Sermon Snippet – Putting the Fun into Fundamentalism – Part III
INTRODUCTION – Fun and fundamentalism belong together. As we have studied the last two weeks, forgiveness and freedom are both fun and fundamental to the Christian faith. Another aspect of our faith in Jesus Christ that merits our attention is joy, the buoyant certainty that our Lord graciously provides for us.
1. LET US NOT BE KILLJOYS
Psalm 122:1 sings, “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.’” Worship is not exclusively about joy, for shared sorrow is a major part of our fellowship. However, we are not to dampen or even destroy the joy of others with catty comments or smug, superior attitudes. We do not come to church to try to match someone else’s expectations or to measure up to another’s standard. After all, the standard for all of us is God the Son, Jesus Christ, not another person. The kind command of II Peter 3:18a reminds us that we all have some room for improvement: “but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
2. LET US JOY IN AND WITH OTHERS
II John 4 records the Apostle John’s joy: “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment for the Father.” In III John 4, he says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” John’s joy in the spiritual development of others is a fine example for us. We are not in a spiritual competition with each other (that would be decidedly unspiritual!). We also should appreciate that salvation and sanctification (spiritual progress) are not givens. When people make good choices, we are observing the hand of God. The double command of Romans 12:15 provides a balanced outline for us: “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” Usually, we are doing both at the same time, for life is a mixture of the challenging and the comforting.
3. LET US JOY IN THE LORD
Nehemiah 8:9-10 includes the familiar conclusion, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” The people wept because of their violations of the Old Testament Law, but they are told to also rejoice in the completion of the protective wall around Jerusalem, in the Feast of Trumpets (the celebration of a new year), and in the forgiveness available to all. Does the Lord Jesus Christ want us to have this strong joy? Yes, and He uses the strongest language possible: “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). We are granted not just “joy” but Jesus’ joy! Not only does Jesus want to have this “full” joy, but He also prays, “And now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13). Just as we have the full measure of salvation, our Savior desires the full measure of His joy in our lives – the same approval of the Father, the same satisfaction of a mission accomplished, the same assurance of eternity.
4. LET US JOIN IN THE JOY OF HEAVEN
Luke 15:10 states, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (see also verse 7). There is no hyperbole in this statement of fact, for the joy of Jesus continues unabated in heaven. It was for this “joy that was set before Him” that He “endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Through faith in Jesus, we will one day hear the voice of Jesus say, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21, 23).
CONCLUSION – May we close with this application. If you are going through a down period and struggling with joy, do not feel inferior as a Christian. We pass through different seasons of life. Let us remember Psalm 30:5b: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”