A JOYFUL, PRODUCTIVE LIFE
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
“THE KEY TO A JOYFUL, PRODUCTIVE LIFE”
Romans 12:12
INTRODUCTION
1. I suppose that we all have known Christians who go through life...
Looking like they were “weaned on a pickle” Like the little boy who was visiting his grandparents at the farm.. They were very legalistic people. On Sunday, no fun, no running, no play, no nothing- it is the Lord’s day and Christians don’t do any of those things, if you know what I mean! Little boy went for a walk on Sunday afternoon. (Quiet walks are Christian- I guess) He heard the birds sing, disgusting such frivolous song on the Lord’s Day. Hens were scratching in the yard, blasphemous, lambs were jumping around, spring was in the air. The little boy felt guilty even just looking at it all. Then he turned the corner behind the barn and came face to face with the old donkey. Drooping ears, drooping head, drooping eyelids, sadly braying “eeeoooo” The little boy was relieved - a last he had met a real Christian on the Lord’s Day.
Many look and act as if they were “weaned on a pickle”
Useless for any good work when things were going rough for them. When everything is fine you could ask them whatever you want. They will do the job, they will go, they will give. But O boy, when there is the slightest thing wrong in their own personal life, watch out...
2. But we have also known Christians who are the opposite...
Joyful, steadfast in doing good
Even though they are experiencing the same kind of hardships. When I came first to the Lord, unemployed, four kids, very little income I had a friend - 45.000 a year, always -in his words- poor, difficult to make ends meet. Slapped me on the back though every time we met:”Hang in there brother, God will take care of you.”
I also knew a woman, on mother’s allowance, single mom with two kids. She would not say much, but shake my hand,:” Praying for you Henk” and leave a five dollar bill in my hand - five dollars she could use better than I even could at that moment.
3. Why the difference?
I believe that the joyful, steadfast Christian has found the secret expressed in the Scriptures
One place this “secret” is found is in Ro 12:12...where Paul tells us that the Christian- the true Christian- is one who:
Rejoices in hope; is patient in tribulation; and who continues steadfastly in prayer. (KJV)
As we consider this verse, there are several observations we can make.
I. THE JOYFUL LIFE IS BASED ON HOPE
“Rejoices in Hope”
MANY HAVE THE WRONG CONCEPT CONCERNING “JOY”
Many believe that joy is a matter of personal temperament (one’s heredity) “o yea, I know his mother; she was always a joyful person too.”
Most would say that joy is a matter of circumstances (one’s environment, the circumstances, the finances, the possessions...
But how can that be when being joyful is enjoined upon us all in the Word of God.
a. It is a command, a duty - 1 Thess 5:16 tells us “Rejoice always” Philippians 4:4 says” Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice.”
b. Commanded even when things are rough -
1 Pe 4:13 says “Rejoice to the extend that you partake in Christ’ sufferings
YOU SEE TRUE JOY IS ABLE TO RISE ABOVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE
1. We see that in the example of the Hebrews - He 10:34:”you had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and enduring possession for yourselves in Heaven.”
2. Also in the example of Christians in Asia Minor - 1 PE 1:6 - “In this you greatly rejoice (Peter is talking about the inheritance we receive from the Lord) and then he goes on and says:” though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials”
THIS IS BECAUSE THE KEY TO JOY IS “HOPE”
1. Notice our text: “rejoicing IN HOPE”
2. It should be easy to see how hope is the source of joy in our lives...
A student, in hope of enjoying summer vacation, is happy as he thinks about it
Likewise, it was the strong hope of the Hebrews that gave them joy despite the seizure of their property - as we saw in Heb. 10:34
Again, the source of the Christians’ joy in Asia Minor was
their hope of salvation - 1 PE 1:5-6
TO BE JOYFUL IN LIFE, WE MUST HAVE HOPE!
If Christians are not joyful, it is because they are not full of hope!
. And that is only because their minds are so preoccupied with things of this life
They are just religious enough to be miserable!
If they would spent more time contemplating the hope we have as Christians, joy would automatically follow!
Of course, hope is based upon faith - He 11:1
And faith comes from the Word of God - Ro 10:17
But if people do not read the Word, their faith is weak, their hope is shallow, and their joy is minimal
[But if we let God’s Word produce the faith necessary for a strong hope, then we too can have that joy which will help us no matter what
the circumstances.
This leads us back to our text, where we wish to make another observation...]
II. A LIFE OF JOYFUL HOPE WILL BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATIONS
FIRST, LET’S DEFINE OUR TERMS...
“Patient”
Means more than simply enduring, forbearing
It also takes in the thought of activity despite the hardship
1) It is continuing to do good, regardless of the trials
2) Not just sitting there, refraining from doing something bad
“Tribulations”
These could be trials suffered for the cause of Christ
Or those common to all (sickness, death, etc)
Paul is therefore talking about pressing on in doing good despite hardships
THE KEY TO SUCH PATIENCE IS “JOYFUL HOPE”
This can be illustrated in several ways...
The ATHLETE
Why does he or she endure the hardships of training
The joyful hope of attaining victory!
The PILGRIMS
Why did they endure the hardships of sailing across the ocean?
The joyful hope of finding freedom from religious oppression
The COLLEGE STUDENT
Why does he or she endure the hardships of study and examinations?
The joyful hope of a successful career!
The EARLY CHRISTIANS
Why did they endure persecutions, pressing on in their faithfulness to Christ?
The joyful hope of their inheritance in heaven! - Hebrews10:34
Does this not explain why some Christians do not remain steadfast when things get rough?
They do not have the “joyful hope” necessary
And why not? Their minds are so preoccupied with worldly things!
One last observation I would like to make, based on our text..
III. OUR LIVES WILL BE AS HOPEFUL, JOYFUL, AND PATIENT, AS THEY ARE PRAYERFUL
“CONTINUING STEADFASTLY IN PRAYER” IS ESSENTIAL!
The relationship between prayer and the joyful life is implied elsewhere in the Scriptures
Notice 1 Th 5:16-18
If we pray without ceasing, we can rejoice always!
For in proper prayer, we are constantly reminded of our HOPE (the source of joy and patience)
a. In prayer, we should be made constantly aware of the REASON for our hope (forgiveness of our sins through Jesus’ blood)
b. In prayer, we should be made constantly aware of the OBJECT of our hope (to one day be with God eternally)
SO “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!” BUT IS THIS POSSIBLE?
Not if we mean formal words of supplication and petition
But prayer does not always have to be with formal words - cf. 1 Chr 5:20 tells us God heard there prayer when they were crying out to Him - nothing formal there, just panic ...HEEEEEELP
Prayer can also be:
a. A mental attitude of devotion
b. An unspoken reference to God in all that we do
CONCLUSION
1. Are our lives as joyful and productive as they should be?
2. If not then let God’s Word sink into our hearts:
“Continue steadfastly in prayer”
3. Do this and we will more likely “rejoice in hope” and be “patient in tribulations”!
…..
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