The Power of Joy
MATTHEW 7:24-27 NIV
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
ISAIAH 61:1-3 NKJ
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
JOHN 10:10 NIV
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
JOHN 15:11 NKJV
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
JOHN 17:13 NIV
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
JAMES 1:2-4 TPT
“My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up in you the power of endurance. And then as your endurance grows even stronger, it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”
HAPPINESS IS BASED ON YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND FEELINGS
JOY IS BASED ON THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. LEARN TO FOCUS ON THE PROMISES IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEM
2 CORINTHIANS 10:4-5 NKJV
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…”
NEHEMIAH 8:10 “…for the JOY OF THE LORD is your STRENGTH.”
ISAIAH 43:2 NLT
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”
ROMANS 8:28 NKJV
“And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
ROMANS 8:31 NKJV
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
ROMANS 8:35 NKJV
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
THE BIG QUESTION: What’s more real: The PROBLEM or the PROMISE?
1. LEARN TO FOCUS ON THE PROMISES IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEM
2. BEGIN TO SPEAK THE WORD INSTEAD OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
GOD IS IN YOU – GOD IS WITH YOU – GOD IS FOR YOU
1 SAMUEL 30:3-6 NKJV
“So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
1. LEARN TO FOCUS ON THE PROMISES IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEM
2. BEGIN TO SPEAK THE WORD INSTEAD OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
3. REJOICE IN SPITE OF HOW YOU FEEL
PSALM 5:11 NLT
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy.”
PSALM 68:3-4 NLT
“But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy. Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the LORD—rejoice in his presence!”
PSALM 32:11 NKJV
“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
ACTS 16:22-26 NKJV
“Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”
