February 1, 2005

“…Rejoice in the Lord always;”
(Phil 4:4)

Although Paul was under house arrest (in chains), he had joy deep down in his heart. Joy in jail? That’s Extreme Joy!

John MacAuthur, in his commentary on Philippians, made a list of why Christians don’t have joy. That list stimulated our thinking and when Sunday’s weather changed our schedule…we made our own list! It seemed like the right thing to consider as we prepare to learn about Extreme Joy,

Jesus said that the coming Holy Spirit would generate joy in our hearts. The Spirit is the indwelling presence of God and He produces a confidence in us that He is working in us—for our good and for His glory. That confidence is the fruit of the Spirit known as joy!

Joy is expected; joy is normal for the believer. When the joy is gone, something is wrong. Let’s continue to review these in our quiet times before the Lord. Remember, we are asking, “Why do Christians lose their joy?”

1. Some Christians don’t have joy…because they never really had it.
(They have never been born from above.)

2. Unconfessed Sin will take away your joy!

Psalm 51 is a prayer of confession. It was written after the prophet Nathan confronted David over his sin with Bathsheba. Psalm 32 was probably written at the same time. Notice how these two Psalms speak to the impact of his sin…and the absence of joy.

The heaviness of unconfessed sin was destroying him. He said:

“When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.”
(Ps. 32:3-4)

Then, he confessed his sin:

I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. (Ps. 32:5)

After God had removed the guilt of his sin, in Psalms 51:12 David prays:

“restore to me the joy of Your salvation.”

Joy can not be restored when we cling to sin. But, when we confess our sin, God can restore our joy!

Is there anything that God has asked you do—but you haven’t? Anything that He asked you to stop doing—but you haven’t obeyed?

Is there sin that you have not confessed and forsaken? It will rob your joy!

“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.”
(Prov. 28:13)