Joy is gladness of heart. This time of year is filled with the sounds of joy. Music announces the advent of Christmas. Traditional hymns, jingle bells, classics like “ White Christmas”. The familiar Salvation Army
volunteer ringing the bell and of course the panorama of food. And if that’s not enough, the houses are lit up like Christmas Trees. Apart from the sadness of this world, the Word of God gives hope for much joy.
A future joy for His faithful people.
Matt 25:21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ NKJV
Abundant Joy regardless of present circumstances.
2 Cor 8: 2 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. NLT
Salvation to come.
1 Peter 1:8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. NLT
Reasons to rejoice
Victory
1 Sam 18:6 When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. NLT
Healings and Miracles
Acts 8: 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. NLT
When forgiveness comes.
Ps 51:8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. NKJV
Ps 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, NKJV
God’s Word is a great source of joy.
Jer 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; NKJV
True repentance fills the angels of God with joy.
Luke 10:17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” NKJV
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” NKJV
Joy even in the middle of trials and tribulation and persecution.
2 Cor 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. NKJV
The strength of our spiritual life.
Neh 8:10 for the joy of the Lord is your strength. KJV
Contrasts and comparisons
Ps 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. NKJV
Ps 126:5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. 6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. NKJV
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. NKJV
Jer 31:13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together;
For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow. NKJV
Ps 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. NKJV
Luke 6: 22 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. 23 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. NKJV
Angelic announcements
Luke 2:8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them,”Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. NKJV