4. What has been taken from you?
Health
House
Dream
Relationship
Friend
JOY
5. Substituted courageous Joy into contingent Joy
Con·tin·gent
/kənˈtinj(ə)nt/
• occurring or existing only if (certain circumstances)
are the case
• dependent on
Everyone is looking for joy
Every commercial promises the same product: joy
God wants us His children to be joy-filed. Like a father wants his baby to smile or laugh.
The Joy offered by God is different:
Not a Temporary smile, shallow happiness that melts in the heat of adversity.
A deep seated, heartfelt, honest to goodness, strong sense of joy that can weather the most difficult storms. Peter referred to this joy in his opening words in… (next slide)
Who was he addressing when he spoke of unspeakeable joy? (1 Peter 1:1) He was speaking to persecuted Christians – people who have been driven from their cities, separated from their families, Their rights/futures had been taken but their joy had not been taken. Why??? Their source of Joy? Jesus! Since no one could take their Jesus, no one could take their joy
Contingent Joy is always dependent upon a circumstance.
“I’ll be happy when…” or “I’ll be happy if”
I’m happy when I’m healed/home/have new house/spouse/iphone 14 pro max
We set ourselves up for disappointment.
Envision a person buys into the lie of contingent joy
By the time this person reaches old age, he has ridden a roller coaster of hope and disappointment. He becomes fearful.
Courageous joy sets the hope of the heart on Jesus and Jesus alone. Since no one can take your Christ, no one can take your joy
No because Jesus is greater than death
Jesus is greater than your sin
Jesus will never leave you
God has promised whether here on earth or in heaven to heal you
Though your plans may not work. Gods plan will
They cannot take your joy because they cannot take your Jesus. Ibig ba sabihin nun life will be storm-free? That no sorrow will come to your way?
No!
They cannot take your joy because they cannot take your Jesus.
Ibig sabihin ba nito di mo na mararanasan ang Magluksa? NO but sorrow will not last forever.
They cannot take your joy because they cannot take your Jesus.
Boat Anchored. It will get rocked back and forth may go lower, but never drifted away. The same with courageously joyful people. They have anchored their hearts to the shorelines (baybayin) of God. Will the boat rock? YES Will moods come and go? YES But will they adrift afar and despair? NO!
And this courageous joy is quick to become Contagious Joy
Christians of the New testament
Acts 2:46-47 They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
Joyful Christian is Redundant di natin sinasabi na basang tubig or malamig yelo or Gwapong NJ char Ideally we shouldn’t have to put joyful in front of Christian. We do this because we are major in contingent joy not in courageous joy. But God can change that.
Assess your Joy-level.
Are you Joyless? Do you spread pessimism or always think of the worst possible outcome rather than hope? If so GOD can help you!
Grimness (Unpleasant and Depressing) is not a Christian Virtue
BELIEVE THAT JOY IS POSSIBLE! Don’t give in to despair. What Jesus said to his followers, He says to you…
Joy is never gone
STORY of JERRY Count your blessings
When we count those many many blessing – it relieves her pain and his anxiety
Anxiety lives in what ifs but will never survive in “already”
Treat every anxious thought with a grateful one.
Do you see any friends? Family? Grace from God? Love of God? Gifts? Talents? Abilities? Skills?
As you look at your blessing, notice that sorrow and unhappiness leaves your heart. Because they refuse to share a heart with gratitude. Ask God, “what is separating me from joy?” Ask Him to replace your contingent joy with courageous joy. Ask Him to help you to anchor your heart to God
Ask him to show you the joy that cannot be taken. And He will revive the contagious joy in your heart.
