THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT JOY
1. Joy Must Come Before Obedience
Isaiah 64:5, LITV – (5) You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness; they recall You in Your ways.
Religion says, “do right, and then rejoice”, “do what is right, and be happy about it”
The truth of God’s Word is, “rejoice, and then do right” Matthew 11:28-30, NIV – (28) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Philippians 3:1; 4:4, NIV – (1) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! … it is a safeguard for you. …
2. Joy Moves You Closer To God
Psalm 95:1-2, NASB – (1) O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. (2) Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him
with psalms.
3. Joy Brings To You God’s Right Hand
Psalm 118:14, NIV – (14) The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. (15) Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” (16) “The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”
LEARNING TO EAT AND DRINKWITH GOD
1. We Must Eat And DrinkWith Joy
John 6:54, 63, NIV – (54) Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. … (63) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
1 Thessalonians 1:6, NIV – (6) … you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
2. We Must Allow God’s RevealedWord To Become Food To Us
Jeremiah 15:16, NASB – (16) Thy words were found and I ate them, And Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart …
a) “Your Words Were Found” – Revelation
b) “I Ate Them” – Embrace The Word
c) ThyWords Became “For Me” – Personalize
d) ThyWords Became For Me “A Joy” – Get Excited
e) Thy Words Became For Me A Joy And “The Delight Of My Heart”
– Celebrate The Word
Psalm 119:14, 103, NIV – (14) I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. … (103) How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
3. Joy Releases God’sWordWith Power
Isaiah 54:1-3, NIV – (1) “Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of
her who has a husband,” says the LORD. (2) “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. (3) For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
