Study

We Want Joy

August 13, 2023 by in Study

Text:

1Thessalonians 1:2-7:

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in   the sight of God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye   know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

 

Theme:

We Want Joy

 

Introduction:

  • The First and Second Epistles to the Church in Thessalonica, also known as 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, were the earliest of Paul’s epistles, and were written from Corinth, in A. D. 52 and 53.
    • 1st Thessalonians à The earliest written of Paul’s Epistles in the Bible canon
      • Paul rejoices over Timothy’s good report of the faith of Christians at Thessalonica
      • Paul encourages them against the persecutions and temptations they would meet, by discussing the miraculous testimony of God…reminding them of who God is and what He has done
      • The remainder of the epistle consists of practical exhortations or simply how they are to “live right”.
    • 2nd Thessalonians à Written soon after the 1st epistle
      • He corrects certain errors into which they were falling for the purpose of exhorting them to purity of life, reminding them that their sanctification was the great end desired by God regarding them.
        • First, it seems that the anxious expectation of the second coming of Christ had gained ground since the writing of the First Epistle.
        • Second, the apostle’s authority was not denied by any, but it was tampered with, and an unauthorized use was made of his name.
      • Chapter 1 is Paul’s salutation to address the church in Thessalonika. In this portion of scripture Paul presents a salutation that teaches us how to get something that is critical in our life – JOY
        • Nehemiah 8:10, “…the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
        • Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
        • James 1:2, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;”
      • Let us get it clear that JOY is not the same as HAPPINESS…
        • Happiness is an instantaneous reaction
        • Joy is a state of being
          • Happiness is MADE (make you happy)
          • Joy is POSSESSED (have joy)
            • Happiness becomes a memory
            • Joy is a feeling
              • A believer will not always BE happy
              • A believer can always HAVE joy
            • JOY is not the same as HAPPINESS
          • After this initial assessment alone, it is easy to know that We Want Joy!
            • As we said earlier, our text is Paul’s documentation of how we, as believers can have JOY!

Body:

  • Since this is a lesson for the Believer’s assessment and acquisition of JOY, it becomes a prerequisite that we be SAVED
    • Before you can know what JOY is…you gotta be SAVED!
    • Before you can have the genuine desire for JOY…you gotta be SAVED!
    • Before you can recognize JOY when it is found…you gotta be SAVED!
    • Before you can have the JOY that you hold…you gotta be SAVED!
      • Let us use John 3:16 as a foundation…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

  • Because of God’s LOVE
  • Even as a WHOSOEVER
  • If I BELIEVE
  • I don’t have to DIE
  • But I can have EVERLASTING LIFE
  • Then Romans give us the ROAD to Salvation
    • Romans 10:9-10, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
  • Just remember…before you can start to look for JOY of God…You gotta be SAVED!
  • Once saved, you gotta learn to GIVE THANKS!

1Thessalonians 1:2, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;”

  • You might not have a car to drive, but you are SAVED…so tell Him Thank You!
  • You might not have good health right now, but you are SAVED…so tell Him Thank You!
  • You might have enemies breaking you down, but you are SAVED…so tell Him Thank You!
  • You might not have the money that you need, but you are SAVED…so tell Him Thank You!
  • We, as believers have to learn to, in spite of where we are, GIVE THANKS for what God has already done!
  • Notice that we have been SAVED and now GIVE THANKS…but we still have not mentioned anything about JOY 
  • Once you are giving thanks, you gotta GO THROUGH SOMETHING!

1Thessalonians 1:3, “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”

  • The Bible teaches us that we MUST go through something!
  • Paul teaches us that we must SUFFER
  • Notice that we must go THROUGH but God does not intend for us to just go TO!!!!
    • People bring me TO my frustration but God brings me THROUGH to m peace
    • Money brings me TO my temptation but God brings me THROUGH to His fruits
    • My flesh brings me TO my brokenness but God brings me THROUGH to being whole again
  • If someone says that they have had an easy road after accepting Christ them they need to check what they accepted…cause it was not Christ! J
  • It is required that the believer GO THROUGH SOMETHING!
  • Notice that we have been SAVED and now GIVE THANKS and have GONE THROUGH SOMETHING…but we still have not mentioned anything about JOY L
  • The GOING THROUGH SOMETHING has to impact you by you being TRANSFORMED

1Thessalonians 1:4-5, “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

  • The Holy Spirit, God’s Person of Power, fills the individual to bring about CHANGE…they are TRANSFORMED
  • The change must be in the person and not in the presentation.
    • Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
    • The old Gospel song says…
      • A change and change has come over me. I once was blind but now I see.
    • Notice that we have been SAVED and now GIVE THANKS and have GONE THROUGH SOMETHING and then have been TRANSFORMED…but we still have not mentioned anything about JOY 
    • Once you are TRANSFORMED, then you get to first entertain the JOY of the Lord!

1Thessalonians 1:6, “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”

  • They BECAME followers
    • After being SAVED, after GIVING THANKS, after GOING THROUGH SOMETHING, after being TRANSFORMED…Then they became followers!
    • It is a new level of relationship when you become a Follower!
      • You SERVE and you SUFFER!
        • Each take a toll on you
        • Both are REQUIRED
      • You can have JOY!
        • Joy, Joy, God’s great JOY! Joy, Joy, down in my soul! Sweet, beautiful, soul-saving joy!  Joy in my soul!
      • STIPULATION:
        • JOY is in the SERVING and the SUFFERING
          • This is where the believer’s testimony goes beyond what the world can understand!
            • Joy comes OUT OF your serving and suffering
            • Joy comes BECAUSE OF your serving and suffering
            • Joy comes IN SPITE OF your serving and suffering
          • The songs of the church say it best…
            • “Father I come to Thee a sinner all defiled. Please take the stain of guilt away and own me as Thy child.  I cannot live in sin and feel (joy) my Saviour’s love. But that Thy blood can make my spirit clean and write (sealing the joy) my name above.”
            • “I’m Happy With Jesus Alone”
            • “I Will Trust In The Lord”
            • “I thank you, Thank you Jesus for my journey. You brought me from a long, long way”
            • “I got Joy Joy Joy Joy down in my Heart”
          • Hard Sayings:
            • If you have no JOY…then you have no POWER
            • If you have no JOY…then what is deficient is your salvation
              • David asked God to RESTORE the JOY of his SALVATION!!!!
            • If you have no JOY…allow yourself to serve God and suffer for God’s glory
            • If you have no JOY…look to God and He will ADD JOY

Conclusion:

  • Lastly, once you have JOY you can be an example….Minister in Ministry!
    • Matthew 22:14, “For many are called, but few are”
      • I think that God’s JOY is a good way to see who is actually CHOSEN!
        • Many are called but few are CHOSEN
        • Many are called but few are SAVED
        • Many are called but few are TRANSFORMED
        • Many are called but few have God’s JOY
      • We as believers need to have JOY…it is what DRAWS the creation to the Creator
        • You get more flies with honey than vinegar
        • God’s JOY is the SWEET IN US that Ministers to others in the Ministry of the church
          • Gotta have JOY!!!!
        • I thank God that I HAVE JOY!!!!!!!!!!!

#929

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