Contagious JOY! August 27th, 2013 Combat the insidious spread of hopelessness with infectious JOY; lessons from bacteria, virus and parasites. I have told you this so that My JOY may be in you and that your JOY may be complete. – John 15:11 BIG ASK What are spiritual diseases that contaminate JOY? How do they spread? • Air Borne: spreads the germs of gossip, complaints, intolerance, self-­‐righteousness, cynicism, criticism, no-­‐forgiveness • Food Borne: eats contaminated “food” (false doctrine) • Blood Borne: not thankful or worship-­‐filled • Contaminated Water: full of Self instead of the Living Water (Spirit) What signs point to a person with diminished JOY or the absence of JOY? • Lack of wonder, consumerism, loneliness, isolation, despair, busyness, fear, worry, self focus, restless, quick temper, grumbling … (fill in the blank) BIBLE: What does the Bible say about JOY? • Greek Word (chara) – an awareness of God’s grace/favor, the source of JOY • JOY is the birthright of every believer. • JOY is a matter of finding the right way of seeing and thinking. • JOY makes hard days easier, dark days brighter, optimism possible and friendships a pleasure. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-­‐-­‐
that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-­‐19 John 4:all Living Water Vs. 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” Vs. 13-­‐14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” What does it mean to be SPIRITUALLY infectious? • Live authentic, joy-­‐filled lives. The symptoms of JOY are: love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-­‐control (Galatians 5:22-­‐23, 25). Some activities that suggest the attendance of the Holy Spirit working in you: Ø You sense conviction of sin. Ø You accept an incident of divine warning. Ø You determine to take action on a spiritual matter. Ø You receive confirmation of God’s goodness. Ø You get illumination on a passage of Scripture. Ø You take delight in being rebuilt. Ø You celebrate God’s discipline. Ø You obtain an answer to doubt. Ø You put away your striving for God’s plan. Ø You have an overwhelming peace. Ø You rejoice in your salvation with uninhibited joy. Ø You insist on living life set apart from worldly things. Ø You thirst to be in quiet communion with God. Ø You hunger after God’s Word. Are you HINDERING the Spirit of God from having His way in you? ü Overbearing, unyielding, stubborn, demanding, insensitive, impulsive ü Manipulating, impatient, not focused, pushy, shallow, foolish, showy, unrealistic ü Fearful, lazy, indecisive, weak conviction, overly cautious ü Critical, inflexible, controlling, avoid risk, legalistic, rigid How do you allow the Spirit to SEIZE dominion over your life? EMPTY Your-­‐SELF: v You are God I am not v I have sinned against you with the rebellion in my heart v Your ways are high than mine v I am ready to be renewed and transformed v I recognize your SON is the way, the truth and the life Jesus’ 7 “I AM” Statements … The Spirit will lead you in all truth … John 16:13 The Spirit will teach you … John 14:26 The Spirit will inspire you … 1 Corinthians 12:11 The Spirit will assure you … Romans 8:14, 16 The Spirit will direct you … Acts 20:22-­‐23 The Spirit will intercede on your behalf … Romans 8:26 The Spirit will counsel you… Psalm 73:24 The Spirit will convict you of sin … John 16:8 Jesus’ 7 “I AM” Statements: 1. John 10:11: "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 2. John 10:9: "I AM the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." 3. John 6:51:"I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;" 4. John 8:12: Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." 5. John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 6. John 11:25: Jesus said to her, "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 7. John 15:1: "I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Develop trust through relationship: offer compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. • Direct Contact: at your tables, events, play-­‐dates • Host: encouraging postal mail, email, or private (table specific) Facebook group • Indirect Contact: hospitality gifts from the committee and/or table leaders, carrying out service projects together, praying for one another, thanking childcare workers. • Immune Boost: speakers will inject ladies with a boost of nutritious “truth” HOW TO DISPERSE JOY: • JOY Welcomes: So [the prodigal son] got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; HE RAN to HIS SON, threw his arms around him and kissed him. – Luke 15:20 • JOY Embraces: There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28 • JOY Whispers: Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. – Colossians 4:6 • JOY Celebrates: For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. – Luke 15:24 • JOY Laughs: Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." – Psalm 126:2 • JOY Sings: Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. – Psalm 100:1-­‐2 • JOY Encourages: Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 • JOY Applauds: You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. – Isaiah 55:12 • JOY Marvels: The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. – Acts 17:24-­‐25 • JOY Hopes: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 • JOY Invites: Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28 • JOY Sustains: Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. – Habakkuk 3:17-­‐18 • JOY ______________________________________: