Happiness depends on happenings; Happiness depends on happenings; joy depends on Jesus.joy depends on Jesus.

A kingdom perspective: Engaging with A kingdom perspective: Engaging with the Holy Spirit, His teachings and our the Holy Spirit, His teachings and our life experiences gives us opportunity life experiences gives us opportunity for maturing the fruit of the Spirit.for maturing the fruit of the Spirit.

Webster: Excitement/pleasurable feeling Webster: Excitement/pleasurable feeling caused by the acquisition or expectation caused by the acquisition or expectation of something good; gladness or delightof something good; gladness or delight

Kingdom: The tangible & affable Kingdom: The tangible & affable response to the presence of God in response to the presence of God in one’s lifeone’s life

Joy is Joy is NOT NOT the absence of challenges, the absence of challenges, trials or disappointments; it is trials or disappointments; it is responding to the Presence of God in responding to the Presence of God in the midst of our life’s circumstances.the midst of our life’s circumstances.

Life’s events don’t determine the Life’s events don’t determine the growth of fruit, but how we growth of fruit, but how we respond to those events will.respond to those events will.•God is always the solution, God is always the solution, nevernever the the

problemproblem

Cultivating joy (or any other fruit Cultivating joy (or any other fruit of the spirit) is not an event, it’s of the spirit) is not an event, it’s a lifelong processa lifelong process• The joy of the Lord is contagious & The joy of the Lord is contagious &

healinghealing

Challenges create opportunities to Challenges create opportunities to ask “What are you trying to teach ask “What are you trying to teach (cultivate in) me, Lord?”(cultivate in) me, Lord?”

The first lesson - It’s never about how The first lesson - It’s never about how I feelI feel• Phil 4:4 - We rejoice (give joy) because Phil 4:4 - We rejoice (give joy) because

He is worthyHe is worthy• Neh 8:10 - He rejoices over us. His joy Neh 8:10 - He rejoices over us. His joy

becomes our strengthbecomes our strength

Ps 45:7 – “God has anointed You Ps 45:7 – “God has anointed You (Christ) with the oil of joy above Your (Christ) with the oil of joy above Your fellows”fellows”

1 Chron 16:27 – “Splendor & majesty 1 Chron 16:27 – “Splendor & majesty are before Him, strength and joy are are before Him, strength and joy are in His place.”in His place.”

Lk 10:21 – Jesus was filled by the Holy Lk 10:21 – Jesus was filled by the Holy Spirit with (rapturous-dancing) joy.Spirit with (rapturous-dancing) joy.

Ps 16:11 – “In Your presence is Ps 16:11 – “In Your presence is fullness of joy…”fullness of joy…”

Jn 17:13 – “…so that they may have Jn 17:13 – “…so that they may have MY joy made full in themselves.”MY joy made full in themselves.” Jesus’ joy was that He and the Father are Jesus’ joy was that He and the Father are

one.one. Our joy is that we, the branches, are in Our joy is that we, the branches, are in

relationship with the Father through relationship with the Father through Jesus the VineJesus the Vine

Jn 15:11 “These things I have spoken to Jn 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you that My joy may be in you and you that My joy may be in you and your joy may be made full.”your joy may be made full.”

Deut 28:47 – “Serve the Lord your God Deut 28:47 – “Serve the Lord your God with joy…for the abundance of all with joy…for the abundance of all things…”things…”

Ps 100:2 – “Serve the Lord with gladness; Ps 100:2 – “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before Him w/joyful singing.”come before Him w/joyful singing.”

Rom 14:17 – “for the kingdom of God is Rom 14:17 – “for the kingdom of God is righteousness/peace/joy in the Holy righteousness/peace/joy in the Holy Spirit”Spirit”

1 Thes 5:16 &18– “…rejoice always…in 1 Thes 5:16 &18– “…rejoice always…in (not for) everything give thanks.”(not for) everything give thanks.”

I will NEVER leave or forsake you.I will NEVER leave or forsake you.

We are joint heirs w/Jesus.We are joint heirs w/Jesus. Nothing that comes into our lives is Nothing that comes into our lives is

“uncommon” to man – BUT remember “uncommon” to man – BUT remember we are in relationship w/an we are in relationship w/an uncommonuncommon God. God.

We are ordinary people in relationship We are ordinary people in relationship with an with an extraordinaryextraordinary God!God!

For what are you known For what are you known among those who know among those who know you, AND among those you, AND among those who don’t?who don’t?

Eph 3: 20-21 > Eph 3: 20-21 > “Now to Him who “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or more than all we ask or imagine, according to imagine, according to HisHis power power that is at work that is at work within uswithin us, to Him , to Him be glory in the church and in be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever, generations forever and ever, Amen!”Amen!”