Last Sunday I ended my message with the illustration of two kinds of Christians.  Basement Christians are skeptics, always pointing out what's wrong, seeing the bad, and pulling others down with them because they're pessimistic on life.  Mezzanine Christians are "up" on life.  They're calling us to come up higher and live a little.  They're positive people because they trust in a positive God and have found reason for joy.

          Which would you rather be?  Which would you rather be around?  I know what I'd like, because I've been in both places.

          I guess we've all been both kinds of Christians at times.  But if we have to choose between pessimism and joy, why not choose joy?  Why not smile at what's good instead of frowning at what's bad?  It takes fifty-two muscles to frown, but only fourteen to smile.  Fifty-two to frown, fourteen to smile - there's a great lesson somewhere in that fact.

          This last week I had a conversation in a hospital waiting room with a fellow who felt he was an authentic Basement Christian, but didn't want to be.  He said that though He knew God was good, what he saw of life made him cynical.  He was so tired of people blaming their troubles on everyone but themselves.  It made him sick when adults give kids no moral guidance, then sue the school when their child doesn't turn out right.  He asked, "How can anyone be positive in a world like ours?"

          Good question!  Things do seem out of joint.  Like laws that are passed to control speech so we don't hurt someone's feelings, yet all manner of profanity is defended on the airwaves.  Or Ivy League Universities originally begun by churches now hiring profs who teach there is no God.  Or schools passing out condoms, then blaming parents for rising teen pregnancy.  Or a law to allow public officials to hang the Ten Commandments on their office walls.  It's enough to take joy out of life!

          But sometimes the dumb things people do make us smile.  A true story - a robber walked into a store with a gun and demanded all the cash.  The robber also saw a bottle of scotch on the shelf and told the cashier to put that in the bag, too.  But the clerk refused, saying "You're not 21."  The robber said yes, he was, but the clerk still refused so the robber took out his drivers license to prove his age.  The clerk looked it over, agreed, and gave him the scotch.  Two hours later the police arrested the robber at the home address the clerk saw on his drivers' license.  - True story!

          Sometimes we can find joy in the most amazing places.  So let's talk about JOY, what it is, and how to find it if you've lost it!  "JOY is Ours in Jesus!"  - that's our theme, and that's the truth!  You can't have joy if you don't have Jesus.  You can have some fun.  You can even have moments of pleasure.  But if you don't have Jesus, when the fun and pleasure are gone, there's only emptiness and ashes left in your mouth.

          St. Paul tells us this morning, "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."  This is not wishful thinking, this is God's Word.  We believe the Bible is God's inspired Word, from cover to cover.  It doesn't just contain the Word of God like some churches teach these days.  We don't pick and choose what parts of the Bible to believe.  We don't use human wisdom to determine what is and what is not God's Word.  The Bible IS God's Word - from Genesis to Revelation!

          In this text St. Paul tells us his source of joy and peace:  "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."  What a wonderful Word from God!  This passage is just filled with great and godly words -- hope, joy, peace, trust, power.  It's like a crown filled with precious gems.

          Paul says real Joy is based on our real hope in a real Savior, Jesus Christ.  It's our hope for our own resurrection because of His resurrection.  God is a God of hope and love.  He makes promises and He keeps them.  He says He loves us and then does things to prove it.

          Our world is filled with empty promises.  Advertising and politics live by them, and now a lot of people think not keeping your promise is no big deal.  But why should we be surprised?

          The Bible says we reap what we sow.  If a nation and its leaders sow lies and broken promises, that's what the people will reap.  But if we sow goodness and joy, by God's grace we'll reap goodness and joy.  Joy is ours in Jesus!  Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and God wants us to have it.

          God brings us JOY in the Gospel, the Good News that, though we are sinful, He loves us anyway.  Though we deserve hell, Jesus gives us heaven.  Like we sing in the old gospel song, "Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me.  Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!"

