“God made man simple; man’s complex problems are of his own devising.” –King Solomon

“Because we lack a Divine Center, our need for security has led us into an insane attachment to things. We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy. ‘We buy things we do not want to impress people we do not like.’ … We are made to feel ashamed to wear clothes or drive cars until they are worn out. The mass media have convinced us that to be out of step with fashion is to be out of step with reality. It is time we awaken to the fact that conformity to a sick society is to be sick.” —-Richard Foster

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace….” (Gal. 5:22-23)  –The Apostle Paul

The second of the two most popular Christian greetings is “peace” (eirene). It is roughly the equivalent of the Hebrew shalom. But, though it is related to this word, it also means more.

 Above all, peace is God’s gift to man, achieved by him at the cross of Christ. It is peace with God (Rom 5:1) and is to express itself both in peace of mind (Philippians 4:6, 7) and in a very practical peace between all those who know God.

 This latter peace should be seen, as Barclay notes: in the home (1Cor 7:12-16), between Jew and Gentile (Eph 2:14-17), within the church (Eph 4:3; Col 3:15), and indeed in the relationships of the believer with all men (Heb 12:14).

 (1 Peter 3:11)  “He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.”

 The importance of this word is evident from its frequent and extensive occurrence in the NT–80 times and in every book.

 We Are Chasing Money in Hopes of Finding Contentment.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:11-13)

 Contentment is a Gift of God Given by the Holy Spirit.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give you (peace) as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26-27)

QUOTE “Peace is rare: Less than 8 percent of the time since the beginning of recorded time has the world been entirely at peace. In a total of 3530 years, 286 have been warless. Eight thousand treaties have been broken in this time.”

Peace– free from war or commotion, quiet, calm, serene, composed, tranquility.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace….” (Gal. 5:22-23)

 Misconceptions About Contentment:

“But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (I Tim. 6:6-10)

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” (Isa. 48:17-18)

C. Paul’s Key Text for Understanding Peace: (II Cor. 5:18-21)

(2 Corinthians 5:18-21)  “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: {19} that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. {20} We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. {21} God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

 D. The “Am I A Peacemaker?” Test: (I Peter 3:8-12)

(1 Peter 3:8-12)  “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. {9} Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. {10} For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. {11} He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. {12} For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.””

 1. Do I strive to live in harmony with others?

2. Do I strive to be sympathetic to the feelings of others?

3. Do I give the benefit to others I would give to myself?

4. Do I tend to insult or bless?

5 Do I spread goodwill with my conversation?

6. Do I pray for people to be in harmony with God and others?

Some Recommendations for Getting Out of the Money Chasing Rat-Race

1. Buy things for usefulness, not status.
2. Reject anything that is addicting to you.
3. Develop a habit of giving things away.
4. Learn to enjoy things without owning them.
5. Stay away from “Buy now, Pay later.”
6. Stay away from things that benefit you at the expense of others. 

A. The Four Key Levels of Contentment:

1. Contentment With God- This Is a SPIRITUAL Reality.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1) “The fear of the Lord leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” (Prov. 19:23)

2. Contentment With Self- This Is an EMOTIONAL Reality.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7)

3. Contentment With Others- This is a RELATIONAL Reality.

“Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual edification.” (Rom. 14:19)

4. Contentment With Circumstances- This is a TEMPORAL Reality.

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:11-13)

B. Key Personal Question: Do You Want to be CONTENT?

“Some (people) suppose Godliness is a means of gain. But Godliness with contentment is great gain. For, we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” (I Tim. 6:6-10)

C. The Pathway to Contentment: Seeking First Things First (Matt. 6:31-43)

1. Do Not Chase After THINGS. (Uncontrolled Ambition)

2. Do Chase After ONE THING. (Inner Peace)

The Prerequisite for Contentment: GODLY LIVING (Faith & Obedience)

The Corollary to Godly Living: A Godly Christian Will Be CONTENT.

Contentment Comes… From Knowing My NEEDS Are Met in Christ.

I. Keep your knees bent (in prayer).

Phil 4:6-7 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 “You should pray when you’re in a praying mood, for it would be sinful to neglect such an opportunity. You should pray when you’re not in a praying mood, because it would be sinful to remain in such a condition.” Spurgeon

 A. Never let a day begin without it.

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3

 SONG “Ere you left your room this morning, Did you think to pray?”

 B. Never let a day end without it.

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17

 

C. Never face a situation/problem without it.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING…” Proverbs 3:5

 D. Never neglect it when it seems unnecessary.

Little boy when asked by minister if he prayed everyday, said, “Not everyday. Sometimes I don’t need anything.” That’s the response of an immature individual.

“In everything give thanks…” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Praying always… WITH THANKSGIVING…” Phil. 4:6-7

II. Keep the Bible open (and read).

A. You need to keep it open to grow.

“Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

 

B. You need to keep it open to have victory.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Psalm 119

 

C. You need to keep it open to give you PEACE

“Great peace have they which love Thy law, and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165

“A clean Bible means a lean soul.” D.L. Moody

III. Keep submitting your heart to God.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Colossians 3:15.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

A. When the Bible says something, DO IT, SUBMIT TO IT, or there is no peace.

B. When you KNOW THE WILL OF GOD, DO IT, SUBMIT TO IT, or there is no peace.

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17

“Peace is the deliberate adjustment of my life to the will of God.”

IV. Keep concentrating your thoughts on God.

“For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and PEACE.” Romans 8:6
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is STAYED on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3 .

A. Everything starts with your thought life.

“If you sow a thought, you reap an attitude. If you sow an attitude, you reap an action. If you sow an action, you reap a habit.”

“… every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.” James 1:14-16  

B. You can fill your mind with many different things.

C. If you want PEACE, though, you must fill your mind with God.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

V. Keep living right.

“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.” Psalm 37:37

 

A. Nothing destroys peace like sin in your life.

“We lose the peace of years when we hunt after the rapture of moments.”

It says in the Declaration of Independence that we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those words are the preamble to the American dream. But more than 225 years later, the innocent, hopeful intentions of our founding fathers have become blind and dangerous compulsions.

We all know we can’t buy happiness, and we are often surprised by what brings us happiness and frustrated by what we believe should make us happy.

It has been suggested that we are becoming a nation of men and women who, in the quest for happiness, all too often fall short of achieving any kind of inner peace. Instead of life’s journey being an exhilarating adventure into the unknown, for many of us it is a compulsive and tiring trek, an exhausting journey where the next stop for replenishment never seems to arrive.

George Santayana: “A string of excited, fugitive, miscellaneous pleasures is not happiness; happiness rsides in an imaginative reflection and judgment, when the picture of one’s life, or of human life, as it truly has been or is, satisfies the will, and is gladly accepted.”

“Many apparently successful people feel that their success is underserved and that one day people will unmark them for the frauds they are. For all the outward trappings of success, they feel hollow inside. They can never rest and enjoy their accomplishments. They need one new success after another. They need constant reassurance from the people around them to still the voice inside them that keeps saying, “If other people knew you the way I know you, they would know what a phony you are.” – Howard Kushner.

Happiness is not about having what we  want…but wanting what we have! In many ways, happiness is within us waiting to be discovered.

In the grand and deeply moving prophesy of the ancient prophet Isaiah, it was foretold that when Christ comes He would impart to His people “the oil of joy” for mourning (Isaiah 61:3). Joy has always been one of the most significant hallmarks of God’s people. Joy springs from the presence of God in a person’s life!

Millions of men and women across the centuries attest to a transformation in their lives. It is what is meant by Paul in Romans 14:17: “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” God is here! He is alive! He is in charge!

I ask you, “Do you have that joy?” It’s obvious that many people don’t. And you’ve been around them, haven’t you? They’re grumps, they’re gripers, they’re very negative about virtually everything that happens in life, complaining almost all the time. As a result, they just aren’t much fun to be around.

