TEXT: Acts 16:24-25; John 14: 1-4, 19-21

 INTRODUCTION: (Pr. 15: 30).                

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil 4:4) NIV. Many Christians are very negative about virtually everything that happens in life, complaining almost all the time. As a result, they just aren’t much fun to be around. We can have real joy in knowing that Jesus loves us and is coming back for us.  No matter what problems that we have throughout our day, we can have real joy in the comfort of His love. What happens when a forest mighty trees burns down?  It starts the regrowth process doesn't it?  Grief and sadness is only for a season when you put your life into proper perspective.  If we allow it, the seeds of tears can grow into new spiritual growth.  Our tragedies of life can become a learning experience if we patiently wait upon the Lord to help us fly again.                                                                                                                                                                 

MEANING OF  JOY:                                                                                                                                                                                     Joy is the second manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit.The Greek word for Joy is (chairo) means a Primary verb to be cheerful, calmly, happy or well off. In addition, Chara (joy) is used some 70 times in the New Testament, always to signify a feeling of happiness that is based on spiritual realities. Joy is a part of God’s own nature and Spirit that He manifests in His children. It is the inevitable overflow of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and of the believer knowing His continuing presence (1 Pet. 1:8). It is a sense of gladness and contentment in the face of the various circumstances of life (Acts 12: 6).

Joy is the deep-down sense of well-being that abides in the heart of the person who knows all is well between himself and the Lord. It is not an experience that comes from favorable circumstances or even a human emotion that is divinely stimulated. Joy not only does not come from favorable human circumstances but is sometimes greatest when those circumstances are the most painful and severe. One of John’s motivations in writing his first epistle was that his joy might “be made complete” (1 John 1:4). Although joy is a gift of God through His Spirit to those who belong to Christ, like love, it is also commanded of them. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Phil. 4:4). Because joy comes as a gift from God, the command obviously is not for believers to manufacture or try to imitate it. The command is to gratefully accept and get drunk in this great blessing they already possess. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit Rom. 14:17).                                             

JOY AND HAPPINESS :( Jas 1: 2)

Now don’t mistake happiness for joy. It’s easy to do that. The Bible mentions "joy" or "rejoicing" 330 times. But it only mentions "happiness" 26 times. Happiness depends upon what happens to you. So if all the circumstances are right, then you can be happy.                                                                                                                                  But joy comes from inside.

ENEMIES OF JOY:                                                                                                                                          Constantly complaining, Withdrawal from spiritual life (or life in general), frequently angry, Sense constant frustration. Rarely grateful, Self-centeredness, focus on circumstances (sight) and feelings, disobedient spirit is always joyless, unbelief, fear etc.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 HOW DO WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S KIND OF JOY? (Heb 13: 17)                                                                                                                                        

Faith and trust in God not a focus on circumstances, Obedience is the pathway to joy,            having a sense of God’s love etc.
 

IMPORTANCE OF JOY:                                                                                                                                                                     

1. The joy of the Lord can really give you an incredible surge of strength in your own daily walk with God - especially when you have to take on some really tough situations. This is why each Christian should work very closely with the Holy Spirit in not only getting Him to release His joy into your system, but to keep it running through you on a regular and consistent basis.  2. Without God's joy operating in your life, things can begin to dry up.    Nothing will ever fun anymore. Everything can start to become a task. Before you know it, you will want to start to withdraw from others and life in general. 3. In the rough and tough world we live in, with all of the crime, disorder and bad things that are happening   some Christians have literally had most, if not all of their joy in the Lord, knocked right out of them. Most people don’t seem to be happy anymore and everyone seems to be carrying around the weight of the world on their shoulders.   The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is your strength. This is why it is so important that every Christian have some level of God's joy operating through them in this life.                                                                                            

4. A person maybe suffering from a chain of misfortune, but still have joy in his heart. Like the Apostle Paul, though suffered greatly, endured so much tribulation for the sake of the Gospel, and never lost his joy as a Christian. In contrary, a person maybe full of earthly pleasures, but still does not have real joy in his heart. Like the rich people who are living apart from the ways of God, they may have lots of pleasures in this world because of their material possessions, but you will still hear some of them who despite of affluence are not still happy. It is because the joy of the Lord is not present in their lives (1 Thes. 1: 6; 2 Cor. 7: 4; 8: 2). 

GOD DESIRES US TO WALK IN JOY NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS! (Job 6: 10c; Ps 4: 7).                                                                  

God desires us to have JOY in our lives even when circumstances become like "Job" in the Bible full of Sorrow. Sickness like Job or Paul with the thorn in the flesh didn't stop their JOY (2 Cor.12:9-10)  When times are hard we still can have JOY.  Psalms 30:5 … weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.                                                                                                                                                          Suffering and trials like Paul and Silas (Acts 16:24-25; Ro 14: 17)

a. They sang praises to the Lord, they were happy in spite of their circumstances.

b. They trusted the Lord to take care of them and to help them get through the trials.

c.   Because they trusted the Lord the soul of the Jailer and his family were saved. 

 LOSING OUR JOY (Gal 4: 15):                                                                                                                                                       

Our "JOY" can be lost by our own sinful values and lack of spiritual walk. 1.  Sin of Selfishness.  Thinking me, me, and me and not looking at others through the eyes of Jesus with love and compassion.                                                                                                              

2.  Sinful Spiritual Pride can make us loose our joy.  Instead of helping people with an attitude of humbleness, one can become conceited and arrogant making the other person feel unimportant and hurt.  3.  Sin of Anger and having a fighting spirit can take away joy from one's heart and life.  4.  Sin of Judging and being critical of others takes away joy and peace of mind.  5. Fault finding can create a feeling of dissatisfaction in one's life.  It will destroy joy! 6. Lack of effort to spiritually grow.

7.  Not reading and studying the Bible will take our joy away (Ps 119: 111).

8. Not taking everything to God in prayer can take our joy away.

9. Not looking at others through the loving eyes of Jesus with love and compassion. 

10. Not following and trusting the Lord to help get one through life.  In other words leaning upon one's own power and understanding instead of God's. GOD GAVE US

A WONDERFUL REASON TO HAVE JOY IN OUR LIVES NO MATTER WHAT TRIALS.                                                                                                                                                                 The glorious birth of Jesus brought joy to the world.  The Bible even speaks of this joy in:  Luke 2:10-11 and the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings 
 of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a
 Savior, which is Christ the Lord.                                                                                                                                                           The blessed sacrifice that Jesus made for us by dying on the cross for our sins, brought eternal and everlasting joy to our lives (John 3:16). The resurrection of Jesus brought us joy.  He proved by that special miracle act He truly is the Son of God (John 14:19-21).  

CONCLUSION:                                                                                                                                                                        No matter how bad of a beating you may have taken in this life - God can still fully heal, deliver and restore you if you are willing to work with Him in this healing process (Ps 51: 12).. And one of the things that God can fully restore in you is your joy in Him.  Think of it this way, "If you start your day praising the Lord and end it praising the Lord then you had a good day.  There may have been problems and heartache.  You may have even cried but if you end the day always remembering to praise the Lord, than you had a good day.