Fruit of the Spirit – Joy

1.   Joy - from the Greek chara (Strong 5479) = joy or gladness. From chairo (Strong 5463) = rejoice, be glad, hail, greeting, God speed.

2.   Joy - wrongfully sought in . . .

      a.   Unbelief -- Voltaire: “I wish I had never been born.” Psalm 14:1

      b.   Pleasure -- Lord Byron: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.” Ecclesiastes 2:1

      c.   Money -- Jay Gould, 19^th century multi-millionaire, said when dying, “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”

      d.   Position & Fame -- Lord Beaconsfield: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.” Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

      e.   Military Glory -- by age 30, Alexander the Great conquered the known world of his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, and said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.” Amos 7:7-17

      f.   Folly/foolishness – Proverbs 15:21 (cf Ps 38:4-6)

      g.   Treachery – Luke 22:5

      h.   Hedonism (lack of restraint or discipline) - Hebrews 12:5-11

3.   Joy - rightfully secured in . . .

      a.   The Lord – Philippians 4:4

      b.   Salvation

            i.   Psalm 51:8-12

            ii.  Luke 15:5, 32

            iii. Acts 8:8, 39

      c.   God’s Word:

            i.   Jeremiah 15:16

            ii.  Acts 15:31 - God’s Word brought joy and consolation

            iii. 1 Corinthians 13:6

            iv. 1 John 1:3-4

      d.   Persecution:

            i.   Matthew 5:10-12

            ii.  Acts 5:40-41

            iii. Colossians 1:24

            iv. 1 Peter 4:12-16

      e.   Hope:

            i.   John 16:20-22

            ii.  Romans 12:12

            iii. Revelation 19:7