One of my favorite stories about a person with a grumpy personality begins with a man going into the doctor’s office. As he walked in, he was met by the receptionist. He told her that he had a sore on his chin that he want-ed the doctor to examine.

She said to him, “Down the hall, first door to the right, & take off your clothes.” “But ma’am,” he said, “it’s just a sore on my chin. I don’t think all that is necessary.” She repeated, “Down the hall, first door to the right, & take off your clothes.” “But ma’am,” he said. “Down the hall, first door to the right, & take off your clothes.”

So he went down the hall, took the first door to the right, walked in & saw another man already sitting there in his boxer shorts, shivering. He said to him, “Boy, that receptionist is really something, isn’t she? I just have a little sore on my chin & she told me to come down here, go through this door & take off my clothes.” The man in the boxer shorts said, “You think that’s bad? I’m the UPS delivery man.

There are some difficult people, aren’t there? “Some cause happiness whenever they go; some, whenever they go.”  And what they need is a personality transplant. 

Let me give you a definition of “joy.” “Joy is an evidence of the presence of God in your life.” If God is in your life, if you are filled with the Spirit of God, then this fruit of the Spirit will be obvious in your life.
(Jesus Others You)

Now don’t mistake happiness for joy. It’s easy to do that. The Bible mentions “joy” or “rejoicing” 330 times. But it only mentions “happiness” 26 times. Happiness depends upon what happens to you. So if all the circumstances are right, then you can be happy. But joy comes from inside.

 The Workaholic Test

1. Is work the primary source of your identity.
2. Do you believe work is good, and therefore the more you do the better person you are? Do you brag about the “long hours?
3. Do you feel you are unworthy unless you are pushing to the point of fatigue?
4. Do you think you are indispensable; do you often work while you’re sick?
5. Do you control your work or does your work control you?

The Eight Characteristics of a ‘Driven’ Person

1. Are you gratified only by accomplishment, and the need to acquire more?
2. Are you preoccupied with the symbols of accomplishment, status symbols like: titles, office size, flow charts and special privileges?
3. Are you obsessed with growing “it” bigger, faster?
4. Does your personal integrity sometimes lose out to your ambition?
5. Do you sacrifice people and people skills for the job?
6. Do you find ambition is a competition to have and hold onto more than others?
7. Do you have a temper when things don’t go your way?
8. Are you abnormally busy, and too busy for the pursuit of ordinary relationships in marriage, family and friendship – even God?

A treadmill becomes a treadmill because it doesn’t answer our real needs. It carries us along, gathering momentum because we’re secretly feeling worse – we secretly give up hope, as feeling better seems increasingly elusive.

Asking the Age-old Question: “What are you looking for?”

(Eccl 2:10-11)  “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. {11} Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

We are all looking for something that brings JOY. Our perpetual busyness rat-race is a search for JOY!

1. We are trying to find a spiritual experience within the material world.
2. We are trying to find something that validates our life.
3. We are trying for an eternal reality in every day life.
4. We are trying to find “God-with-us” in the material things of life.

Biblical truth: True joy is found only in Jesus Christ!

(Gal 5:22)  “But the fruit of the Spirit is…joy…”

“Joy” (chara) is the virtue in the Christian life corresponding to happiness in the secular world. On the surface they seem related. But happiness depends on circum stances, whereas joy does not. In the NT a form of the word “joy” becomes a typical– and the most popular–Christian greeting (Matt 28:9; Luke 1:28; Acts 15:23; 2Cor 13:11; James 1:1). Joy is particularly full when what was lost spiritually is found (Luke 15:6, 7, 9, 10, 32).

Joy: Defining Our Terms (Old Testament Style):

Expressions for joy and rejoicing used most in the OT are sounds of singing, shouting, noise, uproar, a loud voice, singing praise, musical instrument words, dancing, clapping, leaping, and stamping feet. The most frequent occasions for joy are feasting and sacrifice (Deut. 12:12), celebrating harvest or victory (I Sam. 18:6), enjoying prosperity (Psm 31:7) or rejoicing as part of public worship (Psm. 33:1-3).

Joy: Defining Our Terms (New Testament Addition)

Of the 326 occurrences of the words for joy in the NT, 131 are found in the 10 letters of Paul (40%). The main word for joy is “charis” which is used 146 of these times. The message of the whole NT is “good news of great joy for all people” (Luke 2:10).

Luke’s gospel is the gospel of joy, while Paul’s letter to the Philippians is the epistle of joy–even though it was written from prison.  The New Testament continues to stress OT usages of joy, but also adds the thought of “joy in suffering and pain.”  This idea is made clear in James 1:1-4, I Peter 1:6-7 and Romans 5:2-5. The joy of service is also stressed to a greater degree in the teaching of Christ and the apostles.

Defining Our Terms: (Webster Style)

1. Happiness: the enjoyment of agreeable sensations, pleasure or good luck; fortunate or well-suited. Based Upon: CIRCUMSTANCES.

2. Joy: pleasure caused by the acquisition or expectation of good; delight; exultation. Based Upon: HEART.

A. Every Life Needs Joy More Than Happiness:

Happiness is external                             Joy is internal

Happiness is based on chance                Joy is based on choice

Happiness is based on circumstances      Joy is based on Christ                  

B. The Secret of True Joy: Knowing and Trusting God (Rom. 5:1-11)

1. Joy comes from understanding the TRUTH on which we stand. (v. 2)

2. Joy comes from understanding our STANDING or status before God. (v. 11)

3. Joy comes from REALIZING what God did for us. (v. 6-8)

4. Joy comes from knowing our eternal DESTINY . (v. 9)

5. Joy comes from realizing God’s MATURING process. (v. 3-5)

6. Joy comes from having CONFIDENCE or hope in the future. (v. 2)

Four Keys to Living a Life of Joy Amidst the “Rat-Race”

“For the Kingdom of God does not consist of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17)

1. Determine to be motivated by a different STANDARD.

2. Discover what it means to live your life RIGHT.

3. Decide that you will live your WHOLE life.

4.  Dedicate your life to seeking JOY rather than happiness.

The Joy of Living

It is only when we study it in detail that we discover what a book of joy the New Testament is. In the New Testament the verb chairein which means to rejoice occurs seventy ­two times, and the word chara which means joy occurs sixty times. The New Testament is the book of joy.

The normal Greek greeting both in speech and in letters is the word chairein, and it is usually translated simply ‘Greetings!’. It is so used in the letter to Felix about Paul of the Roman officer Claudius Lysias (Acts 23.26). If we were to give chairein its full and literal translation, it would be: ‘Joy be with you!’, and there are certain occa­sions in the New Testament when only the full translation will do.

• When the Christian Church decided at the Council of Jerusalem that the door of the Church was to be opened to the Gentiles, the leaders of the Church sent to the Gentile Christians in Syria and Antioch and Cilicia a letter inform­ing them of that great decision, and the letter begins ‘Chairein. Joy be with you!’ (Acts 15.23). The door to Christian joy was open.
• When James was writing to the Christians scattered throughout the world, and when he was thinking of them as the exiles of eternity, he begins his letter: ‘Joy be with you!’ (James1:1).
• Almost the last word that Paul wrote to his friends at Corinth was: ‘Joy be with you, brothers!’ (II Cor. 13.11).

There are two very beautiful uses of this word chairein in connection with the life of Jesus.

• When the angel came to Mary, to tell her of the child whom she was to bear, his greeting was: ‘Joy be with you!’ (Luke 1.28).
• And on the Resurrection morn­ing the greeting of the Risen Christ to the women who had come to mourn was: ‘Joy be with you!’ (Matt. 28.9).

This great greeting, ‘Joy be with you!’ rings triumphantly through the pages of the New Testament.

So, then, let us examine this Christian joy as the New Testament tells us of it.

We must begin by noting that joy is the distinguish­ing atmosphere of the Christian life.

