June 10, 2007

Attitude Adjustments: Joy

Let Your Balloon Go!

Philippians 4:4-7

Opening Words: Austrian psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor Victor Frankl said, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances.” He knew what we often forget, our attitudes about life is extremely important. They affect the way that we experience life. It is for this reason that I have decided to dedicate this section of our year to examining our attitudes. I have called this fourteen week sermon series, Attitude Adjustments. Today we look at our attitude about joy. Do you consider yourself a joyful person? Let me call this morning’s message Let Your Balloon Go!

Philippians 4:4-7 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Bruce Larson tells the story of being at a Presbyterian Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. People were given helium filled balloons and told to release when the spirit moved them. The organizers thought it was a way of expressing true Christian joy. Traditionally, they were not comfortable yelling, “Hallelujah” or “Praise the Lord!” However, releasing balloons seemed safe but they were wrong. When the benediction was given not one single balloon had been released. When that fact was reported everyone laughed. One sync said no one released their balloon for a simple reason. No one in that worship service had experienced any real Christian joy.

That story is not an indictment of the good people of the Presbyterian Church. It is the story of many churches in our time. Have you ever been to a worship service that lacked any Christian joy? You keep waiting for something to happen but nothing ever happens. You just sit there holding your balloon. Many congregations haven’t been excited about Jesus in a long time. They are more excited about buildings, policies and properties then they are Jesus. We need people who are excited about Jesus. We need people who have a passion for Jesus. We need people who will let their balloons go. If I would have given you a balloon before worship today, would you let your balloon go or would you sit their white knuckled holding the string? Today we are going to talk about joy. So if you are ready to talk about true Christian joy say, “Amen!”

Today, I am going to ask you three questions. Like pealing an onion each question is a little more probing. Each question will reveal to you the true meaning of Christian joy. Let me warn you now this message is a little more analytical then the normal. When we are all done I hope we will have accomplished three things. First, I hope you have a clearer understanding of Biblical joy. Second, I hope you have a clearer understanding of how Biblical joy can influence your life daily. Third, I hope you will be able to let your balloon go because you will have a great appreciation of your relationship with Jesus. So if you are ready to be questioned say, “Amen!”

Where do you find joy in your life?

The world tells us we will experience joy by experiencing the best this world has to offer. The world says that new home will bring you joy. The world says that new expensive car will bring you joy. The world says getting that big promotion but a handsome raise will bring you joy. People have pursuing joy in worldly things for a long time. The truth is very few experience their dreams but those who have do not experience joy. Often they experience disillusionment. Let me give you some examples.

Historians tell us Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He thought he would experience joy in his unbelief but he only found disappointment. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”

Historians tell us Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He should have found joy but he only found disappointment. He wrote: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.”

Historians tell us Jay Gould; the American millionaire had more money then he could possibly spend. He should have found joy but he only found disappointment. On his deathbed he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”

Historians tell us Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed both fame and fortune. He should have found joy but he only found disappointed. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.” Elvis Pressly once said he would give a million dollars to walk down the streets of Memphis alone.

Historians tell us Alexander the Great knew military conquest. He should have found joy but he only found disappointment. On the evening he conquered his world he wept in his tent and said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” I believe that quote speaks to our time.

Do you know where I find joy in my life? I find joy in my life in my relationships. I enjoy spending times with friends. There enjoy being here with you. There is nothing better then spending a quiet night at home with my family. Do you know what terrifies me the most? I find it to think about what it would be like if one of my treasured relationships would end. Why is it that the thing that brings the most joy to our lives has the potential of inflicting the most pain?

I have really enjoyed the last few weeks. On Sunday afternoon Kathy and I drive to Lakeside to get the cottage ready for the summer. We spend one night and return home on Monday evening. It is just the two of us. The girls stay home because they have things to do. I enjoy being with the girls so don’t misunderstand me. I have really enjoyed being alone with my wife. We have been married for nineteen years and one of the things we have never done is be alone. When we were married Sarah was three years old. From the very beginning it was the three of us. So being alone is something new for us. And do you know what we have discovered? We have discovered that we love being alone. We don’t do anything special. We go out to dinner. We look at the sunset on the dock. We walk and look at the cottages of that historic place. We talk about what we are going to do in the future when it really is just the two of us. I am not really a Lakeside person but I have really enjoyed Lakeside lately because it is just the two of us. I find joy in my life in my relationships. If you find true joy in your relationships say, “Amen!” Then let your balloon go!

