Sunnyside First Baptist Church
12.18.2022 Joy, Joy, Joy
  • Hark The Herald Angels Sing (Mendelssohn)
  • God So Loved (Live At The Wheelhouse)
  • You Are My King (Amazing Love)

  • Last Week… We got pretty serious about Peace!

    — I hope that you took some time this week just be at Peace.
    — I hope that you took the time to talk to God as your father, as your Daddy as well as your Savior.
    — I heard from a couple of you about this exercise. It’s not easy to be quiet for even 2 minutes. Think about speeding days, week, months, really a lifetime have QUIET TIME with God.
    — That thought may leave you exhausted
    — But in reality… All of our striving, working, all of our efforts really get us NOTHING!!!

    What’s missing...Jesus!

    — We considered all of the possibilities of peace. And there are many peaceful resolutions.
    — Be true PEACE comes only a relationship with God through Christ.
    Romans 5:1 ESV
    1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
    — We have Hope and we are at peace, we have been made whole by Faith alone in Jesus Christ.
    — Because of that work once for all we have “Joy”
    — There are NO other exceptions.

    BY “FAITH” ALONE YOU HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED

    — IF your familiar with anyone of the “Televangelist” shows that seem to be everywhere.
    — He or she might come yelling at you, personally and as a group, about your faith and how little your Faith is.
    — If you had Faith in God, a strong faith, You wouldn’t need to connect with Him. Because you would be healthy, wealthy and of course wise. and by the way… I need a new airplane… Please give to me!!!
    — The “PROMISE” given is completely EMPTY!!
    Here is the only promise that’s necessary.
    Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV
    8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
    — Focus for a minute on the last phrase… “gift of God.”

    What do think about “gifts?”

    — I love them
    — I like the surprise, I like the unknown,
    — I like to see the “thoughtfulness” that the giver has put into the gift.
    — This is especially true of getting gifts from children or grandchildren that are young.
    — They have crafted a rock, or a handprint, or a picture especially for you.

    Receive The Gift!

    — Our grandson, Malachi whose just turned three called Gaga the other day.
    — He asked, “Do you have a Christmas Tree?” OR should I pack mine in my suitcase and bring it to Gaga’s House.
    — Jill said, “Of course we do.” and you can bring some favorite ornaments to put on our tree. And he was satisfied
    — Malachi… 3 years old, get’s it.
    — He has at his house in Indianapolis a Christmas Tree.
    — He equates Christmas Tree’s with JOY, Joy, Joy.
    — If we didn’t have one… He was willing to give us his tree.
    This whole thing warmed our hearts and caused moisture to leak from our eyes.

    God is ANXIOUS to give us the gift of salvation...

    — There is nothing better than waking up the day after you have accepted Christ.
    — The whole world looks different when the Holy Spirit has come to indwell you.
    1 Timothy 2:3–5 ESV
    3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

    Joy, Joy, Joy

    — All of this talk about gifts, giving and receiving… Leads us, well for me.
    — JOY!!!
    — joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a result of choice.
    — One of the fruits of the spirit.
    — Having joy is part of the experience of being a Christian.

    Don’t miss it

    — Don’t be the grump on the side of the road.
    — Whatever you have to do, fake it until you are happy!
    — Your family, your children, your grandchildren will respond in ways you haven’t seen.
    — We also need to acknowledge the giver of that joy.
    — Jill and I slide into the ditch last weekend. It was quite the ride.
    — Truck is broke but will be fixed, Jill has stopped shaking for the time being.
    — Soooo… Here is the Joy that i experienced.
    — I needed a ride to and from the repair shop. I asked and Gallo was there! Thank you Gallo
    — I came back from the shop and another church member pulled in beside me at church.
    — He just wanted to see if we where OK and he wanted to look at the damage.
    — We talked for a bit and he went his way.
    MY HEART WAS FULL OF JOY
    — A couple of people, went out of their way...
    — I regularly go to lunch with another church member when he is town.
    — Our conversation is always lively and confidential. He is my friend!! — And my heart was full of joy.

