may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. - Psalm 68:3 Joy - The nourishing fruit of the Spirit (part 2) Sunday, April 24th

The Fruit of the Spirit is… Joy

When it comes to joy, why does it look like some of us ate lemons?

The battle which doesn’t exist. They are partners

God desires that you be happy I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. Ecclesiastes 3:12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. Ecclesiastes 3:12

God desires that you be happy Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. Ecclesiastes 5:19

What unhappy people do 1. Default belief is that life is hard.

What unhappy people do 1. Default belief is that life is hard. 2. Believe most can’t be trusted.

What unhappy people do 1. Default belief is that life is hard. 2. Believe most can’t be trusted. 3. Focus on what’s wrong vs. what’s right.

What unhappy people do 1. Default belief is that life is hard. 2. Believe most can’t be trusted. 3. Focus on what’s wrong vs. what’s right. 4. Compares self to others- harbor jealousy.

What unhappy people do 1. Default belief is that life is hard. 2. Believe most can’t be trusted. 3. Focus on what’s wrong vs. what’s right. 4. Compares self to others- harbor jealousy. 5. Strive to control your life.

What unhappy people do 1. Default belief is that life is hard. 2. Believe most can’t be trusted. 3. Focus on what’s wrong vs. what’s right. 4. Compares self to others- harbor jealousy. 5. Strive to control your life. 6. Consider future with worry and fear.

What unhappy people do 1. Default belief is that life is hard. 2. Believe most can’t be trusted. 3. Focus on what’s wrong vs. what’s right. 4. Compares self to others- harbor jealousy. 5. Strive to control your life. 6. Consider future with worry and fear. 7. Fill talk with gossip & complaints.

The effects of happiness

Our physical body is revived. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, -Psalm 16:9

The effects of happiness Our physical body is revived. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, -Psalm 16:9 It effects our demeanour A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Prov. 15:13

Not pushing situational happiness Making God your private genie is not the true Gospel!

When blessings become more important than the blesser… Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. -Jonah 4:6

Situational Happiness is seasonal When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Ecclesiastes 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Ecclesiastes 7:14

Something about happiness is profoundly “world- overcoming”. Tim McConnell (Happy Church) Tim McConnell (Happy Church)

Quote from every person whose visited a third world Christian community

“I just can’t believe how happy they are” Quote from every person whose visited a third world Christian community

An of appreciation as a result of a circumstance Can be translated as “happy”

Similar to happy but it affects our expressions Literally to brighten up or to cheer up.

An emotion that is rooted in an internal source Literally cheerfulness, calm delight

There are subtle differences Happy  Very individual  Often use the word “me”  Hard to explain, reason  Very circumstance based  Very external in expression  “A happy heart makes the face cheerful” Prov. 15:13 Joy  Personal yet common  Equally uses “we” or “our”  Easier to share/ explain  Exists regardless of circumstance  Very much stored & filled  “So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy” Matt 28:8

Joy as a weapon in warfare It is founded in faith in God It comes from a believer’s soul It is supernatural It is a powerful weapon -of defense and offence It breaks strongholds

Worship is the very purpose of the church. Get it right and everything else will fall into place. - Tim McConnell

It transforms our worship From ceremony to celebration

It transforms our worship From ceremony  Duty to celebration  Delight

It transforms our worship From ceremony  Duty  The ritual to celebration  Delight  The relationship

It transforms our worship From ceremony  Duty  The ritual  The proper to celebration  Delight  The relationship  The expression

It transforms our worship From ceremony  Duty  The ritual  The proper  The preference to celebration  Delight  The relationship  The expression  The humility

It transforms our worship From ceremony  Duty  The ritual  The proper  The preference  The worshipper to celebration  Delight  The relationship  The expression  The humility  The Lord

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” 1 Chron. 16:31

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2

How can I be filled with joy - and the happiness that flows from it? Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:2-3 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:2-3 By accepting the gift of salvation.

How can I be filled with joy - and the happiness that flows from it? When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16 When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16 By feeding on God’s word

How can I be filled with joy - and the happiness that flows from it? Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20 Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20 By singing

How can I be filled with joy - and the happiness that flows from it? Prayer (Mark 11:17) Laughter (Luke 6:21) Focused Hope (Rev 22:20) Mission minded (John 1:5) Prayer (Mark 11:17) Laughter (Luke 6:21) Focused Hope (Rev 22:20) Mission minded (John 1:5) Too many to mention… here are some

Joy as fruit Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations. “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:2-3