When we consider the depth of what God has done for us in Christ, we cannot stop rejoicing with inexpressible joy and full glory. The Bible makes it clear that the joy He gives is associated with every good and perfect gift that comes down from the Father above. Think about the numbers of wonderful things that are related to God’s power, mercy, peace, and grace. Everything that God does increases our joy. What God supplies is sufficient to help and sustain us in every situation of life. This is why we keep asking God to give us more of Jesus and more of His joy in our lives.
When the Apostle Paul wrote the believers in Philippi, they were going through some trying moments. In the midst of their difficulties and troubles, they were encouraged to be full of joy and rejoice.
Philippians 4:4 NLT Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
The Apostle Peter explained why and how we can have more joy in the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:3 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
We have great joy when we consider what the Lord has done by saving and giving us new life in Christ. The depth of our joy cannot be measured just by the things the Lord has brought us out of. Yet, when I consider what He has saved us from, my joy is increased and I must rejoice. He rescued us from the guilt and the shame of our past.
Isaiah spoke about what the Lord has done for us.
Isaiah 53:4 NKJV Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…
The words “griefs and sorrows” cover a large amount of difficulties that we face in life. Griefs and sorrows are related to sin, sickness, and troubles of life and their consequences.
- New Living Translation – “our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down.”
- NIV – “He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.”
- Amplified – “He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment].”
Matthew 8:17 NKJV He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.
These sorrows, distresses, weaknesses, and sicknesses could weigh us down and burden our souls. The Good News of the Gospel of Christ is Jesus Christ has borne and carried these things for us.
1 Peter 2:24 NKJV Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Simon Peter talks about your sins and sicknesses as if the burden and trouble of them has already been resolved.
When we consider what the Lord has done for us, we should be filled with inexpressible joy and full glory. Do you ever feel that you cannot continue facing your weaknesses, infirmities and distresses? Have you felt that your load is unbearable? Have you felt that you were carrying it all on your own, without any help or relief?
Turn your eyes toward Jesus and remember what the Lord has done for you. You can turn these things over to Jesus. Consider what your life would be like if the Lord was not on your side. The Lord has promised and provided help or relief.
I am here to remind you of what the Lord has already done for you. You don’t have to bear your burdens alone. The enemy wants you think there is no help or relief. He wants you to forget what the Lord has done and is doing for you. He wants you to take up and carry all of your weaknesses, infirmities, distresses and sins by yourself.
We can rejoice with great joy that we don’t have to bear these things on our own. We have help from the Lord.
Psalm 68:19 NKJV Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah
We should rejoice with great joy over the benefits that God daily loads us with. To help us do that, look again at Isaiah 53:4-6. I don’t think we can read this without getting more joy in the Lord.
Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
If Jesus Christ has become your Savior and Lord, you have every reason to rejoice. Each of these verses give us more reason to rejoice with exceeding great joy. You do not have to carry those old things because Jesus Christ has taken up and borne your grief, sickness, weakness, infirmity and distress.
You should give Him praise. He was wounded so that you could receive relief and healing. He was bruised so your iniquities and wickedness could be removed. He was chastised for your punishment so you could have peace.
How can we not rejoice? Consider what your life would be like if Jesus had not done this for you. What would your life be like if the Lord had not helped you? Can you even imagine what it would be like if you had to carry all of the burden of your sin, sorrow, grief and distress without the Lord’s help?
Psalm 16:11 NKJV You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Acts 2:28 NKJV You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
Can you see how the Lord gives you joy?
Philippians 1:6 NLT I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
This brings us to the next point that Simon Peter said gives us joy.
1 Peter 1:4-5 NKJV To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV84 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:8-9 NKJV Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
The joy and glory that we have experienced cannot be compared with the things God has prepared for us in Christ. Our confidence is not just in what God is currently doing for us. The things God has provided for us now in Christ give us reason to rejoice with inexpressible joy. His salvation, protection and healing cause us to rejoice in every victory He has given.
1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
I know God is still working and He is not finished. I know He will not stop until His work is finished. I know that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again, and He is going to wrap it all up in victory.
One of the times that Jesus was preparing His disciples for His death and return to the Father, He spoke these words.
John 16:33 AMP I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer and take courage; be confident, certain! For I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.
Jesus made this point clear and we need to hold firmly to His words.
In John 15:11 He said: “These things I have spoken to you, so that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 16:22-24 “I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”
Notice the permanence of this joy that He gives. The Lord does not want His Church and bride living in sorrow, grief, and defeat. Jesus is talking to believers who abide in Him. If you want glorious inexpressible joy, stop practicing your troubles and start practicing the presence of God.
The Psalmist talked to his soul about this.
Psalm 42:11 NIV Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
John 14:1 NKJV Jesus said: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”
Jesus is saying, “Stop giving yourself permission to be troubled.” What are we to do? Jesus said, “Believe in God and believe also in Me.” Jesus is giving the ultimate reason for inexpressible joy.
John 14:2-3 NKJV In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
I hear the Lord saying to us, “Look up and lift up your heads and rejoice for your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28)
