Cell Notes - Sunday 23rd September Sermon Series: Fruit of the Spirit Joy!

Read John 11: 17-44 (The rising of Lazarus)

What does Christ look like? According to Paul, if you want to know what Christ looks like, we have to start talking about the Fruit of the Spirit. And were not talking about physical attributes: how tall someone is, hair or eye colour. Were talking about character. To be a Christian is to carry Christs Spirit within us. To carry Christs Spirit within us is to begin a journey of being transformed into Christ-likeness, to begin to resemble Him. And what is Christ like? If Christs Spirit is within you, says Paul, you will begin to show signs of the Fruit of the Spirit: of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And who do these qualities describe? Where do we see them? In the personality of Christ. We are becoming like him. One of the fruits of the Spirit is joy: but what is joy? What does it feel like? How often do we experience it? We often think of joy as something we experience fitfully, rarely, only in special moments an ecstatic feeling that cannot last. But Christ says he has come that you may have life, and have it abundantly (Jn. 10:10) and tells a criminal crucified next to him that today you will be with me in paradise (Lk. 23:43). Christ promises us joy. Everlasting joy. A life lived in and through Christ is a life filled with joy, a joy-full life. And this is not something reserved only for our future resurrected lives in the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21) but it can be touched, glimpsed, tasted now. Christ says that he is the resurrection and the life. He shows through Lazarus Gods power to raise the dead. Christs own resurrection from the dead is a foretaste of our future resurrection and joy (1 Cor. 15:42). This is a promise about the future. A joyfilled promise. But if we are in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit of the risen one living within us already. We are already living a partly risen life. We can already taste joy: not just anticipation and excitement, but a real, and nourishing fulfilment of our souls very desire for God.

1. Do you find it easier to describe/imagine joy or sadness? If you were asked to write a novel, or make a film, and could choose between making people laugh or cry, which would you choose, and why? 2. Have you experienced joy? How would you describe it? 3. Do you think there is a difference between joy and happiness? 4. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown perishable, it is raised imperishable. (1 Corinthians 15:42). Those who have faith in Christ will be resurrected to a new embodied life, as was Christ (he wasnt a ghost although he could appear in locked rooms, he could also eat fish and his wounds could be touched). In this future resurrection-life we will live in a new heaven and a new earth, where the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them and He will wipe every tear from

their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away. (Revelation 21). What do you think of this as a vision of our future joy? (That was a long question wasnt it?! You might like to read it out again!)