Great time of worship this morning. Thank you, praise team.
I want to encourage you to come back tonight. We'll have more of an opportunity to worship the Lord as we celebrate and remember the Lord's table through communion.
So I want to encourage you to be part of that service as well.
And just an extension, really, of what we're going to be talking about this morning as we launch into a new series.
A series through the book of 1 John.
A letter that was written by the beloved apostle.
And as I was trying to think, what do we do next after our study in the book of Isaiah?
Where do we go? And why do we go there?
And it really stems from the initiative that we have this year that comes from Isaiah chapter 30, verse 15.
And if you remember what that passage says, it says,
Is that your experience today?
Is that where you are?
Experiencing the perpetual salvation and deliverance of God in your life?
Coming to enjoy and revel in the strength of God day by day?
Or are you a little like me?
There is weakness.
There is inadequacy.
There is struggle.
There is failure and brokenness.
I come to this series and I feel tremendously inadequate.
I know the significance of dwelling in God.
I know the importance of abiding in Him.
But I sure don't know what that looks like.
At least I haven't...
I'm on a journey, okay?
I haven't really arrived when it comes to being a person who abides in God
and enjoys the presence of God in my life to the degree where I know and have experienced His salvation moment by moment.
And so I kind of feel like I need to pull up a stool.
I need to sit down.
And we just need to kind of have this open discussion through this book because I can't come to you this morning as an expert who has arrived at this lesson.
But if we're going to really know and enjoy the salvation and the strength of God,
we're going to be people who are living and dwelling and abiding and resting in Him.
Not striving.
I think I'm more like my namesake, like Peter.
You know, impulsive.
Kind of acts before he thinks.
That's my nature.
Well, this morning we're going to sit at the feet.
And from now until the end of August, we're going to sit at the feet of somebody who I think did get it.
We're going to sit at the feet of the Apostle John, the beloved Apostle.
Because I really believe that John understood this subject and got it to such a point that Jesus referred to him how?
Remember what Jesus called him?
He was the one who Jesus loved, right?
Now, have you ever thought about that statement?
The Apostle that Jesus loved?
Was it that Jesus didn't love Peter and James and Andrew and the others?
No, it wasn't that Jesus didn't love them with the same affection and the same love.
But I think it is really this concept that we're going to talk about from now until the end of August.
John just pushed in to Christ.
John understood what it meant to just soak in this experience of God.
John knew what it meant to just enjoy him.
You see, I think for many of us who lift up the wonder of the Scripture
and would hold to the inerrancy and the authority of the Scripture,
and we come here on a Sunday morning, we want to listen to the Word of God taught,
we're on our podcast and we're listening to sermons throughout the week,
we're faithful to study the Scriptures day by day,
we understand that the value of the Word almost to a fault
because it becomes academic.
It becomes sterile.
It becomes an exercise of just checking the box,
doing what you know is expected,
but it doesn't really sink in.
You ever been there?
You ever felt that way?
John was the apostle that Jesus loved
because John was the one who soaked Jesus in the most, I think.
He was the one who really tasted of the wonder of Christ,
just reveled in this experience of knowing Him.
He is to be known through His Word, don't get me wrong.
That is an essential part of the Christian life,
but it can't stop there.
That's where it ended for the Pharisees.
They knew the Scriptures forwards and backwards,
but when it came to actually experiencing God,
they had no experience of Him.
That's what the psalmist says.
He says,
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
You experience God day by day?
Or are there...
Would you describe your time in the Word
and your time in prayer as kind of mechanical?
You're in good company,
if that's how you would describe your time.
Sometimes you ever feel like a hypocrite
because you know it's what God expects you to do,
but you just...
There's just...
God seems so distant.
You seem so separated from Him.
There's not that fellowshipping
that the Bible promises happening in your life.
Well, as we walk through this study of 1 John,
that's my desire for you.
That's my desire for me.
My desire for us
is that we would really come to understand
and live in the reality
of what Isaiah promises 700 years
even before Christ comes.
That true salvation and strength
will come as we...
as we're quiet.
It comes as we rest.
It comes as we...
as we dwell in Him,
not as we strive.
It comes through
a fellowshipping,
experiential relationship with God.
That's what I want for me.
That's what I want for you.
