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LESSON 3

*January 9- 15

The Fruit of the Spirit Is  Joy

Read for This Week's Study:

Memory Text:

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 16.

The Command to Rejoice  (Phil. 4:4)

Many believers allow themselves to be victimized by their circumstances and consequently vacillate between a spiritual high and low. For them, to rejoice seems unreasonable, even impossible. That is why the command is to rejoice "in the Lord" (Phil. 4:4).

We can't always rejoice in our circumstances or in other people, because both of these elements may be negative. However, we can rejoice in the Lord, because He is always good, and He never changes.

Our spiritual stability is directly related to our knowledge of and commitment to God. Knowing Him helps us live above our circumstances and provides stability. That's why the psalms were written in poetic form and meter and set to music—so the people of Israel could memorize Scripture and sing hymns in order to deepen their knowledge of God. Knowing Him makes everything else seem less significant.

Read Psalm 139; Romans 8:28; and 1 Peter 1:8, 9. What reasons are given there for us to rejoice? How can we learn to rejoice in these promises of God?  

Do you need other reasons to rejoice? How about because God saved us, adopted us, and promised to give us an inheritance in Jesus Christ(Eph. 1:1-11)? When Christ returns, we will enjoy His presence and the heavenly place prepared for us (John 14:2, 3). Until that time, it's a joy to know that God has promised to supply all our needs (Phil. 4:19). Furthermore, we have the privilege of serving the One we supremely love. That includes sharing the good news with the lost and encouraging fellow Christians to increase their love and service for Him. It is also a joy knowing we can pray to God at any time (Heb. 4:15, 16). Finally, we can rejoice knowing that death does not have the final word (1 Cor. 15:54).

Despite these promises, and despite all the reasons we have to rejoice, we all struggle with sadness, discouragement, and pain. These are the "facts of life" here and now. No matter our circumstances, how can we learn to find the joy that's offered us in Christ? What choices are we making that can greatly impact whether or not we avail ourselves of the joy that could be ours?

The Joy of Christ

In order to understand fully a Christian's joy, we must take a look at the joy-filled lifestyle of Christ. Where did His joy come from? What were the principles by which He lived?

What role does joy have in three of the most popular parables Jesus told? What's the common element in all three stories?  

The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:4-7)

The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24)

These three parables give us insight into the heart of God. It is a heart that is willing to celebrate. It is the pure joy of God, the joy of reaching the lost. No wonder that, despite His trials and suffering, Jesus was anointed with joy, for He knew that-because of what He would accomplish-many people would be saved.

Consider the significance of the words recorded in Hebrews 12:2, 3. Prayerfully contemplate the words: "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame . . ." (NKJV). Write some of the thoughts that come to your mind as you meditate on the meaning of these words. What was the joy that was set before Him? Why would the salvation of lost souls be so important to God?

How would you reconcile the idea that Jesus was "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isa. 53:3, NKJV) yet at the same time was a man of joy? Pick a specific problem in your life that causes you sorrow and grief. How, despite this sorrow, can you experience for yourself the kind of joy that Jesus did?

Joy in Obedience

Read John 15:10, 11. What is Jesus linking joy to? How, in a practical sense, does this work; that is, why should this lead to joy?  

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Ps. 1:2, NKJV).

"I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart" (Ps. 40:8, NKJV).

There is no greater joy than the joy of being obedient to the will of God. While it may seem to some that an emphasis on obedience to the law of God simply serves to exacerbate an already guilty conscience, the fact is that obedience to the will of God is liberating. Remember, it was disobedience that brought war to heaven and sin and death to this planet. All human pain and suffering are the result of humans stepping outside the will of God. It will be, then, obedience to the will of God through faith that helps restore joy.

Read Psalm 19:8, Jeremiah 15:16, and Matthew 7:21-27. How do they link obedience with joy?  Jeremiah 15:16, and Matthew 7:21-27. How do they link obedience with joy?  

How have you experienced for yourself the joy that comes from obedience? Or, to ask the question negatively: How have you experienced the pain and suffering that come from not obeying the Lord?

Joy in Tough Times  (John 16:33)

" 'These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world' " (John 16:33, NKJV).

A long-held belief suggests that if a person is passing through difficulties it is because either that person must be doing something wrong or does not have enough faith. What a crude and cold view of God! Jesus said clearly that in this life we would all have troubles, both the believer and the nonbeliever. However much we love the story of Daniel in the lions' den, the fact is that most of the Christians thrown to the lions were torn to shreds by the beasts. The same with the three Hebrews who survived the fiery furnace; most Christians tied to the stake were, indeed, burned there!

Read Galatians 6:9, James 1:2-4, and 1 Peter 1:6. What hope, what promises can we take from these verses that could help us during painful times?  

Consider the possibility that many believers today do not have joy simply because they are self-centered. However real our problems, by focusing solely on them, we only make them worse in our own minds. In reality, we do have reasons to rejoice, not in ourselves but in God.

After all, doesn't God say that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered" (See Matt. 10:30.)? Think of the promise inherent in those words. If, knowing our security is in Jesus, we would reach out and minister to someone else during our times of trial, we would know that self-pity can be turned to joy by a simple act of the will. "And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends" (Job 42:10, NKJV).

No matter what you might be struggling with now, reach out to someone who is, perhaps, going through something hard, as well. Surely you know someone who needs help, encouragement, support. How can bearing someone else's burdens lighten your own?

Joy That Lasts  (Heb. 11:24, 25)

" By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin" (Heb. 11:24, 25, NKJV). What principles of the Christian life are found in these verses?(See also Luke 9:23, Acts 14:22, Phil. 1:29.) How can we link those above verses with the promise of joy? (See Heb. 11:16, 1 Pet. 1:6-8).  

Moses' decision to turn his back on the throne of Egypt was definitely not politically correct. He might have decided to stay in Egypt and become the next Pharaoh. He might have rationalized such a move to be God's will for him. After all, it might not have been that hard to do, because there are often so many "good" reasons to make a wrong decision.

Think upon the last time you made a wrong decision based on "good" reasons. What hard lessons did you learn?   

While joy comes from knowing we are within the will of God, the immediate consequences often may be difficult and painful. To believe that when we accept Jesus and obey His Word all our problems will disappear can lead to disillusionment. Becoming a committed Christian is no assurance of money, fame, and influence. Each year thousands are persecuted, some even martyred, for their faith.

Further Study:  

Discussion Questions:

Go through the Bible and focus on the lives of a few well-known characters. How much joy do you think they experienced? How about Noah or Abraham or Joseph? What about Daniel or David or Jeremiah? Or Paul or John the Baptist? What can we learn from their experiences, both the good and the bad, about what Christian joy is really about?     What are some worldly ways we can be "happy"? How well do these things work? What have you learned about worldly ways of achieving happiness? Are they all bad, or can and should they have their place in our lives?      How much happiness or even joy could or should we expect in this life, even as a Christian who lives with the knowledge of God's infinite love? That is, when all around us we see sickness, suffering, and death, and when we know that many souls are going to be eternally lost, how much happiness should we have? Isn't it kind of selfish to rejoice in our good fortune while we know that others will perish?      Why is it that the more self-centered we are, the more miserable we tend to be?      Why is the hope and promise of eternal life in a whole new earth so crucial to our whole Christian experience? What would we have without it? How important, then, is it that we keep that hope always before us? After all, even if we have it good here in this world and in this life, it's not going to last, so how ultimately satisfying could it be?

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