The Joyful Christian Life

I. What is joy?

1) A gift from God

2) Granted by God to those who believe in Christ

3) Produced by the Holy Spirit

4) Experienced most fully as believers receive and obey God’s Word

5) Deepened through trails

6) Made complete when believers set their hope on glory

7) An outworking of humility in a believer

8) A product of Christian unity

II. What affects our joy or the lack thereof?

The affect of joy is selflessness and a lack of joy causes a self-centered, selfish, proud and often vengeful person.

III. What produces joy?

1) Thankfulness (Phil. 1:3)

2) Intercession for others (Phil. 1:3-4)

3) Participation or fellowship (Phil. 1:5)

4) Anticipation (Phil. 1:6)

5) Affection (Phil. 1:7-8)

IV. What robs a person of joy?

1) A false salvation – unbelief

2) The influence of Satan and demons

3) Inadequate understanding of God’s sovereignty

4) Prayerlessness

5) The emotional low that frequently follows a spiritual high

6) Focusing on circumstances

7) Ingratitude

8) Forgetfulness

9) Living by uncontrolled feelings, living by the flesh instead of by the Spirit

10) Unwillingness to accept forgiveness