And by the way,
as we're going to look at this morning
in 1 John 1,
that is what the apostle,
beloved apostle John,
as kind of the expert on the subject,
he wants for the church
that he's writing to.
And so,
as we go on this journey,
it's really a journey of learning how
to enjoy God.
To enjoy Him more than just
an exercise of academia
or scholarship,
but to really know Him.
To know Him in such a way
that it changes your life
and it changes the lives
of the people around you.
It's noticeable.
It's...
It's dramatic.
It's obvious to anyone
who observes you
that there's something significant
that's taken place in your life.
It shows up
in the way you live.
So turn with me, if you would,
to 1 John 1.
As we begin this study.
1 John 1.
It's at the end of your Bibles.
And if you're visiting with us,
it's on page 1,021.
1,021.
Let me just open up our time
with a word of prayer.
Lord, You know our brokenness.
You know the inadequacies of our lives.
You know the things
that step in the way
that hinder
and obstruct
relationship with you.
There is no hiding from you.
We are exposed
before you.
The darkness of our hearts
is evident to you
even though we keep it concealed
to those around us.
And yet,
there is promise of light
and life.
There is promise of fellowship
and overcoming
those obstacles,
those hindrances
that stand in the way.
God, please help
our rebel hearts today.
Please forgive us
for those things
even this week
that we have done
that have displeased you.
Draw us into your presence
even now.
Cleanse us
and make us new
and help us
to be
focused.
Remove the distractions
and help us
to see
what you
intend
for each of us
in this time
in your word today.
God,
we have so much
hope to offer.
Help us
to be people
who embrace
the life-giving
and hope-giving
message
of Christ.
May it flow
from our lives
into our families
and into our workplaces
and into our communities.
Lord,
may it be so evident
in us
that it is
life-changing
for us
and life-changing
for the world
around us.
We ask that you
would do your work.
We pray
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
1 John 1.
This very first
opening phrase.
That which was
from
the beginning.
that which was
from
the beginning.
Now,
for those of you
who have been here
at Maranatha
for the last
several years,
that should be
a familiar phrase
to you.
For maybe
some of you,
you're saying,
who are we
talking about
and what beginning
are we referring to?
Well,
in order to know
what beginning
we're talking about,
we need to
understand
the context
of this verse
and we need to
understand
who is writing it
and what is
the point
of what is
about to be said.
I want us
just to kind of
take a brief look
at the introduction
and just to help us
get into the flow
of this study.
I want us to look
at the author
and the author
is the Apostle John.
We've talked about him
a little bit already.
The beloved Apostle John
who experienced
Christ personally.
We're going to look
at that in the
next few verses
but it just
explodes
with this
experience of God.
The Apostle John
just can't
contain himself
with enthusiasm.
You can almost
see him saying,
hey,
I've got a message
for you.
The most important
person on the planet
has come here
and he's made
himself known.
I've just got to
let you know
about it.
John was
the beloved Apostle
who got to see
and experience
Christ personally.
He got to hear
the message
before the cross
in the upper room.
And really
as we begin
to look at this
study,
this letter
in this first John,
I want us to,
I'm just,
it's amazing to me
to see
how much
of this letter
mimics
the message
of Jesus
on the night
before he was
betrayed and
crucified.
In many ways,
this is
John's
message,
his sermon
as it were,
to the people
of Ephesus
about what
happens that
night.
That private
discussion of
Jesus and his
disciples
from John
chapter 13,
14,
15,
and 16.
The culmination
of that,
the concentration
of that message
begins to work
its way out
throughout this
book,
this little
letter of
1 John.
So if you've
ever wanted to
have a sermon
from Jesus
or a sermon
from the
apostles on
John chapter
15,
here it is.
Now it's
much later
in John's
life.
John is
older in age.
We can
kind of see
that as we
work our
way through
this book.
We see
constant
references to
the people
in this
church as
little children
helping us
to appreciate
that John
is in the
later stages
of his
life.
We're going
to see
that the
apostle John
is a dear
friend of
Jesus.
We know
that's to be
true and
this expression
of his
heart comes
through in
the message
of this
little letter.
John had
discovered the
secret of
abiding and
we're going
to learn
from his
experience and
we're going
to see that
the abiding
life relates
to so many
different aspects
of our own
life.
