Choosing Joy: The Enduring Strength of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Joy is a Choice, Not a Circumstance**

Joy is a deep, enduring state that we can choose regardless of our circumstances. Unlike happiness, which is a fleeting emotion triggered by external events, joy is rooted in our relationship with Jesus Christ. This joy is a fruit of the Spirit, cultivated by God in us for a lifetime. It is not dependent on our external situations but on our internal connection with God.

Choosing joy means actively deciding to focus on God's presence and promises, even when life is challenging. Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that "the joy of the Lord is your strength," emphasizing that this joy is a source of resilience and power. By choosing joy, we align ourselves with God's will and allow His Spirit to work within us, transforming our hearts and minds. [03:10]

Romans 15:13 (ESV): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you choose to focus on God's presence and promises in this situation to experience His joy?

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Day 2: Faith Transforms Sorrow into Joy**

The story from Mark 9 illustrates that even in moments of doubt, faith in Jesus can bring profound joy. The father in the story experienced joy because he believed in Jesus' power, despite his initial unbelief. This teaches us that faith can transform our sorrow into joy.

When we place our trust in Jesus, we open ourselves to His transformative power. Our faith allows us to see beyond our immediate circumstances and recognize the greater work that God is doing in our lives. This perspective shift can turn our moments of despair into opportunities for joy, as we witness God's faithfulness and love in action. [04:31]

1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV): "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when your faith in Jesus helped you find joy in a difficult situation. How can you apply that same faith to a current challenge?

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Day 3: Joy in the Midst of Sorrow**

A personal story highlighted how a man chose joy despite the sorrow of identifying his deceased mother. His faith in Jesus allowed him to find joy even in the darkest moments, showing that true joy comes from our relationship with God.

This story demonstrates that joy is not the absence of sorrow but the presence of God in our lives. When we anchor our joy in our relationship with Jesus, we can experience His peace and comfort, even in the midst of pain and loss. This joy sustains us and gives us the strength to endure and overcome life's challenges. [08:44]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: Think of a recent sorrowful experience. How can you invite Jesus into that situation to find His joy and comfort?

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Day 4: Gratitude Fosters Joy**

Living with a spirit of gratitude helps us to experience joy. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 encourages us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. Gratitude shifts our focus from our problems to God's blessings, fostering a joyful heart.

When we practice gratitude, we acknowledge God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives. This recognition helps us to see beyond our immediate struggles and appreciate the many ways God is working in and through us. By cultivating a habit of gratitude, we open our hearts to experience the fullness of joy that comes from knowing and trusting God. [11:59]

Colossians 3:15-17 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: Make a list of ten things you are grateful for today. How does focusing on these blessings change your perspective and increase your joy?

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Day 5: Guarding Our Joy in Christ**

Philippians 4:4-7 reminds us to rejoice in the Lord always and to let our requests be made known to God. This passage promises that God's peace will guard our hearts and minds, helping us to maintain our joy even in challenging times.

Guarding our joy means being intentional about our relationship with God and protecting our hearts from negativity and doubt. By staying connected to God through prayer, worship, and reading His Word, we can experience His peace and joy, regardless of our circumstances. This intentional focus on God helps us to remain steadfast in our faith and joyful in our walk with Him. [16:55]

Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."

Reflection: What are some practical steps you can take to guard your joy in Christ today? How can you stay connected to God and protect your heart from negativity and doubt?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Tonight, we explored the profound difference between happiness and joy, emphasizing that while happiness is a fleeting emotion triggered by external stimuli, joy is a deep, enduring state that we can choose regardless of our circumstances. Happiness can be derived from both good and sinful actions, but joy is rooted in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We delved into the story from Mark 9, where Jesus heals a boy possessed by a demonic spirit, highlighting the father's joy despite his initial unbelief. This story underscores the transformative power of faith and the joy that comes from believing in Jesus.

We also discussed the importance of choosing joy in all situations, whether good or bad. Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us that "the joy of the Lord is your strength," and this joy is not just a fleeting emotion but a fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23. Joy is something that God cultivates in us for a lifetime, not just for a moment.

A personal story was shared about an encounter at a hospital, where a man, despite the sorrow of identifying his deceased mother, chose joy because of his faith in Jesus. This story illustrated that true joy comes from our relationship with God and can sustain us even in the darkest times.

We also touched on the importance of gratitude, sharing joy with others, and guarding our joy in Christ. Philippians 4:4-7 encourages us to rejoice always and to let our requests be made known to God, promising that His peace will guard our hearts and minds. Finally, we were reminded that we live in an unprecedented time where the Holy Spirit dwells within us, allowing us to have a personal relationship with God and experience the fullness of joy.

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Key Takeaways

1. 18 encourages us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. Gratitude shifts our focus from our problems to God's blessings, fostering a joyful heart. [11:59]
5. Guarding Our Joy: Philippians 4:4-7 reminds us to rejoice in the Lord always and to let our requests be made known to God. This passage promises that God's peace will guard our hearts and minds, helping us to maintain our joy even in challenging times.

### [11:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction to Joy vs. Happiness
[03:10] - Choosing Joy in All Circumstances
[04:31] - The Story from Mark 9
[06:03] - Personal Story: Hospital Encounter
[08:44] - Joy in Sorrow
[10:11] - Joy as a Fruit of the Spirit
[11:59] - Gratitude and Joy
[13:41] - Sharing Joy with Others
[15:11] - Joy as the Strength of Our Faith
[16:55] - Guarding Our Joy in Christ
[18:33] - Joy in Difficult Conversations
[20:18] - Recap of Key Points
[21:48] - Invitation to Experience Joy
[23:27] - Closing Prayer
[24:57] - Amen and Conclusion

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In Mark 9:20-27, what was the father's initial reaction to Jesus' presence, and how did his faith evolve throughout the story? [04:31]
According to Nehemiah 8:10, what is described as our strength, and how does this relate to the concept of joy discussed in the sermon? [06:03]
In Philippians 4:4-7, what are the specific instructions given to believers, and what is the promised result of following these instructions? [16:55]

Interpretation Questions

How does the father's experience in Mark 9 illustrate the difference between fleeting happiness and enduring joy? [04:31]
Nehemiah 8:10 states, "the joy of the Lord is your strength." How can this understanding of joy as strength change our perspective during difficult times? [06:03]
Philippians 4:4-7 encourages believers to rejoice always and not be anxious. How can this passage help us guard our joy in Christ, especially in challenging circumstances? [16:55]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you experienced fleeting happiness. How did it differ from a moment when you felt deep, enduring joy rooted in your faith? [03:10]
The father in Mark 9 struggled with unbelief but still chose to believe in Jesus' power. How can you apply this example to a current situation where you are struggling with doubt? [04:31]
The personal story shared in the sermon highlighted choosing joy in sorrow. How can you practice choosing joy in a difficult situation you are currently facing? [08:44]
Gratitude was emphasized as a way to experience joy. What are three things you are grateful for today, and how can you make gratitude a daily practice? [11:59]
Philippians 4:4-7 talks about making our requests known to God and receiving His peace. What specific anxieties or concerns can you bring to God in prayer this week? [16:55]
The sermon mentioned sharing joy with others. Identify one person in your life who needs encouragement. How can you share your joy with them this week? [13:41]
Reflect on the idea that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, allowing us to experience the fullness of joy. How can this truth impact your daily walk with God? [11:59]

Sermon Clips

1. "On the outset, joy and happiness are not the same thing. Happiness is a response to a stimulus. It's something occurs and we feel happy about the thing that happens. It could be something that's really good. It could be our kid running up and giving us a hug that makes you happy. It could be that you got a promotion. You got that raise at work. You succeeded in something. It could be that you got a promotion. You got that raise at work. And you're happy about that fact. Something bad could make you happy as well. Something sinful could be happy. You could be happy from a relationship that's inappropriate. A drug could make you happy. Alcohol could make you happy. What makes happiness and joy so different is the fact that happiness is a fleeting emotion. It's something that's acquired for a short period of time because of that stimulus. Joy, however, is a long-burning feeling that we have. It's something that we can call upon no matter the time, no matter the circumstances. We can always call on joy in our life. We have to choose joy in those tough times. We have to choose joy in the good times and in the happy times. We choose joy." [03:10] (79 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Remember the story is I believe, help my unbelief. He believes. He believes in the power of Jesus. He believes in the deity of Jesus. He struggles with the resolution. He struggles with the answers to the tough questions. But he believes in Jesus as Lord in that moment. There's a song for King and Country. It's a Christian artist. And the hook goes like this. It says, Oh, hear my prayer tonight. I'm singing to the sky. Give me strength to raise my voice. Let me testify. Oh, hear my prayer tonight. Because this is do or die. The time has come to make a choice. And I choose joy in the hard times. We get this opportunity to choose joy in the good times. We get the opportunity to choose joy, but we have to grasp it. We have to choose joy. And EMI 810 says, and do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength. The joy of the Lord is your strength. So we're going to do something. We're going to change the title of the message. The message title isn't, help me believe in joy, but rather as I have joy because I believe I have joy because I believe." [06:03] (78 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "He's choosing joy in this moment. And it happened because he recalled upon his relationship with Jesus. The joy that he has from worshiping God brought a smile to his face. This passion he has for these things, even in this crazy dark time of walking into a hospital to identify your dead mom's body. The only thing in this conversation that caused him any pain was the fact that he was fairly certain his mom did not know Jesus. Everything else about the conversation was joyful because he had joy because he believed. I have joy because I believe." [08:44] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Joy, not happiness, but joy is a fruit of the spirit. Wayne Jacobson said it this way. He said, The fruit of the spirit is not what we can make ourselves do for a moment, but what God can make us to be for a lifetime. It's not a fleeting thing to have joy. Joy. Joy comes from the Lord. I have joy because I believe. I have joy because I believe. How do I know this? I know I have joy because I believe, because I know that God is the source of true joy. God is the source of true joy. James 1, 17. Every good gift, every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. If we know that God is the source of true joy, and that God has shown this to us, and that He is the same yesterday, today, and He is tomorrow, God is the source of our joy no matter the season of life we find ourselves in. No matter if it's the pain, no matter if it's a trial, no matter if it's abundance, no matter if it's a happy time, He is the source of our true joy. And because I believe, I have joy." [10:11] (81 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "In the Old Testament, God's impact was on a group of people in a certain place at a certain time. It had impact on the entire world, but it was directly impacting certain people at a certain time and a certain place. When Jesus comes as human form here on earth, He's impacting a certain group of people at a certain time in a certain place that has a ripple effect that impacts the entire world. Today, we live in a period of time where the Holy Spirit dwells inside of each and every person who knows Him and has a relationship with Him. We live in a period of time where we're not a certain person in a certain place to have a direct interaction with God. He lives within each and every one of us who believe. We live in an incredible time for that interaction, to have that relationship, that one-on-one relationship with the Creator of all things. I have joy because I believe." [11:59] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Few things can break the spirit of people like a sour word, like a word of discouragement. It can just beat you down. It can just beat you down, and it doesn't show the joy. That is given by Christ in our lives. Proverbs actually ranks it up there with one who lives a crooked and dishonest life and the father of a son who is a fool. If you're a father of a son who's a fool, you can sympathize with the pain that comes from that. Proverbs 17, 20 through 22. A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity. He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a son who is a fool gets himself sorrow. The father of a fool has no joy. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up bones. I have joy because I believe, and because of that joy, I get to share it with others. I get the opportunity to be a light. I get the opportunity to share that with other people." [13:41] (69 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vine, the produce of the olive fail, and the fields yield no food. The flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herds in the stalls. There's not a lot going right for this guy. They're going through a tough time. There's no food on the vine. There's no livestock in the pen. They're having a rough go at it, but hear this. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God the Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like deers, and He makes me tread on my high places. The God of my salvation. The God who provides. The God who supplies. The God who provides. The God who provides. The God who provides. The God who supplants. The God who protects. The God of my salvation. I believe because I have joy because I believe that joy is the strength of my faith." [15:11] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "That my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. Through creation of you and I, we have joy. There's a level of joy that we all have inside of us. With an interaction with the Holy Spirit, we have the opportunity for fullness in our joy. We only have so much that we can call upon apart from God. Only so much we can call upon apart from Jesus, apart from the Holy Spirit, when it comes to our joy. To joy. That my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. It's like a fusion, if you will. We have the opportunity to take our glass that's half full. It can't ever, or half empty, excuse me. It can't be half full because it's only on us. Our half empty glass and allow the Holy Spirit to pour that fullness of joy into the glass for us to consume, for us to call upon. There's a fullness in the Holy Spirit that fills us with joy. It's like a fusion, if you will. It fills us up and allows us to be joyful in the darkest and hardest and toughest of times in our life." [16:55] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "I have joy because I believe in what Jesus can do in my life. Philippians 4, 4-7. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, through 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 in Christ Jesus. We have the fullness of joy in Jesus, and now he's going to guard our hearts and our minds. I have joy because I have faith in the creator of all things." [18:33] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Reality, we have to look at all of these things, all the reasons that we know that we have joy. We know that we have joy because God is the source of that joy. We know we have joy because we live with a spirit of gratitude. We share joy with others. Joy is the strength of our faith. Guard your joy in Christ. It's because of those things that we have joy. It's because we believe in God. It's because we believe in God. It's because we believe in God. It's because we believe that we have the fullness of the joy that is possible in our life. But it's because we believe." [20:18] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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