By T.R. Kelly
BIBLE LESSON: THE JOY OF THE LORD

TEXT: ACTS 13:52

“The Disciples were filled with joy, and the Holy Ghost.” Remember- When God gives you the Holy Ghost He gives you JOY to sustain you during the trying times that WILL come.

JOY – (chara) (Greek) – joy, delight, (akin to chairo which means to rejoice) cheerfulness (see also: Rom. 14:17; Gal. 5:22; 1 Pt. 1:8)

JOY – (Agaliasis) Gr. – exultation, exuberant or extreme joy see Jude 24

JOY – (rinnah) Heb. – creaking (or shrill sound) i.e. shout or joy: cry, gladness, joy, proclamation, rejoicing, shouting, sing-(ing), triumph. (see Ps. 3:5; 26:5; Ps. 100:1,2; 149:2,5)

NOTE

-Joy is associated with life (see 1 Thes. 3:8,9).

–Experiences of sorrow prepare for, and enlarge, the capacity of joy (see Jn. 16:20)

—-Persecution for Christ’s sake enhances joy (see Mt. 5:11,12)

—–In OT and NT God Himself is the ground and object of the believers
joy (see Is. 61:10; Lk. 1:47)

I. JOY IS NOT SUBJECT TO CIRCUMSTANCE

– 2 Cor. 8:2 “…in a great trial of affliction the abundance of (the Macedonian churches’) joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”

– 2 Cor. 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in Persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong. (See also; 1 Pt. 4:13; Jn. 16:20-
24,33; Ps.30:5; Ps. 126:5)

—REMEMBER: JOY IS NOT FOUND IN SINGING A PARTICULAR KIND OF MUSIC, OR
GETTING WITH THE “RIGHT” GROUP, OR EVEN EXERCISING THE GIFTS OF THE
SPIRIT; FOR YOU CANNOT OPERATE THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT WITHOUT FIRST
HAVING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. JOY IS FOUND IN OBEDIENCE. OBEDIENCE TO
GOD’S WORD AND HIS WILL.

II. JOY IS ETERNAL

– Is. 51:11- “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: They shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.”

III. SOURCES OF JOY

A. GOD’S WORD

– We obtain joy through consumption of God’s Word (see Jer. 15:16)

B. FAITH

– see Rom. 15:13; Phil. 1:25

C. HOPE

– “… Rejoice in hope or the glory of God.” (Rom. 5:2) See also Rom. 12:12

D. THE JOY OF OTHERS

– “… Rejoice with them that rejoice.” (Rom. 12:15) See also 1 Thes. 3:9

IV. STEPS TO RETAINING JOY

– Psalms 51:12 lets us know that joy can diminish, but can also be restored again.

A. LOVE CHRIST, WHOM YOU HAVE NOT SEEN. 1 Pt. 1:8

B. COUNT IT A JOY WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED. Ja. 1:2

C. BE FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT. Eph. 5:18

D. ENCOURAGE YOURSELF THROUGH PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SPIRITUAL SONGS. Eph. 5:19

E. GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY. Jude 24

***REMEMBER HAPPINESS AND JOY ARE NOT SYNONYMOUS. HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON
“HAPPENINGS.” HAPPINESS FLUCTUATES ACCORDING TO CIRCUMSTANCES, THE
WEATHER, HOW THE CHILDREN BEHAVE, ETC. BUT JOY DOESN’T FLUCTUATE. JOY IS
THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW, BECAUSE JOY DEPENDS ON JESUS,
AND HE’S THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER.

(The original source of the above material is unknown.)

Christian Information Network