There are so
many things
that we can
talk about
in this
little letter
and I'll
talk about
the themes
in just a
moment but
as we work
our way
through I
want us
to focus
in on and
to hone
in on this
specific topic.
topic of
abiding in
Christ.
How does
it play out
in our
life?
What does
it lead
to in
life?
Well,
John is
probably,
like I said,
in the later
parts of his
life,
maybe in his
70s or
80s and
now he is
writing to
this church.
And as
tradition tells
us, he
found his
way to
Ephesus and
he had
spent about
20 to
25 years
ministering to
that specific
church.
So the
author's name
is John
and the
church is
the church
of Ephesus.
Now we
have a
letter that
Paul wrote
to Ephesus
so we
know a
little about
this church.
We've read
about how
that church
got started
in the
book of
Acts.
It was a
church that
was really
a theological
center in
the ancient
world.
Paul founded
that church
on his
third missionary
journey.
And when he
first arrived,
if you remember
in Acts
chapter 19,
Paul shows
up and he
encounters some
disciples and
he asks them
if they'd ever
been baptized
with the
Holy Spirit.
And their
response is,
we've never
even heard
about the
Holy Spirit.
Who is
this?
They had
come to
know the
message about
Christ through
John the
Baptist but
they didn't
know the
continuing
story, the
work of
God in
their lives.
And so
Paul reveals
that to
them and he
baptizes them
and this
church just
explodes with
the gospel.
We also
find in
Acts chapter
19 that
it was a
church that
had been
steeped in
spirituality.
Not the
kind of
spirituality you
would hope
for.
Witchcraft and
sorcery kind
of dominated the
life of this
church so that
the collection of
them came
together and
they burned
their books of
witchcraft and
there was
50,000 pieces
of silver worth
of books that
they burned
that day.
Just to say
we're done with
that old way
of life and
we want to
make Christ
the focus and
center of who
we are.
Well Paul was
there and he
taught for three
consecutive weeks
in the synagogue
but it was met
with mixed
reviews.
And as a
result of his
ministry there he
transitions his
ministry now to
speak in what
was called the
Hall of
Tyrannus.
He does that
every single
day for two
years.
This church
just soaking in
doctrine and
theology and
sitting at the
great apostle
Paul's feet and
learning from him
all that Paul
would be able to
share about the
richness of who
God was and the
intricacies of how
God worked.
This really was a
church that had
experienced kind
of the super
powers of
theology and
teaching.
Not only had
Apollos been
there that gifted
man with the
ability to
communicate the
word of God
and Apollos was
working together
with Aquila and
Priscilla.
But then the
apostle Paul comes
and then Paul
sends Timothy a
little later on
and then the
beloved apostle
John spends
years of time
ministering to
these people.
If anyone
understood doctrine
it would be the
church of Ephesus.
They had the
best of the
best who were
teaching them the
things of God.
John, when John
writes later about
this church, the
church of Ephesus,
in Revelations
chapter 2, he
points to the
accuracy and
integrity of their
doctrine when he
says, I know your
works, your toil,
and your patient
endurance, how you
cannot bear with
those who are evil
but have tested
those who call
themselves apostles
and are not and
found them to be
false.
I know you are
enduring patiently
and bearing up for
my name's sake and
you have not grown
weary.
It's a church that
knew the truth, that
was able to discern
between truth and
error and had
devoted themselves
whatever the cost
to embrace and
love the things of
God.
But if the church
of Ephesus had
any downside, any
drawback, it was
the significance of
an affection for
knowledge that
overshadowed a love
for God.
John goes on in
this passage and
says, I have this
against you, church
of Ephesus, that
you have abandoned
the love that you
had at first.
first.
That is often the
danger of those
who lift up the
scripture.
As we allow the
truth, the knowledge
that we have in the
Bible to puff us
up and actually to
disqualify us from
being a partaker in
the things of God.
We transfer a love
for the word and the
love for the word
replaces a love for
God.
And a love for God
is what really
matters.
And John is
seeking to appeal
to this church
about the
significance of
love.
And of all of the
letters that the
apostle Paul wrote,
the one that
stands out as
being most
dominated by the
subject of love is
actually the letter
of Ephesians.
Ephesians.
Even very early
on the apostle
Paul understood
what was happening
in this church.
