So the joy of the world is rooted in worldly experience. -

We must therefore also say that :

2. The Joy of the World is only Temporary Job 20:4-7: "Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment? Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And his head reaches to the clouds, Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'". A phoney joy is always possible. It is very exhilarating; very exciting. Even in a Christian setting such temporary joy is possible (Mt.13:20-21). But it has no root. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment.

3. The Joy of the Christian is Found in Heavenly Blessings The joy of the Christian - on the other hand - is from a very different source and for a very different purpose. As a matter of fact, the Christian is a person who is profoundly dissatisfied with worldly joy. Very often it is precisely because of this dissatisfaction with the pleasures of the world that people come to Christ in the first place. That brings me to our next major heading and question:

II. WHERE DOES CHRISTIAN JOY COME FROM?

1. Christian Joy Comes from the Certain Knowledge that we are Saved In case you have forgotten, the Christian gospel is "glad tidings of great joy", as the angels affirmed. Our joy as Christians is forever wrapped up in the mighty fact of the certain knowledge that we are saved as a result of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is why assurance is so important. Assurance of salvation means joy. The apostle Peter said: "Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith -- the salvation of your souls" (1 Pet.1:8-9). Faith and joy are intimately linked. More faith, more joy; less faith less joy. Christian joy comes from the certain knowledge that we are saved. It is derived from the unshakeable knowledge we have that we have the forgiveness of sins and imputed righteousness of Christ. How can you KNOW real joy unless you KNOW that you are saved? As Jude's great doxology says: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy..." (Jude 24). That is the position of every true believer. In this life, we cling onto the mighty fact that when we go to glory we will be regarded by the Lord as being "without fault" because the penalty for our sins has been dealt with by Christ on the cross and His righteousness has been reckoned to us (2 Cor.5:21). This is a matter for "exceeding joy" -- both then and also in anticipation now. Which leads nicely to the next source of Christian joy: 2. Christian Joy comes from the Certain Knowledge that we are Heaven-Bound One of the fruits of being justified by God -- made righteous through the blood of Christ -- is that there is no longer any condemnation from God but peace. But that is not all. For there is also joy -- joy in the certain hope of seeing the glory of God when we go to heaven. So far we have been saved by grace; but when we leave this world we will enter into all the fullness of glory. The hope of that future certain reality produces joy in the believer, and he or she rejoices: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.." (Rom.5:1-2). When Peter said in his first letter: "In this you greatly rejoice" (1 Pet.1:6), do you know what he was referring to? Here is what he says: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice" (1 Pet.1:3-5) This is the true source of the Christian's joy. Our future inheritance which "can never perish"! This is why we can say that there is an intimate link between faith and joy. More faith; more joy. Less faith; less joy. Faith is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb.11:1). Our future inheritance in heaven is held onto by faith alone. Faith miraculously makes things which do not yet have a present visible reality as if they are actually substantial. And in that supernaturally-worked evidence -- rather than anything which we can see around us -- lies deep and lasting joy. We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor.5:7). Christian joy comes from the certain knowledge that we are heaven-bound. The good and faithful servants of Christ are said to "enter into the joy of their Lord" when they receive their call home to heaven (Matt.25:21). We should already feel deep joy even at that prospect! Christian joy comes from the certain knowledge that we are heaven-bound.

3. Christian Joy Comes from Seeing your Prayers Answered Joy is intimately connected with faith. What a great confirmation it is of "things not seen" when our prayers are wondrously answered. "Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" (John 16:24). When we receive from the Lord as a result of prayer, how joyful we should be. This is no temporary or light joy; but it is "complete" -- full, everlasting. Answers to prayer are a confirmation of faith, and a real source of Christian joy. 4. Christian Joy comes from Watching the Success of the Gospel We know very well that there is rejoicing among the angels over even one sinner who receives Christ and becomes a Christian (Lk.15:10). But should that not also be a source of joy to US? "So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren" (Acts 15:3). "The word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region... and the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 13:49, 52). How do you feel when you hear of a soul being saved, or of the success of the Gospel? Many believers are so hung up on their own petty problems and circumstances that they cannot lift their eyes just for a moment to see the great works of God through the Gospel. If the angels take such a great interest and joyfulness in human salvation (Lk.15:10; 1 Pet.1:10-12), then surely so should we! 5. Christian Joy comes from Watching other Christians Grow and Persevere I have sometimes come across professing Christians who appear to be jealous or even resentful when they see other believers going from strength to strength in their faith, their walk with God or their learning. Surely that is bizarre in the extreme. The apostle John tells Gaius that he has "no greater joy" than to hear that those under his care "walk in truth" (3 Jn.4). So it should be with all of us. Walking in the truth is a treasured way of life in this relativistic, lie-loving world. We should also have no greater joy than to discover others living a life which is based around the life-changing, life-enhancing quality of truth. How do you feel when you see others around you walking in truth, growing in grace and abounding in a knowledge of the Lord? Does it fill you with joy? Not just joy, but the greatest of joys! Or are you too obsessed with yourself and the dryness of your circumstances to appreciate the fruitfulness of others? There is no greater joy than to see truth prosper! It will yield its fruit in our lives too.

