Joy-Staff

Proverbs 10:28

“The hope of the righteous is joy,

But the expectation of the wicked perishes.”

Q: What is the hope of the righteous? What is joy?

That someday we will get to live forever with Jesus in Heaven where we will no longer have to experience pain and will truly be righteous. Joy is a “consistent” feeling that is “internally generated,” produced by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 16:2, 4 & 11

“I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

I have no good besides You.”

“The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied; I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.”

“You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Q: What happens when people seek happiness/joy from other gods? Where do Christians find their joy?

The sorrows in our life increase, and our purpose decreases. Christians find joy in the presence of the Lord, whether that be in the word or seeing the beauty of Christ in the world.

Picture

John 16:24“Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

Q: How can you receive the joy of the Lord? Why does God want to make your joy full?

You can ask the Lord for joy and also pursue it through reading God’s Word. As a loving Father, He wants our joy to be fully experienced; when our joy is full, then we can’t help but sharing!

Luke 15:10“In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Q: Why is there such joy in Heaven when one sinner repents and gives his/her life to Christ?

Because that one individual will be saved for eternity, rather than be eternally separated from a relationship with God!

Paul

Galatians 5:22“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”

Acts 13:52“And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Q: If joy is a fruit of the Spirit, how then do you experience joy? How can you continually be filled with joy?

Joy is produced by God’s work in us, and it is part of God’s will for us. We need to ask the Spirit to fill us up more and more through constant prayer.

Peter

1 Peter 1:8and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…”

Q: How can you find “joy inexpressible” in your life? What takes away your joy?

By giving up the things of the world and craving a deeper relationship with Jesus. The encumbrances/sins of this life will steal away that joy.

APPLICATION: How do these passages relate to me today? What changes do they bring to my life?

LOCKER ROOM: Is there anything this week that you have been enslaved to, and how we can help you?