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August 9, 2009AM

Hebrews 12:1-2

Worship Results – Cling-free Joy

 

The joy that Jesus experienced was a practical joy.

 It was a joy with function.

  Joy was not about a good feeling or positive emotion.

   Joy generated activity just as all the fruit of the Spirit enable ministry.

    Joy for Jesus was not something that came and left.

     Joy was a staple in Jesus’ life.

      It was not an occasional experience He had during good times.

       Joy motivated Jesus to endure the cross.

        Ultimately, the joy Jesus knew, contributed to our salvation.

We can experience that same joy.

 Joy makes a permanent difference in our lives.

  It is an indication that our lives are a reflection of Jesus.

   It transforms the way in which we look at life.

    Joy welling up in our lives contributes the salvation of others.

     Others notice Jesus when we joyfully we are willing to sacrifice.

      Perhaps the reason we are not more fruitful is because we are not fruit-full.

       Perhaps more people are not coming to Jesus because of joyless Christians.

        Last week we saw the effect of the cloud of witnesses on Jesus.

         The cloud of witnesses was a constant source of joy for Jesus.

          In the cloud of witnesses He saw the work and presence of His Father.

           He knew that no matter what, He endured nothing alone.

            When Peter denied Him and the disciples scattered Jesus saw the cloud.

The cloud of witnesses is with us today.

 The cloud of witnesses inspires us to live for God.

  We not only celebrate Him on Sundays.

   We see God’s presence with us everywhere.

    And we humble ourselves and worship Him in everything we do.

     Andre Crouch sings;

“All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to You.

To God be the glory, great things He has done.”

      Thank the Lord for Cloudy Joy.

       Hebrews 12:22-24, tells us a little more about this cloud. (READ)

        But now let’s see what else contributes to joy.

 

We can also experience Cling-Free Joy.

 Jesus had a cling-free joy.

  Jesus did not get entangled in the things of this world.

   Jesus was never entangled in sin.

    He was surrounded by sin but never entangled in it.

     Sin was the reason Jesus went to the cross willingly.

      But it was for our sin that Jesus became the sacrifice.

       His blood shed on the cross speaks graciously to us.

        He was the light of the world.

         His light shone in the darkness of sin.

          The darkness did not overcome Him.

           Jesus lived a sinless life.

           Jesus lived a sin-free life.

             No wonder He knew joy.

             That is how He could endure the cross, despising its shame.

The writer says to us, “throw off the clinging sin that wraps and entangles.”

 There can be no joy experienced in a life that is entangled in sin.

  Jesus could experience joy on the cross because He was the sinless sacrifice.

   He was tempted in every way like we are yet without sin.

    His temptation was intense.

     The devil tried his best to entangle Jesus in a life of sin.

      Make bread out of stones.

       Make God reverse the law of gravity.

        Become the most powerful person on earth.

         Those were some of Jesus’ temptations.

          But Jesus rejected the temptation and without sin had a cling-free joy.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Because Jesus had cling-free joy He could die on the cross for you.

 How can we possibly know this cling-free joy.

  The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

   Entanglement in sin nullifies the reality of joy.

    So how can we possibly know the reality of cling-free joy?

“Because He Himself suffered when he was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).

     Yes we are sinners by birth.

      From the moment of our conception our nature was sinful.

       Our instincts were guided by sin.

        Our conscience was seared by sin.

         Our lives were entangled in sin.

          It took us a while to recognize we lived with a load of guilt and sin.

           We carried this huge weight through life.

            That sin made it impossible to know joy.

             The darkness of the world into which Jesus entered was us.

              We are the ones who sent Him to the cross.

              But His death on the cross was the only hope we had of knowing joy.

               A joy that is unspeakable and full of glory.

                Only by faith in Jesus does the sin of life unravel.

                 Only Jesus’ blood can take the sin that clings so closely.

                  Only Jesus can purify our hearts.

Purify my heart, Let me be as gold and precious silver.

Purify my heart, Let me be as gold, pure gold.

Refiner’s fire. My heart’s one desire, Is to be Holy.  Set apart for You Lord.

I choose to be Holy, Set apart for You my Master.  Ready to do Your will. (Brian Doerksen)

Several years ago a friend wanted to bless our home with a simple gift.

 We were given a beautiful garden in a basket.

  It was a small basket with several plants arranged in it.

   I tried to look after that gift.

    I watered it and occasionally added plant food to the water.

     The African violet bloomed beautifully.

      I kept it in our dining room where the light seemed just right.

       Months passed into years.

        Many times the blooms returned on the violet.

         But I noticed the little palm trees struggled.

          They were crowded by the other plants.

           They seemed loose in the soil.

           More and more branches turned brown and dropped off.

            They weren’t going to survive in that environment.

             That basket was never intended to be their eternal home.

              Anyone who knows plants would know they would all die if left.

So a couple of weeks ago I finally laid out the newspaper and opened a bag of soil.

 I placed the basket on its side and gently removed the plants and soil.

  I found roots that were entangled and clinging to each other.

   They were choking each other.

    Some plants were literally pushing others out of the pot.

     The plants desperately needed new pots.

      The roots that were clinging and killing needed to be separated.

       If they remained in that confined space the plants would never grow.

        So I tenderly separated the roots that were clinging to each other.

         I repotted them in a bigger pot with fresh soil.

          I think they will be able to grow and become healthy again.

When we try to experience the world’s joy we end up more tangled.

 Does your life have the weight of sin clinging to you?

  We all are born with that sinful nature that clings and binds.

   The sinful nature produces fruit, but not fruit that brings health.

    It is a fruit that leads to death and destruction.

     The wages of sin is death.

      We were not designed to live a life enveloped in sin.

       God created us for fellowship with Himself.

        Pray for the Spirit’s conviction of that sin that clings so closely.

         Put yourself into the hands of the Potter.

          Only He can separate you from the stifling sin that entangles.

           Trust your life into Jesus’ hands.

           The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans. 6:23)

            Jesus died on the cross so you could live a life forgiven of sin.

             Know the joy that can be yours in Jesus.

              A cling-free joy that comes through a life no longer tangled in sin.

 

Hymn    O Master Let Me Walk With Thee