Aspire for Real Joy Not for a Temporary Joy

Intro

One day, may isang pretty lady na inglesera at nag shopping. Pagkatapos mag shopping, tsaka lang nya nalaman na naiwan nya ang susi sa kanyang brand new car. So, nag-pray siya kay Lord, “Lord, how can I go home? I left my key inside the car. Please help!” Saglit na saglit lang, she saw a man approaching her. Agad na nakiusap ang babae, and the gentleman opened the car, quick and easy! So, the lady felt relieved and was very happy. And then sabi nya sa lalake, you are so so good, how did you do that? The gentleman replied, well, I just got out of prison for stealing a car. Kalalaya ko lang! Suddenly, yung joy ng babae ay naging nightmare. 

Tell the person next to you, “How are you today, are you filled with joy or a nightmare?” 

Word: Aspire for Real Joy Not for a Temporary Joy

Ano ang mas gusto mo? Temporary joy or real joy? 

Pray!

Romans 15:13 ESV May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

• Literary unit: Romans 14:1 to Romans 15:13
• Ang literary unit ay part of the whole ng letter ni Paul, for example sa ating text, to the church in Rome (not the Roman church today. He was specifically addressing the people of his time). 
• Purpose of the literary unit: Paul’s call for peace and unity due to the relationship problem of Christians in Rome. 
• End of the literary unit (Rom 15:13): Closing doxology

Our text was not just a closing doxology. It is also a form of prayer.  

Sa prayer ni apostle Paul ay desire ng kanyang puso na ang Christians sa Rome ay mapuno ng joy and peace. 

How about you, would you like to be filled with joy and peace? Would you like your home to be filled with joy and peace? 

How's your home? Palagi bang may fights, may bad words ba, wala bang joy and peace?

Well, you can pray for joy and peace for yourself and inside your home. Humiling ka lang sa Dios na punuin ka ng kagalakan at kapayapaan pati ang loob ng inyong tahanan. 

Ito ang advise ni king David, Psalms 37:4 (GNB) Seek your happiness in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desire.

Kung gusto mong maging masaya ka, at kung gusto mong ibigay ng Dios sayo ang desire ng heart mo, then set your happiness in the Lord, not in the world. Make Him happy by the way you live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Kahit sinong matinong parents, when their children makes them happy, gina grant niya sa kanila ng kanilang parents ang anumang request nila. Ganun din ang Dios. Desire to make God happy and He will pay you back with joy. 

Introduction pa lang yan!

Romans 15:13 ESV (Paul’s Prayer) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

I want you to remember these key words: 

• Hope (pag-asa)
• Joy (kagalakan)
• Peace (kapayapaan)
• Power of the Holy Spirit 

Sa prayer ni apostle Paul ay desire ng puso niya na ang mga Kristiano sa Rome ay magkaroon ng abundant hope–lubos na pag-asa dahil ang Dios ay God of hope. 

Prayer din ni Paul na ang mga Kristiano sa Rome ay magkaroon ng lubos na kagalakan at kapayapaan. Have you ever prayed for others to have overflowing joy and peace? 

Bakit nga ba ganito ang prayer ni apostle Paul? Nagpray si Paul ng ganito dahil ang church sa Rome ay kulang sa kagalakan at kapayapaan. Why do they lack joy and peace? Dahil hinahatulan nila ang isa’t isa, nagtatalo-talo, hindi sila nagkikibuan dahil ayaw tanggapin ng isa’t isa ang kanilang mga pagpapaliwanag, at dahil sa mga ito, ay nagkakahatihati sila? Sino ang matutuwa sa ganitong pagsasama? Sino ang mabubuhayan ng pag-asa kung ang mga taong kasama mo ay walang pakialam sa isa’t isa?

Reflection:

Would you like to be with a group of people who do nothing but to pass judgment upon each other, proving each other right, and looking down on others who oppose their views? 

Also, let us not forget that these people whom Paul was writing to were God’s people who began to feel comfortable with their being divided as a church. Gusto mo ba sa ganitong klase ng church?

Listen, kung hindi mo gusto sa ganung church o lugar. Ano ang pumapasok sa isip mo? Would you rather go out and leave? Or do you think God would like you to stay to set a good example and initiate change? Sa halip na isiping umalis, hindi ba't pwede kang magsimula ng halimbawa para umunawa kaysa humatol, magpakumbaba kaysa magmataas, at bumati kaysa umiwas alang-alang sa pagkakaisa? 