6. Christian Joy comes from the Security we have in Times of Persecution and Affliction James begins his letter with a startling statement: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (Jas.1:2-3). This stands on its head the thinking of the world, for whom times of trials are the very last occasions that would be thought of as producing joy! The fact is that Christian joy is often the paradoxical outcome of suffering and even heartache for Christ's sake (Col.1:24; 2 Cor.6:10; cf. 1 Pet.4:13; Heb.10:34, etc.). The reason for this is that this unique joy is cultivated within us by the Lord and not by ourselves. Peter makes a very similar statement: : "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy" (1 Pet.4:12-13). In other words, we can rejoice during the time of the affliction AND when we eventually come into the Lord's presence at death or at the end of the age (whichever comes sooner!). The believers at Thessalonica had learned this lesson well. The apostle said to them: "You became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit" (1 Thess.1:6). In the midst of their affliction there was great joy! Such is often the case in the Christian life. We smile through tears. This is the heart of our faith. Christ has paved the way to heaven for us; but this does not prevent us from suffering in the meantime. However, even in the midst of any suffering, we can rejoice in the fact that the time will come when all the gruelling experiences of this life will pale into insignificance as we see Christ in all His glory and know that His glory is ours (Rom.8:18). This is why Paul can speak of himself and his fellow apostles "as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor.6:9-10). Here we have the great Christian paradox. "As sorrowful; yet always rejoicing"! This is made possible by the fact that the Christian's joy is not dependent on anything which he experiences or does, but instead on what Christ has done and experienced on the cross some 2000 years ago! So when Paul speaks of the Christian life as "perseverance and longsuffering with joy" (Col.1:11), we can see that grouping these three elements together is so phenomenally important. The Christian life is like smiling through tears. The road is so hard, and the battle intense. Yet, behind it all there is that uniquely Christian joy, which comes increasingly to fruition in the maturing faithful Christian. As the Lord Jesus put it Himself: "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (Jn.16:33). The Greek word here translated as "be of good cheer" is "tharseite" - which means to have confidence and firmness of purpose in the face of danger or testing. Such is the strength of our Christian joy. We can have joy in the midst of affliction not only because we know what Christ has done in the past but also because of what He has prepared for us in the future (Jn.14:1-3). Even the Lord Jesus meditated on future joy during the time of His greatest affliction. It was because of "the joy set before him" that He endured the cross and scorned its shame (Heb.12:2). Even in the midst of His excruciating, hellish abandonment by the Father on the cross, the joyful thought of all the souls who would be saved by it sustained Him. "He shall see the labour of His soul, and be satisfied" (Isa.53:11). If the afflicted Christ looked ahead to His certain future joy in the salvation of our souls, then surely we can endure our present afflictions better through meditating on the joy set before us in our future in glory. Was it not such joy in future things which enabled Job to revel in faith that his Redeemer lived and would come into incarnation, and that he would eventually be resurrected and see the Lord personally (Job 19:25-27)? Christian joy comes from the security we have in times of persecution and affliction.

III. HOW DOES ONE LOSE CHRISTIAN JOY IN ONE'S LIFE?

1. Christian Joy is Drained by the Presence of Unrepented Sin It would seem that after his adulterous debacle with Bathsheba, David temporarily lost his sense of joy in the Lord, because his great prayer of repentance was: : "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit" (Psa.51:12). Believers will continue to sin (albeit unwillingly); but if their sins are not followed by repentance they will find that their joy will begin to dissolve. When Israel said "Woe to us, for we have sinned!", they are also forced to say: "The joy of our heart has ceased" (Lam.5:15-16). The believer's joy is drained by the presence of unrepented sin in one's life. 2. Christian Joy is Drained when we Focus on ourselves and on our Problems, instead of on Christ and His Glory We have already spoken of the fact that Christian joy is intimately tied up with faith. More faith; more joy. Less faith; less joy. Small wonder, then, that the apostles should say to the Lord Jesus, "Increase our faith" (Lk.17:5). And this should be our prayer too. For when we lack faith, we will begin to rely on outward circumstances and experiences to provide pleasure. We will walk by sight rather than by faith. There was a man whom Jesus looked at and loved. Joy could have been his through having treasure in heaven. But when he was told to sell his worldly goods and give it to the poor, his face hit the floor and he was utterly saddened (Mk.10:21-22). His focus was on his own things rather than on what Christ could give him. That is why the Lord Jesus tells us that our material needs will be wholly satisfied if we "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Mt.6:33). It is a fact of life that Christian joy is drained when we focus on ourselves and our problems -- on earthly circumstances -- instead of on Christ and His glory. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [worldly satisfaction], but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom.14:17).