We may put it this way-whatever be the ingredients of the Christian life, and in whatever proportions they are mixed together, joy is one of them. In the Christian life joy always remains a con­stant. ‘Rejoice in the Lord,’ Paul writes to his Philippian friends, and he goes on to repeat his command: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice’ (Phil. 3.1; 4-4). ‘Rejoice always,’ he writes to the Thessalonians (I Thess. 5.16). It has been said that ‘Rejoice!’ is the standing-orders of the Christian.

In the letter to the Colossians there is a very significant passage. Paul tells the Colossians that he is praying for them, and that he is asking God that they should be filled with all knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that they may live a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Then he goes on: ‘May you be strengthened with all power, accord­ing to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience’­and then there come the final words ‘with joy’ (Col. 1.9-11).

Every virtue and all knowledge is to be irradiated with joy; even the patience and the endurance which might well be bleak and grim things are to be lit with joy. ‘The kingdom of heaven,’ Paul wrote to the Romans, ‘is righteousness and peace and joy’ (Rom. 14:17).

There is no virtue in the Christian life which is not made radiant with joy; there is no circumstance and no occasion which is not illumined with joy. A joyless life is not a Christian life, for joy is the one constant in the recipe for Christian living.

When we examine the references to joy in the New Testament in all their variety and their multiplicity, they fall into a certain pattern, and they tell us of certain spheres in which the Christian joy is specially to be discovered.

(a) There is the joy of Christian fellowship.

The New Testament is full of the simple joy of what can best be called ‘togetherness’. It is a joy even to see such fellowship. Paul writes to Philemon to tell him what joy and comfort he has received from the sight of Philemon’s love and from the sight of the way in which the saints have been refreshed by Philemon’s loving care (Philemon 7).

In the famous saying the heathen looked at the Christian Church and said, ‘See how these Christians love one another.’ It must never be forgotten that one of the greatest evangelizing influences in the world is the sight of true Christian fellowship, and one of the greatest barriers to evangelism is the sight of a church in which fellowship has been lost and destroyed. It is a still greater joy to enjoy Christian fellowship.

It re­joices Paul’s heart that his Philippian friends have remem­bered him with gifts (Phil. 4:10). To see Christian fellow­ship is great, to be wrapped around in it is greater yet. It is a joy to see Christian fellowship restored.

When Titus came back from the troubled church at Corinth with the news that the breach was healed and fellowship restored, then Paul rejoiced (I1 Cor. 7:7, 13). It is a joy to experience Christian fellowship reunited. The New Testament knows the simple joy of meeting friends again. John trusts that he will meet his friends again, and then his joy will be com­plete (II John 12).

In the New Testament there is nothing of that religion so-called which isolates a man from his fellow-men. The New Testament vividly knows the joy of making friends and keeping friends and reuniting friends, for friendship and reconciliation between man and man are the reflec­tion of fellowship and reconciliation between man and God.

(b) There is the joy of the gospel. There is the joy of the new discovery. It may be said that the gospel story begins and ends in joy. It was tidings of great joy that the angels brought to the shepherds (Luke 2.io), and the wise men re­joiced when they saw the star which told them of the birth of the king (Matt. 2.io). So in the beginning there was joy.

On the Resurrection morning the women returned from the tomb and from their encounter with the Risen Lord in fear and great joy (Matt. 28.8). The disciples could scarcely believe the good news for very joy (Luke 24.40. When Jesus came into the midst of them the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord (John 20.20). And at the very end, as Luke tells the story, after the Ascension, the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy (Luke 24.52). The gospel story begins, continues and ends in joy.

There is the joy of receiving the gospel. It was with joy that Zacchaeus received Jesus into his house (Luke 19.6). The Thessalonians received the word with joy (I Thess. i.6). Repeatedly Acts tells of the joy which came to men when the gospel arrived in their midst. Philip’s preaching brought joy to Samaria (Acts 8.8); after his baptism the Ethiopian eunuch went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8.39). There was joy in Antioch of Pisidia when the Gentiles heard that the gospel was to leave the synagogue and come out to them (Acts 13.48). The New Testament makes it clear that con­version should be one of the happiest experiences in all the world.

There is the joy of believing. It is Paul’s prayer for the Christians at Rome that the God of hope will fill them with all joy and peace in believing (Rom. i5.i3). It is the joy of their faith that Paul wishes to increase for the Philippians (Phil. 1.25). The New Testament makes it clear that Chris­tian belief is followed by Christian joy. It was said of Burns that he was haunted rather than helped by his religion. There have always been those who have made an agony of their religion. But for the New Testament belief and joy go hand in hand.

There is a certain sternness in this Christian joy. It is a joy which rejoices even in discipline and in testing. James bids his readers to count it all joy when testing comes (James 1.2). The Christian joy is like the joy of a woman whose travail has passed and whose child has come (John 16.2 1, 22).

It is a notable thing how often in the New Testament joy and affliction walk hand in hand. In spite of persecution the Christians in Antioch are filled with the Holy Spirit and with joy (Acts 13.52). The Christian may be sorrowful but he is also rejoicing (II Cor. 6:10). The gospel brought tribulation to Thessalonica but it also brought joy (I Thess. 1.6).

This joy in tribulation can be a very wonderful thing, and its wonder lies in the fact that it is endured and under­taken for Jesus Christ. Peter and John left the Sanhedrin and its threats rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus (Acts 5.40. Peter encourages his people by telling them that when they suffer they are shar­ing the sufferings of Christ himself (I Peter 4. 13).

The most startling passage in the New Testament is in Col. 1.24 where Paul says that he rejoices in his sufferings. ‘In my flesh,’ he says, ‘I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church.’ How can there be anything lacking in the sufferings of Jesus Christ? How can anyone in any sense complete what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ? Let us take an analogy. It may be that in his laboratory or his operating theatre or his research room a scientist or a surgeon or a physician toils and sweats and labours and suffers and endangers and risks and destroys his own health to find some cure or some help for the pains and ills of men.

But that discovery re­mains useless until it is taken out from the laboratory and made available for men all over the world. And it may well be that those who take it out to men have to sweat and toil and suffer and sacrifice to make it available. And it may accurately and fitly be said that their sufferings to make the gift available to men fill up and complete the sufferings of the great man who made the original discovery.

The work of Jesus Christ is done and completed. But it has still to be made known to men. Time and time again in history men have laboured and suffered and died to tell men of that which Jesus Christ did for them. And in their sufferings they may well be said to be completing the sufferings of Jesus Christ himself. Here is the great uplifting thought that, if ever our loyalty to Jesus and our service of him cost something, it means that we to are completing the suffer­ings of Jesus Christ. What higher privilege could there be than that? If this is so, it is true that ours is a joy which no man taketh from us (John 16.22).

(c) There is the joy of Christian work and witness. There is joy in the sight of God in action. The Seventy re­turned with joy, because the devils were vanquished at the name of Christ (Luke10:17). At the sight of Jesus’ wonder­ful works people rejoiced because of the glorious things that were done by him (Luke 13.17; 19.37).

There is joy in the sight of the spread of the gospel. Barnabas was glad when he saw the Gentiles gathered in at Antioch (Acts 11.23). The tale of the spread of the gospel brought great joy to the brethren (Acts 15.3). The gospel is the last thing which any Christian wants to keep to himself. The further it spreads and the more who share it, the greater his joy. There is the joy of the teacher and the preacher in the Christian progress of his people. The news of the obedience of the Christians in Rome has spread abroad and Paul is glad on their behalf (Rom.16:19).

The unity of the congregation is the joy of the minister (Phil. 2.2). Even in his absence Paul rejoices at the steadfastness of the Christians at Colossae and the progress of the Christians at Thes­salonica (Col. 2.5; I Thess. 3.9). John rejoices when his children walk in the truth (II John 4). `No greater joy,’ he says, ‘can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth’ (III John 4).

