 Nehemiah 8:1-10 ●Don’t be dejected and sad for the joy of the Lord is your strength  Where circumstances would bring sorrow – let it be transformed into joy  Nehemiah 8:1-10 ●Don’t be dejected and sad for the joy of the Lord is your strength  Where circumstances would bring sorrow – let it be transformed into joy

Joyful Transformations for Overcoming

 Joy – defined – Joy is a delight of the mind arising from the consideration of a present or assured possession of a future good. When moderate it is called gladness; raised suddenly to the highest degree it is exultation or transport; when the desires are limited by our possessions it is contentment; high desires accomplished bring satisfaction; vanquished opposition we call triumph; when joy has so long possessed the mind that it has settled into a temper, we call it cheerfulness. This is natural joy. (The New Ungers Bible Dictionary)

I. Jesus’ Joy Response  Hebrews 12:1-2 ●Run with endurance the race God has set before us ●Keeping our eyes on Jesus who initiates and perfects our faith ●Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross ●Assured possession of a future good  Hebrews 12:1-2 ●Run with endurance the race God has set before us ●Keeping our eyes on Jesus who initiates and perfects our faith ●Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross ●Assured possession of a future good

 Jesus’ instruction for joy response – John 16:16-33

II. Sorrow Turned to Joy  Vs ●Present anguish – as in giving birth ●Your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy ●No one can rob you of that joy  Vs ●Present anguish – as in giving birth ●Your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy ●No one can rob you of that joy

 Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later  John 16:1 I Have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith  Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later  John 16:1 I Have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith

III. Joy in Answered Prayers  Vs ●Ask the Father ●He will grant your requests ●You will have abundant joy ●Our confidence in answered prayers 1 John 5: And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.  Vs ●Ask the Father ●He will grant your requests ●You will have abundant joy ●Our confidence in answered prayers 1 John 5: And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

IV. Joy in Overcoming  Vs ●You will be scattered leaving me alone ●I am not alone because the Father is with me ●I have told you this so you may have peace in me ●John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift— peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.  Vs ●You will be scattered leaving me alone ●I am not alone because the Father is with me ●I have told you this so you may have peace in me ●John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift— peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

●On earth you will have many trials and sorrows ●Take heart, (take courage) I have overcome the world  1 John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ●On earth you will have many trials and sorrows ●Take heart, (take courage) I have overcome the world  1 John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.  Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

 Joy is a delight of the mind arising from the consideration of a present or assured possession of a future good ●Present anguish turned to joy – endurance ●Abundant joy from answered prayers ●Joy from vanquished opposition we call triumph – overcoming the world with Jesus  Joy is a delight of the mind arising from the consideration of a present or assured possession of a future good ●Present anguish turned to joy – endurance ●Abundant joy from answered prayers ●Joy from vanquished opposition we call triumph – overcoming the world with Jesus

Interaction Time  Have you experienced anguish to the point of wanting to abandon your faith? How did you endure? If you did not endure, what brought you back to faith? If you have not come back to faith, how can we help?  When the scripture says ask the Father and he will grant your requests, How do you know if you are asking for the right thing? Is it possible that God would answer according to what is right rather than according to what you have asked?  Have you experienced anguish to the point of wanting to abandon your faith? How did you endure? If you did not endure, what brought you back to faith? If you have not come back to faith, how can we help?  When the scripture says ask the Father and he will grant your requests, How do you know if you are asking for the right thing? Is it possible that God would answer according to what is right rather than according to what you have asked?

 What is it about this world that we are to overcome or defeat? How is it that our faith enables us to do this?