LEARNING DAILY

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Jonathon Moore, Lead Pastor at NorthRock Church began his message with an encouragement to fathers to “filter life through God’s Word” to their family. He used Ephesian 6:4 to do that, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”. He used this verse as a positive command for fathers to “bring up” their children in God’s Word.

He continued his teaching series on the Fruit of the Spirit by teaching about the fruit of joy. “The Holy Spirit wants to produce joy in you!” (JM) He suggested that joy is often considered an afterthought or an extra compared to the other fruit; no, “it is an essential fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in the Believer’s life”! In the last sentence of Nehemiah 8:10 it is written, “Don’t be dejected or sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (NLT and from Audrey’s notes). “Lack of joy is weakness.” (JM). Pastor Moore continued, “Joy is eternal. Legalistic religion portrays God as stern, looking from heaven, just waiting for someone to make a mistake so He can punish him/her. No, God is a God of joy who wants joy to live within [each Believer]”. John 15:4 gives the secret of maintaining joy, “Remain in Jesus”. Go to verse 15 and see that “remaining in Jesus so His joy will be in you and your joy may be complete”. There is no real joy outside of Jesus and “to know joy you must first know Jesus” (JM). Audrey wrote in her notes, “the joy we have from knowing Jesus will show in every area of our lives”.

Pastor Moore then related the story of the Prodigal Son to illustrate trying to find joy in other ways and in what the world has to offer. He said, “Joy isn’t out there, it’s in here [within us, in our heart because of Jesus]”. The prodigal thought if he could just have his portion of his inheritance, to be able to do as he wanted when he wanted, he would find joy. He wanted to just experience “this or that” to find joy. Nope! He found instead, “circumstances do not drive inner joy” (JM). Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me my path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy”. Audrey wrote, “Searching for joy externally blinds us from the blessings right now, internally”. “Joy is not related to our circumstances! In the midst of our circumstances, we can still be joyful!” (JM).

In Luke 15:20 the father is waiting and watching for his son. Pastor Moore’s second point was, “Joy is found in one’s presence not perfection. The son had disappointed his father; but he has returned and to the father this reunion was not about perfection, not about what should have been done, and what should have been said. The father probably was not perfect either – none are. Here is where I take a side trip. Father’s own your mistakes (Pastor Newton). Apologize and move on. Pastor Newton made a comment about his father in his message that I really appreciate and can say about my dad, “He was not perfect, but he was always present”. “Just be present as the prodigal’s father was – you just do not have to fix everything!” (JM).

Pastor Moore concludes his message with Luke 15:21-24 with this, “Joy reflects the heart of our heavenly Father. When Believers, you and I, walk in joy our home reflects God’s love, who God is.” “The Parable of the Prodigal Son, ultimately, is about the heart of God. When we realize that joy comes from Him when He dwells within our heart” (Aurey’s notes).

Proverbs 17:22, “A joyful heart is good medicine”.