Are you enjoying your life? Do you have an inner happiness? The Bible teaches that every Christian can not only receive great joy from knowing the Lord but also that you can keep your joy in all situations (John 10:10 AMP; Hebrews 1:9; Romans 14:17). For Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit who we can know at all times. When God’s spirit lives in us, we don’t have to live in a constant state of stress and turmoil.
As we read more of the first apostolic journey of the apostle Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:13-52, we find them experiencing both remarkable growth and intense opposition when they came to the city of Pisidian Antioch. Without this joy, their ministry could have been stopped in its tracks before it really got going. You too need to be very determined to keep your joy when you are under attack and always let the joy of the Lord be your strength, for far greater things are in store than you may imagine.
1. Keep your joy by focussing on Jesus (Acts 13:16-41; Hebrews 12:2-3)
a. He is the promised Messiah (Acts 13:23-26)
b. He is the Saviour of the world who was crucified to forgive us our sins (Acts 13:27-29, 38-41)
c. He is the risen Christ through whom all people, Jews and Gentiles, can be reconciled to God (Acts 13:30-36, 47-48).
2. Keep your joy by bringing people to Christ
a. First to the Jews (Acts 13:14-15. 42-44)
b. Then to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48; Luke 15:7)
3. Keep your joy by never quitting when the going gets tough (Acts 13:45-50)
4. Keep your joy by staying full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52)
Apply
Is Jesus your main focus no matter what your circumstances? Most of Acts 13 is focussed on a big preach (Acts 13:16-41). Basically, the apostle Paul spoke of all that led up to the coming of Jesus, what happened when He was on earth and how everything has changed for the world because of Jesus. The apostles always focussed their preaching on the good news of Jesus. They declared that:
a. He is the promised Messiah (Acts 13:23-26)
b. He is the Saviour of the world who was crucified to forgive us our sins (Acts 13:27-29, 38-41)
c. He is the risen Christ through whom all people, Jews and Gentiles, can be reconciled to God (Acts 13:30-36, 47-48).
They kept their joy because they always kept their focus on Jesus, just as we should always do too (Hebrews 12:2-3).
Have you experienced the great joy of bringing people to Christ? As their custom was, the apostles went first to share the good news with the Jewish people (Acts 13:14-15,42-44). There was a very happy response to the ministry of Paul and Barnabas. And that was true also among the non-Jews (Acts 13:46-48). When you share your faith and people turn to Christ there is always great happiness, both on earth and in heaven (Luke 15:7). This is also the greatest way to keep churches fresh and alive. It’s stops Christians just being focussed on themselves and their little groups. The best advice for many veteran Christians is get out and win people to Jesus. New babies in Christ bring great joy. An evangelistic church is a happy church.
Do you become sad, discouraged, intimidated and give up when people oppose you or you face tough circumstances? The apostles didn’t exactly have it easy all the time (Acts 13:45-51). All through the book of Acts there were different reactions to the preaching about Jesus. It’s always been the same with every revival. Every true disciple of Jesus will find people who accept them and also those who oppose them. God-called leaders will experience both those who receive them and those who resist them, just as they did with Jesus. If some reject you then just shake the dust off your feet. Leave the resistant. You must keep your joy and keep moving on to those who are open to the Holy Spirit. There are much greater blessings to come.
Are you filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit? This final verse in chapter 13 makes the connection plain between joy and being full of the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52 says 'And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit'. If you want joy in all circumstances you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day. Today whatever you are facing make sure you keep your joy. Don’t get robbed. Don’t be sad or get mad; in the words of an old hymn just ‘be glad in the Lord and rejoice.’
