April 27th, 2025
River of Faith Topical Sunday
J O Y
James 1
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
April 27, 2025
Memory Verse:
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 NASB2020
Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today I believe is another great day to be reminded that we need things that last in our lives! There are so many temporary remedies that are out there today. Things that will give you temporary relief, temporary satisfaction, even temporary happiness. I want you to think of this question this morning, where does your strength come from?
The Greek word for "joy" is "chara" which means gladness or delight. It is used about 59 times in the New Testament. It is related tot he Greek word "charis" which means "grace."
Main Pointers:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
James 1:2-4 NLT
1. The joy of the Lord can be present even in unlikely conditions.
A. What James was emphasizing here was not about the physical response to trials but the position we have when we go through it.
B. The joy of the Lord is having gladness in the heart of every believer. It comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit. That is why it is positional not eventual.
C. “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
1 Peter 1:6-8 NLT
2. The joy of the Lord is the foundation of our strength.
“Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
Nehemiah 8:9-10 NLT
A. One of the greatest revivals mentioned in the Bible was in the book of Nehemiah. When the people rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem the High Priest, Ezra discovered a piece of the Scriptures from the Torah and read it to the people. Everyone was so moved and convicted by the Word of God that they could not stop crying. Nehemiah comforted them and reminded them that their real strength comes from the "joy" of the Lord.
B. The joy of the Lord does not provide temporary strength. It is a constant reminder that knowing God is what keeps us to move forward. No matter what circumstances in life we may face we have the joy of the Lord as our strength!
C. “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Psalms 94:19 NIV
3. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."
Galatians 5:22-25 NLT
A. Christians don't have to seek joy or find reasons to be joyful. It is a result of the Holy Spirit working in their lives. They can be joyful in good circumstances and they can still be joyful in bad circumstances. It's not just a feeling that fades away. it's a position God put them in that allows them to experience gladness of the heart in every situation.
B. “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
Conclusion:
There are a thousand things that might give us a cheer or excitement in our lives. Many of them gives us a thrill for a moment or an escape from the reality. But let's ask the question do you have peace in your heart? Do you have joy in every season? This is what we should be focusing on. Not just things that will keep us distracted for a moment and still does not take away the void and misery that we feel inside. The joy of the Lord is our strength!
J O Y
James 1
Pastor Ray-Ann Dela Fuente
April 27, 2025
Memory Verse:
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 NASB2020
Introduction:
Welcome to the River of Faith! Today I believe is another great day to be reminded that we need things that last in our lives! There are so many temporary remedies that are out there today. Things that will give you temporary relief, temporary satisfaction, even temporary happiness. I want you to think of this question this morning, where does your strength come from?
The Greek word for "joy" is "chara" which means gladness or delight. It is used about 59 times in the New Testament. It is related tot he Greek word "charis" which means "grace."
Main Pointers:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
James 1:2-4 NLT
1. The joy of the Lord can be present even in unlikely conditions.
A. What James was emphasizing here was not about the physical response to trials but the position we have when we go through it.
B. The joy of the Lord is having gladness in the heart of every believer. It comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit. That is why it is positional not eventual.
C. “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
1 Peter 1:6-8 NLT
2. The joy of the Lord is the foundation of our strength.
“Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
Nehemiah 8:9-10 NLT
A. One of the greatest revivals mentioned in the Bible was in the book of Nehemiah. When the people rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem the High Priest, Ezra discovered a piece of the Scriptures from the Torah and read it to the people. Everyone was so moved and convicted by the Word of God that they could not stop crying. Nehemiah comforted them and reminded them that their real strength comes from the "joy" of the Lord.
B. The joy of the Lord does not provide temporary strength. It is a constant reminder that knowing God is what keeps us to move forward. No matter what circumstances in life we may face we have the joy of the Lord as our strength!
C. “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Psalms 94:19 NIV
3. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."
Galatians 5:22-25 NLT
A. Christians don't have to seek joy or find reasons to be joyful. It is a result of the Holy Spirit working in their lives. They can be joyful in good circumstances and they can still be joyful in bad circumstances. It's not just a feeling that fades away. it's a position God put them in that allows them to experience gladness of the heart in every situation.
B. “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
Conclusion:
There are a thousand things that might give us a cheer or excitement in our lives. Many of them gives us a thrill for a moment or an escape from the reality. But let's ask the question do you have peace in your heart? Do you have joy in every season? This is what we should be focusing on. Not just things that will keep us distracted for a moment and still does not take away the void and misery that we feel inside. The joy of the Lord is our strength!
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