Living Your Joy out Loud: Claiming and Exclaiming Who You Are in Christ

By Joy Bazemore

Do you believe, really believe, what God says about you?

Do you want to?

Do you want Gods joy to truly make a difference in your life?

In Living Your Joy Out Loud, Joy Bazemore takes you on a study through the book of Philippians to illustrate the difference between a woman of God and an ordinary woman.

Weve got this thing called joy that comes from the presence of Christ. It cannot be taken away from us, and it sets us apart from those who depend on circumstances to make them happy. So lets learn how to live in Gods joy!

As you journey through Philippians, Living Your Joy Out Loud will help you:

Discover twenty-nine ways God describes a person who belongs to him
Examine your beliefs and motives and how they affect your actions
Worship at Jesus feet in order to let him heal your hurts and empower your life
Learn how Gods overwhelmingly beautiful joy can transform your daily living, especially your interaction with people

Bazemore invites you to enjoy the anecdotes, the humor, the imagery, and the solid biblical teaching. Read the explanations and ponder the questions she poses. Sing. Pray. Do it on your own or share it with a small group. Then, get up and go live your joy out loud!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490891132

Joy Bazemore

Joy Bazemore is a speaker, writer, teacher and encourager. Her goal is to meet women where they are, introduce them to Jesus and the Bible, and then help them make life applications that will bring joy to their lives and glory to God. Joy considers her style sillerious (silly/serious), and her Bible studies, skits and messages are proof. Joy and her husband, David, live in Alabama. They have four adult children and six grandchildren.

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INTRODUCTION

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YOU JUST WANT me to be perfect! my sixteen-year-old daughter wailed.

Truth be told, I did think her life would be easier if she could be perfect, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. And I have felt just as Grace felt many times, especially when reading Proverbs 31 about the wife of noble character. I would say to God, That woman was perfect, and you want me to be just like her? Well, I can’t do it.

It was on one such occasion that God spoke to me and said, "No, Joy, I want you to be like Jesus, and I want you to write a book for yourself and for other women about who you are in Christ, and how you can be more like him. For this book I want you to use the letter to the Philippians."

End of discussion.

So I wrote this book. It is not an ordinary study of one of the books of the Bible. It is unique in that I chose the topics by reading and rereading Philippians and looking for words or concepts the apostle Paul used to describe that early group of believers. For example, at the beginning of his letter, Paul addresses the Philippians as saints, so the first chapter is about every believer being a saint. Paul calls them partners, peacemakers, caretakers, and so on, and there are chapters on all the terms Paul uses for his readers.

I begin each chapter with a personal anecdote or other analogy to introduce the topic, and then I break the chapters down into four sections: The Joyful Truth, Digesting the Truth, Living Your Joy Out Loud, and Joy in Communion with Christ.

The Joyful Truth sections are taken from scripture verses that tell us who we are as believers. I explain the Greek word or phrases Paul used in his writing, because many times the nuances of the Greek language are much more meaningful than the English translations. In the first chapter, for example, the joyful truth is that we are saints!

In the Digesting the Truth sections, I try explaining in depth what truth from the Scripture means. Here I may use additional Bible passages or quotes from other references to help you understand the concept.

In the sections titled Living Your Joy Out Loud, I challenge you to make personal applications to your life and give specific suggestions on how to do so. Finally, in Joy in Communion with Christ, I ask you to sing a hymn with me and to pray. I believe the words of the hymns are perfect for summarizing the thoughts in the chapters and for bringing us to a place of personal worship. And no Bible study is any good without prayer, as prayer is the vehicle through which God effects change in our hearts. So please do not skip over this most important step.

Saint Richard of Chicester, an Anglican bishop from the thirteenth century, wrote a prayer that was memorialized in song several years ago: Oh, Lord, three things I pray—to see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, follow Thee more nearly day by day.¹ I hope this book will help my readers do that. My desire is that you will draw closer to the throne of God and agree with the psalmist, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Ps. 16:11).

SAINT

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MY MAMA, MARGARET Anna Lawrence Crawley, was born right before Christmas in 1922 to Willie and Nanny Lawrence of Lufkin, Texas. Willie owned a corner grocery store, and consequently, their little family always had food, even during the depression. Nanny was a true southern cook, making biscuits and gravy for practically every meal and baking the best pound cake you ever tasted. One might say my mama grew up well-fed.

