John 16:16-24, JOYFULNESS vs. self-pity (2)

c)    Being in harmony with God brings joy.  Therefore, we experience joy when His plan is being worked out.  In these passages what aspect of God’s plan, though difficult, brings joy?

i)      John 14:28: Jesus’ departure from earth alarmed the Twelve; what would they do without Him?  Yet he said it would bring joy because it would mean the Holy Spirit would come and indwell every believer.

ii)   John 16:20-22: Jesus spoke of joy about the resurrection, even though the resurrection means He would have to experience suffering and death.  The Twelve needed to know that the would be sad and the world would rejoice at the death of Christ.  But their sorrow would be turned to joy!  He likened it to the pains of a woman giving birth.  That joy would not be taken from them.  Wow!

iii)            Rom. 12:12: I am encouraged seeing this.  We rejoice in hope!  Not in the absence of tribulation; we are patient in trials but rejoice in hope.

iv) Rev. 19:7: Eternal joy will result when Christ comes to rule the earth!

d)    The above remind us that believers in Christ have the ability to rejoice in trials.  What is it about suffering for our Lord and enduring joyfully in trials that makes the suffering so valuable?

i)      Acts 5:41; Col. 1:24; Heb. 12:2; 1 Pt. 4:13: Our suffering for the sake of Christ identifies us with Christ in the strongest way.  Peter and John rejoiced to be considered worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name.

ii)   Matt. 5:11-12; Lk. 6:23: Jesus spoke of great reward in heaven when people speak evil of us falsely for His sake.  Keep all those things in mind: “falsely,” “for His sake.”

·       These same verses mention one other blessing in suffering for His sake: we are identified with the great men of the Bible, the prophets!

iii)            James 1:2ff: We rejoice in suffering because that is how we come to maturity in Christ.  And there is no other way.

iv) 2 Cor. 7:4: Let us keep this in mind, how Paul was exceedingly joyful in his tribulations. 

e)    Prov. 17:5; 1 Cor. 13:6:  How does the world’s joy differ from God’s joy?  This can be a deep subject and we should consider it.  Christ gave new meaning to joy.  In the Greek world “joy” was equated with “pleasure.”  As we have noted, Christians can should have joy in unpleasurable situations.  In these verses is an illustration of the difference between the world’s joy and that of Christ.  The world laughs at the misfortunes of others (disharmony).  In Christ we do not rejoice in iniquity.