• The Word of God focuses heavily on Joy! The Word of God focuses heavily on Joy! Gal. 5:22; Ps. 16:11Gal. 5:22; Ps. 16:11

• The New Testament is as focused on Joy The New Testament is as focused on Joy as the Old Testament. as the Old Testament. 1 1 Thes. 5:16; Rom. 12:12; Phil. 4:4Thes. 5:16; Rom. 12:12; Phil. 4:4– ““If there is no joy in your religion, you’ve If there is no joy in your religion, you’ve

got a leak in your faith” got a leak in your faith” Billy SundayBilly Sunday

• Some say they have no joy because they have no reason to be joyful.– All bad things

• There’s a problem with that approach to life. If everything has to be perfect for you to have joy, you’ll never experience it.

• Jesus promised you will have troubles Jn. 16:33

• God’s joy in your life will make you happy, but the pursuit of happiness will not always bring you joy.– Worldly happiness is caused by our

circumstances.

• God’s kind of joy does not depend upon your present situation… It can exist despite our circumstances. Phil. 4:11-13

• God doesn’t want us to be under our circumstances. 1 Jn. 5:4; Jn. 8:36

• God tells us to rejoice even when it doesn’t seem to make sense to some. Jas. 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 4:12-13

• God says take control of your life by rejoicing! Acts 16:22-24, 25

• God’s kind of joy is not an emotion that happens to you. God’s joy is a tool for you to use to take control of your life. Neh. 8:10

• How can I lay hold of the Joy of the Lord?– We need to lay hold of the source of God’s joy!– The fruit of the Spirit is JOY Gal. 5:22

• Be filled with the Spirit! Eph. 5:18 How?– Surround yourself with music that glorifies

God and He will give you His joy! Eph. 5:19– Spend a great deal of time in prayer thanking

God for what He’s done and He will give you His joy! Eph. 5:20

– Find a way to serve others and God will give you His joy! Eph. 5:21

Come to Jesus today and Come to Jesus today and you can begin experiencing you can begin experiencing

the joy of the Lord!the joy of the Lord!Rom. 10:17; Acts 2:38; 8:37Rom. 10:17; Acts 2:38; 8:37