At, kung ikaw ay nasa isang lugar na ang mga Kristiano doon ay very understanding at walang iniisip kungdi ang ikabubuti ng isa’t isa, hindi ba’t masaya at payapa ang puso mo? Hindi ba’t lalung mas gusto mo na mag-stay doon? Hindi lang yun, dahil masaya at payapa ang paligid, hindi ba’t mabubuhayan ka lalu ng pag-asa? 

Pero paano mangyayari ang lahat ng ito? Sa sarili mo? No! Through the power of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit has a power to change a heart that is judgmental. 

The Holy Spirit has a power to change a heart that is prideful. 

The Holy Spirit has a power to change a heart that is disrespectful of others. 

Ginagawa ng Dios ang mga pagbabagong ito isang Kristiano para kung nabago na ang puong mapang-husga, kung nabago na ang pusong mapagmataas, kung nabago na ang pusong walang respeto sa kapwa, ang paligid ay magiging sobrang saya at sobrang payapa. How joyful and peaceful is a church with people whose hearts are changed by God and are being changed by Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen?  

Reflection: 

Napapansin mo ba ang ginagawa ng Dios na pagbabago sa iyong puso? There is a way to find out if your heart is being changed by God. Sagutin mo ang mga tanong na ito:

Yun bang presence mo brings joy and peace to others or kapag kasama ka nila ay madalas, nanlulumo sila? 

Yun bang presence mo brings hope to others o kapag kasama ka nila ay madalas nawawalan sila ng pag-asa? 

Listen kapatid, if your presence steals others’ joy and peace and hope, there is something wrong with your heart. Wag nyo pong masyadong damdamin ang sinabi ko dahil ito ang good news: The Holy Spirit is powerful. He can transform your heart until you find your presence becomes more of a blessing to people around you.  

That was only my 2nd introduction!

I want us to focus our discussion on the keyword, “joy.” Let’s try to dig deeper and understand what the Bible says about it.

Truth about Joy: 

1. Joy is the fruit of the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…

I’m sure you will agree na iba yung joy na ibinibigay sa atin ng mundo, that's worldly joy; at iba yung joy na bunga ng Banal na Espiritu, that's a God-induced joy.  

The joy this world brings is temporary. At ang joy na mula sa Holy Spirit ay permanent. Although minsan ay sad tayo, pero eventually, God can turn our sorrow into joy. 

Psalms 30:5 GNB (God’s) anger lasts only a moment, his goodness for a lifetime. Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning. 

Reflection:

Sad ka ba ngayon dahil sa super bigat na trials na pinagdadaanan mo? Sige lang, shed in tears at ubusin mo ang luha mo, sapagkat sa kinabukasan, God will turn your sorrow into joy. Sa pamamagitan ng pagcomfort ng Holy Spirit, ang kalungkutan mo ay papalitan Niya ng kagalakan. Amen? 

So, sa tuwing may nararamdaman kang galak sa iyong puso, sa palagay mo, yan ba ay bigay ng mundo, o yan ay isang kagalakang dulot ng Banal na Espiritu? 

Next truth, 

2. Many of our joys are temporary and unhealthy.

Jokes bring temporary joy. Diba?

Tuwing nandyan lang ang joker kaya nagiging masaya ang lahat. Temporary lang ang ibinibigay niyang joy. At hindi lahat ng joke ay kinatutuwaan ng tao tulad ng green joke, right? Why? Dahil Yung green joke ay may transference of spirit, small letter “s;” nagtatransfer ito ng lustful thoughts sa mga nakakarinig. Very unhealthy and destructive sa isipan ng mga inosente. I don't know about you, but I feel sorrowful when others rejoice over a green joke! Tumawa man ang iba, I'm sure that's a world joy–temporary and destructive to the mind of the innocent.

Money brings temporary joy.

Especially kay wife (no offensement mga asawang babae). Tuwing bonus ay big time ang smile. Kapag wala ng pera, ang ngiti ay naging ngiwi. Ang pera ay nagdudulot ng temporary joy. 

Praise God dahil ang mga wives sa PK ay kontento kay Lord, kahit walang pera. Kahit walang money, basta nandyan sa tabi nya ang kanyang honey. (Sa labas nga lang ng kulambo!)

Human favor brings temporary joy.

To all singles out there, all the single ladies, diba kapag pabor na ang parents mo na mag entertain ka na ng suitors, nagdudulot ito sa iyo ng temporal joy? At kapag naging kayo na, anong saya, diba? At nung nag-break, “I don't like you anymore, break na tayo,” goodbye, joy! 

Human favor brings temporary joy.

