This is the second lesson in the Crossroads course Reflecting Jesus. The lesson is called "Love E".

2. Reflecting Jesus
3. Love Experienced

3. Lesson Outline
The Fruit of Joy The Fruit of Peace
1. Joy defined 1. Peace defined
2. Joy described 2. Peace described
3. Joy demonstrated 3. Peace demonstrated

4. 1. The Fruit of Joy

5. JOY DEFINED

6. Joy Defined
The Greek Word Joy versus Happiness
The New Testament word for Joy is different to happiness.
joy is chara. It denotes a joy • Happiness is based on our
that has its foundation in God. circumstances.
Joy does not come from
earthly things, but from our • Joy is based on our
relationship with God. relationship with God.
"The best way to be unhappy is to seek happiness."

7. JOY DESCRIBED

8. Joy Described
All human joy flows from love: love for life, for
people, for work. The same is true when the
heavenly love of the Spirit flows in our soul. The
result is joy from above. When God is the
fountainhead of our joy, nothing can diminish its
flow. Joy is constant because it begins with him.

9. Suffering and Joy
In the natural, suffering and James 1:2
joy are mutually exclusive
because happiness is Consider it pure joy, my
dependent upon circum- brothers, whenever you
stances. However, in the face trials of many
spiritual realm suffering and kinds, because you know
joy are often intimately
that the testing of your
connected. Spiritual joy comes
from God, who is unaffected faith develops
by our changing circum- perseverance.
stances.

10. Hindrances to Joy
• Anything which hinders our relationship with
God will rob us of joy .
• Joy dissipates when we take our eyes off the
Lord and focus on our circumstances.
• The solution is to spend time in the presence
of God focussing on God’s goodness towards
us.

11. Results of Joy
1. We have a happy Proverbs 15:13
face A happy heart makes the
face cheerful, but
heartache crushes the
spirit.

12. Results of Joy
1. We have a happy James 5:13
face Is anyone happy? Let him
sing songs of praise.
2. We have a joyful
song

13. Results of Joy
1. We have a happy Nehemiah 8:10
face Do not grieve, for the
joy of the Lord is your
2. We have a joyful
strength.
song
3. We have divine
strength

14. JOY DEMONSTRATED

15. Paul in Philippians
The book of joy in the Bible is Philippians. The
theme of joy and rejoicing dominates the entire
letter. What makes it noteworthy is that Paul
wrote it from prison to encourage a church that
was downcast about his situation. He
encourages them by saying he is full of joy and
urges them to rejoice as well.

16. Paul’s Reasons
Paul gives a number of reasons for his joy
despite his trial: their progress in the faith; their
preaching of the gospel; their prayers for his
deliverance.
At the end he gives his over-arching reason—the
Lord! He write, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in
the Lord … Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say
it again: Rejoice! (Phil. 3:1, 4:4).

17. 2. The Fruit of Peace

18. PEACE DEFINED

19. Peace Defined
• The fruit of peace describes the condition of
your heart when it finds rest and security in
the knowledge that you are in right relation-
ship with God and he will look after you.
• Peace is the fruit of trust, the inner calmness
and tranquillity that comes from whole-
hearted trust in God.

20. Peace Defined
Shalom
• contentment: a quiet, tranquil spirit
• security: a sense of being safe
• prosperity: a sense of general well-being
• harmony: being in right relationship with
God, others, and self

21. Peace Defined
Inside Out • The Holy Spirit imparts divine peace to
us.
The peace of the • Peace is spiritual and internal, indepen-
Holy Spirit is dent of circumstances.
developed from • We can have inner peace in the midst of
outer turmoil because peace has its
inside you, and it basis in our relationship with God.
does not depend • We do not have peace because our lives
on what is going on are problem free, but because we know
around you. God works all things together for our
good.

22. PEACE DESCRIBED

23. Peace Described
Three Dimensions Romans 5:1
1. Peace with God Therefore, since we have
been justified through
faith, we have peace with
God through our Lord
Jesus Christ.

24. Peace Described
Three Dimensions Philippians 4:6-7
1. Peace with God Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything, by
2. Peace of God prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the
peace of God, which
transcends all
understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.

25. Peace Described
Three Dimensions John 16:33
1. Peace with God I have told you these
things, so that in me you
2. Peace of God may have peace. In this
world you will have
trouble. But take heart! I
have overcome the world.

26. Peace Described
Three Dimensions Two Senses
1. Peace with God • Peace from God: He
gives us peace
2. Peace of God
• Peace in God: He acts
in our circumstances

27. Peace Described
Three Dimensions • We are peaceable
1. Peace with God “If it is possible, as far
as it depends on
2. Peace of God you, live at peace with
3. Peace with men everyone” (Rom.
12:18).

28. Peace Described
Three Dimensions • We are peacemakers
1. Peace with God " Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they
2. Peace of God will be called sons of
3. Peace with men God" (Matt. 5:9).

29. PEACE DEMONSTRATED

30. Peace Demonstrated
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to
the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to
defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we
are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we
serve is able to save us from it, and he will
rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he
does not, we want you to know, O king, that we
will not serve your gods or worship the image of
gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).

31. Peace Demonstrated
• No God, no peace. Know God, know peace!
• We do not know what the future holds, but
we know who holds the future.
• They did not know how their situation would
work out, but they knew God was in control
and he was on their side.

32. Conclusion

33. Conclusion
• Joy and peace come from our relationship with the
Lord, not from our circumstances.
• We can experience joy and peace even in difficult
circumstances.
• Joy has three visible results: happy face, joyful
song, divine strength.
• Peace operates in three dimensions: peace with
God, peace from God, and peace with men.