Secret of Joy
The sermon emphasizes that joy comes from God and is a privilege of every Christian, and we find it in Him, not apart from Him.
D.L. Moody emphasizes that joy is a powerful fruit of the Spirit and a privilege for every Christian. He explains that true joy comes from believing in the glad tidings of the Gospel, as demonstrated by the joy in Samaria when Philip preached. Moody highlights that joy is rooted in our relationship with Jesus, who provides assurance and grounds for our joy, particularly the knowledge that our names are written in heaven. He cautions against seeking joy apart from Christ, asserting that genuine joy can only be found in Him. Ultimately, Moody encourages believers to embrace the joy that comes from their faith and active service in God's work.
Text
Remember, then, that love is power, and peace is power; but now I will call attention to another fruit of the Spirit, and this too is power - the grace of joy. It is the privilege, I believe, of every Christian to walk in the light, as God is in the light, and to have that peace which will be flowing unceasingly as we keep busy about His work. And it is our privilege to be full of the joy of the Lord. We read, that when Philip went down to Samaria and preached, there was great joy in the city.
Why? Because they believed the glad tidings. And that is the natural order, joy in believing. When we believe the glad tidings, there comes a joy into our souls. Also we are told that our Lord sent the seventy out, and that they went forth preaching salvation in the name of Jesus Christ, and the result was that there were a great many who were blessed; and the seventy returned, it says, with great joy, and when they came back they said that the very devils were subject to them, through His name.
The Lord seemed to just correct them in this one thing when He said, "Rejoice not that the devils are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." There is assurance for you. They had something to rejoice in now. God don't ask us to rejoice over nothing, but He gives us some ground for our joy. What would you think of man or woman who seemed very happy today and full of joy, and couldn't tell you what made them so? Suppose I should meet a man on the street, and he was so full of joy that he should get hold of both my hands and say, "Bless the Lord, I am so full of joy!"
"What makes you so full of joy?" "Well, I don't know." "you don't know?" "No, I don't; but I am so joyful that I just want to get out of the flesh." Would we not think such a person unreasonable? But there are a great many people who feel - who want to feel - that they are Christians before they are Christians; they want the Christian's experience before they become Christians; they want to have the joy of the Lord before they receive Jesus Christ. But this is not the Gospel order. he brings joy when He comes, and we can not have joy apart from Him; there is no joy away from Him; He is the author of it, and we find our joy in Him.
Sermon Outline
- The Privilege of Joy
- Joy in Believing
- The Source of Joy
- Joy comes from God, not from circumstances
- We find our joy in Him, not apart from Him
- Being full of the joy of the Lord
Key Quotes
“He brings joy when He comes, and we can not have joy apart from Him; there is no joy away from Him; He is the author of it, and we find our joy in Him.” — D.L. Moody
“What would you think of man or woman who seemed very happy today and full of joy, and couldn't tell you what made them so?” — D.L. Moody
“But there are a great many people who feel - who want to feel - that they are Christians before they are Christians;” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- We must seek to know God and His presence in our lives in order to experience joy.
- Joy is not something we can manufacture or experience apart from God.
- The Gospel order is that God brings joy when He comes, and we can't have joy apart from Him.