A. This series has been developed from the thoughts of David in Psalm 16:11 – "You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

B. In this lesson, we will consider the connection between faith and joy, which is evident in the lives of Christians and absent in the lives of unbelievers.

II. FAITH AND JOY

A. Faith naturally produces joy, for it is "the assurance of things hoped for” (Heb. 11:1).

1. Hope can be defined as "joyful expectation.” Because faith is the "assurance of things hoped for,” faith, hope, and joy are bound together.

2. The connection between hope and joy is further seen in Romans 12:12, which instructs Christians to be "rejoicing in hope,” and Romans 15:13, which says, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

3. Therefore, faith is not only "the assurance of things hoped for,” it is also the assurance of every Christian's joy.

4. If you are unhappy, then work to build up your faith in the hope of God's wonderful promises. Joy will naturally follow.

B. Faithful joy manifests itself through trust and activity, for it is "the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).

1. How can we identify faithful joy in Christians? It is by what they do in faith, trusting and rejoicing that God will deliver His promises.

2. The men and women of Hebrews 11 were convicted that God's promises would be fulfilled even though they had not seen them. The joyful expectation of these promises led them to take actions they otherwise would not have taken.

a. Consider the examples of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob, who sojourned in a foreign land and "died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Heb. 11:13).

b. In fact, all of those mentioned in Hebrews 11 acted on their convictions and "gained approval through their faith” but "did not receive what was promised” while living on earth (v. 39). Even so, their lives were characterized by faithful joy because they believed that God would ultimately reward them.

3. If you want to be happy, then imitate the men and women of faith in Hebrews 11. In the joy of your hope, act in faith and gain the approval of God (Heb. 11:2).

III. LIVING WITH FAITHFUL JOY

A. Christians can have joy in the midst of trials.

1. Trials of our faith should bring us joy because we know they will make us better disciples.

a. Does the idea of becoming a stronger Christian make you happy? If so, then you can find joy even in the hardships of life.

b. Notice the words of James 1:2-4 – "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

i. A faithful Christian does not blame God for his hardships, but instead he rejoices for the opportunity to grow in his faith.

ii. Of course, we do not enjoy the experience of trials, hardships, difficulties, temptations, etc. However, our faith gives us the joyful expectation of a good outcome, which is endurance and perfection or maturity.

iii. The joy of the trial comes in the passing of the test and the proof of our faith. In 2Corinthians 13:5, Paul said, "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?”

c. To be a disciple requires discipline, and discipline is unpleasant. Even so, the anticipation of discipline's successful outcome brings us much joy. Notice Hebrews 12:11 – "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

2. Trials of our faith also bring us joy because we know that God will reward us if we persevere.

a. Does the idea of being rewarded by God with eternal life make you happy? If so, then you can find joy even when you are suffering.

b. Consider the "beatitude” of James 1:12 – "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

c. A similar message is found in 1Peter 1:6-9:

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

B. Christians can have joy when trials are passed and losses have been sustained.

1. When trials have passed, some will grieve and be bitter over the experience and the losses. This is exemplified in the faithless attitude of Job's wife, who said to him, "Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9).

2. However, the faithful will rejoice to have endured and gained God's approval.

a. Consider the apostles, who were beaten for their faithfulness to the Lord. Acts 5:41 says, "So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

b. Notice the example of the Jewish Christians in Hebrews 10:34 – "For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.”

3. Faith in Christ can bring joy even when we lose our fellow Christians in death.

a. Notice 1Thessalonians 4:13 – "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.”

b. Our hope in Christ gives us the joy of knowing our loved ones in the Lord will live again.

4. What is your attitude about the trials you have endured? Do you rejoice because you grew in faith and have the hope of heaven, or are you bitter and angry for your worldly losses?

IV. CONCLUSION

A. In many ways, faithful joy exists in contradiction to the expectations of the world.

1. Unfaithful people do not believe in the promises of God, have no hope beyond this life, and derive no joy beyond the limitations of this world.

2. Consequently, unfaithful people see no joy in trials, hardships, and difficulties. They simply cannot understand the joy of Christians.

B. Truly, this is the joy of our faith that overcomes the world (1John 5:4). Not even death can steal the joy of faithful Christians.