1. The Power of Joy Selected Scripture

2. “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

3. “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

4. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11

5. “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.” John 17:13

6. I.The Provision of Joy

7. “For you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods,” Hebrews 10:34

8. II.The Proclamation of Joy

9. “…your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord… He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers”

10. II.The Proclamation of Joy “to the children…’ to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:13-17

11. II.The Proclamation of Joy “to the children…’ to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:13-17 “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” Luke 2:10

12. II.The Proclamation of Joy “Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” Luke 6:22-23

13. II.The Proclamation of Joy “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.” Hebrews 12:2

14. II.The Proclamation of Joy “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:3

15. III.The Proclamation of Joy “…they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,” Luke 24:52

16. III.The Personalization of Joy

17. 1.The reality of light

18. III.The Personalization of Joy 1.The reality of light “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:” Hebrews 10:32

19. III.The Personalization of Joy 1.The reality of light “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:3

20. III.The Personalization of Joy 1.The reality of light “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

21. III.The Personalization of Joy 1.The reality of light “That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” Philippians 2:15

22. III.The Personalization of Joy 2.The result was suffering

23. III.The Personalization of Joy 2.The result was suffering “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:” Hebrews 10:32

24. III.The Personalization of Joy 2.The result was suffering “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

25. III.The Personalization of Joy 2.The result was suffering “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” Matthew 5:11

26. III.The Personalization of Joy 3.The rigors of suffering

27. III.The Personalization of Joy 3.The rigors of suffering “partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods...” Hebrews 10:33-34a

28. III.The Personalization of Joy 4.The radical freedom of Christ

29. III.The Personalization of Joy 4.The radical freedom of Christ “...For you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.” Hebrews 10:34b-35

30. III.The Personalization of Joy 4.The radical freedom of Christ “whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9

31. III.The Personalization of Joy 4.The radical freedom of Christ “In your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11