January 8, 2012

The Christian is one who has a reason to smile. And this reason doesn’t change . . . ever. The Christian possesses an indomitable joy, an impervious sense of gratitude, and an ever-present buoying grace that supplies, not just an endurance through difficulties, but shouts of joy in the midst of the darkest of life’s turns.

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sermon notes

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

If you are to know the fullness of life in Christ, you are to appropriate the efficacy of WHAT HE IS as you have already appropriated the efficacy of WHAT HE HAS DONE. Relate everything, moment by moment as it arises, to the adequacy of WHAT HE IS IN YOU, and assume that His adequacy will be operative; and on this basis in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 you are exhorted to “rejoice evermore!” You are to be incorrigibly cheerful, for you have solid grounds upon which to rejoice!
Major Ian Thomas
The Saving Life of Christ

INCORRIGIBLE

1. Impossible to correct from its course or set aright onto a different path.
   Athanasius was incorrigible.
2. Impervious to correction by taunts, pressure, intimidation, punishment or pain.
   Richard Wurmbrand was incorrigible.
3. Determined, unalterable, hence impossible to improve upon.
   (i.e. The laws of nature and mathematics are incorrigible.)
   Eric Liddle was incorrigible.
4. Suffering from an Incurable Love for Jesus Christ, an Incurable Devotion to His Truth, an Unrelenting Givenness to His Joy.
   The Saints of God are supposed to be incorrigibly cheerful.

We are grieved by many trials . . . and yet . . . We greatly rejoice, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:6-8)

We are reviled, persecuted, and falsely accused . . . and yet . . .Blessed are we, let us rejoice and be exceeding glad (Matthew 5:11-12)

We are partakers of Christ’s sufferings . . . and yet . . . we may be glad with exceeding joy (1 Peter 4:12-13)

We endure tribulations . . . and yet . . . we are exceeding joyful (2 Corinthians 7:4)

We face trials and testings . . . and yet . . . we count it all joy (James 1:2-4)

20 QUESTIONS TO TEST YOUR INCORRIGIBILITY

1. Have you ever been exceedingly joyful?
2. If so, when was it that you were exceedingly joyful?
3. Did the joy remain, or did it fade when the circumstances changed?
4. Did it fade the moment someone overlooked you, slighted you, or criticized you?
5. Did it fade the moment someone was harsh with you, or spoke unkindly towards you?
6. Did it fade the moment you received bad news from some corner of your life?

LEVEL ONE TRIALS – THE “AH SHUCKS”

7. What is your response to the small inconveniences of life? A missed meal? Receiving a smaller portion than others around you? An opinion over-ridden by the group around you? A haughty look from others? An unkind word? A delay in something important? A lower quality product than your ordered? A shoddy job done? The simple presence of tax time? Or the absence of a “thank you” after a lot of hard work offered?

LEVEL TWO TRIALS – THE GULPS

8. What is your response when you are forgotten by the people you love on a holiday or a birthday?9. What is your response when your bank account is low, overdrawn, hit with a bill, a penalty, or a tax payment it won’t be able to handle?
10. What is your response when there is a strange ache in your side, a weird weakness in your heart, a bizarre sensation in your neck, or an unwelcome spot on your body?
11. What is your response when someone else gets the credit for a success that rightfully belonged to you?
12. What is your response when God convicts you of sin, and every other Christian around you remains completely unconvicted and unmoved over the same behavior in their own lives?

LEVEL THREE TRIALS – THE “WOWZERS”

13. What is your response when a pestering physical weakness keeps knocking on your poor body?14. What is your response when people slander you, criticize you, overlook you, and vilify you?
15. What is your response when people steal credit from you, diminish your work, and attempt to sabotage your efforts?
16. What is your response when people falsely accuse you and publicly denounce your name with lies?

LEVEL FOUR TRIALS – THE OMAHA BEACHES

17. What is your response when Christianity is declared a crime against humanity, people you love are being carted away into prison camps, the Name of Jesus is being publicly trampled, and the world governments are hunting you down and seeking your destruction?
18. What is your response when you are thrown into prison, even though you be innocent of any crime?
19. What is your response when prison guards beat you, torture you, mock you, and trample upon your dignity?
20. What is your response as your life is ebbing away in a dank, dirty, and dark prison cell at the hands of Evil men?

