Joy is an Inside Job

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: Galatians 5:22Happiness depends on external things, but joy is an inside job; it comes from within.As Christians, joy is one of our most attractive qualities. It is proof that what we have is real and satisfying. We’re implored to serve with gladness because joy lifts our burdens.Romans 5 reveals four ingredients to having joy.The first ingredient of joy is a cleansed life.“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 5:1).Faith brings justification, justification brings peace, and peace brings joy. To say we are justified by faith means that the righteousness of God is imputed to us. Because cleansing brings joy, sin is what takes the joy out of our lives. Nothing else in this life can take the joy out of our hearts.Joy is the understanding that there is nothing between us and God. Our sin is the only thing that can break that fellowship. Sinning does not make us lose our salvation, only the joy of our salvation.The second ingredient of joy is confidence.“...through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2).Hope means confidence based on the Word of God. A Christian knows that no matter what happens to him, God is working all things together for good and for God’s glory (see Romans 8:28). If we are confident in this, we can rejoice in this hope. That is why joy is steadfast in sorrow and triumphant in tribulation; it lasts in the losses.Joy also comes from a commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ.This commitment is the secret to cleansing and staying clean; every part of us must be dedicated to Him.Finally, joy comes from communion with our Lord.Adrian Rogers says, “Joy is not found in circumstances; it’s found in a person.”Joy is a characteristic in the fruit of the Spirit, which means it comes supernaturally as we abide in Jesus, the Vine. We do not produce joy, the Lord Jesus Christ does; we simply bear it.Apply it to your lifeTo rejoice is a choice; it’s not automatic. Do you have the joy that is steadfast in sorrow, triumphant in tribulation, and lasting in losses?