The 6 Marks of the Church - Joy

Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:13-26 “But now I come to You [Father]; and these things I speak in the world so that they [my disciples then and now] may have My joy made full in themselves. 14 “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. 18 “As You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. 19 “For their sake I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 “O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; 26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

There are 6 characteristics with which Jesus asked the Father to mark His followers, both individually and corporately.

Did you catch them?

Jesus asks the Father to do SIX works in His followers (and that would include us). To mark the church in 6 indelible ways:

In verse 13 - Fullness of Joy

In verse 14-16 - Holiness

In verse 17 - Truth

In verse 18 - Marked with a sense of mission

In verse 21-23 - Unity

In verse 26 - Love

The world needs a church that is walking with Christ.

As the art work on the fireplace mantle in the foyer says:

In such a fearful world we need a fearless church.

I would add that is such a sad, broken and hopeless world we need a JOYFUL church.

A church who is led in thee way of joy by men who have experienced the fullness of joy that Jesus talked about here in John 17.

In fact, as we pray for the USA, our prayer point for today says: Pray for victory over despair.

Distressed and broken adults and teens are self-medicating with alcohol and drugs.

They are suffering from anxiety.

So pray that we would be an oasis of joy in a desert of sadness and despair.

Certainly women should be filled with joy, but since today is Father’s Day, let’s especially focus on men being filled with joy.

I say that as I reflect on how broken men are.

They are broken and under relentless attack — both spiritual attack by the forces of hell

And cultural attack in this country.

Men are under intense pressure in many ways and that leads to not just a deep sadness, but suicidal tendencies.

Last year, you may recall, the University of GA was so concerned about suicides in OUR county that they have devoted resources to try and change the trajectory of that trend.

We have BEEN praying for veterans, mostly male veterans, who have been committing suicide.

The men of this nation need the joy of the lord.

This past March I was able to encourage 6 men to attend a Men’s Conference.

I believe it was and is important to encourage men.

And it seems to be ever harder to do so.

Getting the men of this church to pray for one another, to encourage one another — just to fellowship with one another is next to impossible.

We know what says: 1 Peter 5:8 (LSB) … Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

If we know anything about lions, it is that they look for easy prey, the one who isolates himself.

The one who is wounded and cannot keep up.

Why is it that we men are so stupid about the devil’s tactics?

Why are we determined that WE are the exception?

We says, “Well, the devil may get EVERYONE else this way, but he’s not getting me!”

Hogwash!

Men and women of the church I ask again, will you pray with me for the men of the church?

We are in desperate need of a man to stand up and be counted.

A man who will lay aside his own agenda and convenience, to disconnect from mama’s apron strings.

I think husbands and wives ought to be close.

But I also think it is possible, especially among the retired men, that you have enough time to be close to mama AND spend time with other men.

I believe God is looking for a man here at New Life who will, with the help of the Holy Spirit, lead other men into a fresh encounter with God.

An encounter that will enable every man in this church to stand up to the relentless cultural attacks and spiritual attacks.

So that once again, men (and yes, of course the women, too) will be full of the joy of their salvation.

TURN WITH ME:

The Apostle Peter declares in 1 Peter 1:3–9 (LSB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, having been kept in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Recipients of Mercy

As we think about these apostolic words of encouragement, all of us, and yes, especially the men need to realize...

We have blessed by the mercy of Jesus.

Through that mercy we have been born again.

We should be filled with joy that through His resurrection from the dead, Jesus defeated death.

Filled with joy that we are no longer destined for a devil’s hell.

Yes, according to Jesus, hell was originally created for satan and his fallen angels.

Jesus said in Matthew 25:41 (LSB) “… ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

But those who reject the salvation offered ONLY through Jesus will ALSO be thrown into hell which will be thrown into the Lake of Fire.

But we have the joy of experiencing God’s mercy that causes us to cry out in repentance and surrender and be born again.

We are filled with joy that we have a living hope.

An Incorruptible Inheritance

But the blessings and the joy don’t end there.

We have, as vs. 4 says, an inheritance

An inheritance that is imperishable — the things on this earth will perish (cars, houses, man toys) they will all perish, they will all fade away.

Oh, but what Jesus has prepared for us in heaven — that won’t perish or fade away.

What joy that we have more than this world to look forward to!

Amen?

Guys, it’s not career success, or accumulation of things, or a big bank account or anything for which we labor in this world — and that’s what guys tend to do — we’ve been socialized that way — gotta have more, more more...

But that’s not what counts — because in the world’s eyes we will NEVER arrive at success.

It’s our eternal inheritance that should fill us with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

What Jesus has prepared for us in eternity.

Hallelujah!

Protected By God’s Power

And, until we receive that inheritance, we don’t have to be afraid — we are protected.

Men are called to be protectors.

We protect our wives, our children, our family.

My son just gave me another handgun for my birthday.

Why?

He feels very deeply the need to protect and he wants to help me be an armed protector.

But handguns aren’t enough.

We can rejoice because we have an umbrella of protection that rests on the power of God.

And how much power does God have?

Infinite.

Unlimited.

Guys, everyone, be filled with joy — you are protected by God’s power.

Yes,There Are Trials

Vs. 6 says, we rejoice!...

Because we are saved from the wrath of God

Because we have an inheritance

Because we are protected by God’s power.

We are filled with joy because of the blessings of God IN SPITE of trials of our faith.

IN spite of the hard times

The setbacks

The defeats.

We are stilled marked by fullness of joy.

But There Are Victories

Because what the enemy meant for evil, God turns for good.

That fiery trial produces a faith that is tempered.

A faith that is valuable.

A faith that will stand the test.

A faith that will bring praise, glory and honor to Jesus.

The One whom loves me.

The One who died for me — in my place.

Inexpressible Joy Through Jesus

Yes, Jesus.

I have not had a face-to-face with my Savior — but I will

and I love Him for it

I don’t usually see Him as I go through a trial.

But I believe He is there with me every step of the way.

He promised me in Hebrews 13:5 (LSB) … He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

So, I am filled with joy.

Not a superficial joy.

But a deep abiding joy that defies description

A deep abiding joy that is full of God’s glory.

Do YOU Have That Joy?

Oh, brother, sister — are you filled with that joy?

Does that joy mark your life?

Worship team, would you come?

This world is marked by sadness.

But life in Jesus is marked by fullness of joy.

Are you walking in that fullness?

If not, I encourage you to turn to the Lord this morning, right now

And ask Him for that joy.

That it will be an indelible mark on your life.

That so many of us will be marked by Jesus joy, that this church will be known as a church of joy.

A joy that sustains us so that we persevere to the finish line.

That we push through until we hold the prize — the salvation of our souls.

Ask all men to come forward.

Women stand behind them.

Pray.

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