That Your Joy May Be Full

A Chapter a Day

• Sunday, August 16, 1 Corinthians 10
• Monday, August 17, 1 Corinthians 11
• Tuesday, August 18, 1 Corinthians 12
• Wednesday, August 19, 1 Corinthians 13
• Thursday, August 20, 1 Corinthians 14
• Friday, August 21, 1 Corinthians 15
• Saturday, August 22, 1 Corinthians 16

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“Christian joy is marked by celebration and expectation of God’s ultimate victory over the powers of sin and darkness, a victory actualized already in the death and resurrection of Jesus”
(Timothy George) 

“A feeling of happiness based on spiritual realities” (John MacArthur)

1. Biblical joy is grounded in  Christ-centered realities.

So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (Matthew 28:8)

So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. (Acts 15:3)

Though 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, (1 Peter 1:8) 

John 16:16-24, ESV

¹⁶ “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷ So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸ So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” ¹⁹ Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? ²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 

2. Through his resurrection, Jesus overcame sin, , and demonic powers, and made possible our resurrection, life, and the coming of the of God.

²¹ When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

3. Events that cause can also produce . 

²² So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

4. Biblical joy transcends .

for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part (2 Corinthians 8:2) 

For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. (Hebrews 10:34)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (James 1:2)               

What about times that I don’t feel joy?

• Are you in God’s word?

• Are you biblical community?

…always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, (Philippians 1:4)

• Are you in obedience?
  

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)

²³ In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.          

God wants you to have joy, not less.