Conference Notes

Before and at His incarnation Read Proverbs 8:22, 30-31; Luke 2:10-15, 20

Today we want to learn about the Bible's explanation of joy-- joy that will last. Since joy is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), we understand that God expects us to have joy in our lives, and it is available through Him.

What is joy? Happiness is related to happenings in our lives; but joy does not look at the circumstances. It is a settled reality of delight apart from the highs and lows of our experiences.

This chapter shows mutual joy between the Father and the Son. This is an eternal relationship that we can never touch but can certainly appreciate. The idea that the Godhead has joy is a wonderful thrill! God is not a stern Deity to fear, but instead He has joy.

At His birth, God's purpose of joy is set in motion. The Son of God had been giving and receiving joy in eternity past, and then at His birth He is bringing joy to us. Joy had been implied at one time in God's relationship with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Sin interrupted that relationship, but it never interrupted the character of joy in the Godhead. The incarnation of Jesus did not interrupt the joy in the Godhead either. The Father still found all His delight in His Son.

The angels who announced His birth brought good news of great joy! It was not merely news, or just news of joy, but good tidings and great joy. The angels had rejoiced at creation (Job 38:7), but now they could actually see their Creator for the first time (cp. 1 Timothy 3:16). We can imitate their appreciation at seeing Him, for we see Him too, by faith.

In life, death, and resurrection Read Psalm 40:6-8; Hebrews 12:2; Acts 2:25-28

His delight is linked to the eternal purposes of God, for He was fulfilling all that had been written in "the scroll of the book" about Him.

In John 4:34, Jesus said His food was to do the will of His Father who sent Him. We all know the satisfaction of a good meal! For the Lord, He was consciously and perfectly pleasing the Father (John 8:28-29), and this was supremely satisfying to Him. Furthermore, everything He said and did brought joy to the Father.

God's law was within His heart (40:8), just as the Ten Commandments were carried within the ark of the covenant during the days of the tabernacle. Psalm 1:2 says God's law was His delight. Who else could delight in the law of the Lord? The Law condemns us. But the Lord Jesus found full delight in it-- not even just in the Ten Commandments, but the whole word of God. He found joy in meditating on and obeying the word and will of God.

The verses in Isaiah 50:4-5 mention His opened ears to hear the will and word of God, and then to speak it and do it.

"The joy before Him" may also be that joy which was always in His mind: doing the will of the Father, which included the cross.

Notice that there is absolutely no uncertainty in the Lord's expressions, "You will not leave My soul... nor will You allow.... You will make Me full of joy..." (Acts 2:27, 28). Joy and confidence in God go together.

Joy through salvation Read Romans 5:1-2, 9-11

Christians have joy in our standing before God, because we are justified rather than condemned (v. 1). We also have joy in our state (our condition) before God, because we are reconciled (vv. 9-11). It is a present reality for us.

Joy begins at conversion-- and not only for us, but there is joy in heaven when a sinner repents (Luke 15:7,10).

We needed peace because we were enemies of God. Joy is the outflow of that peace. The gap between man and God was not just bridged but entirely removed; there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

If I do commit sin now, that will hinder my appreciation of this joy, for sin is foreign to the divine nature of which we are partakers (2 Peter 1:4).

Another reason for joy is that we are justified by His blood, which is completely sufficient to take every sin away. His blood also removes us from all condemnation and even from the wrath to come (v. 9).

His death is emphasized as the remedy for all the distance between us and God (Romans 5:6,8,10). - We were weak, but Christ died. - We were sinners, but Christ died. - We were enemies, but Christ died.

Perhaps the first reference to joy in the Bible is in Exodus 18:8-9, when Moses' father-in-law rejoiced for all the Lord's goodness to Israel in delivering them from Egypt. Moses also described the hardships on the way, and that links with this next aspect of joy. Our ongoing relationship with the Lord provides a daily appreciation of joy.

We have joy as His companions, His friends. Our joy will not be full if we don't have Christ in it. At His resurrection, the disciples were glad "when they saw the Lord" (John 20:20).

In John 16:20-24, we find a permanence of joy in knowing the risen Lord. Our joy is linked to proximity to Christ, for the disciples had sorrow while He was away.

It is really the greatness of Christianity that we have a relationship with God. There is no distance, and there is no protocol for attaining it. The Father dearly loves us (16:27).

He provided this final discourse (John 13-16) so that His joy would remain with them. Yet He says the world would hate them! Despite being in a world that is against us, we can have the Lord's joy fulfilled within our souls. It does not depend on our circumstances or popularity, but on Him.

In Nehemiah's day, there was weeping because the Law condemned the people's history and behavior. But the leaders of the people encouraged them to rejoice instead. This is the closing thought in that scene: They rejoiced because they understood the Word of God.

Joy in trials Read 1 Peter 1:3-9

In this passage from 1 Peter 1, there are various trials expected. But they are in contrast to the many blessings and promises of verses 3-5. In Romans 5 the past and present aspects of salvation are mentioned; here we have the future aspect of salvation, when we shall be saved from even the presence of sin.

The idea of heaviness or grief (v. 6) is not feeling sorry for ourselves, but an accurate realization of what we are going through. There can be grief in the midst of joy, yet joy does not melt away in the face of grief.

The trial is not just a time of suffering. It's for the proving of our faith-- to test it and display its genuine character. In this way, our faith in God during trials will bring glory to Him now. Furthermore, the appearing of Jesus Christ (when He comes in power and glory as King of kings) is another point. That day will reveal how I handled the trials. Did I put them in perspective in relation to His appearing? That will add to His praise and honor then, too (v. 7).

So we can ask ourselves, Was my joy full during a trial? Shouldn't it be? For what reason are Christians running around with grumpy faces? Maybe we are not conscious of the joy of the Lord. The enemy would like us to be grumpy because it is not a good testimony for Him.

Nevertheless, the life of faith still allows us to have inexpressible joy; and such joy brings a foretaste already now of the salvation that will be revealed in full later on (compare v. 9 with v. 5).

Other Christians are another source of joy. Paul found encouragement in the Thessalonians, as well as in the Philippians, the Corinthians, and others. We are not on our own.

There is value in continuance. The apostle John encouraged a sister when he knew that some of her children were walking with the Lord. Growth in our lives brings joy to others.

Winning souls is one thing, and discipling new believers is another. Investing ourselves for the sake of others is a foreign way of thinking outside of this Christian perspective. But Paul intentionally pursued goals for growth in the lives of these Christians. A fine example of making a personal investment in the life of someone else is shown by the good Samaritan, who provided money for the traveler's care and promised more if it would be needed (Luke 10:35).

John found joy just by spending time in fellowship with other believers (2 John 12). He could have written more, but he wanted to see this sister in the Lord. He says it will make "our" joy full-- his included, not just hers.

After being delivered from sorrows, the Lord is now the Man of joy (He is prophetically the "king" of Psalm 21:1). He is the first model of one who found delight in being with God's people, as mentioned in the first study (Proverbs 8:31; Psalm 16:3).

In Acts 20, the apostle Paul could review a life of faithful service. He could look back at the years of doing what the Lord gave Him to do and have joy to know it was done. We will never do this in perfection, but we can be faithful to the opportunities the Lord gives.

In Acts 20:24, Paul desired to finish his race with joy. Later, in 2 Timothy 4:7, he could say, "I have finished the course." A crown of righteousness is added to his crown of rejoicing, and this is available for all those who love the Lord's appearing.