Unspeakable Joy
Advent Series • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2,817 viewsToday is the third Sunday of Advent. The advent of Joy. This sermon is about realizing that joy is more than just an emotion and that ultimate joy is about our relationship with God
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Unspeakable Joy
Unspeakable Joy
This morning we will be looking at the third aspect which is joy that is found in Christ. Therefore, our sermon focus this morning is “Unspeakable Joy” . Here now the word of God.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Let your gentleness be made known to all people. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are pleasing, whatever things are commendable, if there is any excellence of character and if anything praiseworthy, think about these things. And the things which you have learned and received and heard about and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
This morning I want to talk about Unspeakable Joy. What I think is important first is that we define this in two parts.
(Scripture Slide) -- 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
This morning I want to talk about Unspeakable Joy. What I think is important first is that we define this in two parts.
What is unspeakable?
Exceeding the power of speech
Unutterable
Inexpressible
Indescribable
So now that we understand the first part let’s look at the word joy. What was interesting to me about this word is the fact that joy in scripture is seen in two ways. As a feeling and as an action.
Joy as a feeling is:
The result of well-being
Success or good fortune
Experienced because of favorable circumstances
Cannot be commanded
Joy as an action:
Happens in spite of your feelings
Scripture commands
Let’s look at a few scriptures that points to the action of Joy.
-- Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
-- "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
-- Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
– Rejoice always.
-- Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
-- But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.
-- Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Finally it is best put this way:
Joy is the fruit of a right relation with God. It is not something people can create by their own efforts.[1]
So what are the grounds for joy? If we were to look at the series of scriptures that I shared earlier the grounds for joy is a relationship with Christ. Knowing that you will suffer and you may even be persecuted for your belief and relationship but that you take joy in knowing that Christ died for us and because of that death we have not to worry about what we suffer here because we know that this life is temporary and we are living for an eternal life that will bring us unspeakable joy.
That brings me to point 1 this morning…
Point 1: What is unspeakable joy? -- It is joy that exist in the face of suffering.
-- Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Point 2: What is our expectation of unspeakable joy? -- That it will come. –
-- For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night but joy comes with the morning.
Point 3: What does unspeakable joy do for us? – It demands us to respond! –
-- Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Point 4: What should be our response to unspeakable joy? -- A shout to who God is and what God has done.
--1Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah
Point 5: Life Application: So you chose! Do you want to live a life filled with unspeakable joy or an unfulfilled life?
-- Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
[1] Dean, R. J. (2003). Joy. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 956). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.