A church that
had such an
affection for the
word but had
actually lost their
affection for Christ.
And that's the
danger.
Where are you this
morning?
Are we a church
that loves God
and does that love
show up in a
relationship with
him?
That's what John
is encouraging
this church of
Ephesus.
Well there are a
number of themes
and if we were to
talk about love
we would be
faithful to the
text.
Forty-six times
in the book,
this little letter
of 1 John,
we find the
subject of love.
And out of
106 verses,
that's almost
one occurrence
for every two
verses we find
love.
Love is the
dominant theme
in this letter.
But one of the
close seconds is
this concept,
this theme of
abiding.
Abiding that
John is seeking
to help this
church come to
terms with.
What will
abiding do?
How will it
show up?
And as you read
through chapter 2,
3, and 4,
every paragraph
in this letter
has the word
abide in it.
He begins
with chapter 1
that deals
with the
introductory
fellowship that
we need to
have with God
and then from
chapters 2,
3, and 4
he moves on
to what does
an abiding
relationship with
God look like
and what does
an abiding
relationship do
for you?
the key
was not in
striving.
The key
to accomplishing
the objectives
of God in
life was
abiding and
resting in
him.
In John's
mind, it is
the basis of
everything good
in the Christian
life.
Only when we
abide can we
live.
John had
discovered the
key.
and there
was something
that must be
coupled with
an intellectual
knowledge of
him but also
an experiential
knowledge of
God.
And where
we're going to
go this morning
is I want us
to see that an
abiding
relationship with
God leads to
joy.
As we look at
the abiding
life this morning,
I want us to
understand that
it will lead
you to joy.
let me just
read this first
four verses for
you and I'll
show you that's
kind of the
end point of
where we're
getting to in
our message this
morning.
Here's what it
says in 1
John 1
beginning at
verse 1.
that which was
from the
beginning,
which we
have heard,
which we
have seen
with our
eyes,
which we
have looked
upon and
have touched
with our
hands concerning
the word of
life.
The life was
manifest and
we have seen
it and
testify to
it and
proclaim to
you the
eternal life
which was
with the
Father and
is made
manifest to
us.
That which
we have seen
and heard we
proclaim to
you,
so that
you too
may have
fellowship with
us and
indeed our
fellowship is
with the
Father and
with his
Son,
Jesus Christ.
And we
are writing
these things
so that our
joy may be
complete.
That's where
we're going
this morning.
You want
joy in your
life today?
Would you
describe
yourself as
a person
of joy?
Would you
say,
yes,
I exist
in a
spirit of
joy
perpetually?
If you
are there,
maybe you
should be up
here sharing
with us
how to make
that happen.
But the
Apostle John
has the
secret.
He wants
us to
understand
at front
and center
where joy
comes from.
joy is
from God.
You cannot
have joy
any other
way.
Joy comes
from him.
If you
want to
experience
joy today,
you have
to know
God.
And John
wants that
for you.
I want
that for
you.
I want
you to
experience
joy.
You can
have it.
It is
accessible.
But it's
only accessible
through you.
And that's
why John
begins with
the most
important
part of
the story.
The most
important
ingredient
in finding
joy is
to know
who God
is.
He begins
with that
right here
at the
beginning.
That
which was
from
the beginning.
Make
no
mistake,
John
says,
everything
that will
follow
will come
because
of the
one
from
the
beginning.
Well,
who is
this
one
from
the
beginning?
Well,
if you
look back
to the
gospel of
John,
that's
where he
starts
his
gospel
as
well.
He
says
in
John
chapter
one,
in
the
beginning
was
the
word.
The
word
was
with
God
and
the
word
was
God.
He
was
in
the
beginning
with
God.
All
things
were
made
through
him
and
without
him
was
not
anything
made
that
was
made.
In
him
was
life
and
the
life
was
the
light
of
men.
The
light
shines
in
the
darkness
and
the
darkness
has
not
overcome
it.
And
throughout
the
rest
of
the
gospel
of
John,
the
beloved
apostle
introduces
us
and
describes
for
us
this
amazing
individual,
Emmanuel,
God
with
us,
Jesus
Christ,
who
came
to
earth.
And
one
of the
things he
came
to
bring
was
fellowship
with
God
as we'll
see in
a moment
but also
joy.
