Lesson 3 May 2

Review:

SOURCES OF JOY (looking at joy in general)

#1. JOY flows from the awareness of being loved.

#2. JOY flows from accepting one's situation as good.

#3. JOY flows from having something worthwhile.

#4. JOY also flows from giving something worth giving.

What does the Word of God have to say about Christian JOY?

#1. The source of JOY flows from the awareness of being loved.

- As a believer you know that you are loved in a very special way.

- The Father gave because He is love. The Son demonstrated what love was when He was obedient even to death on the cross paying our debt in our place.

- Rom 5:8; Eph 2:4-5; Rom 8:32; 38f;

- B.L.: AT NO TIME CAN WE AS BELIEVER'S SAY THAT WE ARE NOT LOVED!!

- Paul's application - should be our reality - Gal 2:20

#2. Source of Joy is the acceptance of one's situation as good.

- BELIEVERS are able to do this because they know that whatever circumstances or experiences of life they face, whether pleasant or unpleasant can work for their advance, for their good.

- Rom 8:28 is appropriate here

- NO way that you can fulfill the command to rejoice in the Lord always! (1 Ths 5:18) unless you properly mix that situation with God's provision, His Word in you, with the result good is produced.

- Phil 4:11-13 describes the MA of contentment which is the soil in which Paul's joy so clearly revealed in Phil. is rooted and grows.