It must never be forgotten that, as the New Testament sees it, the object of all Christian preaching is to bring men joy. ‘These things have I spoken to you,’ said Jesus, ‘that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full’ (John 15.11). Jesus’ object in speaking to his disciples was that they might have his joy fulfilled in themselves (John 17.13).

John’s aim in writing to his people was that his and their joy might be complete (I John 1.4). It is Paul’s desire for the Corinthians that he may work with them for their joy (II Cor. 1.24). Paul would wish to be spared for a little while longer that he may help the Philippians in their pro­gress and joy in the faith (Phil. 1.25).

It may be that a preacher has to awaken sorrow and penitence in his people; it may be that he has to awaken fear within their hearts; it may be that he has to rouse them to self-loathing, and to humiliation. But no Christian sermon can ever end there. The sermon which leaves a man in dark despair is not a Christian sermon, for after the shame and the humiliation of penitence there must be the joy of forgiveness claimed and the love of God experienced. No man should ever rise from a Christian service without the possibility of joy flaming and blazing befbre him.

Stanley Jones tells of Rufus Moseley ‘the most bubbling Christian’ he ever knew. Someone said of him: ‘The first time I heard him I thought he was crazy, but the second time I heard him I knew he was crazy.’ Someone once asked Mosely if he thought that Jesus ever laughed. ‘I don’t know,’ he said, ‘but he certainly fixed me up so I can laugh.’

It may be that in the end of the day the greatest of all will be the joy in the people whom we have brought to Jesus Christ. To Paul it is the Philippians and the Thes­salonians who are his joy and his crown (Phil. 4.1; I Thess. 2.19, 2o). The writer to the Hebrews urges those who are set in leadership and authority to be so faithful to their trust that they may render account at the end of the day not with grief but with joy (Heb. 13.10.

And so we come. to the end, for this joy is nothing other than the joy of God, for the joy of God is the joy of one who finds things which have gone lost, like the shepherd and the lost sheep (Luke 15.5, 7; Matt. 18.13); like the joy of the woman who found the coin that was lost (Luke 15:10); like the joy of the father whose lost son came home (Luke 15.32).

For man and God alike the greatest of all joys is the joy of love reborn and love restored, and the joy of the pastor in his people is nothing other than the joy of God.

SOME ENEMIES OF JOY

Sometimes we’re robbed of joy by the differences between generations.

There have always been generation gaps, but it seems to me that generation gaps are more obvious now than they’ve ever been before.

A second enemy of joy is unresolved guilt.

A lot of people are unable to accept themselves, & to accept the forgiveness of God. You may have come through a divorce & you feel that you’re inferior in the sight of God. Or you may have had a brush with the law & you feel that you’re not welcome in God’s house. Or that people would not understand if they knew the secrets of your life.

David was the same way in the O.T. He had committed adultery, & he felt enormous guilt over it. He wrestled with the guilt & finally came to God in Psalms 51:12 & prayed, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…”

A third enemy might be a wounded ego.

A lot of us walk around with our feelings exposed, just waiting for someone to say the wrong thing or not to say anything at all. And it happens. People don’t always act the way we would like. They don’t always say the right things. Sometimes they offend us, & our feelings are hurt. We feel unloved & unneeded & left out.

The fourth enemy of joy is unpleasant circumstances.

All of us, I think, begin life with unrealistic expectations as to what life is going to be like. I know that I started out thinking, “Well, I’ll marry the perfect woman.” And I did. “And we’ll have perfect children.” And we do. And that we would live in the perfect house, & make lots of money. Which we haven’t. And we would be wondrously happy all of our lives, & there would never ever be any problems.

But problems do come, & they come to everybody. You may lose your job. Your children may disappoint you. There may be heartaches. Your health may break. Problems do come.

But here’s the good news. Even though the circumstances are unpleasant, God still wants to give you joy, to change who you are, & the way you think

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF JOY

Secondly, let’s look at a perfect example of joy in John 15:5-11, & see what we can learn from it. But first, listen as I set the stage for you.

It’s the night before the crucifixion of Jesus. He is in the upper room with His apostles. Soon He will be going to Gethsemane. Soon He will be arrested & tried & convicted of crimes He did not commit. Soon they will be laughing at Him. They will put a crown of thorns on His head, & mockingly call Him “the king of the Jews.” They’ll slap Him, & spit upon Him, & whip Him with a cat o’ 9 tails. Soon His body will be nailed to a cross, & He will die. And He knows that all of this is going to happen. It’s not a very joyful time, is it?

But listen to what He says in John 15:8-10, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands & remain in His love.”

Now listen to vs. 11; “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you & that your joy may be complete.”

On the last night of His life, facing the cross, Jesus talks about love & joy. And the next day He goes to the cross & dies for us.

The writer of Hebrews looks back at that & writes these words in Hebrews 12:2; “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author & perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross & scorned its shame.”

SUM. How can there be any joy in a cross? I hope before this sermon is over we’ll understand how that can be true. Listen carefully now, as we consider the question, “How can we experience that kind of joy?”

HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THAT KIND OF JOY?

I believe, first of all, that we need to develop & maintain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Listen to what Jesus says in John 15:5,6, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me & I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away & withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire & burned.”

Jesus is saying that when we become Christians we’re like a branch attached to the vine. Jesus is the vine, & we’re the branches. As long as we’re attached to Him we’ll bear fruit.

Paul writes, “Therefore we don’t lose heart. Though outwardly we waste away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Our light & momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” [2 Corinthians 4:16-18].

Joy is present as a result of:

A. Knowing Jesus Christ

ILLUS. The Ethiopian Eunuch: “… the eunuch… went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:39

QUOTE “Now that I know Christ, I’m happier when I’m sad than I was before when I was glad.” John C. Wheeler

B. Serving Jesus Christ.

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name.” Luke 10:17

“And at midnight Paul and Silas… SANG PRAISES unto God…” Acts 16:25

“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” 1 Thess. 2:19

C. Seeing people trust in Jesus Christ.

“And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.” Acts 15:3

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Luke 15:7

D. The Bible – the words of Jesus Christ..

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

“And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:4

E. Prayer – talking to Jesus Christ.

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24

F. Persecution, trials, problems.

“But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” Acts 13:51-52

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers tempations (trials).” James 1:2

G. Finishing the course

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy…” Acts 20:24a

H. Fellowship with other Christians

“Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy.” 2 Timothy 1:4
“Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.” 2 John 12

 Did you know that “rat-race” is actually a bona fide word of the English language? As a matter of fact, it comes just before “rat snake” in Webster’s dictionary. Even though we may not have known “rat-race” to be a legitimate word, we all generally know when we are in one.

You know the feeling; there we are on a treadmill watching as the speed and the incline continue to increase. We are running as fast as we can possibly go, it’s not quite quick enough, and all of our effort is taking us absolutely nowhere. Webster uses these simple words to describe our lives in the fast-lane:

Rat Race: a strenuous, wearisome and usually competitive activity; in a perpetual rush or constantly in motion.

Now what you may not know is that the word “Rat-Race” was coined in the year 1939. I did a little checking this week regarding life in that most hectic of years, 1939, and here is what I discovered…. Time’s “Man of the Year,”for 1939 was none other than Joseph Stalin.

 America was just recovering from the Depression of 1929—the longest and most severe depression ever experienced by the industrialized world. The New York stock Exchange watched as the market dropped to only 20% of previous worth. Over 11,000 of the U.S.’s 25,000 banks had failed. 

 Unemployment was coming back from a record unemployment rate of 30% of the work force—and women did  not generally work back then. Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected President and the New Deal was begun. Still, by 1939 a full 15% of the workforce was still without jobs. Those with jobs were working night and day to keep  them, and to make ends meet for their families.

 The term “rat-race” was coined by a generation of people needing to work night and day just to survive. They worked until they could work no more, and it still barely put food on the table. It’s been over 60 years since the term “rat-race” was coined, and the economic circumstances behind the term could not be any more different today.