Joy
that can
only be
experienced
in him
and through
him.
If you
want joy
today,
you have
to know
Jesus
Christ.
Joy
comes
from
God.
We
find
some
things
about
this
joy.
First
we find
that it
is
an
eternal
joy.
It
is
an
eternal
joy.
That's
the
point
I
believe
that John
is trying
to get
at here
in this
opening
phrase.
That
which was
from
the
beginning.
Because
joy
comes
from
God
and
because
God
is
eternal,
joy
can
be
eternal.
It
is not
temporary.
Now,
I think
here at the
outset of
this
message,
I think
we need
to
understand
what
is
joy?
What
are we
talking
about
when
we're
talking
about
joy?
And I
think
it
may be
helpful
for us
to
understand
what
joy
is
not
so
that
we
can
begin
to
understand
what
joy
is.
First,
joy
is not
temporary.
Joy
is
eternal.
Joy
is not
based
upon
circumstances.
It's
not
based
upon
your
walk
of
life.
It's
not
based
upon
the
situation
in which
you
find
yourself.
joy
is
enduring.
Joy
is
transcendent.
Joy
should
occupy
the
life
of
every
believer
day
by
day,
moment
by
moment.
Joy
is
also
not
the
same
as
happiness.
Happiness
comes
and
goes.
Happiness
is
based
upon
certain
situations.
It's
based
upon
life
events.
It's
based
upon
what
we
get,
based
upon
what
we
expect.
happiness
can
be
quite
fleeting,
can't
it?
Joy
is
enduring.
God
wants
us
to
experience
joy.
And
he
talks
about
the
way
to
get
joy.
Jesus
kind
of
gives
this
commentary
to
his
disciples.
It's
amazing
to me
to
understand
or to
see
in
the
scriptures,
in
the
gospel
of
John,
Jesus
is
the
one
to
talk
about
joy
all
of the
eight
times
in which
it's
mentioned
through
the
gospel
of
John.
Every
time
that
joy
is
referred
to,
Jesus
is
the
initiator
and
the
speaker
of
joy.
And
seven
of
those
eight
occurrences
happen
the night
before
Jesus
was
going
to
be
killed.
Jesus
tells
his
disciples
in
John
chapter
15
verse
11,
he
says,
things
I
have
spoken
to
you,
that
my
joy
may
remain
in
you,
and
that
your
joy
may
be
full.
Where
does
joy
come
from?
It's
my
joy,
Jesus
says,
but it's
my
joy
that
you
can
experience.
Spoken
the night
before
Jesus
would be
killed.
Joy
that is
enduring,
joy
that can
come
at
any
moment,
any
crisis,
any
situation
that
you're
experiencing.
Joy
can
overcome
those
things.
In
John
chapter
16
verse
20,
Jesus
says,
most
assuredly
you
will
weep
and
lament,
you
will
be
sorrowful,
but
your
sorrow
will
be
turned
to
joy.
John
chapter
16
verse
24,
until
now
you
have
asked
nothing
in my
name,
ask
and you
will
receive
that
your
joy
may
be
full.
God
wants
you to
experience
joy
today.
That
joy
can only
be
experienced
from
him
because
he
is
the
source
of
joy
and
he
can
allow
you
to
experience
enduring
an
eternal
joy
with
him.
Will
you
know
joy
today?
And
maybe
not
surprisingly
on
the
night
that
Jesus
was
betrayed
and
looking
into
the
face
of
darkness
what
will
come
on
the
very
next
day
what
spurred
him
on
to
move
through
the
cross?
We
find
in
Hebrews
chapter
12
it
said
look
to
Jesus
the
author
and
the
finisher
of
our
faith
who
for
the
joy
that
was
set
before
him
endured
the
cross.
joy
compelled
Jesus
to
move
through
the
most
difficult
and
darkest
hour
of
his
existence.
Abiding
life
leads
to
eternal
joy
but
it
also
leads
to
present
joy.
I want
you to
see that
as
our
second
point
this
morning.
There
is
the
expectation
of
eternal
joy
but
there
is
also
the
experience
of
present
joy.
We see
that
in
verse
1
and
2
as
well.
It
says
here
in
the
second
part
of
verse
1
it
says
that
which
was
from
the
beginning
which
we
have
heard
which
we
have
seen
with
our
eyes
which
we
have
looked
upon
and
have
touched
with
our
hands
concerning
the
word
of
life.
