JOY #1
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PHILIPPIANS: UNSHAKABLE JOY
PHILIPPIANS: UNSHAKABLE JOY
This Fall, I spent 9 weeks studying the book of Philippians with my Thursday morning Bible study. During the course of the study., I read through the book of Philippians at least 9 times. perhaps more, in several different versions. Each time I read the book, something new stood our to me. That is how God’s Word is. It is living and active. As we read it, we gain insight into our daily struggles, our relationships. We may find answers to long asked questions. We may form more questions and ponder them as a result of reading. As a result of this study, I learned things about JOY. I learned that Joy is to be shared in true fellowship. I learned that I can find unshakable joy in the Lordship of Christ. I learned that Joy is found in humility and in obedience. It is found in knowing Jesus and making Him known. I was challenged to think about heaven and the unspeakable joy that will be experienced there. I was encouraged to remember that joy is linked to gratitude and leads to an inner peace. and, I was taught the value that comes from the joy that is linked with self-sacrifice.
During my study on JOY, In addition to the study in Philippians, I read through a Bible study on the book of Habakkuk called, Embracing JOY by Jean Wilund Honestly, when I saw the name, I thought. Wait wait wait wait wait....Habakkuk? JOY? I was intrigued, so I ordered it, read through it and am planning a study of Habakkuk in January. I read through Fields of Joy by Ruth Chou Simons. I read “Joy, a godly adornment” by Lydia Brownback, I also reread Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth’s book,Choosing Gratitude and worked through several ESV Prayer Journals on Humility, Hope and Peace. I also began to read “The Joy Challenge” by Randy Frazee and am currently working my way through that. Thereis so much written about Joy. Oh yes, I also read CS Lewis’ “Suprised By Joy” So much to read.
One day, during my study on JOY, I decided, after finding a number of verses by happenstance and through my reading of other books, that I should see just how many verses there are in the Bible that talk about JOY. I pulled out my concordance. Now, I have fancy software that I use for study and preparing my talks, but sometimes, this visual girl, likes to get out a book and look. As I looked up the word JOY, I noticed that there were almost 2 full columns of times the word JOY is used in the Bible. That is about 124 verses in the OT and 57 in the NT. There are around 8 Hebrew words that are translated JOY and 3 Greek. Next, I set out to read all of those verses.