This is not meant to be a review of 'joy,' etc.

• We are looking to learn a few important needs in order to have a true joy!
• Christ will provide these needs, if we allow Him to!
• Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
• Galatians 2:19,20 - For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
• We will try to look at joy in a more excellent way - the way of God more perfectly when it comes to our joy!
• I Corinthians 12:31
• Acts 18:24-25

• Though sometimes used interchangeably," "happiness" and "joy" are not identical.
• "Happiness" originates on what happens - 'Happiness' comes from 'Happenings!"
• "Joy" is an emotion experienced only by God's people!
• The Holy Spirit is the 'originator' of true joy.
• Galatians 5:22,23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
• Romans 14:17 - For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

• Not fluff!
• Not flattery!
• Not a fake & flummery appearance of a false felicity!
• Not formal yet fake friendless & buffoonish fellowship!
• Not foolishness & folly to veil a fraudulent & frivolous manner of life!
• We must be real - sincere - genuine in our following of the Risen Christ through Paul's teachings!
• Philippians 1:10 - That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
• Philemon 6 - That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
• I Thessalonians 1:9,10 - For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
• I Timothy 4:15,16 - Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee!

II Thessalonians 1:7-12; 2:1,2

• Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would:
• 1) count us worthy
• 2) fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness
• 3) fulfill the work of faith with power
• 4) name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you
• 5) and us glorified in him
• according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• ... that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
• because that day (Second coming) wasn't at hand yet!
• as that the day of Christ is at hand.
• there was still a falling away needing to take place and the son of perdition had yet to be revealed.
• Even during our own personal & wretched life before being delivered from this body of this death... warring between our mind wanting to serve the law God and our flesh wanting to serve the law sin! Romans 7:25

• We still have the rapture to look for!
• I Thessalonians 4:14-18
• I Corinthians 15:51-54 - a mystery, but not a secret!

• So until then... study to be quiet...
• I Thessalonians 4:11,12 - And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
• ...while we wait for his appearing!
• II Timothy 4:7,8 - I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
• and turning to God more and more...
• I Thessalonians 1:9,10 - For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
• Acts 26:18 - To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Two keys / needs we have seen so far?

• Joy is from the Holy Ghost!
• We need to trust the faith of Christ to guide us daily!
• ???????

• Psalm 16:11 - Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
• We can have that joy today!
• I Corinthians 13:10, if that is the very word / words of God!
• Jeremiah 15:16 - Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

• Matthew 28:1-8
• verse 8 - with great joy...
• They had joy because Israel had long looked for the establishment of the earthy Kingdom of heaven.
• Acts 1:6 - When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
• Hid
• Ephesians 1:4-11
• Ephesians 3:1-9 (*5,*9)
• But the real spiritual blessings of the resurrection were still being hidden!
• Without Christ's physical resurrection, we would still be in our sins today!
• Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
• Spiritual blessings for a spiritual kingdom!
• Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
• Only from Paul & a King James Bible can people know the true and final results of the Resurrection!
• Philippians 3:10 - That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

• Do we remember how God dealt with people before this present dispensation of grace began?
• He dealt with them immediately by means of the LAW through Moses!
• The law could make nothing perfect!
• Hebrews 7:19 - For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
• Just receiving the law made Moses tremble with fear!
• Hebrews 12:21 - And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
• The law could not take away sins!
• Hebrews 10:1-4 -  For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
• God's grace today has made us accepted in Christ; has given us absolute righteousness for our official standing; has provided forgiveness of sins; and grants mercy and peace for our present condition.

• The Believers under Law did not know the times and seasons.
• Believers today under grace DO know about them!  (1-5)
• Israel under Law will go through the tribulation...
• ...but the body of Christ will not.  (9)
• National Israel never recognized Christ as their Messiah, and never knew what He accomplished for them when He died.
• ...the church under grace does know, by means of Paul's apostles, just what the Saviour accomplished.
• Those under the Law were to sanctify themselves by obedience.
• Those under grace and the Risen Christ's teachings have the living Lord Himself as their Sanctifier and preserver! (23-24)

We live in the marvelous dispensation of grace - we should know what we have, rejoice and be thankful in it!

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.