Episode 53 – Disciple Up

Disciple Up #53
Fruit of the Spirit Joy #2
By Louie Marsh, 4-25-2018

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To become like Jesus I must CHOOSE SPIRIT over my old nature (flesh).

The Fruit of the Spirit is His fruit and comes by Grace.

1) SEE the relationship between Joy and Grace.

Both words come from the same root in Greek
Grace – Charis and joy Chara come from Char
Char indicates something that PRODUCES WELL BEING.
Charis indicates SOMETHING FREELY GIVEN that produces well being.

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

Chara is the INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE OR EXPRESSION of that well being.

⁴ Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Psalm 43:4 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…Galatians 5:22a (ESV)

Joy Quotes:

Sorrow does not take away, but adds to the Christian’s joy.” – Lester Roloff

“Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures.” – Thomas Aquinas

“When the heart is full of joy, it always allows its joy to escape. It is like the fountain in the marketplace; whenever it is full it runs away in streams, and so soon as it ceases to overflow, you may be quite sure that it has ceased to be full. The only full heart is the overflowing heart.” – Charles Spurgeon

“There is no joy in the world like the joy of bringing one soul to Christ.” – William Barclay

“The world looks for happiness through self-assertion. The Christian knows that joy is found in self-abandonment. ‘If a man will let himself be lost for My sake,’ Jesus said, ‘he will find his true self.'”

– Elisabeth Elliot

2) UNDERSTAND how it works.

Joy is having God’s PERSPECTIVE on life.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, James 1:2

Like Love – Joy is NOT an emotion or feeling, but it’s often thought of that way because it PRODUCES feelings, we have an emotional response to God’s Grace when we see it.

Joy doesn’t waiver because IT’S A REACTION TO GOD’S UNCHANGING GRACE.

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)

³ Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 1:3 (ESV)

⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:9 (ESV)

Therefore in difficult times I can be joyful because I’M FOCUSED ON GOD’S UNCHANGING GRACE.

¹ We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, ² for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 (ESV)

¹¹ We ask him to strengthen you by his glorious might with all the power you need to patiently endure everything with joy. Colossians 1:11 (GW)

3) REALIZE the benefits Joy brings into your life.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.“ Neh. 8:10

4) DECIDE to take that first big step towards joy.

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (ESV)

· I need to make a QUALITY DECISION to view life from God’s Perspective.

“To be a leader, to rule, to command, used of military leaders, church leaders.

To account, to think.
So it means to lead yourself to a decision
Prefix to the word – “not resting on one’s inner feelings or sentiment, but on the due consideration of external grounds, the weighing and comparing of facts, deliberate and careful judgment.”

So James is saying we need to make a once for all quality decision to view life from God’s Perspective.

Please Get In Touch!Email – louie@discipleup.org