What
is
John's
point
with
this?
John's
point
is to
help
us
understand
that
joy
is
accessible
and
joy
is
present.
He
wants
his
readers
to know
that
they
can
access
joy
because
Jesus
has
showed
up
on
this
earth
so
that
we
could
experience
him.
We
could
experience
life
with
him.
We
could
experience
the
presence
of
him
and
that
we
could
know
joy
through
him.
Notice
these
words.
We
heard
him.
We
saw
him.
We
looked
on
him.
We
touched
him.
In
every
way
we
experienced
him.
He
made
himself
accessible.
He
was
from
the
beginning.
We
heard
his
message
on
the
mountain
side.
We
heard
him
teach
in
the
temple.
He
dealt
with
us
in
private
and
he
spoke
to
us
and
preached
to
us
along
the
way.
In
every
context
Jesus
was
speaking
words
of
truth
and
we
heard
him.
But we
didn't
just hear
him.
We
saw
him.
We
saw
what
he
did.
The
miracles
that
only
God
could
perform.
Casting
out
demons
and
healing
the
multitudes
and
calming
the
storm.
We
saw
it.
We
were
there.
We
looked
upon
him
and
our
hands
touched
him.
Yes,
he
washed
our
feet
and
we
did
some
fishing
together.
We
sat
around
the
campfire.
We
took
long
walks
together.
We
embraced
in
times
of
sorrow.
I
touched
him.
He's
real.
He
came.
All to
emphasize
that this
God who
seemed so
distant in
the Old
Testament is
now present
in every
way.
Present
and
accessible.
He
desires to
be known
and
experienced
and
enjoyed.
He
came to
show that
we could
know him
intellectually
of course
but also
we could
know him
relationally
and
personally
through
fellowship
with him.
You
can almost
get the
sense of
John's
words in
how he
repeats
himself
again in
verse 2.
He
says
the
life was
manifest
and
we
have
seen
it
and
testify
to
it
and
proclaim
to
you
the
eternal
life
which
was
with
the
father
and
was
made
manifest
to
us.
Any
of you
who
have
kids
you
know
that
as
the
story
comes
and
as
there
is
excitement
about
what's
taking
place
there's
this
repetition
that is
happening
this
enthusiasm
that
continues
to spill
out
in
every
way.
This is
kind of
what we're
getting from
John right
here.
There is
this
overflowing
enthusiasm.
Can you
believe it?
God
showed up.
He was
here.
Can you
get over
the fact
that I
saw him
and I
touched
him
and I
listened
to his
message?
All
because
God wanted
to make
himself
present
for us.
Not
just
a
future
joy
not
something
to
expect
sometime
down
the
road
but
something
I
can
have
now
something
I
can
enjoy
in
this
moment.
It
is a
present
joy.
That's
why
God
came.
So
we
could
know
the
kind
of
joy
that
transcends
the
difficulties
of
this
life.
It
was
a
joy
that
could
be
experienced
through
him.
Joy
was
given
by
God.
It
comes
from
God.
But
we
find
in
verses
3
and
4
that
joy
is
offered
to
us.
Joy
is
offered
to
us.
We
find
in
verse
3
that
some
of
the
qualities
of
this
joy
that's
offered
to
us.
First
we
find
that
it
is
a
shared
joy.
It
is
a
shared
joy.
Verse
3
says
this,
that
which
we
have
seen
and
heard
we
proclaim
also
to
you
so
that
you
too
may
have
fellowship
with
us.
And
indeed
our
fellowship
is
with
the
Father
and
with
his
Son
Jesus
Christ.
You
see
that
first
phrase?
That
fellowship
is
with
us.
It
is
a
shared
joy.
And
those
who
experience
life
with
Christ
will
participate
in
fellowship
with
God's
people.
You
know,
one of the
first things
that goes
in my
life,
one of the
first things
that I
shun
in life
when I'm
feeling
depressed
or discouraged
or I
know that
there's
sin in
my life,
the first
thing that
goes
is I
don't want
anything to
do with
God's
people.
You
find that
to be
true in
your life
too?
I
really
don't
want
to be
around
people.
I
kind
of
like
being
by
myself.
