1. That Your Joy May Be Full
John 15.11
John 16.24
1 John 1.4
2 John 12
“That Your Joy May Be Full”
John 15:11; "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 16:24; "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
1 John 1:4 “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
2 John 12 “Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.”
Introduction:
A. Too many live somewhere between frustration and despair, uneasy and panic - only moments of real joy.
1. Can see it on their faces.
2. Can hear in their voices.
B. Too many do not understand the meaning of real Biblical joy - either academically or experimentally.
1. It is not the superficial joy of merely “having fun.”
2. It is not the fleeting joy of a chemically induced high of alcohol and other drugs.
3. It is not the momentary joy induced by emotional manipulation in pep-rally type religious services.
4. It is not found by making it your purpose in life, but it comes to you as you do Lord’s will.
5. It is a quite, calm, serene, joy embedded deep into one’s soul.
a. Joy, from chara, means “cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight.” (Strong)
b. Rejoice, from chairo, means “to be ‘cheerful’, i.e. calmly happy.” (Strong)
C. To live so “that your joy may be full”, we will have to apply the principles spoken by Jesus and written by apostles.

2. Get right with God in Christ John 15.1-11
That Your Joy May Be Full
Get right with God in Christ
John
Discussion:
Get Right with - Establish and Maintain the Proper Relationship with – God in Christ.
(John 15:1-11).
A. To abide in Christ, one must be “in Christ.” (cf. Gal. 3:26,27).
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
B. To abide in Christ involves:
1. Bearing fruit. (v. 4-6).
2. The right to pray. (v. 7).
3. Keeping His commandments. (v. 10).

3. That Your Joy May Be Full
Believe His Promises
2 Peter 1.4
II. Let Us Accept His Exceeding Great and Precious Promises at Face Value. (cf. 2 Pet. 1:4).
“By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises…”
Accepting present promises brings great joy: Saved, redeemed, fellowship with God, etc.
B. Anticipation of future promises brings great joy: Heaven, be with Lord, etc.
Heb.12:2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Rom. 12:12 “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;”

4. That Your Joy May Be Full
Let Him do our Worrying
1 Peter 5.7
III. Let Us Let Our Lord Do Our Worrying. (cf. 1 Pet. 5:7).
“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Trust Him to provide tomorrow’s needs and problems. (Matt. 6:33,34).
B. Turn worry over to Lord in prayer and let peace of God... guard your hearts.
Phil. 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

5. Rise above present circumstances Philippians 11.13
That Your Joy May Be Full
Rise above present circumstances
Philippians 11.13
IV. Let Us Learn in Christ to Rise above Immediate Circumstances. (cf. Phil. 11:13).
“so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;”
Then joy will not depend on physical, financial or environmental circumstances.
B. Then joy will be present in midst of trouble.
Matt. 5:11,12: "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
2 Cor. 12:9,10: “And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

6. Rid minds of mental Rubbish
That Your Joy May Be Full
Rid minds of mental Rubbish
V. Let Us Learn to Rid Our Minds of Mental Rubbish. (Phil. 4:8-9).
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
No joy in grudges, hatred, etc.
B. Great joy in noble, just, lovely things.

7. Help others Walk in Truth 3 John 4 Philippians 4.1
That Your Joy May Be Full
Help others Walk in Truth
3 John 4
Philippians 4.1
Help Others To Walk in Truth
A. Let Us Train Our Children to Walk in Truth. (cf. 3 John 4).
1. A child left to himself is not likely to bring joy. (Prov. 29:15).
“The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”
2. A child properly trained is likely to be a joy.
(Eph. 6:4) “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
(Proverbs 22.6) “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”
B. There is joy in helping others, especially to be saved (Philippians 4.1)
“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”

8. That Your Joy May Be Full
Accept Limitations
Romans 12.18
VII. Let Us Reach for the Limits, but Accept the Limits of Our Capabilities and Responsibilities in Christ.
Even joy is limited.
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
2 Cor. 4:8,9 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
Expecting perpetual and unlimited joy leads to despair.
B. Must accept old formula: Ability + opportunity = responsibility.
C. Must accept that results is limited to “as much as depends on you.” (cf. Rom. 12:18).
Parent can control the training and teaching, but child must receive the training. (Heb. 12:9-11).
2. Sower can control the sowing and the seed, but not the soil. (Cf. Matt. 13:3-9).
3. Teacher can control the planting and watering, but not the increase - God’s providence. (1 Cor. 3:6).

9. The Purpose of the Scriptures
That Your Joy May Be Full
The Purpose of the Scriptures
Conclusion:
A. Jesus and apostles have spoken and written so “that your joy may be full.”
B. Our joy cannot be full without responding to what is written - why not do so today?