10/02/19 GOT THAT JOY

10/02/19 GOT THAT JOY

When a daughter mentioned to a mutual acquaintance recently that I am her dad, he commented that I'm always smiling. PTL.

"I've got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart."
This is God's plan.
This is God's will.
This is God's presence.
This is God's witness to a sad world.
This is God's miracle in the midst of sorrow.
This is God's work of grace in my life.

"And if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack."
Don't let the devil rob you of God's joy,
I know you have trials. Of course you do, YOU AIN'T DEAD.
But most of our trials are inconveniences, and God allows you to have real trials in order to *Glorify Himself to others, *Draw us to Himself, *Test us, *Build us up in the faith, *Perfect us, and *Our trials are never surprises to God.
Realize that scowling, frowning, whining, crying, moaning, complaining, murmuring is what the devil wants. SO WHO YOU WANTING TO PLEASE?

"I've got the peace that passes understanding, down in my heart."
and,
"I've got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, down in my heart."

"And I'm so happy, so very happy; I've got the love Jesus in my heart."
and,
"Joy is the flag flown high, o'er the castle of my heart, for the King is in residence there."
and,
"I've got joy in Jesus. I've got Jesus Joy."

Some folks want to separate "the joy of salvation" from "salvation." Joy comes with Jesus. There is joy in salvation.
Isaiah 61:10
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Just in case you missed these Bible verses I posted yesterday, here they are again. I hope you enJOY them.

Passages...
If a Christian lives with less than the fullness of joy, even in the worst of all situations, it is because he is not trusting Christ.

Jesus has given us His word that we might have His joy and that our joy might be full.
John 15:11
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Jesus prayed that we might have His joy fill us, even in the time of trial.
John 17:13-15
13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

When the believers in the book of Acts were persecuted, they had GREAT JOY because they trusted in Jesus and served Him.
Acts 8:8
8 And there was great joy in that city.

When the apostles were persecuted and fled to other towns, they were filled with joy.
Acts 13:50-52
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

When the apostles shared the gospel, they brought great joy to the people.
Acts 15:3
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

Being arrested, losing their freedom, losing their homes and facing the loss of life, Paul was finishing his course with joy.
Acts 20:22-26
22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

The promise of the kingdom is not temporal pleasure, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Romans 14:17
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Believers, who were suffering their own troubles and poverty, gave of themselves with joy to bless others.
2 Corinthians 8:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

When the Spirit dwells in us and we walk in the Spirit, we produce joy.
Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Paul said that even if he died in service to other people, it would be a joy to him and he pointed out that believers do their service without murmuring and disputing.
Philippians 2:14-18
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

James makes it clear that believers rejoice in the midst of trial.
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Peter tells us that no matter how hard the trials are and how heavy the many temptations are and how strenuously our faith is tried, we still rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
1 Peter 1:6-9
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

When we are tried with fiery trials, we should rejoice and be glad with exceeding joy. When we are reproached, we should be glad, rather than vindictive.
1 Peter 4:12-14
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

John wrote to the believers so that our joy might be full.
1 John 1:4
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.