#2 Fruit Of Spirit Joy Series

#2 STUDY OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: JOY

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.

Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Text:

Nehemiah 8:10 --for the JOY of the Lord is Your strength.

James 1:2 My brethren COUNT IT ALL JOY when you fall into divers temptations.

Proverbs 17:20 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

WE ARE STUDYING THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

There is great debate whether there is nine fruits or is there one fruit of the Spirit? We will study them all, but know that all fruit is birthed out of love!

What can we do to produce a great amount of fruit? We can study and develop a love and an appreciation and an awareness of fruit and it’s production!

We have broken the nine into three groups.

1. Inward: love, joy, peace

2. Outward: longsuffering-patience,

gentleness-kindness, goodness.

3. Godward: faith-faithfulness, meekness,

temperance-self control.

Today’s study of JOY IS OUR 2nd STUDY, THE SECOND IN THE INWARD GROUP.

With seven more to follow.

1. Some quotes about JOY:

--The surest steps toward happiness are the church

steps.

--Humor is the prelude to faith, and laughter is the

beginning of prayer.

--Don’t count your troubles, count your blessings,

name them one by one.

--Share your heart, not your mind and you will find

JOY.

--People are happy that make up their minds to be

happy.

--Make up your mind to be happy, then notify your

face!

--A smile improves your face value!

LEARN TO BE HAPPY:

keep your heart free from hatred,

keep your mind free from worry,

live simply,

give much,

sing often,

pray always,

forget yourself,

think of others and their feelings,

fill your heart with the Word of God and with

Love,

scatter sonshine all around,

THESE ALL THE TRIED LINKS IN THE GOLD CHAIN OF

LIFE AND CONTENTMENT.

2. DEFINE JOY!

--state of mind and of heart --to instill hope

--to make glad --gladness --encouragement

--to alleviate sadness --pleased

-- The emotion evoked by well being --delight

--bliss --high spirits --source of delight

--rejoice --gladden --contentment --merry

--celebration --lighthearted --cheerful

The joy of the Lord does not depend on circumstances, feelings, emotions, or what the eyes see.

Real joy is inward; and the outward do not dictate what is hidden in the heart.

WE LOOK AT JOY ALL WRONG!

What do you do when the WHAMMY HITS?

Nothing that happens without, should hinder our rejoicing within.

James 1:2 My brethren COUNT IT ALL JOY when you fall into divers temptations.

Living Bible: Dear brothers is your life full of troubles, difficulties and temptations? THEN BE HAPPY!

Troubles, trials and obstacles are but opportunities for the Move of God.

As hot water brings out the taste of tea, so troubles show what you really believe.

God wants us to find joy in adversity and to exercise love and patience in a time of trouble.

Jesus works not just in passions but in patience. Trials and oppositions can release a new level of growth within us and we can find JOY.

REJOICE AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: again I say REJOICE.

Repetition is a literary device to stress how important something is.

As Paul penned the words here under the anointing, he felt compelled to write again rejoice.

YOU ARE THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF YOUR LIFE, IT DEPENDS ON NO ONE BUT YOU!

LIFE IS 10% OF WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU AND 90% HOW YOU

TAKE AND MAKE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU.

IN LIFE YOU WILL GO THROUGH SEASONS.

We all will go through solemn days. We have to learn

to live and laugh by faith.

Just as we know in the cold of winter that summer is

coming, so by faith we must learn this too shall

pass!

IDENTIFY THE DAILY JOY STEALERS THAT WE FACE.

Nehemiah 8:10 --for the JOY of the Lord is Your strength.

The enemy knows that to steal your joy, you will be anemic and weak.

Learn to expect little, the gift of a dandelion from a child should make us smile.

Worry, fear, disappointments, bitterness, and

watching people are joy stealers.

Discipline your heart and mind and avoid any thing

that will take your joy.

Happiness and Joy are not found, they are made by

faith.

ANSWER THIS QUESTION: I WOULD BE HAPPY IF ... ? ? ?

The heart and mind are never satisfied.

MY GRANDSON WAS SAD AS THE SUN WHEN DOWN AND LEFT US,

I EXPLAINED TO HIM THE SUN IS NOT GONE, IT IS JUST OUT OF OUR SIGHT.

Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in JOY.