Lesson 7: Walking with God in Joy and Peace

The Fallacy of Thinking we have the God-given
Right to the "Pursuit of Happiness"

More than any other characteristic, people say they would love to have happiness. How they go about trying to find it is an epic tale within itself. Too often the terms happiness and joy are used interchangeably. This is unfortunate because searching for happiness usually takes folks to all the wrong places. People pursue happiness exactly like a dog chases its tail. Happiness is always just beyond their reach and even if they do find it, it is a brief and fleeting experience. 

The "Pursuit of Happiness" is unfortunately not a godly pursuit as much as we would like to think so. Our obsession for seeking happiness resulted in being expelled from The Garden. Once able to walk in the very presence of The Omniscient and Loving God, we traded it in for a moment of spectacular stupidity. 

Never being content is the hallmark of an unhappy life. 

The stupidity with which we now live our lives in this consumerist, militaristic, materialistic, self-engrossed American culture is exactly a reflection of our Mother Eve. We are blessed with soooooooooo much and yet, we are always wanting MORE! More fame, more accolades, more material good, more money, more prestige, more promotions, more status, more, more, more, more! (Dog chasing his tail!) 

Happiness will never be permanently acquired in growing our skills, advancing our education, or being recognized for our talents when the purpose is to gain recognition for ourselves. Happiness will ALWAYS be a PURSUIT...and not a permanent possession. 

What is the difference between happiness and joy? 

Depending on the version of Scripture you are using, you might see the words for "happy" and "blessed" interchanged and this makes a tedious exercise in explaining the difference between happiness and joy. Let's agree on several definitions to get the most out of this study.

In The N.T., the term for "happy" is the Greek word "makarios" or supremely blessed. Isn't it better to take the focus off our pursuit of happiness and place it in an attitude of thanksgiving to the ONE who blesses His people?  

"Makarios" is obviously not the kind of "happiness" that we pursue through enteraintment or shopping sprees. "Makarios" is a deeper contentment. 

An example of how "blessed" is used in the NASV and "happy" is used in the NKJ can be seen in 1 Peter 3:13 f

¹³ Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed (happy). And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵ but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; ¹⁶ and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

In these verses Peter is talking about suffering and trouble, nothing we would ever associate with "happiness." 

(1) How can we suffer for Christ and yet be "happy"?
(2) How can we not fear intimidation but instead place Christ on the throne of our hears?
(3) How can we share the joy of our salvation with grace?
(4) How can we keep a good conscience while being slandered?

In 1 Peter 4:13, the Apostle gives a little better understanding of what is meant by being blessed in suffering. 

1 Peter 4: ¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; ¹³ but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation (joy). ¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed (makarios), because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

So many things we need to discuss from this verse! 
(1) In verse 13 "you may rejoice with exultation or joy. The Greek word for "joy" is "agalliao" which literally means to "jump for joy!"  When was the last time you jumped for joy due to persecution, insults, or evil ordeals? 

(2) Notice that "makarios" and "agalliao" are both associated with suffering in these passages. They represent the deeper heart-filled joy that Christians experience because of Christ.

(3) The blessing (makarios) of exultation (jumping for joy) in the face of suffering and trials is the kind of joy that comes from the indwelling Spirit! These characteristics cannot be manufactured by the natural man in these settings of persecution.

Meditate on these Scriptures to see if you can answer the questions above:

2 Cor 6:4
2 Thess 1:4
Romans 5:1-5
James 1:4
2 Peter 1:6

Another Greek word used in the N.T. for "joy" is "chara" which means calm cheerfulness, to be filled up with joy. It is the ONLY type of happiness that is fulfilling and fully filling. "Chara" brings contentment and calm satisfaction to the inner soul. 

We see this word used in Matthew 13 in the parable of the Kingdom:

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

TRUE JOY results in the EXACT OPPOSITE of PURSUING HAPPINESS

Here we see "joy" as the motivational force to forsake all that we have when we recognize the enormous and eternal value in the great treasure of God's Kingdom. This "joy" has exactly the opposite affect of those who pursue happiness. 

They seek and seek and never find, creating an addiction to the seeking. 

The man in this parable found the Kingdom and stop seeking, stop clutching onto his possessions. He let it all go for the joy of being a servant in the Kingdom of God. 

When does the Spirit allow us to experience joy? Meditate on the verses associated with each bullet below.

