The document discusses the concept of joy as a permanent presence in the life of a believer, emphasizing that joy is a fruit of the Spirit and distinct from temporary emotions. It highlights the importance of seeking joy deliberately, noting that Jesus exemplified joy during His earthly ministry, attracting people through His joyful nature rather than just His power. Additionally, it stresses that joy should manifest in the lives of believers and serve as an outward expression of their spiritual state.

1. Live Joy Session 4 (Chapters 5 & 6)<br />Chapter 4 Review <br />John 15:11 - I have told you this [remaining in his father’s love] so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

2. John 16:24 - your joy will be complete

3. John 17:13 - “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

4. Rom 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Definition of Joy: <br />Joy is nothing less than the nature of God pumped through my bloodstream. It’s a blessed invasion of the Spirit of God deep into my soul. <br />Reading NT, it is clear that joy is a constant presence in the life of a believer. <br />OT -> episodic quality <br />NT -> permanent – when HS came to indwell believers, then joy became a fruit of the Spirit and a lasting gift that comes from the presence of God in us. <br />Joy is distinct from various temporary expressions of joy. <br />Joy lives inside the spirit of a believer but is revealed through our emotions or states of mind. But these outward manifestations (delight, contentment, and gladness) are not the same as joy itself. Joy is the divine substance underneath. <br />Joyful expressions come and go but the joy flowing through my bloodstream never leaves me. <br />Joy is a permanent presence in the life of a believer, but most find it impossible to experience constant joy. <br />We have a choice on whether or not to live out the joy he offers us. <br />Joy doesn’t flood our lives unless we deliberately seek it out. <br />We may put constraints on God’s joy, but these are handcuffs I put on myself. <br />Six key qualities of joy <br />Joy is a permanent presence in the life of a believer.

5. Tapping into that joy is a choice for every believer.

6. The amount of joy available to us is unlimited.

7. Joy is our spiritual lifeblood.

8. Joy is experienced with other believers.

9. Joy is rooted in eternity. (Nothing temporary about it.) Chapter 5 <br />1. Read Hebrews 1:9. Why is this verse a key in understanding Jesus during his earthly ministry? <br />God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. – Heb 1:9 <br />A primary distinguisher of Jesus while on earth was his joy. <br />[Matthew clips]<br />“Jesus was a man of such joy, such merriment, such gladness of Spirit, such freedom and openness, that He was irrestible.” – Sherwood Eliot Wirt <br />Bruce Marchiono quote on p. 66. <br />2. Did you ever really think of Jesus as a “man of joy” when reading the Gospels? Why or why not? <br />3. Read Isaiah’s prophetic description of the Messiah in Isaiah 53:2. How does this characterization compare to a popular understanding of who Jesus Christ was during his earthly ministry? <br />He grew up before him like a tender shoot, <br /> and like a root out of dry ground. <br />He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, <br /> nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.<br />It’s almost as if God went out of his way to make sure that people weren’t attracted by “Jesus the man” so that he could instead wow the world with his divine joy. <br />4. What are some of the things that drew people to Christ during his earthly ministry? <br />Miracles <br />Contagious joy – what kept the crowds following him day after day. <br />It was his joy not his power that attracted the sinners and tax collectors. <br />6. Read Hebrews 12:2. Was Jesus able to experience joy in the Garden of Gethsemane, trial, and crucifixion? Why or why not? <br />Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.<br />Profoundly significant. <br />7. Can you think of difficult experienced you endured because of the joy you knew you would experience later? <br />Chapter 6 <br />What a lump of sunshine that man was! – C.H. Spurgeon <br />From his whole person, joy seemed to radiate. – Les Miserables <br />1. C.H. Spurgeon once called a joyful man he knew a “lump of sunshine”. Why is this name such a descriptive term for a joy-filled person? <br />Poorly formed part of the eternal

10. Lump – raw material that needs molding and refining before it is in its final form. But the nature of that precious material is already there. Quote on p. 71 – True joy must speak! Sunshine can’t help but work its way out! <br />*** Pleasantville effect – p. 71-72 <br />2. Can you think of any believers who have had a “Pleasantville Effect” on people with whom they came into contact? <br />Clint<br />3. How does outwardly expressed joy differ from charm or charisma? <br />Charisma has nothing to do with a person’s spiritual state. <br />Joy is a direct result of it. <br />We often confuse the two. <br />Why else are we so surprised when great Christians fall? <br />Oswald Chambers – “The one thing that Jesus Christ does for a man is to make him radiant, not artificially radiant. There is nothing more irritating than the counsel ‘keep smiling’. That is a counterfeit, a radiance that soon fizzles out.” <br />Paul – “unimpressive, speaking amounts to nothing” 2 Cor. <br />Not a charismatic person <br />But how the churches adored Paul! <br />Read Phil. 1:4-8 – reveals a special bond and deep affection between Paul and the church of Philippi <br />4. Why is joy such an important characteristic for believers to exhibit in their lives? <br />When the nature of God is in control of a person’s life, joy cannot help but spill out. <br />Display of joy in my life – reveals the state of my soul. <br />[Read p. 79 about bishop]<br />5. Take a moment and think about your life – are you a lump of sunshine? On scale from 1-5: <br />Your coworkers or neighborsOther believers at churchYour spouse/familyYourself<br />How similar are they to each other? Do you project yourself differently to different groups? What is getting in the way of exhibiting true joy? <br />(busyness, shyness, my own agenda)<br />