What does the Bible mean by joy?

When I was in seminary I studied Greek. My professor’s name was Joseph Wang. We had a brilliant mind. He said that it was only in the original language of Greek that people really understood the New Testament. When you read a translation sometimes the true meaning of a word is lost or blurred. He was absolutely correct. He had a point. The word joy is a great example. In English joy means, “the emotion evoked by good fortune.” Let me say it again. In English joy is an emotion. That is not true in Greek. The Greek word for joy is _________. The word is translated joy but __________ is not an emotion. __________ is a feeling. It means contentment. The great patriot Ben Franklin once said, "Contentment makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor." To really experience Biblical joy you must take your eyes off the things of this world and solely focus on the cross. In church every week we encourage people to take their eyes off the temporary things of this world and focus on the eternal things of God. It is only then at you are able to experience true Biblical joy.

That is certainly illustrated in this morning’s text. The author of the letter to the Philippians was the Apostle Paul. The year is approximately 60 AD. The place was a prison cell. He had been arrested for promoting the Gospel and disturbing the general peace of the population. Paul had experienced better days. Using your sanctified imagination can you imagine the scene? His actions were limited. His food was bad. His air was stale. His health is poor. His fellow prisoners had never been welcomed into the National Honor Society, yet he writes words of great hope. The reason is he did not focus on the things of this world. He focused on the things of God. He sees things from an eternal perspective. He sees things in a new way. That is why he can write these things from a prison cell. Verse four says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Is he emotionally excited? No! However, Paul is content because his eyes are fixed on the eternal. That is the source of his joy! Paul had no problem letting that balloon go because he was filled with joy that will last for eternity. However, it is not just Paul. You can find that kind of joy throughout the Bible.

Several summers ago we looked at the life of Nehemiah. Do you remember his life? He was not a prophet. He was a builder. God’s chosen people are in exile and he gets this crazy idea of returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the wall. He finds very little support and faces some incredible odds. Everyday he faces a new challenge. Everyday is hard but in chapter eight we read, “This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” What was Nehemiah able to do in the face of hardship? He was able to let his balloon go because he kept his eyes fixed on the eternal.

Do you remember the story of Job? He was a man who had it all and lost it all. Through the words of the author we are told it was a great test. Satan wanted to know if his great faith could be broken if all his treasured would be taken from him. The answer is no. His faith never was broken because he kept his eyes fixed on the eternal. His faith stands firms. In the middle of his hard life he releases his balloon and he refuses to take his eyes off of God. In chapter eight Job tells the special relationships in his life God will “fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.”

Maybe one of the reasons you don’t have eternal joy in your life is because your eyes are fixed on the things of this world. You can see the pile of bills. You can see the pills. You can see the diseases or feel the pain. You can watch the news and grow hopeless because the world is a hard place. And you don’t really know what to do. As your pastor, let me tell you what to do. Get your eyes off the temporary things of this world and fix your eyes on the things that are of God. You may not always be emotionally happy but you can always be content because you know what is really important. And when you discover what is really important you will let your balloon go! And all of God’s joyful people said, “Amen!”

Do you have joy that will last for eternity?

One of the people that I visit this week was Marge Olin. Visiting Marge is truly an incredible experience. She has such a wonderful attitude and such a sweet spirit. That is not easy because she has lost so much in the past few years. She lost her husband Clarence several years ago. He too was a good man. He was the love of her life. Clarence was always her sweetie. She has lost the ability to sing. Her lungs are bad. She has lost her mobility. People that care for her are afraid she will fall. Yet, in spite of her limitations, her ministry continues because of his attitude about life and her sweet spirit. On Wednesday I closed my visit with Marge as I close all my visits, with prayer. When I said, “Amen,” she looked at me and said, “Russ, God is good but I am ready for the Lord to take me. My life just hasn’t been the same sense I lost my sweetie.” When she said those words two things happened. First, I though about walking through Lakeside and dreaming about the future. To be honest I grow a little upset. Second, when Marge said those words she didn’t know it but she let her balloon go. How could she do it? In the face of a hard world she keeps her eyes fixed on God. She knew joy is really not an emotion. Joy is a feeling of contentment. She has joy that will last for eternity. Do you?