THE GUSHER

He that believes on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:38

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
Joel 3:18

In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
Zechariah 13:1

And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem . . .
Zechariah 14:8

THE RIVER FROM THE INNERMOST

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb . . . And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation 22:1,17

THE RIVER OF JOY

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psalm 46:4

Agalliaō – ä-gäl-lē-ä’-ō
much leaping; a vigorous springing or gushing up of water, exceeding joy

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you agalliaō, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, you agalliaō with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1 Peter 1:3-8

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with agalliaō.
1 Peter 4:13

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be agalliaō: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:10-12

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Luke 6:22-23

4 RULES FOR CHRISTIAN LEAPING

1. The leaping must be always, unceasing, and without pause
2. The leaping must increase in vigor and energy with the increase of difficulty, bad news, opposition, and challenge – for it is IN these said trials that a greater measure of grace for leaping is supplied.
3. It must wield its strength and vitality in ALL circumstances (without exception) and incorrigibly remain cheerful no matter the state of things in the natural realm surrounding.
4. It must be constantly aware that to leap in the darkest, most trying moments is one of the greatest tactical maneuvers the saints of God can wield against the Kingdom of Darkness. It is one of the key weapons of our warfare that is mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. So, we rejoice in trials, because those are the key moments in battle when we as saints can devastate the powers of Satan and see the glory of our Great King Jesus revealed.

THE ANATOMY OF A LEAPER
looking inside the ever rejoicing soul

THE THREE JOY-FILLED PREMISE POINTS OF A LEAPER

1. God is Joyful
Joy is not merely a byproduct of the influence of God – it is something God is

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15:11

. . . for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10

The LORD thy God . . . he will rejoice over thee with joy . . . he will joy over thee with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 1:6

2. God’s Glory Must be Made Manifest in this Earth

3. Thus, God must reveal His Joy

How does He wish to reveal His Joy?
To build man as His Sacred Channel through which to pour out His Joy

Chairō – khī’-rō
to rejoice, be glad, to rejoice exceedingly, to be well, thrive

REJOICING
The act of joy-cing again and again

JOY-CING
The act of allowing the exceeding great fountain of God’s joy to burst forth in your life, uncapped, unhindered, forever bubbling

THE FOUR KEYS TO UNCAPPING THE FOUNTAIN

#1 – We Must Recognize the Command to Rejoice
This isn’t an optional behavior. To be a channel of uncapped, unhindered Joy is a requirement of every Christian. It’s not a bonus attribute to the Faith. It is a rousing evidence of the Spirit-indwelled life.

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

Rejoice always . . . for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

HOW DO YOU DO THIS?
After all, it sounds really nice to rejoice always, but it also seems completely preposterous.

#2 – We Must Change our Thoughts on Joy
It’s not a byproduct of a good occurrence, a good feeling, or a good turn . . . (Drum roll) . . . Joy is a Person! And this Person never changes, but is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In this Person is no shadow of turning.

THE MYSTERY OF THE LAMP
Why does that Lamp shine and this one doesn’t? It’s because that Lamp is plugged in to an electrical socket and thus invaded by the powerful presence of that which supplies the virtue and grace for Light to shine forth.

#3 – We Must Behold the Great Foundation of the Fulness of Joy
Joy is not just a Person, but it’s God Almighty, who came to this Earth and defeated the powers of sin and death in order that we might become sacred channels of His exceeding, bewildering, ever-constant, and never-capped Joy.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10

#4 – We Must Embrace the Means by which Joy is made Manifest Yes, that’s right. It’s made manifest through our trials, our weaknesses, and our sufferings.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

What Brings Forth the Rivers of Living Water?
The Point of the Spear

He that believes on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John 7:38

But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. John 19:34

We greatly rejoice, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:6-8); Blessed are we, let us rejoice and be exceeding glad (Matthew 5:11-12); we may be glad with exceeding joy (1 Peter 4:12-13); we are exceeding joyful (2 Corinthians 7:4); we count it all joy (James 1:2-4)

We are grieved by many trials (1 Peter 1:6-8); we are reviled, persecuted, and falsely accused (Matthew 5:11-12); we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:12-13); we endure tribulations (2 Corinthians 7:4); and face trials and testings (James 1:2-4)

So, when the point of the spear touches our center . . .

We greatly rejoice, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:6-8); Blessed are we, let us rejoice and be exceeding glad (Matthew 5:11-12); we may be glad with exceeding joy (1 Peter 4:12-13); we are exceeding joyful (2 Corinthians 7:4); we count it all joy (James 1:2-4)

EMBRACING THE CROSS WITH INCORRIGIBLE CHEERFULNESS

. . . your joy no one will take from you.
John 16:22

Rejoice always . . . for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice ye . . . and leap for joy.
Luke 6:22-23