The Abider's Joy (2 of 2)
Series: The Abider's Joy
Ernest L. Easley
John 15:11
As you're turning to John 15, I ask you again: Are you a joyful Christian? Can you describe your life as joyful? Is there a joy, joy, joy, joy down in your heart tonight?
You say, ''Ernest, I'm sure that I don't have four joy's down in my heart tonight. I'm not sure I could say that I have one joy in my heart tonight?''
Why not? Learn this tonight: Joy is a birthmark of every follower of Jesus!
And yet, so many who claim to know Jesus are so grim. They are just enduring life rather than enjoying life.
Do you know what a lack of joy indicates? It indicates the need for revival. After King David had sinned with Bathsheba and came under great conviction, he was broken under the guilt of sin. He came to God and in Psalm 51 cried out in verses 1-2, ''Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.''
Verses 7-8, ''Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear JOY and GLADNESS, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.''
Verses 10-12, ''Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit, then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.''
Here is a branch that decided it no longer needed to abide to the Vine to have its needs met! When branches decide to look somewhere other than the Vine for life, they soon wither up and die. And in John 15.5 Jesus says, ''I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.''
Abiding in Jesus produces fruit, the fruit of the spirit. And according to Galatians 5.22 ...
Series: The Abider's Joy
Ernest L. Easley
John 15:11
As you're turning to John 15, I ask you again: Are you a joyful Christian? Can you describe your life as joyful? Is there a joy, joy, joy, joy down in your heart tonight?
You say, ''Ernest, I'm sure that I don't have four joy's down in my heart tonight. I'm not sure I could say that I have one joy in my heart tonight?''
Why not? Learn this tonight: Joy is a birthmark of every follower of Jesus!
And yet, so many who claim to know Jesus are so grim. They are just enduring life rather than enjoying life.
Do you know what a lack of joy indicates? It indicates the need for revival. After King David had sinned with Bathsheba and came under great conviction, he was broken under the guilt of sin. He came to God and in Psalm 51 cried out in verses 1-2, ''Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.''
Verses 7-8, ''Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear JOY and GLADNESS, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.''
Verses 10-12, ''Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit, then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.''
Here is a branch that decided it no longer needed to abide to the Vine to have its needs met! When branches decide to look somewhere other than the Vine for life, they soon wither up and die. And in John 15.5 Jesus says, ''I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.''
Abiding in Jesus produces fruit, the fruit of the spirit. And according to Galatians 5.22 ...
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