I
just
want
to
check
in
and
check
out
of
the
various
duties
that
I'm
a
part
of.
But
the
last
thing
I
want
is
to
mix
up
with
God's
people.
by the
way,
when I
do
have
to
be
there
because
I
feel
like
I
got
to
perform
some
sort
of
duty,
there's
not
going
to
be
any
transparency
in
my
life.
There's
really
not
going
to
be
any
fellowshipping.
I'm
going
to
be
present
there,
but
there's
not
going
to
be
any
stirring
one
another
up to
love
and
good
deeds
because
I
don't
want
them
to
know
what's
going
on
inside.
If
we're
going
to
be
fellowshipping
people,
we
have
to
let
one
another
know
that
there
!
is
brokenness
!
inside.
I
got a
confession
to
make.
I'm
broken.
Okay?
Now,
most of
you already
know that.
Of
course.
We
know that
you're
broken.
We
see it
every
day.
But
being
transparent
is
risky,
isn't
it?
There's
a bit
of shame
and
embarrassment
at
times
with
letting
people
understand
and
recognize
that
there
are
failures
going
on.
But
if we
want to
experience
God's
joy,
we
cannot
know
God's
joy
without
fellowship.
And
we
cannot
have
true
fellowship
and
true
community
without
honesty,
without
transparency,
without
being
vulnerable
with one
another.
I'm
sure
you've
heard
along
with
me
a
number
of
people
say,
well,
I'm
a
Christian,
but I
can be
a
Christian
on my
own.
Well,
that
might
be
true,
but you're
not
going to
experience
the joy
of
God
that
comes
along
with
corporate
community
unless
you're
fellowshipping
with
God's
people.
If
you're
feeling
depressed
and
discouraged
and you
find
that that
is
kind
of
the
walk
of
your
life,
can
I
just
encourage
you
to
share
that
with
the
people
of
this
church
so
we
can
bear
those
burdens
together,
we
can
love
you
through
that
and
we
can
fellowship
with
you
and
then
we
can
accelerate
this
process
of
moving
to
joy.
If
you want
to know
joy
this
morning,
we need
to be
fellowshipping
people.
John
understood
that
characteristic
and
he
appeals
to
this
church,
this
church
of
Ephesus.
He
was so
faithful
and
regimented
in their
doctrine
and so
committed
to what
was
true
that
they
lost
a
connection
with
one
another.
Sometimes
our own
knowledge
of the
standard
keeps us
from
letting
people
know
the
real
person
behind
the
mask.
Be
transparent.
It's a
shared
joy.
We
also see
in
verse
three
it
is
a
heavenly
joy.
It's
a
heavenly
joy.
Here's
what
it
says.
We
experience
fellowship
with
us
and
indeed
our
fellowship
is
with
the
Father
and
with
His
Son
Jesus
Christ.
Fellowship
can be
experienced
with the
Father
and
with
His
Son
Jesus
Christ.
It
is
a
heavenly
joy
because
the
joy
that
we
have
is
from
the
one
who
exists
in
heaven
and
in
that
way
joy
is
untouchable.
It
is
unreachable.
It
can't be
taken away
from you.
What God
gives to
us
in terms
of joy
through
His
Son
Jesus
Christ
is
inaccessible
to others
in terms
of being
able
to rob
you
of the
joy
that
God
has
given
to
you.
Now
you
can
conceal
joy
for
yourself.
You
can
snuff
it
out
and
mask
it
and
put
it
down
but
that
joy
is
still
there.
It's
accessible
to you
if you
have
Jesus.
He
wants
you
to
enjoy
and
to
experience
that
life
with
Him
that
leads
to this
expression
of
faith
and peace
and hope
in Him.
It's
truly
amazing
when we
consider
who
God
is.
The
holy
God
who
lets
a
sinful
people
come
to
actually
fellowship
with
Him
because
of
the
righteousness
of
Christ
and
overcoming
our
sin
and
leading
us
into
fellowship
with
God
through
faith
in
Christ
salvation
is
possible
and
joy
can
come.
It
flows.
It
is a
heavenly
joy.
Finally
It
is an
abundant
joy.
Verse
4 says
this,
We
are
writing
these
things
so
that
our
joy
may
be
complete.