 Never has America been wealthier than right now, yet the “rat-race” is still with us—and it is only getting worse. Americans first entered the “rat-race” in order to survive, our grandparents had no choice in the matter. Now,  many of us are realizing we must exit the “rat-race” before it kills us. Yet many of us, like our grandparents   before us, feel powerless to stop the treadmill and get out of the “rat-race.”

 The “Good News” is that Jesus came to show us how to “Break Free From the Rat Race.” God did enter into our world fully in the person of Jesus Christ. And Jesus knew the pressures of working at a taxing and emotionally exhausting job; he was a carpenter.

 Jesus knew the pressure of providing for his mother and his brothers & sisters after his father passed away. Jesus knew what it was like to have people constantly trying to meet with him, to talk with him or to have a few   minutes of his time. Jesus knew about the pressure of providing for his co-workers, and had responsibility for feeding even 5000 at one time. Jesus knew the pressures we feel in the “rat-race” even more profoundly than     most of us ever will.

 When Jesus became a flesh and blood person, he took on the limits of time and space that create the havoc we are calling the “rat-race.” As God, Jesus knew what it was like to live outside the boundaries of time and space, but Jesus entered into our world to show us how to live freely within them. Jesus amazed people by living free from the “rat-race” and the pressures of life. He showed us how to break free from the “rat-race” and live by a different standard.

 Jesus came and stood toe to toe with the pressures of the “rat-race” and came out victorious—and he tells us how we can do so as well. We can live above the pervasive and controlling spirit of South Florida, we can be driven    by something other than culture, and we can answer to a cry more central to out souls than any “rat-race.” We break free of this “rat-race”, when we follow Jesus into a fresh life found in the Spirit.

 The key to discovering the way out of the “rat-race” is to understand it is not about following a plan, but about following a person—Jesus Christ.

 The Apostle Paul described this life in the Spirit, following after Jesus, in a number of different ways.

In Romans he calls it the “transformed life.” In Ephesians he describes it “as the power that works within us.”

 In Philippians it is described as the life of ”joy.”

 In Timothy Paul says of this new life in the Spirit: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (II Tim. 1:7)

 Paul says we too, in the Spirit of Jesus, can stand toe to toe with the trappings of the “rat-race” and we can overcome by God’s power, love and self-discipline. We join in God’s work, allowing us to break free.

 So where do we learn more about this power available to us to overcome the “rat-race”? Interestingly enough, this power available to us and at work in us is the topic of Paul’s letter to a group of people we call the Galatians.

 The people in Galatia were caught up in the influences and the seductive grip of the “rat-race.” Now these folk were good folk. They wanted to be free, but they didn’t know how. They were caught up in “rat-races” that found them on the treadmill of life chasing after such things as: wealth, prestige, sexual encounters, infidelity and self-absorption. Paul described this life as “living by the flesh,” trapped in a “rat-race” of gratifying ourselves.

 But Paul did describe for them a way out of the “rat-race” maze. He said the only way out was to follow after Jesus, and let his Spirit become our own. He said that Jesus could change people from the inside out, allow them  to live differently, and allow them to rise above the cares and concerns of the “rat-race.” When this occurs, a new type of life is being forged inside of us—and new fruit appear on the tree that is our life. Paul calls this the “Fruit   of the Spirit” which God allows to take root inside of us.

 The Apostle Paul describes the “Fruit of the Spirit” for us in Galatians 5:22. There he writes:

“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

 Paul continues the contrast between the natural productions of the flesh and Spirit he had begun in v. 19. Here, however, he speaks of the “fruit” of the Spirit (using both a new term and the singular form) in contrast to the “works” (v. 19) of which the flesh is capable.

 The term “works” (erga) already has definite overtones in this letter. It refers to what man can do, which, in the case of the works of the law (2:16, 3:2, 5, 10), has already been shown to be inadequate. The fruit of the Spirit, on the other hand, suggests that which is a natural product of the Spirit rather than of man, made possible by the living relationship between the Christian and God (cf. 2:20; John 15:1-17).

 The singular form stresses that these qualities are a unity, like a bunch of grapes instead of separate pieces of fruit, and also that they are all to be found in all Christians. In this they differ from the “gifts” of the Spirit, which are given one by one to different people as the church has need (1Cor 12).

 The nine virtues that are the Spirit’s fruit hardly need classification, though they seem to fall into three categories of three each. The first three appear to “comprise Christian habits of mind in their more general aspect,” as Lightfoot notes. Their primary direction is God-ward. The second set primarily concerns the Christian in his relationship to others and are social virtues. The last three concern the Christian as he is to be in himself.

 Now first of all, we need to notice that Paul describes these nine qualities as the substance of one type of fruit—spiritual fruit. This removes from us the tendency to pick and choose like at the fruit stand—all are needed. This also keeps us from bragging about any one quality we might find in our life—all are needed. This also helps us to see that all the qualities are related, and necessary for good spiritual health. If all you eat are bananas, your Potassium will be fine while your Vitamin C will be low. We need them all in balance.

 At the same time we admit a need for them all, it is also possible to prioritize one over all the others. In the words of the Beatles, “Love is all you need.” Love has the pride of place as the preeminent of Christian graces. Everything else in all the Bible rises and falls on love. Love is at the heart and center of what it means to know God, and to follow God. 

 Love is a commentary on every other quality found in God’s character, just as the poem says:

“Joy is love exulting, and peace is love at rest;

Patience, love enduring in every trial and every test.

Gentleness, love yielding to all that is not sin,

Goodness, love in action that flows from Christ within.

Faith is love’s eyes opened the living Christ to see;

Meekness, love not fighting, but bowed at Calvary.

Temperance, love in harness and under Christ’s control,

For Christ is love in person, and love, Christ in the soul.”

–Dr. Kenneth Moynagh

Because “love” is such an overused word today, we struggle to know how to use it. The same English word “love” can be the cause of getting us deeper into the “rat-race” or helping us get out. That is why it is important to know that the Greeks actually had four different words used to discuss love:

 Storge– meant natural affection as between parent and child.

 Philia– meant the kindred spirit of friends and family.

 Eros– meant the attraction of desire, sexual love.

 Agape– was a little used word at the time of the New Testament that meant the self-giving love of one to another.

 “Love” between a parent and child can be abused; the “love” of    a friend can easily be manipulated. The “love” that is based upon attraction and desire easily gives way to lust and a thirst for more. These ideas come from love, but they are not the pure, distilled, love of the New Testament. John describes the “agape love” of the New Testament this way:

 “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

 That love is found only in the self-sacrificing love Jesus brought into the world. The lower forms of love get us into the “rat-race” while it is “agape love” that paves the way for our exit.

 To know “love” is to know the very heart of God. Plenty of religious people stress plenty of qualities about God—and claim they are most important. But only “love” holds the distinction of prominence in God’s eyes.

 Paul describes the prominence given to love in that fabulous thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have the faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (I Cor. 13:1-3)

 Some claim religious experience is most important, but Paul says love trumps religious experience. Some claim truth to be the key to religious devotion, but Paul says love trumps truth. Some people claim faith and “Faith Only!” is the key belief of the church, but Paul says love even trumps faith. Others claim the key to the Christian life is found in service to others, and Paul loves service. But Paul says that love trumps service too. Love trumps everything else because God is love. Love is the key to breaking free from the “rat-race,” because love conquers everything else.

 The key then, to breaking free from the “rat-race” must come from learning how love acts and doing what love does. Paul describes love as a matter of choice and as something that alters conduct as he continues discussing love in I Corinthians 13:

 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails!”