By the time I was born, Mama was only slightly plump, but I remember her saying often, Everything’s better with butter or cream. She was a smart lady, and I wholeheartedly agree with her, though I would probably add, or cheese, or sour cream, or cream cheese!

She and I certainly would have seen eye to eye with American chef and food writer James Beard, who declared, Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts. And of course, butter comes from cream. I know this firsthand, because once when I was a newlywed I was whipping cream for strawberry shortcake and whipped it a little too long. Voila! Butter!

Through the years, the word cream has brought to mind the best or richest connotations. An old song proclaimed, You’re the cream in my coffee. … I’d be lost without you. And we’ve all heard, He’s the ‘cream of the crop.’ Then there’s the one that even children know, I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

The Joyful Truth

The letter to the Philippians starts with great news: We are cream!

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy.

Phil. 4:1-4,

ESV

In this very first verse of Philippians, we find the word saints, translated from the Greek word hagios, meaning holy one, consecrated, acceptable to God.

Maybe you’re saying, "I am no saint, because you know the Bible says for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). We are all part of the human race, which is not holy and therefore not acceptable to God. So how then can we be called hagios?

The word hagios comes from the same root as hagiazo, which means "to sanctify, set apart, make holy." The truth that sets us free is that we are not and cannot be holy in or of ourselves. But Jesus Christ, through the sacrifice of his life on the cross to pay for the sin of humanity, has made us holy, which is acceptable to God. What a wonderful truth!

Digesting the Joy

The problem is some truths are harder to believe than others. A good case in point is childbirth. I’ll never forget the birth of my first grandchild. My husband, David, and I traveled up to North Carolina to be there for the birth. Ten days after her due date, Shelley finally began having contractions at about 8:00 PM, and we tromped to the hospital at 11:30 PM.

Shelley was definitely in labor, and while my son-in-law, my husband, and I looked on, she learned the unfortunate truth about labor pains. After hours had passed, it was finally time for Shelley to push the baby out. David was asked to leave, but I was allowed to stay. It’s a good thing, too, because I was helping her push, every single time, for two hours. I would tell myself that my grunts and grimaces were not productive, but somehow I couldn’t quit!

At long last, though no thanks to me, the moment we’d all been waiting for came when Tyler Cason Spears was born. Just moments before, he had been an unknown joy, huddling in his mother’s womb. He had been breathing by way of a blood vessel, but through Shelley’s groaning force and God‘s goodness, he made his way into the world and took his first gulping taste of fresh air. What a miracle! When his mewling cries grew into vigorous shouts, my heart left my body and transferred to his.

Likewise, the joyful truth to be digested is that God gave his only Son to die for us. He promises that because of Jesus’ sacrifice: if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Ephesians 2:4-6 tells us that because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God has transferred his own heart into our lives. We are reborn. It is sometimes very hard to believe, but nevertheless it is true. As we accept the divine sacrifice and turn from our sin, God allows us to rise to the top as cream does on milk. Then he scoops us off and sets us apart for good works. Just as cream may be poured into hot coffee to make it delicious, we may be poured into a difficult situation to be a blessing. Furthermore, sometimes cream must be whipped in order to serve its purpose as the beautiful, tasty, finishing touch on a dessert. Similarly, we may have to undergo great trials before we can attain the triumph of glorifying God with our lives.

Are you still having trouble believing that you are hagios? Look at it this way: Childbirth is somewhat unbelievable, but we have all seen the proof staring back at us from our own mirrors! If you sometimes feel the need for proof of your salvation, look in your spiritual mirror, asking God to point out specific places in your life where he has changed (rebirthed) you.

Acts 7:58-9:31 records the account of Saul’s persecution of the Christians, his conversion experience, and some of the changes that came about in his life. It is interesting to note the changes in Paul’s demeanor and purposes after he was converted to Christ. Luke, the writer of Acts, was an eyewitness to Paul’s redeemed life. He knew beyond question that Christ had saved Paul because of the transformation he witnessed in the apostle’s life. Luke would have said, Paul is a saint, even though Paul himself said, Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst (1 Tim. 1:15).

Do you have any trouble believing you are a saint? If so, why? Think carefully about what changes came about in your life once you accepted Christ as your Savior. (If you became a Christian at an early age, this question may be more difficult for you. We will address this in a later chapter.)

