The Joy Road

To use a vehicle that is most likely not yours to pass time by driving it on a random route. Usually stealing the vehicle is part of the joyride. Most joyrides involve some form of law-breaking such as speeding, wreckless endangerment etc.

Its fun for a while, then it hurts.

Video:

This video is funny but it is a situation i see all the time as a pastor.

“God will not let his children sin succsesfulkly”

Hebrews 11:24–25 ESV

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Notice those words; “The fleeting pleasures of sin”. - Thts a joy ride.

And when God’s children sin, like the mother in trhe video,m God has to get out the belt.

Hebrews 12:6–11 ESV

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

people choose all sorts oif joy rides.

Getting drunk is a joy ride. Getting high is a joy ride. having sex wehen you are not married is a joy ride. Stealing for many people is a joy ride.

All these things give people pleasure, but like Hebrews says: The pleasure is shortlived - and often comes with a belt at the end.

Ive known drunk people to die in a car or get raped.

Ive known drug uses to OD or go to jail.

Ive known fornicators to get STD’s or get pregnant.

And ibve known theves to get fired and loose all respect.

I want to turn you off seeking joy rides and onto Joy Roads.

Joy Roads

The difference bewteen a joy ride and a joy roads is simple: One is a persuit of happiness through sinful actions that ultimatly produces unspeakible suffering.

The other is a persuit of God through holiness that ultimatly produces unspeakible Joy.

Joy is an essencial to the christian life. It is as much apart of the chrisan life as love and faith is.

John 15:11 ESV

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

God is not stingy with Joy, he wants to fill you 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.

Joy is an element of the Kingdom of God, like earth, and wind and fire, the kingdom oif God is:

Romans 14:17 ESV

17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

So where do we find joy? Well the secret to finding Joy in this life is to not go looking for it.

You dont find joy by looking for it, in fact - you dont find joy at all, it finds you:

When you seek God, joy finds you.

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Joy Finds you when

Joy finds you when you appriciate that you are accepted in Christ and Loved.

Romans 8:32 ESV

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

look at

1 John 3:1 ESV

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

We think about a lot of things - we need to take throughts captive and think about Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 ESV

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Joy finds you when you are thanksful for God’s provision

did you know that coveting is the enemy of joy?

Philippians 4:4 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Philippians 4:12–13 ESV

12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

What is the secret of having Joy when you have seemingly nothing to be joyful about? To be thankful for what the Lord has provided.

You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.” Charles Spurgeon

Joy finds us when we realise that the purpose of life is not to be happy but to be Holy

James 1:2–3 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.

The dentist drill

sin-ache.

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