 It appears to me that Paul describes love as a choice that requires: patience, compassion, investment in others and a willingness to act its way into feeling a certain way. It is this kind of love that allows us to say “No!” to the “rat-race.” Here is how that occurs: I say “No!” to the “rat-race” in order to say “Yes!” to something I love more than anything the “Rat-race” can ever offer. Love brings out the best in us, and allows us to see the world as Jesus did. If we see the world as Jesus did then we can respond to life in the same manner Jesus did.

 As Paul concludes his great chapter on love, he explains the biggest difference between those living in the “rat-race” and those who have broken free. The difference comes in how we view the world. Some see the world as “all there is,” while others as something “passing away.” Paul says that when he was immature, he got caught up in all the trappings of the “rat-race.” Paul talked like someone caught up in the “rat-race.”

 He talked like someone obsessed with it. When he plotted his strategy for life it was to win at the “rat-race.” Paul knew the South Florida mindset, and he was driven by it to succeed. But one day all that changed—Paul says he grew up.

 Paul began to see the world differently. Dimly at first, but still different. He began to see things through the eyes of love. Love compelled him to get off of the treadmill and out of the “rat-race.” Love caused him to find a new set of priorities and a different way to keep score.

 All that was left for Paul were faith, hope and love. And love still stood preeminent! Faith and love will serve no purpose in heaven—but love will reign supreme. God does not have faith; he knows all he can do. God does not need hope; his confidence in himself is sure. But God is love—and love, he says, never fails.

 Are you caught up in the “rat-race” this morning? Do you want off the treadmill and out of the race? Try love; it never fails! Is the “rat-race” putting a strain upon your marriage? Let love be your guide to breaking free; it never fails!

 Are your kids a struggle and source of conflict in the home? Let love be your guide to bringing them back in line; it never fails! Are you working way too much and does the “rat-race” have you trapped? Let love be your guide; it never fails. Whatever may have you trapped this morning, understand this bit of good news: God has sent love to be your guide, and guess what…love never fails!

 Country and Western Music often has a very depressing view of love and life. I believe someone once said that the perfect “country and western” song had to talk about mothers, dogs, prison, lost loved and trains. But mostly it is about love lost and everything going badly.

 However, for some reason unknown to me, it is now the most popular form of music in the country. I did, though, find a country and western song I believe is the perfect country and western tune. The song is by an Austin band called “The Geezinslaws”:

“If you take a country song and you play it backwards,

You sober up and you don’t cheat on your wife

And your dead dog comes to life; your truck gets fixed

You get your job back; there’s money in the bank

And you never ever had that fight; and everything’s alright.”

If we spin a “country and western” record the other way it could clean up all the mess. Wouldn’t that be nice! If we could  just take our lives in the “rat-race” and play them backwards, then maybe too, everything would be alright.

 But there is only one way to do that in the real world—and it involves making a decision to live life differently than the “rat-race.”It means taking the “rat-race” and letting love “play it backwards”.

 Imagine letting love turn your life upside and allowing you to take your life and “play it backwards.” What would change if life all of a sudden was played from the other end? When we play it backwards God gets the first part, not the last. When we play it backwards, there is time for our kids, for our friends and for rest. When we play it backwards the job still gets done, but not at the expense of everything else. When we let love take the “rat-race” and play it  backwards, everything turns out alright.

 Here is the challenge for the week, let love take hold of your life and play it backwards. You’ll find that the tune love plays for your life is far better than the one you’ve trying live out yourself. And the reason why is simple, because  “Love never fails!”

As we came into the year and began our series of lessons on Culture and its Influence Upon the Church, I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to end the series. I wanted to be realistic, practical, and relevant throughout the series of lessons but end on a positive note.

I’ve decided to borrow some words from Howard Norton, to accomplish that task. We must begin by taking a look back to the date: January 1, 1901. What would a speaker on that date say as he tried to prepare his congregation for the coming century:

We must begin by taking a look back to the date: January 1, 1901. What would a speaker on that date say as he tried to prepare his congregation for the coming century:

• “theory of relativity” (1905) observations of an obscure patent clerk in Zurick, Switzerland named Albert Einstein?
• World War 1? Rise and fall of communism?
• Wealth and decadence of the 1920’s?
• Depression of the 40’s? World War II? Adolph Hitler? Halocaust?
• Korean War? Vietnam War? Generational strife of the 60’s?
• AIDS? Man walking on the moon? Computers? Internet?
• The change cars and TV had on our society?

You realize, as I do, that it would have been impossible for any speaker to talk of any of these events because they were simply “impossible” when the century began!

It’s no different now as we move to the end of the century (Dec. 31, 2000) and truly begin a new century (Jan. 1, 2001).

We want to go back to some principles: Not what but HOW they reacted to troublesome events of their lives…we have a long list of people who lived during many of those dreadful events and are now faithful Christians…they lived in the midst of the conditions and couldn’t change the circumstances but were able to decide how they would live under those circumstances.

What is it that will help us live faithful at all times under any circumstances?

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

It’s not what might happen in the next few years but how we deal with what happens; not so much what comes “at us” but the gifts God gives us to deal with those circumstances.

Context of verse 7:

• Paul’s time and circumstances would not excite any of us
• this was his 2^nd Roman emprisonment…A.D. 66-67 and Nero “had all the power” (he thought)
• In a dungeon….cold….dark…in chains
• Paul gives us a glimpse of what he thinks is happening to him: 2 Timothy 4:6: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.”

 

• I am the sacrifice….optimistic: 2 Timothy 4:18: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

When we experience terrible times as Christians, we need to look at his attitude and actions:

2 Timothy 1:6: “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

Many times when it would be much easier to crawl under the bed than to do the things needed for God….we must display this kind of attitude!

Timothy was likely being tempted to be less than he ought to be for God:

2 Timothy 1:8-9a: “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, {9a} who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace…”

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity. The word translated timidity could also have been translated cowardice. There is never a time to run and hide! Then and now!

Think of the people who have been in the midst of difficulties and cried out for courage…how great is their influence!

Winston Churchill’s first speech, speaking to the House of Commons on May 13, 1940, challenging the people of England to rise up and defend the free world: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat (and it didn’t discourage England—it inspired England! They braced themselves for the battle).

June 4, 1940: “We shall not flag or fail…we shall go on to the end…we shall fight in France…we shall fight on the seas and oceans…we shall fight with growing confidence, gaining strength in the air…we shall defend our island…whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches…we shall fight on the landing grounds…we shall fight in the fields and in the streets…we shall fight in the hills…we shall never surrender.” (and England listened because they understood the danger he personally was in because of his statements).

That’s what Paul is saying to Timothy: Paul, a prisoner in chains…drink offering…Be what you can be…not timid…not cowards.

I have been repulsed by the negative, fear-inducing talk that was part of this country as we approached the year 2000. Dooms day predictions! God’s left us alone! So much nonsense.

It really doesn’t matter what happens in coming years if we’ll remember what God has done and is doing for us! God didn’t give us a spirit of timidity!

Crouching and cowering never comes from God. God gives us a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

J.C. Bailey, missionary to several areas of our world. In Canada, many years ago, a woman came wanting to be baptized…word came that her husband would kill him if he baptized his wife…went to the river and husband was there with a rifle…J. C. Bailey walked to the edge of the water, took the arm of the man’s wife…led her into the water and baptized her…what if he’d been killed? What a waste…some would think?

Paul’s statement applies:

2 Timothy 4:18: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

I am thankful for all those who live their life “out from under the bed.”

Ephesians 3:14-21: “For this reason I kneel before the Father, {15} from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. {16} I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, {17} so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, {18} may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, {19} and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. {20} Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, {21} to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

We don’t know what the future holds—God can give us and our children a spirit of courage, love, power, and self-control. That will enable us to grow and thrive in this life and in the years and decades to come!

Life may be tough but will never become overwhelming!

“SHINING AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD” In The Midst Of A Crooked And Perverse Generation (Ph 2:12-16)

A grave concern to any thoughtful Christian is how quickly our society is changing, and clearly for the worse. As some theologians would describe it, we now live in a “post-Christian culture. ” This simply means that the old norms once held true are no longer accepted by the majority. How are Christians to react to this change in our society? What can we do to change the direction in which our society is heading?

