Introduction

Welcome, dear friends. It's a delight to be with you today, gathered in God's presence, as we unpack the profound gift of joy that our Heavenly Father so generously bestows upon us. Today, we're going to unwrap this divine gift, to better understand it, to celebrate it, and most importantly, to share it.

Opening Scripture Reading – Our scriptures for today are Proverbs 17:22, which says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones," Habakkuk 3:18, where we read, "yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior," and finally, John 15:11, where Jesus tells us, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

When we read these passages, we can't help but feel the radiance of joy that emanates from them. This joy is not a fleeting emotion, not a transient feeling that comes and goes with the ups and downs of life, but a deep-seated, unshakeable certainty that no matter what happens, we are held secure in the loving arms of our Savior. This is the joy we're going to talk about today.

To set the stage for our discussion, I want to share with you a quote from the esteemed Christian author, Matthew Henry. He once said, "The joy of the Lord is the strength of His people." This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the essence of divine joy. It is not just a feeling of happiness or pleasure, but a source of strength, a bulwark in times of trial, a beacon of hope in times of despair.

Joyful Journey: Understanding the Gift from God

As we embark on this teaching section, we're going to connect it back to our overall theme of joy. This joy, as we've discussed, is not just a feeling. It's not just a moment of happiness or a fleeting sense of pleasure. It's a divine gift, a fruit of the Spirit that God plants in our hearts. It's a deep-seated, unshakeable certainty that no matter what happens, we are held secure in the loving arms of our Savior.

Now, let's talk about this gift from God. Let's try to understand it better. Let's see how it's not just an emotion, but a divine gift. A gift that's freely given to us by our Heavenly Father. A gift that's meant to be cherished, nurtured, and shared.

Our main scripture for this section is Proverbs 17:22, which says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." This verse is packed with wisdom. It's telling us that a cheerful heart, a heart filled with joy, is good for us. It's good for our health, our well-being, our spirit. But a crushed spirit, a spirit devoid of joy, dries up the bones. It saps our strength, our vitality, our life force.

A. So, what does this tell us about the gift of joy? It tells us that joy is essential for our well-being. It's not a luxury, not an optional extra, but a vital necessity. Without joy, our spirit is crushed, our life force is drained, our bones are dried up. But with joy, our spirit is uplifted, our life force is renewed, our bones are strengthened.

Now, let's move on to our second scripture, Habakkuk 3:18, where we read, "yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." This verse is a declaration of faith, a proclamation of joy. It's saying that no matter what happens, no matter how dire the circumstances, I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior.

B. What does this tell us about the gift of joy? It tells us that joy is not dependent on circumstances. It's not contingent on what's happening around us. It's not determined by the ups and downs of life. Rather, it's dependent on our relationship with God. It's contingent on our faith in Him. It's determined by our trust in His promises.

Our third scripture is John 15:11, where Jesus tells us, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." This verse is a promise from Jesus. He's saying that His joy, the joy that He has in His relationship with the Father, can be in us. And not just a little bit of joy, but full joy. Complete joy. Overflowing joy.

C. What does this tell us about the gift of joy? It tells us that joy is not something we have to strive for, not something we have to earn, not something we have to work for. It's a gift from Jesus. It's something He freely gives to us. And He doesn't just give us a little bit of joy, but full joy. Complete joy. Overflowing joy.

Joyful Jubilation: Celebrating and Sharing our Joy

As we continue to unwrap the divine gift of joy, we find ourselves in the midst of a jubilant celebration ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO