Dec. 07, 2025

Background:

• Worship involves celebration and confession
• Joy grows out of real worship
• There is a difference between Joy and Happiness
• Happiness comes from the external
• Joy starts from the inside, rooted by faith from God
• Joy is the gift from the holy spirit
• Joy is part of the fruit of the spirit
• Joy is a permanent feeling even in challenging times
• Happiness is temporary when circumstance changes
• Happiness is a fleeting feeling, external.
• It is important to realize that the Joy the we have is from the Lord.
• A lack of a devotional life hinders our growth from God
• We cannot of Joy apart from God

Key Sermon Points:

1. Keeping a joyful spirit

• Rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
• Rejoice, pray, and give thanks
• Joy is an important factor in a believer's stability
• It's important that we have joy
• We can't celebrate God or be a good witness without joy
• Joy is a deep feeling that shows a deep confidence in the Lord
• We cannot depend on the world, which is wicked and we can't depend on people
• God is our reliable source
• The great truth about God is that it's easy to rejoice

2. Rejoicing in Him

• Many times we rejoice in the wrong things that cannot help us
• We must rejoice in God who gives us joy
• God gives us the joy that we need

3. What can hinder our joy?

• If we are in sin, sin steals our joy
• We must walk with God, if we want joy
• sin damages our joy
• sin damages our relationship with God
• Unrepented sin leads to guilt and shame
• Fear is the enemy of faith
• Negative thoughts, fear, regrets, toxic relationships also hinder our joy