Should we form “political action committees” and try to change it using the organizational powers of the church? Should we resort to boycotts, picketing, or other forms of “economic blackmail”? Should we resort to violence, both verbal and physical, if necessary? What can we do to protect ourselves, and our children?

Should we simply change our views to conform to those of society? Should we isolate ourselves, or form communes?

I believe that the Scriptures provide the correct answer, in a letter written by Paul to a church which, like many others in New Testament times, lived in a “PRE-Christian culture.” The letter is the Epistle to the Philippians.

Written to Christians living in city heavily influenced by the Roman culture, with its paganism, intellectualism, and immorality. What Paul wrote to them, is very likely the sort of things he would write today.

Especially the things mentioned in Philippians 2:12-16: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, {13} for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. {14} Do everything without complaining or arguing, {15} so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe {16} as you hold out the word of life–in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.”

Providing directions, hope, and warnings which will help us to “shine as lights in the world”

I. BY WORKING OUT OUR OWN SALVATION FIRST! (12a)

AS JESUS PUT IT, “FIRST REMOVE THE PLANK FROM YOUR OWN EYE” – Matt. 7:1-6: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. {2} For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. {3} “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? {4} How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? {5} You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. {6} “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, WE MAY LOSE OUR SALVATION IN THE WAY WE REACT TO OTHERS! Many people go about trying to change society for the better, using methods that will keep themselves out of the kingdom of God!

II. WITH “FEAR AND TREMBLING” (12b)

THE WORD “FEAR” IN CONNECTION WITH GOD IS NOT POPULAR TODAY… perhaps a reaction to the “hell, fire and brimstone” preaching of another generation. But could it be that we have gone to the other extreme? Have we diluted the concept of the “fear of the Lord” by our definitions?

III. BY LETTING GOD WORK IN US (13) TO SUCCEED AS “LIGHTS IN THE WORLD”…It will be essential to let God do His work, something He is able to do beyond our ability to comprehend – Ep 3:20-21. He is there “working in you”! – cf. Ph 1:6. How? Both…

a. To “will” – helping us in our motivation

b. To “do” – helping us in our ability

BUT IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, WE CAN EASILY…Quench God’s efforts to work in us or prevent God from using us altogether (at least for doing things for our own good)!

IV. WITHOUT MURMURING AND DISPUTING (14)

BY MAINTAINING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE…Living in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation can easily get us down, where we can become constant complainers. But allowing that to happen will render us less effective and as with Israel, “murmuring” can lead to our own downfall 1 Cor. 10:10-12

BY GETTING ALONG WITH YOUR BRETHREN…

Unity among brethren is extremely important as we try to convince the world concerning Jesus – Jn 17:20-23. Disputing with one another simply reveals we have some growing up to do! – 1 Cor 3:1-4. If the “body of Christ” is going to influence the world the way it should, it cannot be devouring itself through such destructive forces like “murmuring” and “disputing” among themselves.

V. AS CHILDREN OF GOD WITHOUT FAULT (15) WHICH REQUIRES US TO BECOME “BLAMELESS”…not that we are perfect, but like elders are to be blameless, we are to be “above reproach.” We may be sinners, but we quickly confess our sins and make amends when it is called for we should live in such a way that we have no “outstanding faults” that are clearly evident to others. Nothing hinders our ability to “shine as lights” like inconsistency and hypocrisy, especially that which is evident to all!

IT ALSO REQUIRES US TO BE “HARMLESS”…

Though we may firmly oppose sin in all forms, sinners should never fear bodily harm from us! – again cf. 2 Ti 2:24-26. Sadly, many so-called “Christians” appear to be using “Old Covenant” methods in their efforts to change others, and come across as likely to produce great bodily harm! Jesus said, we are to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” – Matt. 10:16

VI. HOLDING FAST THE WORD OF LIFE (16)

REMEMBER, THE WORD OF GOD IS THE “SWORD OF THE SPIRIT”! It is the ONLY “offensive weapon” we have in the armor of God Eph. 6:10-17. It is the instrument by which the Spirit convicts the world of sin, produces repentance and brings about the new birth – James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; Rom. 1:16. Thus it is truly the “word of life”!

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Check out this great series by David Chadwell

Culture and the Church: Sexual Perceptions (The X-Rated Series) by David Chadwell

On the first Pentecost following the resurrection of the Lord, the church exploded into existence.

Under the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit, the apostles, for the very first time, proclaimed the full facts of the gospel message—namely, that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified and buried, but that he had been raised from the dead and was now in heaven.

When the Jews who were assembled on that auspicious occasion heard these glad tidings, they exclaimed: “What shall we do?”, expressing an interest in obtaining pardon for their complicity in the death of the Messiah. The inspired response was: “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

We are subsequently informed that those who happily embraced the apostolic message were immersed, and “there were added in that day about three thousand souls” (2:41). Since the Greek text is a bit ambiguous here, it cannot be affirmed absolutely that the entire 3,000 were immersed that day. It is possible that this total included those who had been baptized earlier by John the Baptist and the Lord’s disciples (cf. Mt. 3:5; Mk.1:4; Jn 4:1-2).

Be that as it may, the church was off to a roaring start. In fact, the body of the saved grew “day by day” (2:47). Within a very short time, the number of men alone was about 5,000 (Acts 4:4). It is a thrilling exercise to trace the amazing growth of the primitive church as that expansion is revealed in the book of Acts. It has been estimated that by the end of the second century A.D., those who professed Christianity in the Roman empire numbered some 60 million souls (Hurlbut, 68). Whether many of these were genuine Christians might be questioned. Nevertheless, it is beyond dispute that the early church experienced a phenomenal growth.

As one reflects upon the rapid spread of the gospel in the apostolic era and compares that excitement with the almost snail-like pace of the current church (at least as it is in America), one is bound to wonder: “What are we doing wrong?” “Why isn’t Christianity growing today as it did in the 1st century?” We fervently long to see the church dramatically expand today. What on earth can we do to remedy this situation?

It is at this point that a certain disposition develops in some—that almost borders on panic. We are so desperate to see the church move forward with great momentum that we become vulnerable to high pressure tactics and bizarre methods of evangelism; methods that actually do not effect genuine church growth. They are, in fact, harmful. Ultimately they leave us disillusioned and in a state of disarray. Perhaps it would not be inappropriate to illustrate this point with a couple of current examples.

Modern Examples of Church Growth Gimmickry

Several years ago, a number of congregations that sensed a greater need for evangelistic fervor became enchanted with a fad commonly known as the “Crossroads Movement.” Without going into detail (there is much good literature available which analyzes the system), it is sufficient to note that this movement boasted of a tremendous number of conversions, which naturally made it appealing.

What many failed to recognize, however, was that this concept was a humanly devised bondage system of regimented church growth which robbed its devotees of both personal and evangelistic liberty in a number of ways. In many respects it was similar to the Watchtower system in its methodology. Its destructive thrust is clearly revealed in the fruit it has produced—scores of churches were left in a state of shambles! This is a terrible price to pay for misguided zeal.

Another ideology in vogue these days is the “ministering-to-the-whole-man” concept. It is really the subtle notion that the gospel is not intriguing enough to capture the honest person’s attention. We need more—some new angle—to elicit public interest. Hence, some churches are implementing multifaceted programs which provide a variety of community services. One can read of churches offering aerobic exercise classes, weight-loss clinics, art sessions, community movies, sports activities, odd entertainment, such as “Quack, quack” theology, etc. Such programs are designed to serve as “bait” for the gospel.

