1. Church at Carbondale Picnic and Baptism July 13 after church

4. Rejoice!

5. First you joice, then you do it again, that’s Re-joice! Get it? So, what’s rejoice mean? Brad

6. Rejoice! 133 times in the Bible Usually a command from God! From Greek word, “Take pleasure in, delight in” In word group with “joy” An intentional expression of extreme inner joy, pleasure, delight. Rejoice can include being happy, but is deeper and goes beyond mere happiness. Happiness generally refers to circumstantial happiness while joy is independent of circumstances.

7. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

8. So, how’s this Declared guarantee working for us? World Survey: “Taking all things together, would you say you are, very happy, rather happy, not very happy, not at all happy?” “All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?” US of A ranks 15 th ! Americans consider happiness more important to them than money, moral goodness and even going to heaven. Americans are, on average, only 69% happy.

9. So, how’s this Declared guarantee working for us? Americans personal income has increased more than 2 ½ times over the last 50 years, but their happiness level has remained the same. Americans earning more than $10 million annually are only slightly happier than average Americans. Depression affects 10% of population each year. Depression results in more absenteeism than almost any other physical disorder and costs employers more than $51 billion per year in absenteeism, lost production not including high medical and pharmaceutical bills.

10. Rejoice! Rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. Leviticus 23:40-41 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! Psalm 32:11 Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:6-7

11. Rejoice ! Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. – Habakkuk 3:17-18

12. Rejoice ! "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12 And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:2-5 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-14

13. Rejoice Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Philippians 3:1 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4-7

14. How to Rejoice! 1.Tap into the Biblical description of who God is, what He has done and what He has done for you. 2.Meditate, envision, imagine as a mental video clip that particular aspect of the Biblical description.

15. How to Rejoice! But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

16. How to Rejoice! 1.Tap into the Biblical description of who God is, what He has done and what He has done for you. 2.Meditate, envision, imagine as a mental video clip that particular aspect of the Biblical description. 3.See His face through your eyes. Hear His voice with your ears. Feel, express the appropriate emotion!