Joy comes when:

• We find salvation in The Lord - Acts 8:8; Romans 5:11
• We are on mission for the Kingdom - Luke 10:17
• We imitate Christ - Heb 12:2
• We witness one sinner repent - Luke 15:7, 10; Acts 15:3
• We worship the Risen Lord - Luke 24:52
• We hear the Word of the Lord - 15:11
• We submit to the Holy Spirit - Acts 13:52; Romans 14:17; Gal 5:22
• We witness for The Lord - Acts 20:24
• We bring others to The Lord - 1 Thess 2:20
• We give sacrificially to The Lord - Phil 1:7; Heb 10:34
• We step out in faith in the power of God - Romans 15:32; Col 1:11
• We suffer for Christ - 2 Cor 7:4; 8:2; Phil 2:17; 1 Thess 1:6; 1 Pet 4:13
• We meet with the saints face to face - 2 John 1:12
• We overcome temptation - James 1:2; Jude 1:24
• We petition the Father - Phil 1:4
• We walk in faith and not by sight - 3 John 1:4
• We endure in our faith - Phil 1:25; 1 Pet 1:8
• We see Him coming in the clouds - 1 Thess 2:19

As we can see by these Scriptures, the Christian life in all of its aspects is to be filled with deep abiding joy. We have joy if we are walking with God in the Light of His Son. Joy is a result of being in a close, abiding, moment by moment relationship with God. 

JOY from the SPIRIT does not rely on EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES

When we experience true joy, it does not depend on external circumstances. True joy relies on our relationship and trust in God through faith, things not seen. Missionaries testify about the joy they have had in the face of bodily harm during persecutions. We are once again being made aware of Christian persecutions in the world today. News reports detail how the Devil is amplifying his attacks. No one can "steal" your joy!

MEMORIZE THIS VERSE

Romans 15:13 ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As a friend of mine put it:

Sometimes you just have to choose, take your stand, and decide what you believe in even if you think your prayers are just hitting the ceiling and your heart breaks at the pain you see around you. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce not food...yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:16, 17) 

PEACE through the Spirit

Everyone cries "peace!", but few know how to bring it about. Many FB posts recently showed pictures of two of my ex-students with machine guns and ammo belts. Neither one has been faithful to their calling in the Lord. So I commented on the pictures that I was hoping they were paying as much attention to their souls as they did to all the armory they were always flaunting on FB. Both of them are police officers and so they both wrote back saying, "Blessed are the PeaceMakers".... I promptly corrected them for their misuse of the term. What have we done? We have taken the word "peacemaker" and associated it with violence and weapons. This is NOT the picture Christ paints for us in His Word. 

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit.

Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Peace in this verse is the Greek word "eirene" which means unity, quietness, rest, serene. In the midst of crisis, a person who walks by the Spirit can experience a serene confidence. 

Romans 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

Kingdom people have a calmness, serene beauty about them because they trust in the power of the Creator. Kingdom people don't just have a little peace! Their peace overflows so that they are able, through the power of the Spirit to be a Light in a chaotic world. It is from the OVERFLOW of our hearts that the mouths speaks (Luke 6:45; Prov 4:23). 

Romans 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So what is our heart overflowing with? Are we anxious, angry, upset, worried, bitter? These are tools of the Devil to "steal your crown" (Rev 3), to steal your citizenship in the Kingdom. To stay focused on walking with God in peace, we must allow the Spirit to trans-mutate our hearts. We must submit and stop clinging to our pasts, our selfish desires, or being in search of revenge or retribution.  

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

If we truly walk with God, we will see that His plan makes perfect sense. He gives us His Holy Spirit and the Spirit creates unity in the Body of Christ. The Spirit reforms us into the image of the One who makes all things new. But this does not happen without effort on our part. We must resist the Devil and force our will to submit to the Spirit of peace. As selfish individuals we are able to become a part of the self-sacrificing Body of Christ. 

Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

1 Thessalonians 5:23  May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

The Spirit of God will guide us into have peace with one another if we allow Him to do so. 

Luke 1:79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Mark 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

We can bless other's with a peaceful greeting. This should perhaps be our greetings at all times. In Russia we begin and end our assemblies with "Peace & Grace" by shaking everyone's hand who attended. No one feels left out or overlooked. It is a great practice as "Peace to You" is a phrase used over and over by our Lord as a greeting (examples: Luke 24:36; John 20:19, 21). 

Luke 10:5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.

The Gospel that we proclaim must be a Gospel of peace AND we must exemplify our message or be hypocrites. 

Acts 10:36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

SO WHAT? So what difference will the 7 lessons we have studied recently make a difference in your life? Meditate on the message God is placing in your heart as you review our lessons. 

HOMEWORK

Practice giving the greeting of peace while practicing your walk with God.