GROWING To Have A JOY-FILLED Life

Living A Joy-Filled Life In A Trouble-Filled World Philippians 1:9-11; Selected Scriptures By D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D. Min. July 26, 2020 Scripture Reading – Psalm 100 (NASB) – Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. 3 Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. GROWING To Have A JOY-FILLED Life 1. You need to keep GROWING in your ABILITY to LOVE. Philippians 1:9 (ESV) – And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, Love – Abound – Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT2) – I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 2. You need to keep GROWING in KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV) – And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Knowledge – Discernment – Colossians 1:9 (ESV) – And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 3. You need to keep GROWING in how the HOLY SPIRIT controls you. Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV) – And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Filled speaks to CONTROL. Ephesians 5:18 (ESV) – And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, Fruitful speaks to PRODUCTIVITY. Colossians 1:10 (ESV) – so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. John 15:4-5 (ESV) – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing Romans 5:5 (NLT2) – And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. LIFE Group Questions 1. When you were little did you want to grow physically bigger or stronger? Explain 2. Why was overall physical growth, or the growth of body parts, so important to you? 3. Name a time you not being physically big or tall enough kept you from doing something. How did it make you feel? 4. Why is spiritual growth important to believers? 5. How do you think you need to grow in love? Explain 6. Why is it important to grow in knowledge, understanding and insight? 7. What responsibility does it place upon you knowing your spiritual growth is in your control? 8. How can you allow the Holy Spirit to grow in his control of your life? 9. Explain the relationship between growth and joy. 10. What practical steps will you make to g...