공동체와 양육

How To Return To Joy (1 The. 5:16~18)

2018.08.05P. Stephen Cha

The sermon teaches that joy in the Lord is not optional but a command, rooted in knowing that God rejoices over us, guarding against the things that steal joy, and returning to joy by repentance, anchoring in eternal assurance, and cultivating our inner life with God.

Rejoice always, because God rejoices over you (16-18)

Joy is not a personality trait we can dismiss, but a command to rejoice always in the Lord. Steve recounts how he came to faith through a friend's words that a churchgoer is not automatically a Christian, and how he received Jesus and felt God's welcome home. Luke 15 shows the father running to the returning prodigal and calling for a party, and Zephaniah 3:17 pictures God rejoicing over his people with gladness and singing. The speaker compares this to a parent's delight in a newborn who has done nothing to earn it. God delights in us not for what we do but because we are his. Our joy grows as we see how deeply God rejoices over us.

Guard against the holes that leak joy

If joy is water in a bucket, several holes drain it. The first is sin: envy, jealousy, resentment, a critical spirit, and an unforgiving heart break fellowship with God, as David prayed in Psalm 51 to have the joy of salvation restored. The second is misplaced confidence in people, success, children, or things that rise and fall. When the seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing in their ministry, Jesus redirected them to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. The third is the lack of a spiritual system rooted in God's Word and prayer, which keeps us anchored whatever the circumstances. The fourth is emotional triggers such as anger, fear, shame, and despair, which can take us out of commission for days if we are not growing in maturity.

Return to joy through repentance, assurance, and inner growth

To return to joy, we first come to God in repentance, and God offers forgiveness and a fresh start. Second, we anchor ourselves in eternity by resting in the assurance of salvation: Jesus has paid for our sins, and we are God's children and heirs. J.C. Ryle is quoted to say that assurance frees a child of God from painful bondage and settles the greatest business of life. Third, we cultivate our inner person in secret, letting God's Word nourish us and talking with him in prayer. John Piper's line that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him is cited here. For strong emotions, we bring our feelings to God, asking for his peace and quiet confidence, and where needed we seek help from a counselor.

Joy grows through disciplined practice and walking with God

The speaker tells how his father required him to practice piano, and how the discipline he resented became a joy he now enjoys in worship. Likewise, joy in the Christian life grows as we practice time with God, give thanks, and pray faithfully, and the fruit ripens over time. Christ is not calling us to get our act together first but inviting us to hold his hand and let him lead. Like a blind man who asks a woman to dance the tango with him, we are invited to trust Jesus to lead us into a life where he uses us to bless others.

Apply to Life

  • Let us come to God today and confess any sin, such as envy, resentment, or an unforgiving spirit, that is draining our joy.
  • Let us examine where we place our confidence and anchor ourselves in the unshakable love of Christ rather than in things that rise and fall.
  • Let us build a daily spiritual system of God's Word, prayer, and thanksgiving that keeps us steady in every circumstance.
  • Let us bring our strong emotions to God in prayer and seek his peace, and let us ask for help when we need it.
  • Let us practice rejoicing and giving thanks in all circumstances, trusting Jesus to lead us as we walk with him.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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