Or kapag pinaboran ka ng parents mo na pumasyal kasama ng mga kaibigan o pinaboran ka ng boss mo ng week-long vacation or leave with pay, nagdudulot ito sa iyo ng joy, diba? Pero, kapag tapos na ang pasyal or when vacation is over, back to work! Back to daily routine! And those who do not have real joy, they get bored with their daily routine and sadness hunts them from time to time.

Kapatid, kahit yung human favor ay magbibigay lang sa iyo ng temporary joy. 

Let's look at two examples of temporal joy in the Bible:

Job and his children

In the book of Job, ang mga anak ni Job,from time to time, ay nag ge get together for a food trip na may kasamang strong drink (alak na nakalalasig), and, on many occasions, they get drunk together with their 3 sisters. Mai-imagine mo ang worldly joy and pleasures na mayroon sila sa kanilang puso. Tuwing matatapos sila sa kanilang paglalasing, bukod pa sa pwedeng pangit na mangyari sa kanilang kalasingan, since they have no control over their flesh and lust, it is possible na nagkakasala sila ng fornication. Ano ang ginagawa ni Job bilang tatay? Everytime Job sees his children rejoicing over worldly pleasures, nagpe-pray siya kay Lord at nag-oofer ng sacrifices sa Kanya. Job cries out to God in prayer hoping that God would forgive their children for their sins. Paulit-ulit niya itong ginagawa dahil paulit-ulit din ang walang taros na pagsasaya ng kanyang mga anak sa mga kasiyahan na mayroon dito sa mundo. Heto na. The time had come for Job to be tried and tested for his faith. Sa kaunting authority na ibinigay ng Dios kay Satan to steal, to destroy, and to kill (except Job), one by one, ang mga properties ni Job ay ninanakaw ni Satanas. They all came to ruin and God spared his servants just to tell Job all of his losses. And, while his children were drinking, bottoms up, singing out their worldly joy, having no regard for the prayers of their father, hinampas sila ng strong wind mixed with sand from the wilderness, at tinabunan ng buhangin na kanilang ikinamatay. God put an end to their worldliness and temporary joy. And Job carries with himself the pain of having 13 children who find their happiness in gluttony and drunkenness. 

Therefore, I believe that: Worldly pleasures bring temporal joy to worldly people, and, while they are enjoying the pleasures of sin, it brings pain to those whose hearts are pure–their parents, their pastor, and the heart of God!

Reflection: 

Gusto mo ba ikaw lang ang masaya habang ang iba ay namimighati ang puso sa iyong kaligayahan sa kamunduhan? 

Walang ganyan sa PK church. Amen? 

Next, si Herod and Herodias

Sa Matthew 14, noong birthday ni Herod Antipas na isa sa mga rulers sa Rome, isa siyang unbeliever, sa kanilang celebration ay isang virgin ang sumayaw sa harapan nila. She danced gracefully before Herod together with his elite guests, enticing them with her body and beauty. You can imagine the rejoicing and shouting of men. Sa tuwa ni Herod, he told the virgin, ask whatever you wish and it will be yours. Binulungan siya ng kanyang mother na si Herodias, ask for the head of John the baptizer. Gusto ng nanay nya na mapugutan ng ulo si John. She hated John so much for rebuking her with her unlawful affair with Herod. Upon hearing this, biglang nawala ang saya sa damdamin ni Herod at walang magawa kungdi tuparin and kanyang salita. The spirit of worldly joy suddenly disappeared at napalitan ito ng unpaitable darkness. At habang ang karamihan ay nabigla sa nangyari, from the heart of Herodias arose a devilish happiness sapagkat wala na ang taong sasaway sa kanyang kamalian. The person who tries to stop her from enjoying the worldly pleasure is dead. And she made it happen. 

Therefore, I believe that: There is a kind of joy that is devilish–those who are happy for the loss or death of the righteous. 

Reflection: 

Ikinatutuwa mo ba ang pagbagsak ng iba lalu na yung kontrabida sa buhay mo? Ikinatutuwa mo ba ang pagkawala nila dahil, sa wakas, I am free to do anything I want because the person who keeps reminding me of my sin is gone? Are you happy with it?

Tell the person beside you, I know you are not like that!

