Central Assembly
SPIRITUAL FRUIT AND THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST - Joy - Dr. Jim Bradford, September 10, 2023
SPIRITUAL FRUIT AND THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST - Joy - Dr. Jim Bradford, September 10, 2023
Locations & Times
Central Assembly
1301 N Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65802, USA
Sunday 10:30 AM
Central Assembly - Online Campus - www.centralassembly.tv
Sunday 10:30 AM
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Luke 10:21a
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Romans 14:17
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…
JOY = Faith-filled gladness and well-being
JOY is remarkably energizing . . .
Nehemiah 8:10
10 …for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
10 …for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
2 Corinthians 8:2
2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
Joy + Poverty = Generosity?
2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
Joy + Poverty = Generosity?
Happiness depends on circumstances
Joy out-distances circumstances
James 1:2
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…
Joy out-distances circumstances
James 1:2
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds…
JOY can also be surprisingly elusive . . .
The General Social Survey asks people to rate their happiness levels. Between 1990 and 2018 the share of Americans who put themselves in the lowest happiness category increased by more than 50 percent. And that was before the pandemic.The really bad news is abroad. Each year Gallup surveys roughly 150,000 people in over 140 countries about their emotional lives. Experiences of negative emotions—related to stress, sadness, anger, worry, and physical pain—hit a record high in (2021). - David Brooks, “The Rising Tide of Global Sadness,” The New York Times (10-27-22)
The General Social Survey asks people to rate their happiness levels. Between 1990 and 2018 the share of Americans who put themselves in the lowest happiness category increased by more than 50 percent. And that was before the pandemic.The really bad news is abroad. Each year Gallup surveys roughly 150,000 people in over 140 countries about their emotional lives. Experiences of negative emotions—related to stress, sadness, anger, worry, and physical pain—hit a record high in (2021). - David Brooks, “The Rising Tide of Global Sadness,” The New York Times (10-27-22)
* Suicide and depression
* Hope and help
* Hope and help
“I know a number of Christians who suffer from depression, including within my family, and they testify to the fact that they still have their underlying assurance of the truth of the gospel and the love of God….And knowing those things deep down means that they can know joy as an objective fact or truth, even when they don’t have joyful emotional feelings.” - Christopher J. H. Wright
=> Physical
=> Mental/Emotional
=> Spiritual
=> Mental/Emotional
=> Spiritual
John 10:10
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Galatians 5:22a
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is… JOY
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is… JOY
Galatians 5:25
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
* The Holy Spirit to heal past trauma
* The Holy Spirit to lift discouraged hearts
* The Holy Spirit to mend broken places
* The Holy Spirit to reveal freeing truth
* The Holy Spirit to fill empty spaces
25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
* The Holy Spirit to heal past trauma
* The Holy Spirit to lift discouraged hearts
* The Holy Spirit to mend broken places
* The Holy Spirit to reveal freeing truth
* The Holy Spirit to fill empty spaces
Luke 11:13
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”