Sermon Notes 23 November 2025

Series: Fruit That Lasts – Living the Spirit-Filled Life
Week 4 –  JOY: The Strength of the Spirit and the Overflow of Abiding 
Pastor Ryan Perry Sermon 23 November 2025
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Series Theme

• The Holy Spirit doesn’t just give power—He grows the life of Jesus in us.
• Power without character is dangerous; gifts without growth are hollow.
• Discipleship isn’t information—it’s formation:
• Christ-likeness, shaped by the Spirit as we stay rooted in Christ.

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Main Texts:
John 15:9–11 • Nehemiah 8:10 • James 1:2–4 • Philippians 4:4–7 • Galatians 5:22–23

SUMMARY

• Joy is not a feeling — it is the supernatural work of God in the life of a believer who abides in Christ.
• Joy is the result of God’s presence, God’s power, and God’s forming hand shaping the heart into the likeness of Jesus.

• The Bible doesn’t have just one word for joy — it has a whole language of joy.
• That’s because joy is not simple or shallow; joy has depth, strength, movement, sound, and endurance.

This week we learn how God grows joy in us, and what joy looks like in the character of God’s people.

MAIN POINTS

1. GOD PLANTS JOY IN US (Abiding Joy) — John 15:9–11; Psalm 16:11 -- Joy begins with God’s presence, flows from Christ’s love, and grows through obedience.
2. GOD STRENGTHENS US THROUGH JOY (Fortifying Joy) — Nehemiah 8:10; Philippians 4:4–7  Joy is spiritual strength — courage to keep going, confidence in God’s nearness.
3. GOD FORMS JOY THROUGH TRIALS (Enduring Joy) — James 1:2–4; Romans 5:3–5  Joy grows in pressure, suffering, and testing — shaping endurance and character.
4. GOD EXPRESSES JOY THROUGH US (Overflowing Joy) — Psalm 30:11; Isaiah 35:10; Psalm 32:11  Joy moves, sings, celebrates, leaps, and becomes a witness to the world.
5. GOD’S JOY REVEALS GOD’S CHARACTER — Galatians 5:22–23; Romans 14:17  God is joyful, and His joy becomes visible in His people.

 BIBLICAL JOY VOCABULARY - Understanding the Bible’s language of joy helps us understand God’s joy.

HEBREW WORDS (Old Testament)

• שִׂמְחָה — Simchah. Meaning: Celebrating joy — joy that moves, joy that dances. Verse: Psalm 30:11
• שָׂשׂוֹן — Sason. Meaning: Erupting joy — joy that bursts out after deliverance. Verse: Isaiah 35:10
• חֶדְוָה — Chedvah. Meaning: Strengthening joy — joy that fortifies and steadies the soul. Verse: Nehemiah 8:10
• רִנָּה — Rinnah. Meaning: Singing/shouting joy — joy that becomes sound. Verse: Psalm 5:11
• גִּיל — Gil. Meaning: Leaping/dancing joy — joy that moves the body. Verse: Psalm 32:11

GREEK WORDS (New Testament)

• χαρά — Chara. Meaning: Abiding joy — Jesus’ own joy placed inside us. Verse: John 15:11
• ἀγαλλιάω — Agalliaō. Meaning: Overflowing joy — joy that leaps up in the spirit. Verse: Luke 1:47
• εὐφροσύνη — Euphrosynē. Meaning: Warm joy — joy that fills the heart in God’s presence. Verse: Acts 2:28
• καύχημα — Kauchēma. Meaning: Enduring joy — joy that stands strong in suffering. Verse: Romans 5:3

KEY VERSES

• John 15:11 (ESV) -- “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
• Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV) -- “…Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
• James 1:2–4 (ESV) -- “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
• Philippians 4:4–7 (ESV) -- “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice… The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything… And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
• Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) -- “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Use these for small groups, or personal devotional time.

1. Where do you see God strengthening joy in your life right now?
2. Do the people closest to you experience joy or stress from your life?
3. Which expression of biblical joy (celebrating, erupting, strengthening, singing, leaping, abiding, overflowing, warm, enduring) is God forming in you today?
4. Are you abiding deeply enough for joy to grow? Why or why not?
5. Where are you experiencing the opposite of joy—bitterness, cynicism, burnout—and what needs to be surrendered?