I Want More Joy

“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

- Acts 7:59-60

“Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

- John 16: 22, 24

1.    Joy is Eternal

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis

“Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit.”

- Genesis 1:11-12 (NLT)

“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that have life.” - Genesis 1:20

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”

- Genesis 1:26

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

- Genesis 2:7

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (temporary pleasures), but be filled with the Spirit…”

- Ephesians 5:18

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace……”

- Galatians 5:22

2.    Joy is seeing Jesus for who He is and what He has done

“…but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”

- John 16:22b

“A little while, and you will not see Me (and you will have sorrow); and again a little while, and you will see Me (and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you).”

- John 16:16, 22

17 “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

31 “And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him”

32 “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

- Luke 24:13-35 (portions)

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

- John 1:29

“so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”

- Hebrews 9:28

“then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

- Hebrews 10:17

3.    Faith is your access to Joy

“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

- John 16:24

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for”

- Hebrews 11:1

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

- Ephesians 2:8-9

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

- Romans 5:8

I Want More Peace

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

- John 14:27, ESV

Peace from God.

“...my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…”

- John 14:27

Peace with God.

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

- John 14:23

Peace in God.

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you...

- John 14:26-27b

We find peace when we focus on God.

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

- Isaiah 26:3, ESV

I Want More Peace

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

- John 14:27, ESV

Peace from God.

“...my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…”

- John 14:27

Peace with God.

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

- John 14:23

Peace in God.

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you...

- John 14:26-27b

We find peace when we focus on God.

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

- Isaiah 26:3, ESV

Where is Jesus?

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

- John 20:1-2, NIV

People are searching for the Savior.

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

- John 20:3-7

The tomb was empty because the Cross was effective.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

- John 10:11,18

28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. - Matthew 26:28

We can respond to the Good News of the Resurrection.

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

- John 20:11-13

14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

- John 20:14-18

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

- John 20:19-20

31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

- John 20:31

Life is waiting for all who believe.

Where is Jesus?

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

- John 20:1-2

We’re all searching for Jesus… We just don’t realize it.

3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed…

- John 20:3-8

The empty tomb was proof the cross worked.

Jesus is closer than you think.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

- John 20:11-16

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me….

- John 20:10-11, 14

Worth It? - The Holy Habit of Devotion

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

- Luke 7:36–38 (ESV)

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

- John 12:1-3 (ESV)

When you see His value, you pour without hesitation.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.

- Luke 7:47 (ESV)
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume

- John 12:3 (ESV)

What you call waste, heaven calls worship.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

- Luke 7:39 (ESV)
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[a] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

- John 12:4–6 (ESV)

True devotion always finds His feet.

“And standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”

- Luke 7:38 (ESV)
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

- John 12:3 (ESV)

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

- Isaiah 53:12 (ESV)

What is Truth?

So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

- John 18:33-38

A lot of people believe that truth is relative.

Absolute truth is based on reality.

We need truth that has been revealed.

We can read the truth God revealed.

“...If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

- John 8:31b-32

When God Feels Late

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”

- John 11:21-26 

God is Working While You’re Waiting.

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”

- John 11:5-6

Faith Speaks Before the Outcome.

“But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

- John 11:22

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

- Romans 8:28

Breakthrough Begins When the Stone Moves.

39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

- John 11:39-40

Hide and Seek

1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 

- Genesis 1:1, ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them… 

- Genesis 1:26-28a

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

- Genesis 1:31a

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” 

- Genesis 3:1-6

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 

- Genesis 3:7-8

We hide from God.

God came to seek us.

9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 

- Genesis 3:9

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

- John 1:1, 14

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 

- Hebrews 12:1b-2

It’s our turn to seek Him.

38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see…” 

- John 1:38-39a

Kingdom Calculus - The Math Has Changed

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

- Acts 6:1-7

VELOCITY - The Rate of Growth

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number…”

- Acts 6:1

ACCELERATION - The Increase of Speed

“It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables… pick out from among you seven men…”

- Acts 6:2

TRAJECTORY - How Far We Can Go

“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem…”

- Acts 6:7