Emotions: The Color of Life Count It All Joy Rev. Robert J. Smith Pastor Colonial Hills Baptist Church

James 1:2-4 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

John 6:60 60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is an hard saying; who can hear it?

1 Cor 2:14 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Review Emotions: The Color of Life Love: The God-Given Emotion Count it all Joy

2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations 1st Step - Problems 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations

1st Step - Problems 4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. 2 Corinthians 7:4 (KJV)

1st Step - Problems 6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 1 Thessalonians 1:6 (KJV)

1st Step - Problems 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)

3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 2nd Step - Patience 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

2nd Step - Patience 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; Romans 5:3 (KJV)

3rd Step - Perfection 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

3rd Step - Perfection 36And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. Matthew 14:36 (KJV)

3rd Step - Perfection 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)

Conclusion 22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Luke 6:22-23 (KJV)

Conclusion The 1st Step to Joy is Problems – He must increase, I must decrease. The way to Joy is first self-denial The 2nd Step to Joy is Patience – It is a change in perspective. The way to joy will lead to the end of myself. I become patient because the Joy of the Lord is my strength. The 3rd Step to Joy is Perfection - Maturity – Joy is found in a close relationship with God not in success (stuff, health, etc.)

It is the Word that God does through us that counts. Not what we do for Him. Oswald Chambers