Joy Zephaniah 3:17 Isaiah 62:5 Joy, Taken from 600 Bible Gems and Outlines, page 136 Print 1, 10, 12 Originally prepared, January 9, 2005 am Preached at West Side on January 13, 2008 Isaiah 62:5

Zephaniah 3:17 God rejoices over his faithful children “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” God rejoices over his faithful children

Isaiah 62:5 God rejoices over his faithful children “For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.” God rejoices over his faithful children

Joy Illustrations of Joy Matthew 13:44; Acts 13:42-52

Matthew 13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” There is great joy in obtaining citizenship in the Kingdom of God

Acts 13:52 “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Joy is not dependent upon outward circumstances. It exists for the Christian despite opposition and trial.

Joy Illustrations of Joy The World’s Joy Matthew 13:44; Acts 13:42-52 Proverbs 14:13; Job 20:4-5

Proverbs 14:13 “Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief.” External happiness or joy, that dependent upon outward circumstances, is fleeting.

Job 20:4-5 “Do you not know this of old, Since man was placed on earth, {5} That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment?” This statement from Zophar is true… Ecclesiastes speaks of the “Vanity” of life lived “under the sun”

Joy Illustrations of Joy The World’s Joy Reason for True Joy Matthew 13:44; Acts 13:42-52 The World’s Joy Proverbs 14:13; Job 20:4-5 Reason for True Joy Luke 10:17-20

Luke 10:17-20 “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ {18} And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. {19} Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. {20} Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.’”

How About You? Do you have a reason to TRULY REJOICE? “Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8b-9)