Message Title: Joy in a World of Despair
Date: October 11, 2020

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Joy: a central theme throughout the Bible

Joy defined: an internal experience of deep contentment and peace produced by the Holy Spirit, developed through a growing intimacy with Jesus

--What has the crisis revealed to you about your joy? What has robbed you of your joy? Do you believe joy is accessible?

"We should, to begin with, think that God leads a very interesting life, and that hie is full of joy. Undoubtedly he is the most joyous being in the universe." --Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy

How to recover your joy
Philippians 4:8, 11-13

--Reorient your thinking

"The root cause of joylessness is how we choose to talk to ourselves!"

Don't believe everything you think.

--Rest in Christ's power
Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT) 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

--Replace what's ultimate!

Hebrews 12:1-2 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

What has gotten followers of Jesus through the unthinkable circumstances and atrocities? The ultimate joy of the coming Kingdom. This is what Jesus was fixated on through the crucifixion.

This week:
Take an inventory of your personal and natural tendencies and methods of manufacturing counterfeit joy. Confess those to Jesus and experience forgiveness and freedom in Jesus. Then embrace a habit to keep God's ultimate before you.

PCC BENEDICTION
May you jump into the arms of Jesus and may He push out into the world. May you be healed as you participate in the healing of others. Not because you must, but because you may. This is why we were born!

BEYOND SUNDAY
The Essentials 9-week series will focus on what it means to reflect the character of Jesus. Each week, we will wrestle with one of the essential characteristics of Jesus with the hope of it bearing fruit in our lives as we become more dependent on the Spirit to lead us. This week our focus is on the second fruit of the Spirit - Joy.

1. Last week we learned that if we want different fruit in our lives we have to examine where our roots are being placed? How were you able to stay rooted in the love of God? Where did you see evidence of loving small or sacrificial love?

2. Recall a joyous event or time in your life. Define joy and happiness. What is the difference between them? How happy are you today? How joyous are you today?

3. It's often common to merely gut our way through difficult circumstances in our own strength, and when those circumstances are over, resume our attitude of joy. However, God wants our joy and hope to extend through our circumstances. In his book, Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit, Christopher J.H. Wright points to a great example in Scripture found in Acts 16: 25. Where were Paul and Silas and what were they doing? Our inner joy is not just beneficial to us. Who else heard them express their joy? How can expressing your joy in the midst of your pain and suffering affect the world around you today?

4. As we saw last week, the battle between the flesh and the spirit is ongoing. See Matthew 4: 1-11. What was it that Jesus used to not succumb to the flesh, but remain strong in the midst of His circumstances? How are you implementing the Word of God in your life today? How is this example of Jesus encouraging to you?

5. Sunday’s speaker and lead pastor Gary Gaddini encouraged us with two verses from Scripture to help us cultivate joy. We’ll look at them one at a time. To help illustrate these verses let’s look at our driving habits with regard to cell phone use, a major distraction for many Americans. Cell phone use while driving causes 1.6 million crashes and about 3,500 deaths per year, because we take both our focus and eyes off the road. This is alarming and very serious. Where we place the focus of our minds and eyes spiritually is even more important, and will prevent us from going off the road into the flesh, and robbing us from developing the fruits of the spirit. The first verse is Philippians 4:8. According to this verse, what should we do and how will this affect our ability to cultivate joy? How have your thoughts been robbing your joy?

6. The second verse is from Hebrews 12:1-2. What should we do and how will this affect our ability to cultivate joy? What are your eyes fixed on that may be robbing your joy? Fixing our eyes and mind, therefore, on the character of Jesus, His Word, and His promises will allow us to remain connected to our super-power, (walk in the spirit), rise above our circumstances, be a witness to others, and maintain joy in the midst of our circumstances no matter what they are. What are your takeaways from today's study?

Series Daily Prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self- control.”
---John Stott (1921-2011), evangelist and scholar

Actions & Resources
--Make space for God this week. Declare the prayer daily.
--Memorize The Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23
--Read Chapter 3 (Peace) in Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit by Christopher J.H.Wright
--Join a 9-week Group: Cultivating The Essentials (Men, Women, Coed) - see below
--Join a House Church -- see below

For PCC's Fiscal Year:
June 1, 2020 through May 31, 2021:

Giving Update
Goal: $4,072,337
Giving to Date: $994,259
Still Needed: $3,078,118