Living Your Joy Out Loud

Another interesting New Testament word that comes from the same Greek root as hagios is hagion, which means sanctuary. Sanctuary can mean several different things, including a sacred place, such as a worship center or temple. In former times, there were places where fugitives from the law were allowed to flee and where they were immune to arrest. These places were called sanctuaries. In our day we might also call a place of refuge or asylum a sanctuary.

As female saints of the Lord, this is where we can have a deep and satisfying ministry. First of all, we welcome the Holy Spirit and allow him to make our lives his sanctuary. Then we look around, for in our homes, in our jobs, in our recreational pastimes, even in our churches, there are many who need sanctuary. They need someone who will listen without judgment, someone who will encourage and bring refreshment to their souls. They cry out for understanding and forgiveness. At some point we all need another person who will let us shout for joy unashamedly or weep the tears of deep sorrow or repentance.

Imagine yourself as a sanctuary. Is there anyone in your life who needs a place of refuge? Your husband may have struggles he cannot share with anyone else. Allow him into your heart, pray for him, and bless him with encouragement. Your children live in a frightening and dangerous age, so be a sanctuary for them. Protect, comfort, and guide them. Your friends and fellow church members (even those with the convincing smiles on their faces) are in the midst of Satan’s attacks, so let down your guard and empathize. Pray with them and for them.

One of the best features of a sanctuary is its openness. Our oldest daughter lived in New York City for seven years. What a throng of people in need of sanctuary! Countless churches in that city have responded to the need by leaving the doors of their churches open. At almost any time of day, in any part of the city, a person may walk right into a sanctuary where quiet and peace can be found. In the same way, if we are going to be sanctuaries to others, we will have to be open and available, even if the time is not convenient.

Our greatest privilege as hagios, holy and consecrated ones, is to lead people to our Lord, the ideal sanctuary, who said, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30).

In what specific ways can you bless the people around you with sanctuary?

Joy in Communion with Christ

Pray, asking God to give you opportunities with people you know. Think about what Christ has done for you so you now have the privilege of being called a saint. Thank him for his love, grace, and righteousness.

Please go to YouTube.com and search Lord Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary² by michaelatm2603. As you learn the words, sing along with the video, allowing the Holy Spirit to do his work in you.

PARTNER

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OUR THIRD DAUGHTER got married on a gorgeous, glorious summer day. The flowers were astoundingly beautiful, the bride and groom even more so. Smiles abounded, and tears of joy flowed freely. Being mother-of-the-bride was once again a marvelous privilege. With all this perfection, no wonder the almost five hundred pictures turned out fabulously. One of my favorites is a photo of Hillary and Evan as they entered the reception room. No wedding finery, no grins from ear to ear, no flowers. Just a simple picture of their hands, fingers intertwined, a striking symbol of the two joined together now as partners.

Think about how partnered hands are used. Did you ever play Red Rover as a child? Two teams would be chosen. One team would stand side by side in a long line on one end of the playground or lawn, and the other team would go to the other end and do the same. They would face each other, team members holding hands tightly. The teams would peruse their opponents to see which player looked the weakest (me, usually).

The captain of the first team would call out loudly, Red Rover, Red Rover, send Joy right over! I (or whoever was called) would have to run the length of the playing field and try to break through the clasped hands on the opposing team. If the runner broke through, she would get to capture one of that team (usually the strongest or her best friend) to bring over to the other side. If the chain was not broken, the runner would have to join the opponents’ team. And so the game would continue until everyone was sick and tired of it.

Another memory from childhood reminds me of a different use for partnered hands. Every once in a while, as a special treat, I got to go horseback riding at a local stable. I recall vividly my initial pitiful efforts at getting into the saddle. First, I would reach up and put my hands on the pommel of the saddle. Then, I would raise my left leg as high as I could, foot aimed towards the stirrup. Next, the horse would move and I’d have to let go of the saddle, swing my body back upright, and hopefully find the ground with my left foot before toppling over. If you’ve been there, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

After trying this method several times, I learned to accept help. The owners of the stable had been standing around smiling, watching my inept attempts, but when I turned to them with my sad face, one held the horse while another bent down and clasped his hands together, making a step for my foot. As I stepped into his hands, he gently raised them, boosting me into the saddle, where I then was able to slip my feet into the stirrups on each side.

