0865. Fullness of Joy

Fullness of Joy

"That My joy might remain in you, that your joy might be full" (Joh_15:11).

1. We have before us a vision of the joy of the Lord. Our key verse says: "My joy." Christ was filled with joy. A Man of sorrows? Yes. "Acquainted with grief?" Yes. "Despised and rejected?" Yes. Yet He was filled with joy. He was "anointed with the oil of gladness."

He had the joy of His Father's presence. He had the joy of a sinless heart. He had the joy of assured victory over satan. He had the anticipated joy of the completed work of His redemption. Our Lord was filled with joy.

2. We have before us the vision of an imparted and implanted joy. Christ wishes to put His joy in us, "That My joy might remain in you."

Paul is an example of one possessing Christ's joy. Listen to some of his experiences: 2Co_6:4-5 : "But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings."

Paul was sorrowful, but he was "always rejoicing." He was poor, yet, "making many rich." He was penniless, having nothing; yet, "as possessing all things." Impossible paradoxes! Not at all. Jesus Christ had possession of Paul and Christ's joy was in him.

Christ sang in the upper room, with the weight of a world's woe pressing in on Him; and Paul sang in a lower room, with the weight of the cruel stocks and the hatred of the populace pressing hard on him. The secret is revealed in the words of Christ: "That My joy might remain in you."

This is our need–the joy of Christ abiding in our hearts.

3. We have before us the vision of a joy made full. "That your joy may be full."

There is no doubt that when the cup of our joy is "full," it will run over, now and then. Such a joy will be an exuberant joy. It will be a satisfying joy.

One who is full of the joy of Christ will not need to run to the world in a search for happiness.

One who is full of the joy of Christ will have no room for the transient vanities of the world.

4. We have before us the method of obtaining fullness of joy. "These things have I spoken unto you, that your joy might be full."

The things Christ spoke are recorded in John 14 and John 15. They included:

1. The promise of His return (see Joh_14:3).

2. The possession of many abiding places (see Joh_14:1).

3. The vision of the Father, as seen in Christ (see Joh_14:7).

4. Christ the Way, the Truth, the Life (see Joh_14:6-9).

5. The enlargement of service (see Joh_14:12).

6. The power of prayer (see Joh_14:14).

7. The coming of the Comforter (see Joh_14:16-17).

8. The blessings of obedience (see Joh_14:21-24).

9. The peace passing understanding (see Joh_14:27).

10. The story of the Vine and the branches (see Joh_15:1-10).

In a digest of these words, there is abundant room for joy.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR