JOY Joy That Comes From The Inside By Elisabeth Syré Seminar on joy April 2002
The Word Joy.

The Hebrew word SAMEACH means:" glad, joyful, merry, rejoice"

It comes from SAMACH meaning: "to brighten up, to be glad, to make some-one happy, to have joy and to be joyful or cause to rejoice."

The other Hebrew word is ASHER which means "happy, blessed."

Who was ASHER?
He was Jacob’s second son by Zilpa, the maid of Leah Gen. 30:12-13
In spite of all the competition Leah used to be one up on Rachel.
Asher was born and his name was happiness and joy in the midst of all strife and jealousy.

1. He went to Egypt Gen 46:17, 3.
2. He was Jacob’s son
3. He was father of 5 children Gen 46:17
4. He was blessed by Jacob Gen. 49:20
5. He was head of the tribe of Asher Deut. 33:24 (North Israel)
6. He was friendly with the Canaanites Judges 5:17
7. He was compromising with the enemies Judges 1:31
8. He made it in Gideon’s army in Judges 6:35 and 7:23 in spite of it.

When You Overcome Your Weakness You Will Make It With Joy In His Army.
His name made a way for him to be a winner.

1.True Happiness is Not dependant On Circumstances.

Acts 9:33-34
Here we have AENEAS His name in Greek means praise and joy too.
What do we know about him?

1. He was lame for 8 years and could not walk
2. Peter came and said: "Jesus heals you, rise and make your bed."
3. He immediately obeyed, rose and walked.
4. He believed the Word without doubting and acted upon it.

What Was The Result Of This Action?
Acts 9:35 "and ALL who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord." 2 cities saved because of one man. That is joy!
What can we learn from this event?

2. True Joy Is Active And Multiplies In The Lives Of Others.

Acts 9:36-43
Here we see a disciple called Tabitha, in Greek : Dorcas
Her name means Gazelle (a beast of chase). Her name also means:
"Leaping with ease and joy over difficult ground."
Who was Dorcas?

1. she did good works
2. she was very kind
3. she was a giver
4. she was industrious
5. she was a disciple, teaching people whilst being practical
6. she never stopped working

We also know that she was sick and died. Too much work?
What happened to her?
Peter said: "Tabitha arise", she opened her eyes and sat up.

Result:

Acts 9:42. People All over Joppa heard and believed.

3. True Joy Comes Through Faith.

1 Samuel 1:5-6
Here is Hanna, who went through difficult trials.

1. Elkanah, her husband, reprimanded her :8
2. Peninnah, Elkana’s second wife, provoked her. :7
3. Eli, the priest, wrongly accused her. 1 Sam.1:14
4. She was desperately seeking God : verses 10,11
5. God answered her and she kept her promises to Him :28

Result:

Hanna had 5 more children next to Samuel 1 Sam.2:21
Hanna means "grace" in Hebrew and nr. 5 is the nr. of grace.
She recognized Messiah, the anointed One 1. Sam.2:10
She rejoiced and started to sing in the Spirit just like Mary did in the Magnificat. Luke 1:46-54
Weeping May Endure For A Night But Joy Comes In The Morning. Ps. 30:5

4. Joy Comes From An Inner Relationship With The Lord.

True Joy Temporary Joy
Knowing Jesus Knowing friends
Favor with God Favor with men
Share to bless Money for self-improvement
Expecting God to achieve Achieve in own strength
Building the Kingdom Building your own home
To know God loves you To hear everyone loves you
To work in His Spirit power To have power over people
God speaking to you To have fellowship with friends
To get spiritual food To eat out in a restaurant
To have spiritual kids To have children

Romans 14:17: "the kingdom of God is not in eating and drinking, but in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."

Great people talk about ideas; average people about things and small people talk about other people.

What is joy?

We are living in a time where many have lost the joy for life.

1. Joy in the Bible is related to God’s total blessing for you.
2. Joy in the Bible is many times related to mourning, sorrows, sadness, persecution.

Ps. 30:11 "You turned my mourning into dancing, You loosed my sackcloth and ashes and gave me gladness."
Ps. 27:5-6: "In the day of trouble He will conceal me, hide me, lift me above my enemies. I will offer sacrifice of joy."
Ps. 126:5: "Those that sow in tears, shall reap in joy."
Isaiah 61:3 He gives us the oil of joy for mourning and the Spirit of joy for the garment of heaviness."
Jeremiah 31:13: "I will turn your mourning into joy."

5. Joy Is A Fruit Of The Holy Spirit Within You.

Galatians 5:22: "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace."
John 15:8: "My Father is glorified if you bear much fruit. 11: So that My joy may be in you so that your joy may be full."

6. When We Are In A Barren Place God Gives Us A Recipe For Joy:

Isaiah 52: 9 "Sing joyfully in your waste places for the Lord redeems Jerusalem."
Isaiah 55:12 " Go out with joy and be led forth by peace."
Isaiah 35:2 " Blossom in your wilderness."
Psalm 16:11 " In His Presence is fullness of joy."
Isaiah 12:3 "with joy draw water from the wells of salvation."
James 1:2: " Count your joy when you get trials testing your faith."
Hebrew. 12:2 "Look to Jesus, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame."
John 16:24 "Ask in My Name and receive, so your joy will be full."

7. How To Achieve Joy In Heaven:

1. pray for one sinner to repent and turn to God. Luke 15:7
2. the seventy returned with joy about the harvest of souls Luke. 10:17
3. get your name written up in the Book of Life. Luke 10:20; Rev.3:5

8. Joy Is Not Just A Feeling It Comes Through The Power Of The Holy Spirit.

The joy of the Lord is my strength Nehemiah. 8:10
Luke 6: 21-24: "if men hate you for My sake, rejoice".
This cannot be a feeling. As the Holy Spirit gave Stephen the joy of seeing Jesus whilst being stoned so He can give you the power to see Him in every situation of your life. Jesus is the source of your real joy!

Altar call:

For those, who have lost the joy for living, the broken ones, The sick and the stumbling ones to come to Jesus and exchange their mourning for joy through salvation.
For those, who are believers to come and lay down their burdens and be filled with the Holy Spirit.