.968 I can stand before you today and preach with confidence, because I'm not like the rest of you who prayed for less than three hours. 00:29:11.997 --> 00:29:13.903 I read my Bible yesterday. 00:29:13.903 --> 00:29:20.248 I opened the door for somebody to walk into the store. 00:29:20.248 --> 00:29:21.536 I was. 00:29:21.536 --> 00:29:28.682 I really that person deserved for me to yell at them and curse at them, and I decided not to, except for underneath my breath. 00:29:28.682 --> 00:29:33.723 They were a lot bigger than me and I was concerned they might harm me. 00:29:33.723 --> 00:29:43.067 So because of that, god must be really happy with me today. 00:29:43.067 --> 00:29:45.400 So I'm feeling good. 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:48.142 So you know what Today's going to be a joyful day. 00:29:51.217 --> 00:29:52.161 Is there anything wrong with that? 00:29:52.161 --> 00:30:03.315 What about when there's three days in a row where there's no real dedicated prayer and Bible reading? 00:30:03.315 --> 00:30:12.642 And you've had those thoughts that are lingering thoughts that you're working on but it doesn't seem like you're making much progress on, and you just got in a fight with your wife. 00:30:12.642 --> 00:30:17.943 Your kids aren't happy because you're not happy. 00:30:17.943 --> 00:30:24.566 All of a sudden, the joy just flies away, fleeting. 00:30:24.566 --> 00:30:36.755 All of a sudden the joy just flies away, fleeting because God must not be happy with me. 00:30:36.755 --> 00:30:40.260 Now are we talking? 00:30:40.280 --> 00:30:48.948 If we equate our justification based on how we're doing with sanctification, we're sinning. 00:30:48.948 --> 00:30:54.535 That is a sign of unbelief in our lives. 00:30:54.535 --> 00:30:59.910 It's not the same thing. 00:30:59.910 --> 00:31:05.922 So, unless we're doing well in holiness and obedience, we doubt whether we're even forgiven by God and credited with Christ's righteousness. 00:31:05.922 --> 00:31:11.249 We struggle with sin over and over and over. 00:31:11.249 --> 00:31:14.019 We can't seem to get our act together spiritually. 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:16.046 We question whether God would really accept us. 00:31:16.046 --> 00:31:17.176 I mean, I wouldn't accept me. 00:31:17.176 --> 00:31:18.179 I don't accept me. 00:31:18.179 --> 00:31:22.407 How could a holy God, a perfect God, accept me and love me? 00:31:22.407 --> 00:31:23.980 God, a perfect God, accept me and love me. 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:40.384 We end up living how, instead of joy-filled lives, we live what All the Ds defeat, doubt, depression, despair, discouragement, all of the things instead of joy. 00:31:40.384 --> 00:31:41.808 Do you recognize this pattern? 00:31:41.808 --> 00:31:51.521 Let's say it like this Do you recognize this pattern in other people's lives, those people out there? 00:31:51.521 --> 00:31:56.063 I recognize it in my life. 00:31:56.063 --> 00:32:11.625 You see, as believers, when we doubt God's love and acceptance, what we're actually saying is that Christ's death didn't matter, because we need to make ourselves righteous. 00:32:11.625 --> 00:32:25.607 Jesus, I appreciate what you did, but this wasn't quite enough. 00:32:33.556 --> 00:32:39.028 Another reason why I feel like that we struggle in this area is because we often think that joy is based on circumstances. 00:32:39.028 --> 00:32:47.779 It's not happiness, right, happiness can be based on circumstances, but joy should not be. 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:59.265 If things are going well, there's no known trouble, then we tend to lean into joy, right, although it's probably best described, like I said, as happiness. 00:32:59.265 --> 00:33:09.798 We've got money in the bank, we've got a clean bill of health, we've got good relationships, everything's good. 00:33:09.798 --> 00:33:11.862 We lost three pounds. 00:33:11.862 --> 00:33:15.366 Sorry, I didn't mean to write that down. 00:33:15.366 --> 00:33:16.768 That was my own notes. 00:33:18.230 --> 00:33:24.622 For me, that is not what scripture teaches us to do. 00:33:24.622 --> 00:33:31.954 What does it teach us in James 1? 00:33:31.954 --> 00:33:33.998 Count it all joy, my brothers. 00:33:33.998 --> 00:33:44.393 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 00:33:44.393 --> 00:33:51.747 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 00:33:51.747 --> 00:34:07.928 Rejoice in the Lord when, Always and again, I say rejoice, joy is something that should be expressed, no matter what our circumstance or situation says. 00:34:07.928 --> 00:34:12.965 It should be something that's underlying, that's with us at all times. 00:34:15.755 --> 00:34:17.884 Here's the problem, in my opinion, one of the problems. 