Joy is the Presence of God in my Life
Ephesians 5:18-20 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
We all know that being filled with the Spirit of God is to be under the influence of Him in our lives; as being drunk makes you under the influence of wine in the things you are doing.
But if you notice, the Holy Spirit and our praise, often go hand in hand.
1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”
Romans 14:17-18 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”
[When Christ’s kingdom comes within our hearts, then Jesus Christ reigns there, and there is joy.
His kingdom is not automatically set up, when you become born again. It is the privilege of each Christian to “gain” more of Christ Jesus in our lives: by knowledge, by love, and by obedience.
We get the life of Christ, all at once….but we do not learn to obey all at once; we learn to obey, by the discipline of life.
Matthew 6:10 “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Though the Bible says “in” earth, we often read it “on” earth.
His kingdom will absolutely come to the earth, one day. But now, His kingdom is manifested in the lives of His people.
They show forth His praise. (Psalm 22:3)
The Heavenly Father’s will being done in me, and by me, is the Spirit-filled walk.
This is the reason of the Spirit’s empowering us….that we might live to Jesus, do His Will; having joy and peace; being in the world, but not of it.]
John 15:10-11 “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
And what does He mean: “be full”?
It means crammed in….”good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over,….” (Luke 6:38)
That is the joy the Lord wants to give, by the Holy Spirit….for we were made for fellowship with Him.
2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
This “treasure” is the Holy Spirit. And He calls us to shine forth His life in our everyday lives.
Is this without troubles? No.
Paul wrote: (2 Corinthians 4:8)
“We are troubled on every side,……..yet not distressed;”
“We are perplexed (confused by what to do);……but not in despair (knowing God would show the way)”
To be being filled with the Holy Spirit, is to be being emptied of our self-life.
For only one will rule, in each situation.
And as we deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow the Lord, He gives us direction for this situation, and the grace to do.
Romans 8:14, 17 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together.”
The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter, by Jesus, because He is always with us, comforting us through this world, we walk in.
John 14:26-27 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Joy is the Presence of God in my life.
Happiness is over the good things to us or to others we love…this is good, and it is from the Lord; but joy springs up in any circumstance, because we know His presence in our life.
The Holy Spirit’s fullness is not without troubles, they are common to all men, and sometimes to us, even more….for we stand with Jesus our Lord; but it comes out all different than most would think:
He gives us joy, in the middle of every trial.
There He is: in us…with grace for the trial;
and beside us…holding us up and waving the banner of love and joy!
“Come on, I will guide. Just follow on. Step out with Me to the next step….I am here. Fear not”
How many have said (and yes, often it is after the trial) that they have seen more of Jesus; and yes, (amazingly) had joy in it, because of His Presence being so close.
We get the Spirit’s fullness as we yield to Him in our everyday lives, not in lukewarmness….but in the zealous desire to know Him more, and have Him in control, in all things in my life.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 