Bring Back Joy

- Statement just before Christmas "I just don't feel Christmasy!'

- Another statement "We're not going to have much of Christmas this year"

- We have come through the most joyous time of the year

- Where is the joy?

- When was the last time you really laughed?

- Not just a chuckle

- A real belly laugh

- You laughed so hard that it hurt

- Forbes put out a report that Gallup did on Happiness in America

- 18% are unhappy, 52% feel blah,

- Only 30% Americans are happy with life

- Another writer reported that 80% of People Quietly Despise Their Lives

- Bring Back the Joy

- JOY - Life's Missing Jewel

- Joy Stealers - Self-centered, Self-absorbed, Self-engrossed with our own discouragements aches and pains.

- Worry – Has it solved anything?

- Redirect your focus Christ Jesus

There is a song we sing

If you want joy real joy wonderful joy

Let Jesus come into your heart

Your sins He'll wash away

Your night He'll turn to day

Your life He'll make it over anew

- Not being trite or fake

- The genuine joy will be displayed in life

- This is obedience - Not a suggestion?

- How does this work?

1.) We Were Created To Be Joyful .

Genesis 1:31 (AV)

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Philippians 4:4 (AV)

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Psalm 100:2 (AV)

2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

- Know that God has intended that we would be joyful people

2.) Joy Comes From The Lord .

- Joy is a gift of God

Romans 14:17 (AV)

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Galatians 5:22 (AV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Nehemiah 8:10 (AV)

10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

- It's not a party that you go to

- Your search for joy is not in things and accomplishments

3.) Joy Comes Through Faith.

Romans 15:13 (AV)

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Philippians 1:25 (NLT)

25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.

4.) Sin A Joy Robber .

- David pursued his happiness outside of God

- Adultery with Bathsheba

- To keep it hidden he murdered Uriah

- David recognized sin had robbed him of joy

Psalm 51:8 (AV)

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Psalm 51:12 (AV)

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 85:6 (AV)

6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

5.) Pain Does Not Have To Stop Your Joy.

- Joy is a delight in life that runs deeper than pain

- Joy can be experienced even in extreme difficulty

- Even in the midst of suffering we can experience exceeding joy

1 Peter 4:13 (AV)

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1 Peter 5:10 (AV)

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Colossians 1:24 (NKJV)

24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

- You are not alone in your suffering

- Suffering brings us to a total dependency on God

6.) Have Unlimited Joy .

- Joy, Delight, Gladness, Rejoice, Etc..=860x

Luke 2:10 (AV)

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luke 24:52 (AV)

52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

Jude 24 (AV)

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,