Third truth, 

3. Real joy comes from God. 

Romans 15:13 ESV May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

The lame beggar in Acts 3:1-9 

Acts 3:1-9 TPV One day, 3 o-clock in the afternon, oras yun ng prayer prayer meeting para sa mga Jews, nagpunta sina Peter and John sa Temple. (2) Sa malapit sa tinatawag na Beautiful Gate, sa loob na part ng Temple na ipinagawa ni Herod the Great (not Herod Antipas). Sa gilid ng Beautiful gate, a man who was lame since his birth (around 40 yrs old na sya), sits there waiting for people to give him money. Wag na natin isipin kung ginagamit lang ba sya ng kanyang pamilya o talagang kailangan ng pamilya nya ng tulong. (3) As Peter and John walk towards the Beautiful Gate, the lame man asked them for alms. (4) Tinitigan siya ng dalawa, at sinabihan ni Pedro, “Look at us!” (5) Tumingin nga siya sa pag-asang siya’y lilimusan. (6) Ngunit sinabi ni Pedro, “We don't have any silver or gold, pero I have something to give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (7) Hinawakan niya sa kanang kamay ang lumpo at itinindig. Immediately his feet and ankle gained strength; (8) Siya’y napalukso at nagsimulang lumakad. He was jumping for joy as he enters the temple, together with Peter and John. He was filled with joy as He give thanks to God and praise Him. (9) Nakita ng lahat na siya’y lumalakad at nagpupuri sa Diyos.

Amen! Glory to God!

Think about this, what if Peter and John just gave money to that poor guy, ano ang maidudulot nun sa pulubi? That will only give him temporary joy. Nakita ni Peter ang tunay na kalalagayan ng pulubi. Peter looked bey0nd the material needs of that poor guy. Nakita niya sa lumpo na siya ay prisoner of his past, painful experiences since birth. Maaaring happy pa siya during childhood. I’m sure his parents and siblings did their best to make him happy at home, pero as he grows older and goes out to the real world, and people starts teasing him, pinagtatawanan sa kanyang kapansanan, at sinasabi, you are born in sin; what do you think these hurtful words bring him? The insults being thrown at him, day after day, bring damage to his heart and eats up his joy. Pinapatay ng mga insulto at masasakit na salita ang kagakalan sa kanyang puso. Peter was quickened by the Spirit of God to understand the pain and suffering this poor guy was going through. Ibinigay ni Peter sa lumpo ang magdudulot sa kanya ng tunay na kagalakan na ninakaw sa kanya ni Satanas sa loob ng 40 years. That lame who was imprisoned by the devil for 40yrs was able to walk and was set free through the power of the name of Jesus Christ. Hindi ko maimagine ang overflowing joy sa puso ng lumpo noong pinalaya say ni Jesus sa kanyang pangit na nakaraan. No amount of money could bring him that kind of joy which he received from God. and, for sure, dala-dala na ng dating lumpo na ito ang kagalakang sa kanyang puso habang siya ay nabubuhay. 

Therefore, I believe that: Real joy comes from God and His healing grace. And the joy that He gives stays in our hearts for life. 

Reflection: 

Are you sick today at nagsa-suffer ka in pain? Listen kapatid, keep trusting God. Habang ang luha ay bumubuhos mo sa hatinggabi, don't worry, overflowing joy will come in the morning! At sa mga panahon na pinagaling ka na ng Dios at pinalaya sa matinding paghihirap dulot ng sakit o kapansanan o sa malaking pagkakautang, hindi ba’t yung sadness mo, yung fears mo, and yung sorrows mo ay napawi? Hindi ba’t agad ay nakaramdam ka ng real joy? Tandaan mo, ang joy na naramdaman mo sa panahong iyon ay fruit of the Spirit. And you know what will happen next? In God’s presence, your joy will turn into dancing, you will jump for joy, katulad ng pilay na nakakalakad at naglululundag, praising God for His healing grace and deliverance! At, sa tingin ko, since you are grateful, it would be difficult for you not to show up every Sunday para magpasalamat at magpuri ng may galak sa kabutihan ng Dios. Amen? Glory to God!

Therefore, I believe that: While worldly joy keeps us away from God, real joy leads us to God in worship.

So, ang tunay na kagalakan ay buhat sa Dios, hindi sa mga bagay sa mundong ito. At nagtutulak ito sa atin para sumamba sa Dios.

Next,

4. Real, and eternal joy comes especially as we experience God’s forgiveness and saving grace.  

A lot of people find real joy as they receive God’s favor of healing grace and physical deliverance. Pero magtatagal lang yun until lifetime. Only when God has forgiven your sins and is saved by God’s grace, that is the only time you will experience real, and eternal joy. 

