Something about "joy" .

Dear friends Joy is not just a nice English word.

Joy is a gift of the Spirit, Joy needs to have a Central Place in our Christian life, enriching our own lives certainly, but even more importantly, Enriching the lives of those around us.
This is a message for you, in fact for us all.
1: Jer. 31:13 Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
2: Jer. 31:14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my Joy," declares the LORD.
3: Matt. 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
4: Isa. 52:9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
5: Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."
6:1Ths. 3:9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
7:Ps. 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
8: Jer. 15:16 When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.
9:John 15:11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
10:Ps. 126:6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
11: James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
12:Hebr. 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
James Packer said of joy its like Jam, you know: it sticks to you as you try to spread it!
1: Sometimes it's easy to be joyful. Right?
When our daily needs have been amply supplied.
When relationships of family and friends is sweet, when we have seen God working for us and through us, we can fairly readily identify with the Psalmist
Ps. 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
But sometimes, sadly, the experience of Joy becomes routine and predictable, hardly distinguishable from ordinary human happiness.
Why is that, what is wrong, is it because we focus our attention on the Joy's of Life rather than on the joy of Life, is it that we are looking in the wrong places.

Have we forgotten that in God's way of doing things?
The path to JOY is often through Obedience and suffering.

Sometimes Joy surprises us!
For Joy appears when and where we are not expecting it.
When our hearts have been truly moved to confess sin and our lives have been cleansed and renewed.

When our ears have listened to God's word and our wills have been set to obey His Commands; when we allow His love to flow through to others- then we are promised that our Joy will be complete.
When our hearts have been broken by sorrow or persecution; when our faith is stretched to the limit
When our cross is more than we can bear-then we are offered Pure Joy.
Like the song says
When we have exhausted our store of endurance, when our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

We all know of course that Life is not one big Picnic, Praise God something happens when we rely not on our own strength, Wisdom, Money, friends, or whatever,
But something happens, when we truly put our faith and Trust in the lord,

Who takes the troubles of Life and turns their little streams of sorrow and sadness into a great stream of Gladness and Joy.
That stream comes not from mere religion, But from Christ, the Saviour of the World.
These things have I spoken unto you that my Joy might remain in you and that your Joy might be full�
Jesus wants us to live a Life of JOY, Peace, and Love.
Saints throughout the ages have witnessed to this wonderful reality. You know of course we are not speaking of a silly superficial, bubbly kind of Joy, Like that flaunted in modern society.
Or depicted so often wrongly by what comes to us from Hollywood on the screen.
No this is a deep, resonant Joy that has been shaped and tempered by the fires of Suffering and sorrow- Joy through the Cross-,
Joy because of the Cross.
Ps. 126:5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
Ps. 126:6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
God’s word so clearly tells us.....The fruit of the Spirit is Joy.
Paul said. JOY is a by-product of possessing the Spirit and being possessed by the Spirit.
It is the conscious possession of power adequate
enough to carry us through every trial, every situation, and will remain ours to the end...... In this life, we shall never be free of sorrow.
But, then, we shall never be free of Joy.
And Joy is the dominant Note. We are in Touch with a Power that dries all tears, lifts all burdens, and satisfies all needs. Our lives are hidden with God in Christ.
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Rom. 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
Rom. 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Phil. 2:2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
How are we to learn to rejoice in the Lord Always?
1: By Choosing to dwell, over and over again on the wonderful fact that Jesus loves Yes Jesus loves even
me and accepts me.
2:God can give me the grace and strength through every circumstance of Life. His Grace is sufficient.
3:Yes, I have something supremely worth having:
the knowledge of my Saviour.
4:Yes, I am doing something supremely worth doing, in seeking every opportunity to share Jesus Christ with others.
As one thinks on these things, JOY wells up spontaneously.
You choose Joy by choosing to think on these things.
That dear friends is the Secret.
In one word Joy is knowing Jesus.
It will Joy and Comfort give you take it then where'ere you go (S66)
Remember Jesus; He is the Wellspring of the Joy of Living.
Jesus sets us Free from the bondage of sin,
Joy is mine I've naught to Fear trusting Jesus that is all.
J.O.Y. JOY. And its down in my Heart deep Deep down in my heart.
Joy Joy wonderful Joy,
Peace, Peace, naught can destroy,
Love, Love so boundless and free,
All this my lord gives to me.
May the Lord Bless you and give you this Joy.