          Knowing you're loved and forgiven by our Heavenly Father brings true joy to one's heart, real, inexpressible joy, a kind you won't find in a Lord and Taylor suit, a sports car or a 500 MHz computer.  You can only find true JOY in Jesus.

          Real joy comes from being near to God.  Joy is knowing life will be all right.  Here's a formula for finding JOY.  It's an old formula you've probably already heard.  And it's easy to remember because it is spelled by the word itself.  If you can spell, you can have JOY in Jesus.

          J=Jesus comes first in life.
          O=Others come second.
          Y=Yourself comes last.

          J=Jesus comes first  - To the world this sounds like fanaticism, but to the Christian this is so obvious.  To have real joy, Jesus must come first.  If we give Him first place, here's what He promises:  "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be yours as well." (Matthew 6:33)   "When you seek Me with all your heart, you will surely find Me." (Jeremiah 29:13)   "Whoever comes to me I will never send away empty." (John 6:37)   When Jesus is first, all the rest falls into place.

          O=Others come second in life.  It's tempting to think we should come next.  But to have true joy, you need a servant's heart, one that wants to help others.  Finding joy means others come second.  "Others" means family -- spouse and children.  "Others" begins with family, then friends and those who need us.  Jesus said, "Love God above all, but then love your neighbor as yourself."  Joy comes when God is placed first and others come second.

          Y=Yourself comes last.  This doesn't mean you neglect self.  You're not asked to be a martyr.  It certainly doesn't mean always saying "yes" when others ask.  When you've placed God first, other people second, then take care of yourself.  Be good to yourself.  Treat yourself to take a long walk in the warm autumn sun.  Visit friends and play some games.  Tape the football game and take a long nap.

          Rejoice in your loved ones!  Enjoy what God has given you!  JOY means Jesus is first, Others are second, but You still need some TLC.  Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, to God what is God's, then treat yourself to some of the rest, whether it's of your time or the treasures God has given you.

          I truly believe there is a lack of joy simply because we're spelling the word wrong.  JOY isn't spelled YOJ or YJO or OYJ.  Jesus must come first to have true JOY.  If you're going to build a house, you first need a plan.  Then you stake out the ground so it's square with the world, and then you start to build.  If your plans are wrong, no matter how good your materials, the house will be wrong.  If you measure your footings wrong, the whole building will go up wrong.  It may even fall apart as you're building it.  But start the plans out right, and the house will rise up straight and strong and you will be happy living there.

          This is God's truth, not just a lot of Pollyanna positive thinking.  It all starts with Jesus.  There may be times I act like a basement Christian, I don't have to stay there.  Life can get you down, even try to kill you, but Jesus Christ lifts you out of the basement to find the Joy He offers us all.  Anybody can be a grump, but it takes Jesus to bring joy to others.

          Do you think God experiences joy - of course!  Jesus Himself said, "There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:7)   Jesus was often filled with joy.  Luke 10:21 says Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit.  God's joy comes when people turn to His Son.  God rejoices when a sinner mends his ways and trusts the God who gave him life.

          You see, it's not just news of good events that brings joy to a Christian -- it's being close to Jesus Himself.  And when we are, it helps us bring joy to others.  A devoted Christian, undergoing chemo therapy was told by a friend, "Under the circumstances, I don't see how you can be so cheerful."  His friend said, "I'm not UNDER any circumstances.  Because of Jesus, I'm on TOP of the circumstances."

          Joy takes bad things and turns them into blessedness and beauty.  You and I can be either a thermometer or a thermostat.  The thermometer only tells us how hot or cold it is.  The thermostat does something about it.  If it's too cold, it turns on the furnace, and if it's too hot, it turns on the air conditioner.  A thermometer or a thermostat -- which are you?  Which would you rather be around?

          Jesus was a thermostat who gave His life to keep us from dying.  He has done all that's necessary.  Trust in Jesus, my friends.  Trust in Him and let Him lead you through life.  Let's pray:  Thank you, Dear Jesus for bringing us joy.  Help us pass it on!  Amen

Copyright © 1999 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.