April 21^st, 2024 – “HAPPINESS & JOY”

John 15:1-11

INTRODUCTION:

“HAPPY”

** emotional situation based upon circumstances

** From the old English “happenstance” based on circumstance

Hebrew (522 x)

Esher “happy” & “blessed”

Greek makarios (77x)

blessed (1), blessed (46), fortunate (1), happier (1), happy (28).

“JOY”

Spiritual condition based upon one’s knowledge and faith!

Hebrew – simchah “joy” “gladness” “mirth”

delight (1), exceeding joy (1), extremely* (1), festival (1), gladness (34), happiness (1), joy (38), mirth (1), pleasure (6), rejoice (1), rejoiced (1), rejoicing (6).

Greek – chara

“greatly (1), joy (54), joyful (1), joyfully (1), joyously (1), rejoicing (1).

EXPOSITION:

FIRST, THE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF JOY! Jude 1:24-25

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only GOD our Savior, through Jesus Christ our LORD, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time, and now and forever. Amen.”

SECOND, SALVATION IS A SOURCE OF JOY BUT IT CAN BE LOST WHEN WE ALLOW SIN TO COME INTO OUR LIFE!

Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

THIRD, THE GREATEST SOURCE OF JOY IS LEADING AN UNSAVED PERSON TO FAITH IN JESUS!

Psalm 126:5-6 (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! (6) He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Luke 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Acts 15:3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

1^st Thessalonians 2:19-20 “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.”

FOURTH, SENSING THE PRESENCE OF JESUS IS A SOURCE OF GREAT JOY!

Luke 1:44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

FIFTH, TRUE SPIRITUAL JOY IS A FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER!

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law.

SIXTH, JOY OUGHT TO BE THE ATTITUDE IN WHICH WE ENTER INTO WORSHIP!

Psalm 100:1 “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!”

SEVENTH, THE JOY WE HAVE IN CHRIST IS THE SOURCE OF OUR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH!

Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

EIGHTH, HAVING OUR FAITH TESTED OUGHT TO BRING US JOY!

James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

NINTH, FAITHFULLY SERVING JESUS WILL RESULT IN OUR JOY WHEN WE STAND BEFORE HIM!

Matthew 25:21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

TENTH, SACRIFICIAL GIVING TO THE LORD’S KINGDOM WORK IS A SOURCE OF JOY!

2^nd Corinthians 8:2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

ELEVENTH, SUFFERING FOR JESUS IS A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL JOY!

1^st Thessalonians 1:6 “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit…”

Hebrews 12:2 “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

TWELVETH, THE GREATEST JOY A PARENT AND A PASTOR CAN HAVE IS TO SEE HIS FAMILY LIVING IN OBEDIENCE TO JESUS!

3^rd John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”