2. Howard Hughes

3. JOY Source of Real Joy Experiencing Real Joy Effects of Real Joy

4. Psalm 16:11 - In your presence is fullness of Joy! Genesis 3:1-13 - Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the L ORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

5. 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the L ORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the L ORD God among the trees of the garden.

6. SOURCE OF REAL JOY Genesis 1:27 - God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created him. Genesis 1:31 - God saw all that he had made, and behold, it was very good.

7. SOURCE OF REAL JOY The source of real joy is God

8. EXPERIENCING REAL JOY Isaiah 53:4-5 - Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

9. Isaiah 61:1-3 - The Spirit of the Sovereign L ORD is on me, because the L ORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

10. Galatians 5:1 - It is for freedom that Christ has set us free! Stand Firm then and do not let your selves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery! Galatians 5:4 - You who are trying to be justified by the Law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from Grace; But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope!!! Galatians 5: 19 – The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, envy, idolatory… Galatians 5:22-23 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

11. EXPERIENCING REAL JOY John 15:5 - “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. We can experience real joy by : Believing in the Cross of Jesus Abiding in Jesus

12. EFFECTS OF REAL JOY Real Joy helps us persevere through trials 1 Peter 1:6-8 - In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold (which perishes even though refined by fire) –may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you have not seen him you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…..

13. EFFECTS OF REAL JOY Real Joy helps us persevere through trials We know that God is building our character during this time. We know that God is with us in our trials Our inheritance in Christ can never spoil, perish or fade!!!!!!

14. EFFECTS OF REAL JOY Real Joy is always God Glorifying Philippians 2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice of service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you! Philippians 3:7-8 “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ”

15. Even if nothing good ever happened to us in this lifetime and we suffered calamity like Job, yet we have reason to rejoice inexpressibly, simply because of the Cross of Jesus.

16. Open house: What do you think is the biggest kill – joy in your life and why? - (Question for the Floor) How has Jesus conquered those kill – joys? – (Question for the Panel) …. 10 mins Any question on the Bible and Joy?..…5 mins