At the wedding, the partnered hands were a symbol of unity. In the child’s game, the partnered hands were used to fight the enemy, and at the stable, they were used to hold and lift me. All of these examples are meaningful.

The Joyful Truth

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Phil. 1:4-6

The word in the Bible for partnership (in some translations it is fellowship) is the Greek word koinonia. It means participation, sharing, contribution. The implication is that we are participants with each other, and with God, in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. Every Christian can make a contribution that is eternally important to the kingdom of God.

Let’s examine the partnership. First of all, according to verse six, it was God’s idea to begin a partnership with us: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6). This means that in our partnership, God gets to be the senior partner. In that role, he establishes the policy of the partnership, and he holds the other partners—you and me—accountable. In other words, God is the overseer of all the operations of the partnership. In addition, as the senior partner, he is the face of the partnership to the world. When people accept my message, they are really accepting the Lord and, conversely, when they reject me they are rejecting the Lord.

The joyful truth is that our senior partner is also the much wiser partner. Unlike so many worldly partnerships, where the one in charge seems inadequate, inept, or ineffective, our senior partner has things under control. According to The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, there are 134 entries in the King James Bible where the word wisdom is mentioned. There are an additional 247 entries under the word wise.

Digesting the Joy

As I began scanning through the verses listed, the first truth I sensed is that wisdom is all about God. Verse after verse says the Lord put wisdom … or . . . the wisdom of God … or . . . the wisdom that God had put in his heart … or . . . he will show you the secrets of wisdom. Then I came upon this entry: . . . for in much wisdom is much grief … Whoa! What happened?

The reference was Ecclesiastes 1:18: For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Aha! I shouted silently. Ecclesiastes is the book that talks about all of life being meaningless. I started to skip right to the next thought, but instead I felt compelled to read the verse in context. This is from the paraphrase Bible, The Message:

Call me the Quester. I’ve been king over Israel in Jerusalem. I looked most carefully into everything, searched out all that is done on this earth. And let me tell you, there’s not much to write home about. God hasn’t made it easy for us. I’ve seen it all and it’s nothing but smoke—smoke, and spitting into the wind. Life’s a corkscrew that can’t be straightened, a minus that won’t add up. I said to myself, I know more and I’m wiser than anyone before me in Jerusalem. I’ve stockpiled wisdom and knowledge. What I’ve finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless—nothing but spitting into the wind. Much learning earns you much trouble [with much wisdom comes much sorrow]. The more you know, the more you hurt.

Eccles. 1:12-18

Imagine Solomon on a therapist’s couch. What are his symptoms? When you look beyond hopelessness and meaninglessness, it seems to me Solomon had I syndrome. The words I and me are used eleven times in these few verses, while the word God is used only once—and that in a negative context.

Solomon was, in effect, saying, Look at me! I am the teacher; I am the king. I’ve learned all there is to learn, and it is pointless. Why did God even put us here? True, Solomon had used wisdom, but it was his own wisdom rather than the wisdom of God.

Human wisdom is centered on self, thinking about self, believing in self, exalting self, relying on self. And yes, that kind of wisdom brings grief. The wisdom of God, on the other hand, begins with his first and foremost commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Deut. 6:5).

In our partnership with God, if he is our first love and we ask for his wisdom, we will get it. We find this promise in the book of James: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you (1:5). The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17).

Second Corinthians 9:8 says, And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Philippians 1:6 reads, Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

He is doing a good work in us, and as we partner with him, he will do a good work through us. If we lean on God’s understanding and acknowledge his work, he will direct us: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6).

Living Your Joy Out Loud

Why have partnerships? Usually, the goal is to produce or enjoy something that couldn’t be accomplished by an individual working alone. For instance, law partners often share knowledge, research, secretaries, office space, and so on. Doctors who are in practice together share the workload among patients. Business partners share the debt ensued when opening the business and profits when the business does well. Marriage partners enjoy companionship, a godly physical relationship, children, and more.

God has asked us to be his partners in sharing the gospel, but does he really need our help? Couldn’t he accomplish his purposes without us? After all, he created the earth and everything in it merely by speaking.

I love the wonderful truth of these lyrics from In Me by Casting Crowns: "How refreshing to know you don’t need me. How amazing to find that you want me. So I’ll stand on Your truth, and