JESUS & THE ANOINTING OF JOY
JESUS CAME TO ANOINT WITH JOY Heb 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."
Isa 61:2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
(Joh 15:11) Jesus said “ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
(Joh 17:13) "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.
Today, the time of God's favour (2Co.6:2), jubilee, is the time of grace
Unmerited favour & empowerment. Grace & blessing came in Jesus (Jn.1:16-17)
I believe Jesus was the most joyful person who ever lived....full of the Spirits joy (Lk.10:21)
Jesus had fun: e.g. Wedding feast. A boat load of fish. Multiplying food. Walking on water. Reading people thoughts etc.
JESUS GREAT EXCHANGE OF THE NEW COVENANT
(Jer.31:13) Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.... (v33) the New Covenant
Joh 16:20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn (have sorrow (KJV)) while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
Part of the great exchange of the cross. He became a man of sorrow so we can have joy.
Sorrow was part of the fall - women give birth in sorrow.
PERSONAL JOY IS A GREAT BLESSING
Neh 8:10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
The anointing is one of joy. Joy is a great blessing. Being joyful is a strength. A manifestation of presence.
We have a lot to be joyful about: forgiven, immortal, union, blessed..... all the promises.
HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES JESUS JOY AS A CHARACTER
Act 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
(Gal.5:18) Led by the Spirit..... (v22) the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.......
1Th 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
1Pe 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
It's all about presence, God in us, God upon us, hidden in Christ, abiding in Him, alive in Christ (Gal.2:20)....
There is an emotion of joy, but also a fruit - joy becomes part of the Christian character, and it's wonderful and attractive!
The Spirit in us produces a joyful character within, the Spirit on us imparts joy without.
THE COURT FOOL
(1CO.4:9) We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
(1CO.1:26) Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
One day the Lord asked me "Garry will you be a fool for Christ? Because people will mock & laugh at your childlikeness, your laughter, your simplicity- especially fellow (wise) Christians".
It's interesting that in the old days the king would have a Court Fool (a Jester) who was there to bring joy to the king and comfort him when things were getting the king down. The interesting thing is that because the Court Fool was normally looked down upon and scorned by the court nobles, he was the “kings man” because he did not side with one faction or another (as he was not considered insignificant by those who plotted intrigue and formed factions) and because he was devoted to the king. Because of this the “Fool” was trusted by the king and knew the kings inner most secrets and struggles. He was often sent as a neutral ambassador for the king when messages needed to be passed discretely to visiting people of power or to help defuse a dangerous situation. A Fool was one that had overcome his pride and self consciousness, one who was prepared to do anything to bring the king joy. He laid down his own agenda and ambitions to serve the king at all times, he dwelt in the house of the king and was on call all hours. The Fool was looked down upon, mocked and scorned by the “wise” for his simple childlike devotion to the king, some may have even considered him mad or simple. But the Fool who laid down his pride, enjoy a relationship of intimacy with the king that few others ever knew.
THE LINK BETWEEN JESUS, GRACE, RIGTEOUSNESS AND JOY
Rom 5:21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness
1Co 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Rom 1:17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed--a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Isa 61:3 We are Oaks of righteousness
Knowing we are right with God through Jesus is the foundation of joy - it's all a gift of grace
JESUS' KINGDOM, RIGHTEOUSNESS & JOY
Mat 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Rom 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, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God.
The missing link: Spirit righteousness that produces joy and carefree attitude.
Kingdom living is joyful living.
The kingdom came by the Spirit and people thought they were drunk (Acts 2:15)
Be filled with the Spirit and sing heart songs (Eph5: 10) ..... sounds like a spiritual drunkeness - not wine drunkeness
Psa 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Joy is spiritual warfare - we laugh at the enemies schemes
LAUGHTER AND JOY IN THE CHURCH
Psa 126:2 (Zion) Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." 3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
Luk 6:21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Laughter is the most common and natural expression of joy
It's real medicine - we all need to smile and laugh a lot - it has physiological and phycological affect
Laughing people are healthier people, attractive people.
Abraham our spiritual father was righteous by faith.... he knew the gospel from the king of righteousness.
His son, his only son, his son of the promise; Isaac = He who laughs
LAUGHTER & MANIFESTAIONS
There are many examples of physical signs or manifestations throughout the bible. In fact the bible teaches that we can expect signs to accompany the preaching of the Gospel and the presence of God among us. Sometimes these signs may appear strange to people watching.
(Gen.15:12) Abraham fell into a deep sleep.... and the Lord spoke to him
(Ezek.3:23) God’s glory came and Ezekiel fell down... and the Lord spoke to him.
(1Sam19:24) King Saul lays down and prophesies non-stop for 24 hours.
(Daniel 10: 8-17) In the presence of a visitation Daniel lost his strength, fell down, trembled all over, experienced fear, was unable to speak, and was unable to breath properly.
(John 18:6) When Jesus spoke, people involuntarily fell to the ground.
(Acts 9:4) When Paul heard Jesus’ voice he involuntarily fell down.
(Rev. 1:17) John fell down when Jesus appeared to him.
(Jeremiah 5:22) Says that we can expect to tremble in God’s presence.
(Jeremiah 23:9) When God’s word is preached Jeremiah trembled and appeared to be drunk.
(Habakkuk 3:16) He heard God’s word, his heart pounded, his legs trembled and he got weak.
(Acts 2:15) When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost the disciples appeared to be drunk.
(Eph. 5:18) Paul equates the experience of being filled with the Spirit to that of being drunk.
(Neh. 8:9) People wept as scripture was read.
(Psalm 126:2) People who have been set free laugh and sing for joy.
(Mat. 3:11) Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire, where there is spiritual fire, we can expect to get hot.
MANIFESTATIONS ARE HISTORICAL
The personal diaries and journals of great men and women of the Church record such signs.
Jonathan Edwards the main leader of the Great Awakening in America (1725-1760) in The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God records in detail such physical signs coming upon people as he preached.
John Wesley (founder of the Methodists) and his close friend George Whitefield were both amazed at such things happening as they preached. Whitefield noted people having a type of “harmless convulsion” and other strange physical manifestations.
Charles Finney (1792-1875) one of the greatest 19th century evangelists also recalls such physical signs coming upon people as he evangelized.
George Fox (1624-1691) founded the Quakers - why do you think they were called Quakers? His journals are full of amazing physical signs as God’s power was released.
Charles H. Spurgeon says in his Autobiography p124 that “there is as much holiness in a laugh as in a cry.... I may laugh the laugh of sarcasm against sin”
- Martyn Llyod-Jones states in Revival p134-136 that in the presence of God people may fall, faint, go into trances, become unconscious.
Quakers and Shakers (org.17thcentuary) were called by this name because of their shaking and trembling.