“The Joy Of My Salvation”

Introduction

I.  King David of Israel committed a terrible sin when he stole another man’s wife and committed adultery with her; in the process he also killed the woman’s husband and brought great shame upon his nation (2 Sam. 11:1–27).

A. While the sin was still secret, David was filled with guilt (Psa. 32:1–4).

B. From his guilt, David cried out, “For day and night Your hand was heavy

upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer” (Psa. 32:4). 1. It was as if God’s hand was crushing him.

2. He believed his depression was from God and he considered it the merciful punishment of God warning him and leading him to repentance.

C. David acknowledged his sin and sought forgiveness (Psa. 32:5–7).

1. David’s forgiveness restored to him the joy of salvation (Psa. 51:1–12).

2. “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. Thisis an awful prayer. And why? Because it shows he once had the joy of God’s salvation; and had lost it by sin!” (Adam Clarke).

3. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our

God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7).

II.  Our Lord wants Christians to lead lives full of joy.

A. Jesus told the apostles, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).

B. He told His disciples, “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask,

and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

Discussion

I.  What Is “Joy”?

A. “Joy” (Gr. cara, chara) means:

1. “cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight:—gladness” (Strong’s Greek Dictionary). 2. “rejoicing,” “joy,” “merriness” (Theological Dictionary of the NT).

B. Chara is closely related to the word charis.

1. Charis (grace) is “undeserved favor” which in turn gives joy, pleasure,

delight.

2. Chara (joy), then, is our response to the “undeserved favor” of God.

C. Think of joy as the happy response to the grace we receive from God.

II.  Joy In Christ

A. Joy in preaching Christ.

1. The shepherd who found the lost sheep (Luke 15:5). 2. The seventy returned with joy (Luke 10:17).

3. Paul rejoiced when Christ was preached (Phil. 1:18). B. Joy in receiving Christ.

1. Christ is to be received with joy (Matt. 13:20).

2. The gospel islike treasure hidden in a field (Matt. 13:44).

3. Converts rejoiced at receiving the gospel (Acts 8:39; 16:34).

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4. When the people of Samaria received the gospel, “there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:8).

5. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7).

C. Joy in worshipping Christ.

1. After worshipping the Lord, the disciples “returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52).

2. The Corinthians were glad for their opportunities (2 Cor. 9:6–8; 8:1–5). 3. God commands order in the assembly (1 Cor. 14:40).

a) He doesn’t require the worship service to look like a funeral service.

b) This type of things is one of the major reasons churches across the

country have lost their young people!

4. The Israelites were commanded to serve God with “joy and gladness of heart” (Deut. 28:45–48).

a) We are to “delight in the Law of the Lord” (Psa. 1:1–2).

b) “Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing,

yes, I will sing praises to the Lord” (Psa. 27:6).

c)  “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation” (Psa. 35:9).

d) “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psa. 16:11).

D. Joy in living for Christ.

1. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4).

a) “The injunction to rejoice (1:18; 2:17-18, 28; 3:1; 4:10) is not to indulge in casual pleasure or to bathe in a superficial gladness dependent on transient feelings, but to experience the abiding joy (1:4, 25; 2:2, 29; 4:1) that comes from trust in and commitment to Yeshua the Messiah.” (David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary).

b) “It is the privilege of Christians to do this, not at certain periods and

at distant intervals, but at all times they may rejoice that there is a God and Savior; they may rejoice in the character, law, and government of God—in His promises, and in communion with him. The Christian, therefore, may be, and should be, always a happy man. If everything else changes, yet the Lord does not change; if the

sources of all other joy are dried up, yet this is not; and there is not a

moment of a Christian’s life in which he may not find joy in the character, law, and promises of God.” (Albert Barnes, Barnes’ Notes On The New Testament).

2. “Joy” is a part of the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22).

3. “…count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (Jam. 1:2).

4. They rejoiced in persecution (Acts 5:41–42; Matt. 5:10–12).

III.  The Importance Of Joy

A. Joy is an essential element in the kingdom of God (Rom. 14:17).

B. Joy lightens the burden of trials in this life (1 Pet. 1:6–9).

C. This virtue is so evident in the lives of weary Christians! 1. Shown by the way we sing.

a) Some will sit there like a bump on a log.

b) No longer offering the “fruit of our lips” (Heb. 13:15).

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2. Shown by the way we pray.

a) Vain repetitions and emotionless phrases. b) Instead of sincere pleas to a loving Father.

3. Shown by the way we give.

a) Giving that is done out of a sense of mere duty or obligation.

b) Instead of rejoicing that God has blessed us.

IV.  Consequences Of Losing Your Joy

A. We have all have known Christians who go through life looking like they were “weaned on a dill pickle and baptized in vinegar.”

1. They sit in the pew like they are at a funeral and when they leave the meetinghouse they stick out their hand and you are not sure whether you should shake it or pray for it.

2. If Christianity makes you miserable, then you do not have Christianity,

just a poor substitute for your dried up, miserable soul.

3. This lack of joy is so easy to spot, and the “Christianity” they offer so repulsive, that no one in their right mind would want it.

B. They destroy the lives of the children.

1. I have talked with a lot of young people who have fallen away from the

Lord, and have often inquired as to what caused them to leave.

a) The number one answer that I have heard has been the lack of joy among the saved—that is not always the phrase they use.

b) They talk about those who think Christianity is something to be endured instead of enjoyed.

c)  They will tell you about parents, grandparents and teachers who

could not express any emotion or joy when talking about the Savior

of the world.

d) Individuals who were critical of everything, and thankful for nothing. e) They murmured and complained against the elders and preacher at

every opportunity they could find.

f)  Their bitterness and lack of joy destroyed the hopes and dreams of

babes in Christ, and even those who were mature.

C. They scare away anyone who might be interested in the gospel.

1. Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers.”

2. Who would want a religion that makes people miserable?

D. The lose their own soul as well.

Conclusion

I.  Both Jesus and His apostles gave us words whereby our joy might be full (John 15:11; 1 John 1:4).

II.  Jesus stressed the importance of prayer in regards to joy (John 16:24).

III.  Answered prayers certainly excites the Christian, and increases joy!

IV.  Associate with those who have the joy of Christ within them.

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