The Joy of Your Salvation
October 8/9, 2022
Chris Whitelaw
West Campus

Joy is a FOCUS. It is with intention. And the focus is Jesus.
Christian joy is a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ own life and love.

1. Joy is found in Jesus
· In John 15:11 Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
· It is not your joy. It is Jesus joy. Joy that you seek out in any other place will leave you wanting more. True joy comes when we focus on Jesus and receive from him.
· Have you surrendered your life to Jesus and received his joy?

2. Joy is given by the Holy Spirit
· But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22 CSB)
· Joy is a product of a life surrendered to God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. You may have experienced this in your life, or in someone you loves life. Where joy was evident when every feeling of joy should have evaporated.
· Happiness is so easily explainable, but joy is so often not. “Joy has nothing to do with material things, or with a man’s outward circumstance a man living in the lap of luxury can be wretched, and a man in the depths of poverty can overflow with joy.” William Barclay
· Do you regularly ask the Holy Spirit to refresh you and help you?

3. Joy is a focus before it’s a feeling
· Joy is a way of looking at things:
“For the joy set before him he endured the cross.”Hebrews 12:2 (CSB)
Jesus endured the cross because of joy set before him. Joy preceded his circumstance. Joy was the commodity of heaven which allowed him to endure hardship. Jesus didn't find joy in the event. Or the feeling on the cross. Or the suffering or the shame. But the outcome.
· Joy is a FOCUS. It is with intention. And the focus is Jesus. Joy is not merely a choice. It’s not simply count your blessings and be content. Why? Because our focus is still on our circumstances, the material things, our wants and needs.
· “unt it all joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (CSB)
· When we settle for feelings, we lose our focus. But when we establish our focus on Jesus, our feelings are settled.

Do you have good rhythms for focusing on Jesus? Why not try getting into a Beulah community or begin The Way Journal?