JESUS BRINGS JOY AND HAPPINESS 1 – AUGUST 29, 2021

The Search

The Solution

JESUS is the source of true joy and happiness.

Jesus’ birth brought great joy and gladness.

• Matthew 2:10 – When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding GREAT JOY.
• Luke 2:10 – And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY, which shall be to all people.

Salvation brings joy and gladness.

• Psalms 51:12 – Restore unto me the JOY of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.
• Habakkuk 3:18 – Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will JOY in the God of my salvation.
• Psalms 20:5 – We will rejoice in your salvation…

The Lord is the joy of the whole earth.

• Psalm 48:1-2 – Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised… ² Beautiful for situation, the JOY of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Christians should be the happiest people on earth.

• Psalm 144:12-15 – That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:… ¹⁵ HAPPY is that people, that is in such a case: yea, HAPPY is that people, whose God is the LORD.
• Psalm 146:5 – HAPPY is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:…

SOLOMON’S SERVANTS

• 2 Chronicles 9:3,6-7,22-23 – When the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built… Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and my eyes had seen it… and, behold, the one half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me: for you exceed the fame that I heard.⁷ HAPPY are your men, and HAPPY are these your servants, which stand continually before you, and hear your wisdom.
• If there was so much JOY in Solomon’s earthly kingdom because of wisdom, how much more and abundant HAPPINESS is available for servants in the kingdom of God under King Jesus, who is made unto us wisdom…

I Corinthians 1:30 – But of Him are you in Christ JESUS, who of God is made unto us WISDOM, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: …

The kingdom of God is JOY.

• Romans 14:17 – The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Spirit.

JOY IS A BLESSING FROM THE LORD

• Psalm 89:15 – Blessed is the people that know the JOYFUL sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance. ¹⁶ In your name shall they REJOICE all the day: and in your righteousness shall they be exalted.

Let’s serve the Lord with JOY and GLADNESS.

• Psalm 100:1-2 – Make a JOYFUL noise unto the Lord… serve the Lord with GLADNESS, come before His presence with singing.
• MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE LORD
• Psalms 66:1 – Make a JOYFUL noise unto God, all you lands:
• Psalms 81:1 – Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a JOYFUL noise unto the God of Jacob. (95:1,2; 98:4; 100:1)

If we refuse to serve Him with JOY and GLADNESS – His blessings are withheld.

• Deuteronomy 28:47,48 – “Because you did NOT serve the Lord your God WITH JOY AND GLADNESS of heart, for the abundance of everything, ⁴⁸ therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.

We are to seek the Lord JOYFULLY.

• Psalms 40:16 – Let all those that seek you REJOICE and BE GLAD in you: let such as love your salvation say continually, the LORD be magnified.
• Psalms 105:3 – Glory you in his holy name: let the heart of them REJOICE that seek the LORD.
• Psalms 40:16 – Let all those that seek you REJOICE and BE GLAD in you: let such as love your salvation say continually, the LORD be magnified.
• Psalms 105:3 – Glory you in his holy name: let the heart of them REJOICE that seek the LORD.

Jesus turns mourning into dancing and JOYFUL PRAISE.

• Isaiah 35:10 – And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, with EVERLASTING JOY on their heads. They shall obtain JOY and GLADNESS, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
• Jeremiah 31:13 – “Then shall the virgin REJOICE in the dance, and the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to JOY, will comfort them, and make them REJOICE rather than sorrow.

JESUS wants us to be of GOOD CHEER – (cheer up… be cheerful).

• John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but BE OF GOOD CHEER, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus loves a CHEERFUL giver.

• 2 Corinthians 9:7 – Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a CHEERFUL giver.

A MERRY HEART does good like a medicine.

• Proverbs 15:13 – A MERRY heart makes a CHEERFUL countenance (does good like medicine… ‘good’ medicine), but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

JESUS EXAMPLE

Jesus experienced great joy & gladness

• Psalm 45:7 –You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with THE OIL OF GLADNESS more than Your companions. (Messianic prophesy about Jesus)
• Hebrews 1:9 – “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with THE OIL OF GLADNESS more than Your companions.”
• Hebrews 12:2 – …looking 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

JESUS MESSAGE

• The Beatitudes
• Matthew 5:1-12  – BLESSED are…
• “What HAPPINESS comes to you …” (Matthew 5:3 TPT)
• John 15:11 – “These things I have spoken to you, that MY JOY may remain in you, and that your JOY MAY BE FULL.”

JOY IS THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

• GALATIANS 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control.

…THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH (Nehemiah 8:10)

WHAT PRODUCES JOY?

• HOPE & FAITH
• Romans 15:13 – …the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
• Romans 12:12 – Rejoicing in HOPE; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
• 1 Peter 1:8 – Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with JOY UNSPEAKABLE and full of glory:
• Psalms 5:11 – But let all those that put their trust in you REJOICE: let them ever shout for JOY, because you defend them: let them also that love your name be JOYFUL in you.

WISDOM BRINGS JOY AND HAPPINESS

• (Happiness is finding true wisdom and understanding, and applying it)
• Proverbs 3:13 – HAPPY is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
• Proverbs 3:18 – She (wisdom) is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and HAPPY is every one that retains her.

GOD’S WORD IS A SOURCE OF JOY

• John 15:11 – These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
• Jeremiah 15:16 – Your words were found, and I did eat them; and your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart:…
• 1 John 1:4 – And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

ANSWERS TO PRAYER BRING JOY

• John 16:24 – …ask, and you shall receive, that your JOY may be full.
• Jeremiah 33:3 – CALL UNTO ME and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things…

IN THE LORD’S PRESENCE IS FULNESS OF JOY

• Psalms 16:11 – You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fulness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

SATISFACTION STIMULATES JOYFUL PRAISE

• Psalms 63:5 – My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise you with joyful lips:

GOD’S COMFORT AND MERCY BRING JOY

• Isaiah 49:13 – Sing, O heavens; and BE JOYFUL, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD has comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

INVOLVEMENT IN THE LORD’S HOUSE OF PRAYER BRINGS JOY

• Isaiah 56:7 – Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them JOYFUL in my house of prayer:…

WHEN JESUS RETURNS IN GLORY IT WILL BE A TIME OF GREAT JOY

• 1 Peter 4:13 – But REJOICE, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may BE GLAD also with EXCEEDING JOY.

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS A SOURCE OF GREAT JOY

• Matthew 13:44 – …the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; which when a man has found it, he hides, and for JOY thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field.

REFLECTION

• Is JOY just based on circumstances or a choice?
• If satisfaction stimulates JOYFUL praise, what does dis-satisfaction or discontentment do?
• What are some secrets to being able to REJOICE every day?
• Do we ever have a good reason not to rejoice and be JOYFUL?
• What is the secret to TRUE HAPPINESS and contentment?

CONCLUSION

• Jesus is our source of joy and happiness. Obedience to Jesus’ instructions & being filled with His Spirit is the way to be filled with joy & happiness.
• The Lord loves us and wants us to be JOYFUL and HAPPY. His JOY is available to His family of believers and brings the satisfaction, contentment, & fulfillment that people all over the world long to experience.
• As we make wise choices that please the Lord, He promises to bless us with the priceless GIFT OF JOY that the world cannot give, and the world cannot take away. (John 14:27; 15:11; 16:33)
• John 15:11 – These things have I spoken unto you, that my JOY might remain in you, and that your JOY might be full.