Topic:- JOY Text:- Nehemiah 8:7-10 Memory verse:- Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice INTRODUCTION:- Joy is an outflow of excitement, not caused from outside but naturally from the inside. Joy is different from happiness. This latter can come as a result of acquisition of material things but the former flows even when those things are not there. Joy is the strength of any child of God. Any Christian that is consistently sad or remorse has lost his/her joy and should pray that God should restore the joy of salvation. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JOY AND HAPPINESS 1. Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Gal 5:22, While happiness is a product of worldly gain. advantage or material profit. 2. Joy lasts forever. Isa 51:11, While happiness is momentary. Luke 15:14-17 3. Joy is a product of godly sorrow and genuine repentance 2 Cor 7:10 whereas happiness results from the satisfaction of the flesh. 1 Cor 10:7 4. God is the origin and source of joy- Neh 8:10, Phil 4:4 whereas sources of happiness may be food, wine achievement and wife or even sin. CLASS ACTIVITY:- Class should identify other sources of happiness and discuss the limit of such happiness. BENEFITS OF JOY: 1. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Neh 8:10 2. With Joy, we access our redemptive rights Isa 10:3 3. It helps us to press forward continuously even in the of opposition or persecution. Act 13:50-52 SUMMARY: It is good to be happy but best to be joyful because there is no strength in happiness but in joy CONCLUSION Since God is the origin of Joy, Then believers should remain in the presence of God always to enjoy endless Joy.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 08:04:37 +0000
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