The “Hokey Pokey” got it wrong. In fact, just the terms “hokey” and “pokey” make me quite uneasy. Fortunately, joy is what “it” is all about. That is what Jesus said in John 15:11. “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (ESV) That’s what it’s all about.
Joy is the amazing result of following Jesus. No Christian should live a mundane, listless life. When I see a person who claims to trust Christ, yet continually frowns and displays a permanent grumpy attitude, I wonder what happened. Of all people in the world, no one should display more joy than the follower of Jesus. Joy s the wonderful adventure of following Christ daily.
What if many Christians leave the joy of knowing Christ untapped? Imagine cutting your half acre of grass with scissors while a new riding lawn mover sits in the garage. Or imagine attempting to build a house with only a screwdriver while a 2000 square foot shed sits in your backyard filled with tools. The joy of Christ is right in front of the Christian’s eyes and some have yet to see it.
In this series of studying John 15:5-11, I have discovered four levels of followship (if you missed the previous post, you can catch up with this teaching at the Four Levels of Followship page). In summarizing this teaching, our Lord gives the inevitable result of followship: Joy.
What is joy? John Piper defines joy in this way: “…there is plenty of biblical evidence that Christian joy is not the mere product of the human spirit in response to pleasant circumstances. It is the product, or fruit, of God’s Spirit. And it is not just a human joy; it is the very joy of Christ fulfilled in us.” (desiringgod.org/sermons/the-fruit-of-hope-joy) He makes a great distinction between a natural, human, and superficial emotion and joy. Piper also claims that joy is “not an act of will-power, but a spontaneous, emotional response of the heart,” “not superficial and flimsy, but deep and firm,” and “not natural but spiritual.”
Here is why following Jesus brings a Christian joy:
– Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” (verse 5) No life can be more fulfilling than the one connected to Christ.
– Jesus said, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (verse 5) Fulfilling God’s purpose for a person’s life satisfies the longing of one’s soul.
– Jesus said, “…ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (verse 7) Jesus provides all that a disciple needs.
– Jesus said, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (verse 8) Nothing brings a Christian more joy than glorifying God.
– And here is the pinnacle of the teaching: Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” (verse 9) Knowing and abiding in the love of our Savior produces an unfathomable and unshakeable joy that cannot be diminished by any circumstance or situation.
So we, as disciples of the Lord Jesus, rejoice (or reJOYce) with the Apostle Paul by proclaiming, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)
Shepherding Well 