00:34:17.884 --> 00:34:24.567 We expect God to move on our timetable and in our way. 00:34:24.567 --> 00:34:30.878 Isn't it interesting that when Jesus modeled the prayer for his disciples, how did he pray? 00:34:30.878 --> 00:34:38.106 The second part of the prayer your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:34:38.106 --> 00:34:39.541 I'd like to rewrite that prayer. 00:34:39.541 --> 00:34:45.523 Let my plan come to pass in my way and in my timing. 00:34:45.523 --> 00:34:47.547 And how many times do we pray that way? 00:34:47.547 --> 00:34:54.228 But we're instructed your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:34:54.228 --> 00:35:00.927 We can count it all joy when we're looking at life like that, when we're trusting him. 00:35:02.576 --> 00:35:10.918 Now I want to be careful to say here all of us have moments of sorrow, all of us have grief. 00:35:10.918 --> 00:35:16.208 That we experience here in this life, that's normal, that's expected. 00:35:16.208 --> 00:35:18.940 To grieve, to have sorrow means that you love. 00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:22.648 It's one of the side effects of love. 00:35:22.648 --> 00:35:34.389 But there's another precious promise that says Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. 00:35:34.389 --> 00:35:48.768 Happiness is based on circumstances, but joy is based on the person of Jesus. 00:35:48.768 --> 00:35:54.262 We have this secret. 00:35:54.262 --> 00:35:57.621 You know what the secret is? 00:35:57.621 --> 00:35:59.940 He's with us. 00:35:59.940 --> 00:36:08.434 How can I live a joy-filled life when my life is falling apart? 00:36:08.434 --> 00:36:22.001 Because Jesus is with me and even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. 00:36:22.001 --> 00:36:30.391 In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength. 00:36:30.391 --> 00:36:39.159 He's with us and he's in us by the Holy Spirit. 00:36:41.143 --> 00:36:44.277 So let's look at some practical steps that we can take to grow in joy. 00:36:44.277 --> 00:36:46.523 Are you convinced yet that we need to grow in joy? 00:36:46.523 --> 00:36:50.184 At least your person next to you needs to grow in joy. 00:36:50.184 --> 00:36:53.284 Don't look at them and tell them though right, we're not doing that. 00:36:53.284 --> 00:36:54.438 We're not that kind of church. 00:36:54.438 --> 00:37:00.806 All right, step one make sure that you're truly converted. 00:37:02.534 --> 00:37:09.956 This promise that we've been talking about this morning is reserved for followers of Jesus Christ. 00:37:09.956 --> 00:37:12.478 In this world. 00:37:12.478 --> 00:37:23.760 There is no joy, we can't experience God's joy without first experiencing godly sorrow. 00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:34.608 Why is it so unfortunate that the modern day gospel leaves out the fall of mankind and goes directly to God loves you and he has a plan for your life? 00:37:34.608 --> 00:37:49.822 Because how can we experience what the joy of the Lord is unless we understand how bad things actually were, how desperate of a situation we found ourselves in, destitute, lost, without him? 00:37:49.822 --> 00:37:57.307 So the gospel message, importantly and necessarily, starts with bad news. 00:37:57.307 --> 00:38:05.846 We are sinners who deserve the wrath of God, but we can go on with the rest of the good stuff. 00:38:09.655 --> 00:38:18.322 Martin Lloyd-Jones, going on, says it may sound paradoxical, but you must be made miserable before you can know true Christian joy. 00:38:18.322 --> 00:38:26.806 Indeed, the real trouble with the miserable Christian is that he has never been truly made miserable because of conviction of sin. 00:38:26.806 --> 00:38:31.706 He has bypassed the essential preliminary to joy. 00:38:31.706 --> 00:38:49.311 I think Aaron might have mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, but the woman that came with the alabaster box and opened it up, and all of those around her judged her for wasting this. 00:38:49.311 --> 00:38:52.643 And Jesus said you don't know what this woman knows. 00:38:52.643 --> 00:38:59.181 She's living this way because she understands she's been forgiven. 00:38:59.181 --> 00:39:03.108 She believes the gospel. 00:39:06.275 --> 00:39:08.284 So how do you become a follower of Jesus Christ? 00:39:08.284 --> 00:39:09.880 Well, first of all you must repent. 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:11.885 What does that mean? 00:39:11.885 --> 00:39:15.945 It means to turn away from an ungodly life. 00:39:15.945 --> 00:39:21.447 It means to acknowledge the fact that you have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 00:39:21.447 --> 00:39:26.045 It means saying to a holy God I cannot save myself. 00:39:26.045 --> 00:39:37.380 Second, we must believe the gospel of what God did through his son and we went through that earlier. 00:39:37.380 --> 00:39:47.628