Joy Revised

Depression is a common problem today...

in a world that says love yourself, treat yourself, and be yourself - so many are sad/depressed.

suicide rate is up, your generation is known for being the most depressed generation....

I do not think psychology, the world, teachers, knows how to cure depression, numbness, sadness, anger,

So it would be wise for us to not seek the world or its science to solve this problem

I think you guys are smart enough to know that video games, drugs, Netflix, instagram, friends, love from people does not make people joyful.

What

Joy is used 185 times in Bible (121 OT, 64 NT)

The Hebrew word for joy is “seam - ha” which implies the lighting up of the eyes.

Which is like what Jesus said in

Matthew 6:22 NKJV

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

John 15:9–11 NKJV

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

I think it is no coincidence that the word for joy (Chara) in Greek is the root word for the word Grace (charis)

HOW TO RECEIVE JOY

Know what is joy:Joy is the GK word “chara” which is related to the GK word for grace.Teaching us the joy is a gift from God.Which is interesting because joy is normally a response to gifts.So if joy is a free gift… how do I receive it?Let me share a story: Joe remembered when he was only 4 years old watching his first baseball game on TV. He loved seeing the outfielders catch the balls that would “fly from outer space”. His parents thought it was so cute how he would rather watch baseball then Barney or Bugs Bunny. When his 5th birthday was coming up his dad thought it would be so cool to take him to his first baseball game at Dodgers Stadium. Joe to this day still remembers the smell of the stadium, the cheering from the fans, and of course when the first basemen smiled at him. So Joe decided he wanted to be a baseball player; so he asked his dad can I have another gift? His dad said what is it? Joe said I want a baseball and a glove like the dodgers do. So his dad took him to the gift shop and got him his first baseball gear. The next day Joe was eager to wait for his dad to come home from work, since his dad promised to play catch with him at the park after work. Finally, his dad comes home and they rush out to the park. Once they get there Joe starts running as far as he can because he wants to catch a ball from space. But his dad shouts to him you are not ready to go that far yet! So Joe runs half way, and his dad says “come closer, more closer, even more closer, keep coming” Joe seems upset because he is only a few feet away, and not like the pros, but his attitude changed when his dad said are you ready? He said YES! YES! YES! Throw it! He said before I do (and as everyone who teaches some to catch says, “Keep your eye on the ball.”. So his dad throws the ball and immediately Joe turns his head to look away and the ball falls on the floor. They try again, and the same thing happens… His dad says you have to trust me, keep your eye on the ball. Finally Joe trusts his dad and keep his eye on the ball and he catches his first ball! His excitement spread through the whole park.. as he kept catching and going further and further out. Each week they would go out and play. Then soon enough his dad would hit the ball from home plate and Joe would catch it in the outfield. Today Joe plays as an outfielder in High School, and is working his way up to play for the dodgers.Ask - ; ;

​ NKJV“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

​ NKJVUntil now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

​ NKJVYou lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

So many of us settle for just the stadium but we don’t ask for the ball and glove.What if the boy never asked for the glove? He probably would have had itSalvation is of course the greatest gift, but God has more He wants to give usJoy is another free gift God wants to give to us.Get close to God. Just like Joe on the first day wanted to go far out.We also expect God to bless us when we are far from Him.We need to get up and close with God. What the difference between a friend or a close friend? Or a family member and a close family member?King David is probably the best example of getting close to God., , , , are incredible example of pouring out your heart God.Keep your eyes on HimThis is the most important partNow God is ready to give us joy, but often we look back at our problems, when He does.The moment we look back at our problems like the boy we are not trusting our Father.How do we keep our eyes on Him?King David said in

​ NLTThe commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

God’s Word is a way we can keep our eyes on Him:Jesus prayed

​ NKJVBut now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

God’s word brings joyAs a result like with the boy: Your excitement will spread through the whole park. people will notice a difference! They will want it too! Be consistent with GodThe moment you look back at your problems all the worries, anxieties, fears, depressions, and guilt appear.Look if the fruits of the spirt are

​ NKJVBut the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Then the fruits of my sin is hate, depression, anxiety, impatience, rudeness, badness, and a disloyalty. When the problems become the focus then you will never catch joyIf you live by your problems you will be like your problems.If you live by God you will be like God with joy, and peace.If God is throwing joy at you will you catch it?Why do you choose to stare at your problems when you can stare at God?When you stare at God you will see how big God is… all problems and difficulties go away.The Bible shouts quit staring at your problems in

​ NKJVFinally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Jesus said in

​ NKJV“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

So what did He speak so that we may have joy?

​ NKJV“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

If those verses didn't scream quit staring at your problems and stare at God then this will:

​ NKJVBe anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So focus on Him not your problems!Here is why you are here… God knows you are lacking in joy! So he keeps throwing the ball hoping you will look at Him and not your problems so you can receive it.Most of the time the Father keeps throwing the ball over and over until finally the child trusts his father.Joy is a progress:

​ NLTKnowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.