FOUNDATIONS: THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LESSON 3 Romans 14:17 (NKJV) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 1. The Kingdom of God is righteousness 2. The Kingdom of God is peace 3. Tonight we re going to look at the third expression of the Kingdom of God in our lives The Kingdom of God is joy I. JOY IS PART OF GOD S The word joy as used in the New Testament is from the Greek word Chara, which means, cheerfulness, calm delight, and gladness One of the best definitions of joy I ve found is, an immense sense of wellbeing Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV) Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Luke 15:7 (NKJV) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Hebrews 1:9 (NKJV) You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. A. THE BIBLE SAYS GOD IS A There s a reason we like to smile and laugh We are created in the image of God and He likes to smile and laugh Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 1
1. Christian means a. Heb. 1:9 says Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness more than His companions b. Jesus was more glad than anyone around Him c. God is a glad and cheerful God The Kingdom of God is joy B. JOY IS AN ATTRIBUTE WE NEED TO HAVE IF WE RE GOING TO 1. Joy should be one of the first things people see when they a. To be Christ-like, joy will be part of our lives C. THE OF GOD S JOY We need to know where God finds His joy in order to understand how to receive more Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV) The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. 1. God s joy is in Psalm 149:4 (NKJV) For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; he will beautify the humble with salvation. a. One of the most amazing things about God is that He can find joy in us b. He s not just God, He s Father c. As Father, He finds His joy in His children Our joy is beyond the natural We can have joy even when our happenings aren t the best II. HOW JOY A. OUR JOY COMES FROM KNOWING Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 2
Psalm 149:4-5 (NKJV) 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; he will beautify the humble with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. The result of us knowing that God takes pleasure in His people is for us to be joyful 1. Understanding that God s joy comes from us helps us to a. Some Christians have a hard time enjoying their relationship with God because they don t understand they are the source of God s joy b. Because of this, their relationship may be based on fear rather than a sense of joy and peace Psalm 37:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. c. The only way we can delight ourselves in Him is if we trust Him d. We need to develop a sense of trust that He likes us and we are His joy 1 Peter 1:8 (NKJV) whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, B. JOY COMES THROUGH Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV) 1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 3
3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." This is speaking prophetically of Jesus The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and one of the results of that was, the oil of joy John 7:37-39 (NKJV) 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 1. The Holy Spirit is the Romans 14:17 (NKJV) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 2. Like peace, joy is one of the fruits or of the Spirit being active in our lives as believers Gal 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. C. JOY COMES THROUGH 1. The believers joy, like our peace, isn t determined by Acts 16:22-26 (NKJV) 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 4
24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. Paul and Silas probably didn t feel like praising God At midnight they sang and prayed anyway and joy flowed 2. We release joy with Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, a. Words carry spiritual power b. Praise and worship establish a spiritual presence c. It can change the atmosphere of how we feel ex. When we re sad, down, pressured, mad, irritated, (in other words those things are opposite of joy) and begin to praise and give thanks that negative spiritual presence will leave us. (It may take a little time and effort.) Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Sometimes it costs us to praise; that s why it s called a sacrifice Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV) To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." Ephesians 5:18-20 (NKJV) 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 5
Be filled with the Spirit, how? speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord We can do something about the negative emotions and feelings we have Praise is spiritual power! And joy is released through praise 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NKJV) 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever." 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. Psalm 149:5-9 (NKJV) 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples 8 To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD! Joy is released through praise Praise is more than gratitude; power is released in the spirit and upsets the plans the enemy has against us For joy to be released we have to go to the source, the Holy Spirit D. JOY COMES FROM John 15:11 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 1. Jesus told us joy comes from what He a. Our joy is linked to His word b. No word; no joy Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 6
2. He tells us His word is the secret to His joy in us and our joy being 1 John 1:3-4 (NKJV) 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. a. What John was writing was to become one of the books in the Bible, 1 John b. He wrote these words so that their joy would be full c. Jesus said, I have spoken to you, that your joy may be full If we re going to have joy that lasts even when things around us seem less than, joyful, it means spending time in His word We have to get into God s word and get God s word into us The result will be joy Prayer and Confession: Father, thank You, for being a God of joy. I believe that You take joy in me. And my joy is in and through You. Holy Spirit, fill me with Your joy. I will increase joy through praise and worship, by spending time in Your word. FILL IN THE BLANKS FROM LESSON #3 I. JOY IS PART OF GOD S (NATURE AND CHARACTER) A. THE BIBLE SAYS GOD IS A (GLAD GOD) 1. Christian means ( Christ-like ) B. JOY IS AN ATTRIBUTE WE NEED TO HAVE IF WE RE GOING TO (BE LIKE GOD) 2. Joy should be one of the first things people see when they (visit our church) C. THE (SOURCE) OF GOD S JOY Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 7
1. God s joy is in (His people) II. HOW JOY (COMES) A. OUR JOY COMES FROM KNOWING (WE ARE GOD S JOY) 1. Understanding that God s joy comes from us helps us to (enjoy Him) B. JOY COMES THROUGH (THE HOLY SPIRIT) 1. The Holy Spirit is the (Spirit of joy) 3. Like peace, joy is one of the fruits or (evidences) of the Spirit being active in our lives as believers C. JOY COMES THROUGH (PRAISE AND WORSHIP) 1. The believers joy, like our peace, isn t determined by ( happenings or circumstances) 2. We release joy with (our mouths) D. JOY COMES FROM (GOD S WORD) 1. Jesus told us joy comes from what He (spoke) 2. He tells us His word is the secret to His joy (remaining) in us and our joy being (full) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Associate Pastor 8