Don't let joy slip out of your life. A child, on average, laughs 500 a day. An adult, on average, laughs 17 times a day. Somewhere along the line we let joy leave our lives. Jesus calls us to be joyful.
Joy is mentioned in the Old Testament 100 times. There are 15 different Hebrews words for "joy." It is mentioned in the New Testament over 60 times -- each time telling us to be joyful. Through Jesus we can be joyful all the time.
"He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." Isaiah 53:3
This is true, but this wasn't/isn't all of Jesus. He found joy daily. He lived joyfully.
Jesus -- Man of Joy!
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
Jesus had joy when he healed the leper.
Jesus had joy when he saved the woman caught in adultery and she turned from sin.
Jesus had joy when he healed the lame, deaf and blind.
Jesus had joy when the little children came to Him.
Jesus had joy when he raised Lazarus from the dead.
We are to be people of Joy!
"Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy." Psalm 47:1
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
Joy is a gift!
"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:7
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit," Romans 14:17
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," Galatians 5:22
Our Joy
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8-9
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” Isaiah 12:6
Jesus on Joy:
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:7
10 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. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:10-11
Joy Today
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds," James 1:2
13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:13
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." John 16:22
Challenge question: Do you have joy today? Do you have joy Monday morning?
Make people want what you have in Jesus!
Joy is mentioned in the Old Testament 100 times. There are 15 different Hebrews words for "joy." It is mentioned in the New Testament over 60 times -- each time telling us to be joyful. Through Jesus we can be joyful all the time.
"He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." Isaiah 53:3
This is true, but this wasn't/isn't all of Jesus. He found joy daily. He lived joyfully.
Jesus -- Man of Joy!
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2
Jesus had joy when he healed the leper.
Jesus had joy when he saved the woman caught in adultery and she turned from sin.
Jesus had joy when he healed the lame, deaf and blind.
Jesus had joy when the little children came to Him.
Jesus had joy when he raised Lazarus from the dead.
We are to be people of Joy!
"Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy." Psalm 47:1
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
Joy is a gift!
"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:7
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit," Romans 14:17
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," Galatians 5:22
Our Joy
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:8-9
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” Isaiah 12:6
Jesus on Joy:
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:7
10 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. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:10-11
Joy Today
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds," James 1:2
13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:13
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." John 16:22
Challenge question: Do you have joy today? Do you have joy Monday morning?
Make people want what you have in Jesus!
RSS Feed
