Sweeping Categorical statement:

Everyone in this place would rather be happy than sad.

Pressing Issue Today:

How to live consistently joyful?

Answer:

Armchair Experts

William Glasser - “From birth to old age we need to love and be loved. Throughout our lives our health and our happiness depends on our ability to do so. To either love or allow ourselves to be loved is not enough. We must do both. When we cannot satisfy our total need for love we will without fail suffer and react with many familiar psychological symptoms from mild discomfort to anxiety to depression or complete withdrawal from the people around us.”

Victor Frankl - “The striving to find a meaning in one’s life is the primary force and motivation in man. This meaning is unique and specific and must be found by that man alone. Only when a person finds that meaning will the person find significance and satisfaction.”

Bruno Butter Heim - “Prisoners who came to believe the repeated statements of the guards in the camp that there was no hope for them and that they would never leave the camp except as a corpse. Those who came to feel that their environment was one in which they could exercise no influence whatsoever, these prisoners were in a sense walking corpses.”

Where does the love/purpose/hope injection come from?

Who makes the serum?

Who gives the shot?

1. God loves you so much that He has made your Joy a priority

John 15:9-11 - “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Romans 4:4-8 - When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive. But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work. King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared to be righteous:

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord.”

1. God loves you so much that He has made your Joy a priority

2. Our God has a brilliant plan to carry it out in your life

Philippians 4:4-7 - Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace,

which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.