Jesus
referenced
joy
and
the
completion
of joy
or the
filling
up
of joy
on at
least
three
occasions
that
night
with
His
disciples.
It
is an
abounding
joy.
Those
of you
who have
the
New
King
James
will
say
we
write
these
things
so
that
your
joy
might
be
full.
That's
what I
grew up
on
and I
thought
hey
that's
a
great
perspective
but the
real
manuscript
evidence
that's
out there
would
help us
understand
that
not
just
the
joy
of
the
people
in
Ephesus
but
John
is
including
himself
in
this
experience
of
joy.
He
says
so
that
our
joy
might
be
full.
Again
going
back
to
the
fact
that
we
can
fellowship
together
and
we
can
all
experience
this
joy
with
one
another.
And
it's
a joy
that we
can all
have.
It's
untappable.
It's
inexhaustible.
Because
it's joy
from God
it's joy
that can
never
be drained.
One of the
amazing things
that happened
yesterday
as I was
down
with the
teens
I asked
one of
the
teens
I
said
so
what
is
God
teaching
you
through
this
experience
through
this
weekend?
And
this
teen
he
didn't
have
to
even
think
about
it.
He
says
well
this
morning
I
was
really
confronted
with
the
truth
that
whenever
I
sin
I
tell
God
to
move
over
to
step
aside
so
I
can
sit
on
his
throne.
And
I
have
just
come
to
realize
how
arrogant
and
how
terrible
that
is.
And
he
said
last
night
I
was
just
really
convicted
that
God
has
all of
these
great
things
in
store
for
me.
All
of
these
treasures
that
he
has
placed
in
heaven
for
me
but
when
I
sin
I
want
the
fulfillment
of
those
things
now
but
I
realize
they
never
satisfy
if
I
just
wait
for
God
to
give
me
his
good
things
there
will
be
things
that
endure
and
my
heart
just
exploded
wow
that's
joy
for me
as I
get to
participate
in what
God
is
teaching
him
and
I
trust
joy
for
you
as
parents
as
these
kids
will
be
coming
home
and
you
get
to
see
how
the
word
of
God
has
shaped
their
lives
the
experience
of
joy
and
watching
God
do
awesome
things
in the
lives
of
others
that's
when we
really
get to
get filled
up
with
the
wonder
of
who
God
is
and
what
he
came
to
do
in
changing
dead
people
and
making
them
alive
taking
us
in our
corruption
and making
us
whole
redeeming
us
from
the
inside
out
and
making
us
people
who are
fit
to serve
him
and to
love
him
that's
what God
wants
for us
I trust
that through
this study
God will help us
to know and experience joy
let's pray
Lord we do want you
this morning
more than just
knowing about you
God we want
to
to know the joy
that you offer
through your son
Jesus
we pray
Lord that you
would help us
through this study
help me
in my
inadequacy
to be able to
communicate
effectively
how to get
there
as we sit
at the feet
of John
the
beloved
John
the apostle
soul
and as we
really come
to appreciate
who Jesus
is
we pray
that this
expression
of abiding
in you
will lead
us
to an
abundant
life
we pray
in Jesus
name
amen
this
morning
this
morning
I hope
that
all of you
are
experiencing
this joy
as I was
listening
it reminded
me of
Philippians
chapter 4
and this
will be
familiar
to you
as well
it says
rejoice
in the
Lord
always
I'll say
it again
rejoice
and it
goes on
it says
let your
graciousness
be known
to everyone
for the
Lord
is near
don't worry
about anything
but in everything
through prayer
and with
petition
with thanksgiving
present your
request to God
in the peace
of God
which surpasses
all
and guard
your hearts
and minds
in Christ
Jesus
and just
want to
challenge
and encourage
you this
morning
as you
think on
the joy
that we
are offered
if you
do not
know
that joy
yet
and you
would
like
to
we
invite
you
to
come
forward
there
are
men
and
women
here
that
would
love
to
share
with
you
pray
with
you
if
there
are
other
burdens
or sorrows
or struggles
in your
life
that
are
heavy
we do
want to
bear
those
together
just like
it says
in Galatians
that we
could bear
those burdens
together
and we
encourage
you
come forward
let us
bear those
burdens
with you
as well
well let's
stand
together
sing together
I
will
I
will
I
will
I
will
I