The Joy Of The Lord Is Our Strength

1. Angels rejoice at an unbeliever's conversion (Luke 10:20).

2. The Bible presents four parables together in which God, in two instances with the Angels, rejoices at the redemption.

a. Upon finding the lost sheep, the shepherd rejoices (15:3-7).

b. The woman rejoices upon finding the lost coin (15:8-10).

c. The prodigal son's return brings rejoicing (15:11-32).

d. The parable of the man who sells his assets to purchase the treasure hidden in the field teaches us

that God has joy in bringing about the atonement (Matt 13:44).

3. God's kingdom is described as "righteousness, peace and joy" (Rom 14:17).

4. The certainty of salvation is a cause for joy, and we are commanded to "rejoice that your names are

written in heaven" (Luke 10:20).

5. Fellowship with Jesus brings continuous joy (John 15-17).

The Bible tells us that Joy is:

1. Something that fills a person (Psalm 4:7; 16:11)

2. Frequently associated with the heart (Psalm 4:7; 19:8).

(Adapted from Bakers Evangelical Dictionary]

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart" (Prov 15:30).

Joy is one of the three great ingredients of the Kingdom of God (Rom 14:17).

1. It receives the second place in the list of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22; cf. 1 Thess 1:6);

2. The descriptions of the Christian life frequently refer to it (Acts 2:46; 8:39; 13:52; 16:34; Rom 12:12; 2

Cor 1:24; 6:10; 8:2, (Phil 1:25; 1 Peter 1:8).

3. Joy must be constantly cultivated (2 Cor 13:11; Phil 3:1; 4:4; 1 Thess 5:16; James 1:2; 1 Peter 4:13).

The Bible reveals what the Nature and Properties of Joy are:

1. It is or should be constant (Phil 4:4)

2. It is unknown to people of the world (1 Cor 2:14)

3. It is unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8)

4. It is permanent (John 16:22)

The Objects of Joy are:

1. God Himself (Psalm 43:4; Isa 41:10)

2. Jesus (Phil 3:3; 1 Peter 1:8)

3. God's promises (Psalm 119:162)

4. The administration of the Gospel and Gospel decrees (Psalm 89:15)

5. Sharing the Gospel (Acts 15:3)

6. The exceeding happiness of spending eternity with Jesus (Rom 5:2)

[Adapted from Bucks Theological Dictionary]

EXAMPLES OF JOY

[Adapted from Holman Bible Dictionary]

The joy of the Triune God came to focus in human history in Christ Jesus. The note of joy and exultation runs through the entire biblical account of the coming of Jesus (Luke 1:14,44; Matt 2:10). Jesus spoke of His joy and of the fullness of joy He had come to bring to others (John 15:11; 17:13). He illustrated the kingdom of Heaven by telling of the joy of a man who found treasure (Matt 13:44).

Joy surrounded the birth of the Messiah. The unborn John, the Baptist, leaped for joy in his mother's womb (Luke 1:44), and the Angels proclaimed "good news of great joy" (Luke 2:10).

Jesus broke out in ecstatic joy in praise of the Father, who revealed things to "little children" (Luke 10:21). It is the joy of the shepherd who finds his lost sheep (Luke 15:6) or of the woman who finds her lost coin (Luke 15:9).

Jesus invoked a heavenly scene of Angels rejoicing at the repentance of just one sinner (Luke 15:10). After the seventy returned from a mission of victory over demonic powers, Jesus shifted their attention from their rejoicing over casting out spirits to rejoicing that their "names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). That joy will not be fully realized until the Great Day (Matt 5:21; Jude 24). In the meantime, the Born-Again Christian is "joyful in hope" (Rom 12:12).