“I Want My Joy Back!”

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Three things we all want:

1. To be right with God

2. To live in peace

3. To have joy

Joy (“chara”): gladness or a reason for gladness

Joy is a consequence of living in the Kingdom.

In the Kingdom, there is:

• A righteousness that cannot be earned

• A peace that surpasses understanding

• A joy that gives me strength

What you are looking for is only found in the Kingdom!

What robs us of our joy?

Anxiety is an enemy that comes to steal your joy.

Anxiety: a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

Luke 12:22-32 (ESV) – And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on… And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried… Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Anxiety Feedback Loop:

• Trigger: a thought, memory, or threat

• Response: the natural fight or flight instinct

• Anxiety: your imagination in overdrive

• Repeat: that anxiety becomes a new trigger

Anxiety doesn’t steal by taking; it steals through surrender.

Philippians 4:5-6 (ESV) – Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Getting Back Our Joy:

1. There is a righteousness that cannot be earned

Romans 3:21-22 (ESV) – But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

Our righteousness is learned, not earned.

• Be with Jesus

• Learn who He is

• See yourself in Him

2. There is a peace that passes understanding

Luke 8:22-25 (ESV) – One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

• Jesus did not let external storms upset his internal peace.

• You will either be a consequence of your environment or your environment will be a consequence of you.

• Perfect peace is found in perfect love.

3. There is a joy that gives strength

Acts 13:48-52 (ESV) – And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

John 15:9-11 (ESV) – As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Joy is the consequence of:

a) abiding in Christ

b) doing His Will

Remember:

• Righteousness is a result of a relationship with Jesus.

• Peace is a result of resting in His love.

• Joy is a result of doing His will.

That’s the Kingdom of God!