Jesus is Joy!!!

"Yes, Jesus smiled; yes, Jesus laughed. Jesus smiled wider and laughed heartier than any human being who has ever walked the planet. He was young. He radiated good cheer. The real Jesus was a man of such merriment, such gladness of heart, such freedom and openness, that He proved irresistible. He became known through Galilee for His genuine strength, the sparkle in His eyes, the spring in His gait, the heartiness in His laugh, the genuineness of His touch; His passion, playfulness, excitement, and vitality: His JOY! He made a dazzling display of love. He set hearts afire. He was an elated, triumphant young man with an incredible quality of life . . . so different from the solemn religious types He constantly encountered...

"The Joy of Jesus, I discovered, was wrapped up in His living in all the fullness of life's ultimate adventure-a bigger-than-life, robustness, victoriousness that comes with living 100 percent in the Father's will 100 percent of the time. Can you imagine the level of joy in your heart if you could live just ten seconds that way? Jesus lived every breathing moment that way. It's beyond comprehension! Love unbounded, truth unrestrained, purpose maximized, victory realized, enemy pulverized, humanity eternalized, God glorified-it's just too much to think about...." -Bruce Marchiano.
"Footsteps of Jesus"



"Therefore God, your God has set You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of Joy." Hebrews 1:9

When I first received Christ, all my racquetball buddies and I knew were dirty jokes and raucousness. I didn't know how to have fun in Christ. I was slowly making new friends but I honestly learned how to laugh, love & fellowship in a Godly manner in a Christian forum.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."(Galatians 5:22)

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.

I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Jesus gave this word of cheer to His disciples: "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."

Many of the scientists of the past and present who have been exploring the universe believe there is "more out there" than the material facts show. As they see it, the sum of the data, when taken together, is greater than the data in the computer. They are convinced that God does in fact reveal Himself in love, that the universe was created in goodness and is an expression of divine pleasure and joy. "man of joy"

The Bible reminds us again and again of the "voice of mirth." The book of Proverbs says that "the merry heart has a continual feast," and that such a heart is "good" medicine. The psalmist sings, "Then our mouth was filled with laughter." In another psalm he speaks of "God my exceeding joy." How do we express exceeding joy? What do we do? We laugh! Isaiah exults, "Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth!" Jeremiah describes the "voice of joy and the voice of gladness . . . of the bridegroom and . . . bride." Jesus told His disciples that after He left them "your
grief will turn to joy . . . [which] no one will take away." The apostle Peter declares that the Christians to whom he is writing "are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." -Sherwood Eliot Wirt, "Jesus, Man of Joy"

"Jesus came to bring us joy, among other things, and it was for future joy that He went to the cross. It's in Hebrews 12:2: "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

In the twelfth chapter of the letter to the Hebrews is a verse that gives an unusually clear insight into our Lord's mental attitude as He began His ministry. The verse reads, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus . . . who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"  Joy? What joy? The joy of heaven, of course. "-Sherwood Eliot Wirt
http://www.ccel.us/woody.toc.html

"The joy of the Lord was at the tomb of the resurrected Lazarus, overshadowing the sadness and disappointment of the dead man's sisters. Joy was there when the leper returned to thank Jesus. Joy was there when a woman caught in the very act of adultery was forgiven and released from her sin. Joy was there when the deaf heard, the blind saw, and the lame walked. Joy was there on the mountainside as the multitudes listened to the profound teachings of Jesus. Joy was there when the little children flocked to Jesus. Joy was there when the boy gave Jesus his lunch so that He could work a miracle and feed the thousands. Joy was there when Jesus forgave Zacchaeus for abusing his authority. Joy was there when Jesus stood up in the boat and stopped the storm. Joy was there when dawn broke and the women knew that Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Everywhere Jesus went, joy tagged along." - Dr. Mike MacIntosh

"YOU AND I ARE INVITED to a delightful place where there is joy and laughter. The place is Cana, a village of Galilee, where a wedding ceremony is about to begin.1 Jesus and His mother are among the invited guests, and so are the disciples, which of course includes us. That is, some of us. Others of us have been there for some time, preparing for the festivities.

It is a lovely occasion and everyone is smiling. Excitement fills the air. The ceremony is being held outdoors in the sunshine. The presence of Jesus lends a sudden touch of glory to the proceedings. Can you imagine anything more thrilling than just being there?

Why do you suppose Jesus was invited to this event? Was it because He wore a sad expression? No. What a misreading of His real character!... He exhibited a light and serene spirit. He radiated cheer. According to the letter to the Hebrews, He was anointed by His Father with the oil of gladness more than His companions.

That's why Jesus was invited to the wedding. Not because He was a relative they had to invite. Not because He was an apostle of doom and gloom. Not because He was sure to go about gratuitously buttonholing the other guests and informing them that the fires of hell awaited them." - Sherwood Eliot Wirt
http://www.ccel.us/woody.toc.html


Jesus stood up in the Temple and read a quote from Isaiah 61, purposely stopping before wrath, which will come with His second coming, but for now:

 1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
      Because the LORD has anointed Me
      To preach good tidings to the poor;
      He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
      To proclaim liberty to the captives,
      And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
       2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD

(Isaiah 61)

This is the "acceptable year of the Lord"

17 The LORD your God in your midst,
      The Mighty One, will save;
      He will rejoice over you with gladness,
      He will quiet you with His love,
      He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zeph 3:17

"The opposite of joy is not sorrow. It is unbelief."
— Leslie Weatherhead

2 cor 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

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