Advent III - Joy
Isaiah 52:7-10
New International Version (NIV)
7 How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.
Restoring Joy to Our Lives
In Galatians Paul lists joy among the fruits of the Spirit. Like all fruit, it
grows best under certain conditions. We can foster the work of the Spirit in
our life, or we can hinder it. There are ways we can encourage the flow of
joy in our lives. On the front of your handout are ten things that foster joy in
our lives, laid out in the form of a self-assessment. My goal this morning is
to spark some insight about what may be blocking joy in your life, and how
you can begin the journey toward greater joy. If you are not experiencing
as much joy as you would like, the first step is to gain some understanding
about why. Then we can begin to identify helpful resources and the
adjustments you can make in your life.
Ten things that Foster Joy in Your Life
1. Unconditional acceptance - Knowing that you are accepted, loved,
and approved by those who matter (especially God), and accepting
others in that way
2. Healthy relationships – ones that mutually fulfill emotional and social
needs
3. Significance – Knowing that your life has meaning and purpose
4. Positive Focus – the habit of focusing on things that are true, noble,
right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. (Phil. 4:8)
5. Impact – Having a positive role in the lives of others
6. Integrity - your life is aligned with your beliefs and becoming
progressively more so
7. Victory - Overcoming challenges
8. Encouragement - Receiving and sharing good news that relieves
fears and generates hope and excitement
9. Doing what you love to do and do well
10. Celebrating - Accomplishments, milestones, and special occasions
with others meaningfully and positively
Later we’ll look at some supporting Scriptures to help you bring more of
these into your life, but first, let’s see where we stand. I believe it will bring
you valuable insight if you would look at these ten things that foster joy and
rate yourself from “1” (I have almost none of this in my life) to “10” (I am
completely satisfied with this area in my life).
Now, at the bottom of the page, note the two areas you are most satisfied
with, and the two areas you most want to improve. Use your strengths to
influence areas you’d like to improve. You will have various degrees of
control in different areas. You may not be able to bring an area you rate as
“3” up to a “10” just now. You probably could bring a “5” area up to “7” with
some prayerful thought and a little work, and that added joy would
positively influence other areas.
Now let’s look at some things that block the flow of joy in our lives.
Twenty-five Things that Steal Joy from your Life
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Anger
Boredom
Celebration, Lack of
Depression
Direction and Meaning, Lack of
Doubt
Emotional Needs Unfulfilled
Encouragement, Lack of
Envy and Jealousy
Exhaustion
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Fear
Frustration
Grief
Grudges and Resentment
Hypocrisy
Isolation
Judging, Criticizing, and Condemning
Negative Focus
Perfectionism and Unrealistic Expectations
Relationships that are Unhealthy
Self-absorption
Stress
Vengeance
Violence
Vocational Mismatch - Not Liking What You Do
Put a checkmark next to the things you think are stealing joy from your life.
Which are the worst culprits? What positive steps can you take to eliminate
or minimize the impact of the things that are robbing you of joy?
Remember that fixing an easier area can boost your joy and encourage
you to tackle a more difficult area (for instance, getting some rest to
overcome exhaustion will go a long way toward reducing stress levels).
If you would like more resources and encouragement in dealing with any of
these areas, please make a note at the bottom of the page. Without writing
your name (unless you want me to know) tear off the bottom section and
hand it in. Your feedback about the areas you would like to improve will
greatly help me in planning to share resources to support you in your
growth. In that way I can customize the resources (preaching, teaching,
and online) to your particular needs and interests.
Use the top section for reference as you make a plan to bring more joy into
your life.
Keys to Joy – Supporting Scriptures
1.
Acceptance “...now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away
have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13 NIV
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message
of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” (Ephesians 1:13 NIV) “Accept
one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring
praise to God.” Romans 15:7 NIV
 Are you secure in the knowledge that you are accepted by
God through faith in Christ?
 Are you accepting others – flawed as they are – as Christ
accepted you?
2. Relationships “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I
have loved you, so you must love one another...” (John 13:34 If you
keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be
destroyed by each other. (Galatians 5:15)
 Are you willing to work hard on your relationship with God
and your relationships with others?
 Are you aware of the negative impact criticizing and
condemning can have on your relationships? Would you be
willing to give away one dollar for every time you say
something unkind or uncalled for about someone else from
this day forward? (If not, how badly do you really want to
be rid of that habit?)
3. Significance “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to
do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
 Have you found your purpose and mission in God’s
Kingdom?
“
4. Focus 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.” (Phil. 4:8 NIV) “The mind of sinful man is
death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace...”
(Romans 8:6 NIV)
 Where is your focus? Are you filling your mind with things
that are right, good, pure, and admirable?
5. Impact “Therefore, my brothers... my joy and crown...” (Phil. 4:1
NIV) “I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Phil. 1:3 NIV)
 Are you conscious of the impact you are having on others?
6. Integrity “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (II
Cor. 4:16 NIV)
 Do you have the confidence of knowing that day by day,
your actions and attitudes are coming more and more in
line with your faith in Christ and his Word?
7. Victory “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NIV)
 Are you overcoming, through the power of God, the
challenges you face?
8. Encouragement 7How lovely on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,
They shout joyfully together;
For they will see with their own eyes
When the LORD restores Zion.
9Break forth, shout joyfully together,
You waste places of Jerusalem;
For the LORD has comforted His people,
He has redeemed Jerusalem. (Isaiah 52:7-9)
 Are you a sharer of good news, or do you tend to be a bearer of
bad news?
 Are you filling your mind with encouraging things, and when
people have been with you, do they leave spiritually encouraged?
9. Vocation Each one should use whatever gift he has received to
serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
(1 Peter 4:10)
 Are you aware of your talents and spiritual gifts, and are you
using them in a way that brings you joy?
10. Celebration Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet
drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This
day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV)
 Are you caught up in traditions that have lost meaning for you, or
are you intentionally and joyfully celebrating the holidays of our
faith and life’s other meaningful occasions?
We’ve looked, then, at ten keys to unlocking joy in your life, and I hope you
have gained some insights about what may be blocking your joy. Now the
real work begins. The Spirit will not bear the fruit of joy in our lives if we
quench it. When we create the optimal conditions for joy, however, it is
amazing the transformation that takes place! Based on the feedback you
give me, I’m willing to develop and recommend more resources to help you.
The real work, however, is yours. If you want a Spirit-filled life of joy, what
do you think God would have you do next?