The Strength of Joy

Smoothie Life

By John Youell, Sr., June 10, 2023

The Strength of Joy

(Galatians 5:22-23 NLT) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

  • and are not the same thing.###

  • comes from .

  • is a train dictated by the in our life.

(Philippians 1:3-6 NLT) Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with JOY, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.

1. Paul found joy in not .

  • Paul’s joy in his friendship with Philippians wasn’t simply mutual but mutual .

2. Paul found joy in doing will, not will.

(Philippians 1:12-19 NLT) “I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry….but that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.”

  • Paul experienced a joyful life not by seeking to fulfill his desires, but by seeking to glorify in all things.

3. Paul found Joy in , not !

(Philippians 2:5-9 NLT) “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,…”

  • Joy is experienced, not by ourselves up, but by our lives down.

4. Paul found Joy in , not

(Philippians 3:20-21 NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example….. we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

5. Paul found His Joy in the , not !

(Philippians 4:4 NLT) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

What is the Holy Spirit saying to me?