'Finding Your Joy’: John 15:1-17 (Joy)

Read Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Are you ready to make an investment in the Fruit of Joy?

Read John 15:1-11:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Describe three things that, if they were to happen right now, would increase your current level of joy. Be specific.

Write your answer in the space provided.

Why do you believe that these three additions to your life would increase your level of joy? Again, be specific.

Go to 'DOCUMENTS' and read Oswald Chambers comments on John 15:1-11.

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Oswald states:

"The joy of Jesus was His absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice to His Father— the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do— “...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross...” (Hebrews 12:2). “I delight to do Your will, O my God...” (Psalm 40:8)."

How was Jesus' joy different than the joy you described in Step 3 above? Be specific.

Oswald describes the reason most of us are not experiencing the full joy of Jesus, he writes:

"...the first thing that will hinder this joy is the subtle irritability caused by giving too much thought to our circumstances. Jesus said, “...the cares of this world,...choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:19). And before we even realize what has happened, we are caught up in our cares."

In all honesty, how much are the 'cares of this world' currently choking out your intimacy with Jesus and the joy it produces?

Oswald challenges us with:

"Stop being hypocritical and proud, aware only of yourself..."

Regarding your own hypocrisy and pride, is there anything you would like to repent of (express your sorrow)?

If so, you can do so privately or in the space provided.

Read John 15:12-17:

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."

Select 'Successful' when you are finished.

Take a moment to get quiet.

When you are ready, ask God to search you and reveal to you what you can do right now to get into the same intimate relationship with Jesus as He has with His Father.

Write down what you receive in the space provided.

(Note: If you do not receive anything, search your conscience and choose an action that you believe God has placed on your mind, but you have been hesitant to do.)

If God revealed a specific action, how much joy do you believe you will bring to Him by doing it?

How much joy do you believe you will experience by doing the will of your Lord and Savior?

As it applies to experiencing more joy in your life, describe the difference you derive from doing God's will versus pursuing your own.

How much has this Trail helped you to find your joy?