    Turn in your Bibles or on your app to the Book of James, Chapter 1 Verse, 2

    James 1:2–4 ESV
    2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
    — It is really easy be joyful when life is going well in your estimation
    — In your little world, that you can control and manipulate

    When Your Faith is Tested??

    — The ultimate goal of trials that believers meet with confidence in the Lord is not simply maturity but perfection.
    — Of course this goal is not one that we will reach in this life: it is ultimately an gift—something towards which Christians are constantly to strive with all their power, but which will not in fact be attained until the culmination of the salvation
    — That becomes a sticky situation.
    — We know “the right” answer...
    — But sometimes that is most difficult to express. While keeping your JOY!
    — Sometimes the JOY is not to be found...
    — In a death
    — Word that you or someone you know, has cancer
    — Loss of friendship

    Look at Verse 3 again

    James 1:3 ESV
    3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
    — These joy killing events in our lives are killing us!
    — James calls it “testing of your faith.”
    — We will produce “steadfastness” as a result of our trials
    — And the results of that...

    Growing Up in Christ

    — I want to grow up in Christ...
    — I haven’t arrived
    Listen to Verse 4
    James 1:4 ESV
    4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
    — Ah, finally, going through life sometimes Joyful.
    — Sometimes just shaking our heads and wondering
    — BUT… Scripture says
    James 1:4 (ESV)
    4 “...that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
    ​
    — There is a reward
    — That you and I may be “perfect!”

    Perfect!

    — Really? Let’s make sure we are clear about this.
    — God demands perfection, but we rely on Grace to cover up our blemishes.
    — Perfection in the New Testament does not mean without flaw or error but indicates maturity and completeness.
    1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV
    23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    — Thank you God, that you will protect, teach, you will give your Holy Spirit so that we, or all believers can have that perfection when standing in front of God at the coming of the Lord Jesus.
    — The Holy Spirit shapes Paul’s conscience.
    — As Paul speaks, He is in step with God and his Spirit.
    — Paul is not his own, but he lives and acts and speaks in the presence and power of God

    THIS IS PURE JOY!!

    — We have seen pure Joy in our lives as well as others have seen.
    — We know now that we must work hard to bring Joy, real Joy, really.
    — We have heard that joy bottled up can be used liberally as we work our way towards perfection when we meet the Lord.

    God Fills Us With Joy

    Romans 15:13 ESV
    13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
    We cannot will ourselves to experience joy. It comes from God alone.
    It’s a fruit of the Spirit
    Galatians 5:22 ESV
    22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
    We experience more joy when we spend time with God. We have to keep in mind that joy only comes from God, but when we spend more time with him, we allow him to fill us with it.
    No one can take joy from us
    John 16:3 ESV
    3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
    Given to us by God himself, no one has the ability to rob us of our joy. No matter what circumstances we encounter, no one can take this away.
    Joy rests in things from God such as salvation and righteousness
    ​

    SO WHAT?

    — We batted these terms around all morning I hope that you have a picture of what Joy is… and maybe what joy is not.
    — Be joyful at all stops in your life…
    — Learn from others who have and experienced… True Joy. AND COPY THEM!!!
    — Start practicing Joy! You will get it right when you are face-to-face with God and Christ.
    Here is the last scripture for today. As I says it the worship team will be coming to close our service.
    James 1:12 ESV
    12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
    ​

      • Ephesians 2:8–9ESV

      • 1 Timothy 2:3–5ESV

      • James 1:2–4ESV

      • James 1:3ESV

      • James 1:4ESV

      • 1 Thessalonians 5:23ESV

      • Romans 15:13ESV

      • Galatians 5:22ESV

      • John 16:22ESV

      • James 1:12ESV

      • Jude 24–25NLT

  • Joy To The World
Sunnyside First Baptist Church
sunnysidefbc@gmail.com
509-837-3084
https://sunnysidefbc.faithlifesites.com
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