First Baptist Idabel

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Joy: an inner gladness; a deep seated pleasure. It is a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart. It is a cheerful heart that leads to cheerful behavior. We are admonished to be filled with the Spirit of God, and the evidence of this fullness is that we are joyful, thankful, and submissive. We are instructed to be filled with the Word of God, and when we are, we will be joyful, thankful, and submissive. The joy of the believer happens when he is controlled by God's Spirit and God's Word and they go together.

Scriptures for Application:

Several things need to be said about the believer's joy.

1. Joy is divine. It is possessed and given only by God. Its roots are not in earthly or material things or cheap triumphs. It is the joy of the Holy Spirit, a joy based in the Lord. It is His very own joy (Acts 13:52;  1 Thes. 1:6).
2. Joy does not depend on circumstances or happiness. Happiness depends upon happenings, but the joy that God implants in the believer's heart overrides all, even the most troublesome matters of life and death (Psalm 5:11; 2 Cor. 7:4).
3. Joy springs from faith (Phil. 1:25;).
4. Joy of future reward makes and keeps one faithful (Matthew 25:21, 23;).

Action: Is God the joy of your life? Ask God to fill you with Himself. Remember happiness is temporary joy is eternal!!!