IV. WHY SHOULD A CHRISTIAN BE JOYFUL? The Christian should be joyful because it is God's purpose that he should be joyful! In fact, one of the great works of the Gospel is to give those who receive it "the oil of joy" (Isa.61:3). This is presumably why the apostle reminds us to "rejoice in the Lord always!" (Phil.4:4), and that we should "rejoice always...for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thess.5:16-18). The Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples so that His joy may be in them and that their joy may be complete (Jn.15:11). Indeed, we learn that joy is a fruit of the Spirit - the natural outcome of having the indwelling Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22). CONCLUSION Joy is a natural fruit of becoming a Christian. Where there was no joy before you were saved, now there will be joy! We "rejoice in hope of the glory of God" precisely because we have been justified by faith and are at peace with God rather than enmity, and we have access to heaven (Rom.5:1-2). When you know that the penalty for all your sins has been taken by Christ on the cross, you can feel great joy! How important it is to be saved if we want to have a joy which will last for eternity! But I'll tell you a strange thing: It is astonishing how many excuses for a lack of joy can be produced by professing Christians: "How can I feel joy when there are so many people going to hell?" (Leave the logistics to our holy, just, and righteous God). "I'm so weighed down by thinking about predestination that I can't feel any joy". (So stop thinking about it!). "I'm too much into theology to be joyful!" (You're obviously not into REAL theology, which kindles joy in the heart and solace in the soul. Sometimes you can get your head into books to such an extreme extent that your heart is no longer with the Lord. When that happens, take time out to refresh yourself in Him, and learn to read in a different way). "I'm too worried about the Endtimes or the Great Tribulation to be joyful". (But the Bible shows that we should be joyful at the prospect of these things, for they are the fulfilment of prophecy and the entrance to the new universe wherein righteousness dwells, Lk.21:28; Rev.19:7). "I'm not a charismatic, so I can't be joyful". (Actually, ALL Christians are charismatic, in the sense that they have ALL been grace-gifted by the Holy Spirit. There are not two classes of Christian -- one charismatic and joyful, and the other non-charismatic and miserable! Don't be fooled by the phoney "joy" paraded in so many assemblies as "holy laughter". Don't be taken in by "second blessings" which promise joy and ecstasy. The only requirement for joy is the salvation of the soul!). "There are too many problems in our church for me to be joyful". (Well your lack of joy is just adding to them! Our joy has its source in spiritual reality not in humanly invented folly). "I'm too busy to have time to be joyful". (So lighten your load!). "I've got too many kids to be joyful" (So change your perspective, Psa.121:3-5). "I've always been a depressive kind of person... and now I'm just a depressive kind of Christian". (You also need to change your perspective. You may have a melancholy disposition, but when you become a believer your melancholia works in a wholly different manner. For you will find that as you pass through the Valley of Tears, through the Lord's unction, you will be able make it into a flourishing spring, Psa.84:6. There is a new power at work in you, my friend, which will take the bad and turn it into good (Eph.3:20-21). As an old saint once said: "Whatever poison Satan produces, God turns it into medicine for His children".) Really there can be no excuse for losing sight of our Christian joy, although all of us on occasion will do so. Shortly before His death on the cross, the Lord Jesus said to His disciples: "Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy" (Jn.16:22). The reason that no one can take away a Christian's joy is because of his or her faith, which is a gift from God. Increased faith; increased joy. Decreased faith; decreased joy. Just as no one can take away a true Christian's faith, so one can finally take away his or her joy. But through our own foolishness, it can wane in our lives. How necessary such joy is for believers today. Joyful believers make joyful churches. Joyful churches make joyful worship and spawn joyful relationships. Such joy also blunts the edge of the discouragement which can accrue from observing the state of the world and especially the state of the visible church. Engrave on your heart these word's of Nehemiah: "Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh.8:10). Amen.