There are two observations that can be made concerning such matters. First, there is not the remotest indication that the original disciples, under the leadership of inspired teachers, resorted to this type of gimmickry in an attempt to facilitate the spread of Christ’s message.
Second, it has become painfully apparent that the “gospel” these groups are preaching is but a thin veneer of solid truth. Considerable sound doctrine has been filtered out, and a new denomination is being evolved. Some of these brethren obviously mean well, but their biblical ignorance is rendering a great disservice to the cause of Christ.

What Is the Solution to Church Growth?

What, then, is the solution to our growth problems? There is, of course, no single, simple answer. We believe, however, that the matter can be partially addressed as follows.

First, there is certainly no denying the fact that we have fallen far short of the “evangelistic zeal” that we should have. As a general rule, there is precious little emphasis upon “learning and teaching” the Word of God. Many Christians are not even slightly burdened about proclaiming the saving word—either at home or abroad. We “clock in” and “clock out” on the Lord’s day, and our religion is mostly on the shelf at other times. We are not kindly militant in challenging the errors (pagan or sectarian) of those around us. We have snuggled down with a comfortable Christianity. We absolutely must work more diligently to correct this evil in the kingdom of Christ. We must rekindle a passion for the lost!

Second, the idea has been advocated in some sectors that God will not hold accountable those who are never exposed to the gospel. Allegedly, they will be judged simply by whatever “light” they possess. It hardly seems necessary to observe that such a concept is totally at variance with the New Testament, and it can do nothing but retard church growth. Nevertheless, it has made an impact upon the thinking of some.

Third, a disposition that is sympathetic to sectarianism has invaded the mentality of many church members in recent years. Some are just not sure whether people outside the church are lost or not—provided they are at least nominally “religious.” The notion that “there are Christians in all churches” has become rather common due to the influence of several leading preachers. When this type of attitude sets in, the spirit of evangelism dies.

We would not, therefore, excuse the apathy of the modern church. We can do better at winning those who are estranged from the Creator; and we must!

That aside, however, we absolutely must recognize that there will never be another Pentecost! We should be aware of the fact that the unique conditions which existed at the time of the church’s birth will never be duplicated. It is highly unlikely that the body of Christ will ever again experience the rapid growth rate which the early Christians witnessed. This is not resigned fatalism; it is informed realism. Please consider the following factors.

The Explosion of First Century Church Growth

God’s system of redemption, so gloriously made manifest on the day of Pentecost, had been in the planning since the dawn of creation. With Genesis, the protevangelium (first gospel) [cf. 3:15] was announced. Thereafter, by means of Jehovah’s direct activity, providential intervention, gradually unfolding revelation (prophecy, typology), etc., the world was carefully cultivated for the coming of the Savior. Paul notes that “when the fulness of time came, God sent forth his Son” (Gal. 4:4). That suggests there was a precise chronology designed to insure the successful inauguration of the Christian movement.

Jesus acknowledged the divine schedule of events by His frequent references to “mine hour is not yet come” (Jn. 2:4; etc.), and similar expressions. The point is, there was never a time in the history of the world when humanity was as ripe for the gospel harvest as that era into which the church was born. Those exact ideal conditions simply do not exist today.

Second, the church came forth in an age of the supernatural. Surely it will be conceded that the miracles of the first century, which attracted vast multitudes, created more immediate and dramatic interest than the written Word does today. This is not to minimize the power of the Scriptures in any way; it does, though, recognize the nature of human beings.

Third, it should be noted that the gospel’s reception can greatly vary from time to time, and from place to place, depending upon societal conditions. For instance, there is clearly a greater inclination to accept religious values when times are “hard” as opposed to economically prosperous periods.

This is repeatedly illustrated in the history of Israel. In eras of great ease, the people waxed fat and ignored God. In times of rigor, the tendency was to look upward for divine assistance. This has been illustrated even in our own nation. The church probably grew more vigorously back in the depression era of the 1930s than at any time since.

Too, even today, reception of the gospel seems to be much more accelerated in countries like India and Africa than in wealthy America. Social and economic factors can either facilitate or hinder the acceptance of the gospel. There is a contrast between the generally impoverished first century Mediterranean world, and the sleek, sassy environment of modern America.

What then are we saying? Merely this—let us be evangelistically militant, but let us also be realistic. Let us have confidence in the power of the Word, hence, sow the seed as richly and abundantly as we are able. But let us remember that, “God gives the increase” (1 Cor.3:7). Let us not become so frustrated (because we are not getting sensational results) that we resort to cheap techniques which do nothing but detract from the pristine beauty of the gospel message.

References

Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman. The Story of the Christian Church. Philadelphia: John C. Winston Co.

 

Thank you for your positive response to articles given to aid in providing solutions in our homes. This is part two of our guidance on obedience.

Start teaching obedience early. It is important that parents of youngsters 5-6 months old learn that children have different ‘cries.’ Some are there because they are wet, hungry, sleepy, frightened, or in pain. At other times, they are angry and will let their tempers show by stiffening, turning red in the face, and screaming with a loud cry. It is during these little displays of frustration that those parents who are ‘winners’ must give them a slight shake or a firm swat to register your disapproval.

 The first word a child must learn is “no!” It usually begins occurring when they are 6-7 months old and is vital because you must teach them that objects are dangerous and that your no is for their protection.
Another early lesson: “come to mother” are also important words that save lives and thousands of steps over the years. When the time comes (and it will) that the toddler begins to run, this is a time when your discipline comes into play and you must win this little confrontation. If you don’t win when they are little, you will not win when they become bigger. Remember, what might be viewed as “cute” by some is rebellion, pure and simple, if they have heard the facts and choose to do something else!

Conquer your child’s will and do it early. “In order to form the minds of children, the first thing to be done is to conquer their wills and bring them to an obedient temper.” Wise words? At some point, your child is going to match his will against yours….you better win! And you must not allow the temper tantrum to win, either. The majority of mothers have thrown in the towel, given up, saying “this isn’t working.” I am thankful that some follow the Lord’s words and won’t allow the child to dictate the facts to her.

Spanking is an event….steps to an event:

• Get a rod.
• Take the child to a private place. The goal is to teach, not embarrass. His self-esteem is also being molded.
• Express disapproval of the action. Say “I love you too much to allow this kind of behavior. This is to help you remember not to let it happen again.”
• Let them ‘feel your disapproval.’ Give them 30-45 seconds of your silence to feel your disapproval before moving on.
• Administer the rod thoroughly on the bottom or legs.
• Take the child back to finish your spoken words. Never drop the subject or switch until the child yields to whatever you asked them to do.
• After sufficient time has elapsed and your child has a yielding spirit, take him into your arms and communicate your love. Taking a child into your arms to quickly leaves him with the idea that you feel you were wrong instead of him.
• Forgive the transgression (that means forget and bring up no more) and go on with living.  

The switch also sweetens sour attitudes. With any age child, you may have to watch the attitude. They may yield in body to your requests, but express sarcasm and disrespect with a nasty attitude. They may slouch around, pout, slam doors, kick the cat, or go into seclusion for an excessive amount of time. Don’t put up with this kind of attitude. There is nothing that will sweeten a sour attitude faster than your actions.

Use the rod in the same manner when your child refuses to obey a physical request. A final word about excessive crying: you know the proper time needed to recover from the punishment…it’s OK to say “you hush that crying right now or I’ll give you something else to cry about.”

Trouble With Junior — Junior bit the meter man; Junior kicked the cook. Junior’s anti-social now — (according to the book); Junior smashed the clock and lamp, Junior hacked the tree. (Destructive trends are treated In chapters two and three!)  Junior threw the milk at Mom. Junior screamed for more. (Notes on self-assertiveness. Are found in chapter four.)  Junior tossed his shoes and socks Out into the rain. (Negation, that, and normal — Disregard the same.)  Junior set Dad’s shirt afire, Salted Grandpop’s tea; (That’s to gain attention, see p. 163). Grandpop seized a rod, Yanked Junior across his knee! (Grandpop hasn’t read a book Since 1893).