New Covenant Church
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Nehemiah 8:10 ESV
The problem is…we don’t fully understand joy. Many times we equate joy to happiness
Happiness is a feeling or emotion based on circumstances or environment.
Happiness is external. Joy is internal. Happiness happens by chance. Joy happens by choice.
What happens when you can’t change your circumstance…you need Joy.
“Joy” appears over 50 times in the New Testament alone. In fact there are several situations where the bible tells us we are to have joy.
James 1:2 ESV
Romans 5:3-4 ESV
2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV
Paul had an inner source of joy...not dictated by his circumstances.
WHERE DOES THAT KIND OF JOY COME FROM?
Joy comes from knowing….
1. God has a purpose for your life.
You were created ON PURPOSE - FOR A PURPOSE - God has a plan for your life. You are not an accident…you were created to live in this time…where you are right now for a purpose.
Psalm 16:8-11 ESV
When you know your purpose…when you know God has a plan for your life and he makes known that plan…you are filled with Joy.
Philippians 1:6 NLT
Joy comes from knowing….
2. God will work it out.
So much of what we allow to dictate our joy is what we see and what we feel.
Romans 8:28 NLT
- When we choose joy we can have certainty in times of uncertainty.
1 Peter 1:8 ESV
Inexpressible joy comes when you cannot be knocked off course by what happens around you.
You can’t choose what happens TO you, but you can choose what happens IN you
Philippians 4:4 ESV
Paul knew his purpose…he knew God was working things out…so he could do the following:
1. Look past what is happening to you.
Philippians 1:12 NLT
2. See the positive in the negative
Philippians 1:13-14 NLT
I can see all of this as being on lock down, or I can see it as an opportunity for people to be bold. To overcome fear.
3. Focus on what really matters.
Philippians 1:15-18 NLT
While suffering is happening...while we are inconvenienced...while our economy is not doing well...people are focusing on what really matters more than ever.
Family. Relationships. Jesus. The message of Jesus is going out more than ever before.
Choosing joy is not being ignorant of outward circumstances, it’s drawing strength from an inward source.
Philippians 1:13-14 NLT