The thief at the cross in Luke 23

In Luke 23, may isang repentant sinner na nakapako sa cross sa tabi no Jesus. We know he was repentant dahil ni rebuke niya ang kanyang katabi na fellow criminal sa pag mock kay Jesus. And then he said to Jesus with all humility and faith, “please remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Repentance means a change of mind, and at that very moment, while others mock Jesus and look at Him with unbelief, among others, this thief changed his mind and believed in Jesus that He is the Christ–the Lord and Savior of the world. Ano ang sabi ni Jesus sa kanya, “today you will be with me in Paradise.” Paradise is where God’s presence dwells and Jesus assured him of life in eternity with Him and with the Father. You know what? Kung hindi lang nakapako itong makasalanan na ito, katulad ng lumpo na pinagaling ni Jesus, sigurado, magpupuri sya sa Dios na may kasamang lundag at palakpak. And even if there is no way for this sinner to jump for joy because he was saved not by good works, but solely by the grace of God, I do believe, with the remaining hours left for him, all he did was to rejoice and give God the glory and praise. Even after death, as Jesus fulfills His promise to bring him to Paradise, there in eternity, he will continually rejoice with real and eternal joy in the presence of His maker, His Savior, and Lord!  

Reflection: 

Gusto mo ba ang real, and eternal joy? Money can’t give that to you. Lust can't give that to you. Anything which the world can offer kahit kasama pa pati yung temporary pleasure, it won’t satisfy you. Temporal joy, yes, but it will not give you real, and eternal joy. Only God can give you that! And God is more than willing to give that to you. 

Pero katulad ng repentant sinner at the cross, you need to realize the sinfulness of your sins, and the punishment you deserve which is death. And you must repent from your sins and fix your eyes on Jesus. Jesus is the only One who can give you hope of being forgiven from all your sins. He was the One whom the Father sent to save those who would repent, and turn from sins, and believe. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So, repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ. And most assuredly, since God keeps His word, and He never breaks His promises, He will forgive all your sins and will grant you life in eternity with Him. 

1 John 1:9 ESV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jesus said in John 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

Repent and believe in Jesus Christ and you will find real, and eternal joy!

Next, 

5. Our joy in Christ does not mean there will be no more times of sadness and tears.

Even God experienced sadness.

Sa time of Noah,

Genesis 6:5-6 TPV Nakita ni Yahweh na ang wickedness ng tao ay so great, at wala na itong iniisip na mabuti. (6) And God was saddened that he created man.

Sa wilderness, ipinakita ng psalmist kung paano nalungkot ang Dios sa Israel na Kanyang iniligtas, 

Psalms 78:40 (ESV) How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert!

Sabi ng Dios para kay king Saul, 

1 Samuel 15:11a I regret that I have made Saul a king; sapagka't siya'y tumalikod na naging disobedient sa akin, at hindi tinupad ang aking mga utos. 

Noong mamatay si Lazarus, ikinalungkot ito ng Panginoon,

John 11:35 Jesus wept upon his death.

Ang warning ni apostle Paul, 

Eph 4:30 Do not grieve the Spirit of God…

This means na namimighati ang Espiritu ng Dios tuwing tayo ay nakikipag-isa kay Satanas sa mga gawang masasama. He grieves for our deliberate sinning–a deliberate choice of joining ourselves with the devil. 

These are the times when God feels some kind of sadness and sorrow. 

Reflection: 

What choices do you make everyday? I-greive si Lord or would you rather put a smile on His face by obeying Him joyfully and wilfully in return to His divine favor of forgiveness and saving grace? 

So, even God feels some kind of sadness and sorrow.

What does this mean to us? 

Hindi natin hinahatulan ang isang tao kung dumadanas siya ng kalungkutan. If you find someone sad and filled with sorrow, di not be quick to judge and say, “What kind of Christian are you, didn't you know that the fruit of the Spirit is joy? Walang malungko na Kristiano.” That’s being harsh, being rude, and being judgmental. 

What do we do when our brother/sister is in sadness and tears? 

• H-ear him/her out. “Listen with two ears and one mouth.”
• E-mphatize. “Put yourself in his/her shoes.”
• L-ift him/her up. "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all." Build up, not tear down!
• P-ray with him/her. Pray that God will turn his/her sadness into joy. 

Closing: Psalms 30:5 ESV For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

How to live in real joy?

R-epent and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Joy comes upon knowing that you have been forgiven and saved. 

E-xtend grace towards others. Joy comes where grace abounds. 

A-ccept others just as they are–a work in progress. Joy comes when people you are with accept you despite your weaknesses. 

L-ove back those who do you wrong. Joy comes where there is no strife. 

J-udge not and condemn not. Joy comes when we forgive and restore. 

O-bey God from the heart. Joy comes when you know that you are pleasing God.

Y-earn in prayer for God’s church to be united in love. Joy comes when we are surrounded with people who are united in love, forgiving each other, and all that they care about is one another's welfare.