Joy


1) God gives joy:
Ec 2:26 For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Ps 4:7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

2) Christ appointed to give joy:
Isa 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

3) Joy is a fruit of the Spirit:
Ga 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

4) The gospel, good tidings of joy:
Lu 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Lu 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

5) God's word affords joy:
Ne 8:12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

6) The gospel to be received with joy:
1Th 1:6 ¶ And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

7) Joy promised to saints:
Ps 132:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isa 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

8) Joy, prepared for saints:
Ps 97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

9) Joy, enjoined to saints:
Ps 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Php 3:1 ¶ Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

10) Fulness of joy in God's presence:
Ps 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

11) Vanity of seeking joy from earthly things:
Ec 2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Ec 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Ec 11:8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

12) Joy, experienced by:
 12a) Believers:
Lu 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Ac 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
12b) Peace-makers:
Pr 12:20 ¶ Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
12c) The just:
Pr 21:15 ¶ It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
12d) The wise, and discreet:
Pr 15:23 ¶ A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
12e) Parents of good children:
Pr 23:24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.

13) Joy, increased to the meek:
Isa 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

14) The joy of saints is:
 14a) In God:
Ps 89:16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
Ps 149:2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Hab 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Ro 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
14b) In Christ:
Lu 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
14c) In the Holy Spirit:
Ro 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
14d) For election:
Lu 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
14e) For salvation:
Ps 21:1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
Isa 61:10 ¶ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
14f) For deliverance from bondage:
Ps 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
Jer 31:10 ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
Jer 31:11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
Jer 31:12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Jer 31:13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14g) For manifestation of goodness:
2Ch 7:10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
14h) For temporal blessings:
Joe 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Joe 2:24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
14i) For supplies of grace:
Isa 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
14j) For divine protection:
Ps 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Ps 16:8 ¶ I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Ps 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
14k) For divine support:
Ps 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Ps 63:7 ¶ Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
14l) For the victory of Christ:
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
14m) For the hope of glory:
Ro 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
14n) For the success of the gospel:
Ac 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

15) The joy of saints should be:
 15a) Great:
Zec 9:9 ¶ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Ac 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
15b) Abundant:
2Co 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
15c) Exceeding:
Ps 21:6 For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.
Ps 68:3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
15d) Animated:
Ps 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Lu 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
15e) Unspeakable:
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
15f) Full of glory:
1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
15g) Constant:
2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
15h) For evermore:
1Th 5:16 ¶ Rejoice evermore.
15i) With awe:
Ps 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
15j) In hope:
Ro 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
15k) In sorrow:
2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
15l) Under trials:
Jas 1:2 ¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
1Pe 1:6 ¶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
15m) Under persecutions:
Mt 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mt 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Lu 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Lu 6:23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Heb 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
15n) Under calamities:
Hab 3:17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Hab 3:18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
15o) Expressed in hymns:
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

16) Afflictions of saints succeeded by joy:
Ps 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Ps 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Joh 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

17) Pray for restoration of joy:
Ps 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Ps 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Ps 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

18) Promote joy in the afflicted:
Job 29:13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

19) The joy of saints, made full by:
 19a) The favour of God:
Ac 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
19b) Faith in Christ:
Ro 15:13 ¶ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
19c) Abiding in Christ:
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
19d) The word of Christ:
Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
19e) Answers to prayer:
Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
19f) Communion of saints:
2Ti 1:4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
1Jo 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1Jo 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
2Jo 1:12 ¶ Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

20) Saints should afford joy to their ministers:
Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Phm 1:20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

21) Ministers should:
 21a) Esteem their people as their joy:
Php 4:1 ¶ Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
1Th 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.
21b) Promote joy in their people:
2Co 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.
Php 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
21c) Pray for joy for their people:
Ro 15:13 ¶ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
21d) Have joy in the faith and holiness of their people:
2Co 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
1Th 3:9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
3Jo 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
21e) Come to their people with joy:
Ro 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
21f) Finish their course with joy:
Ac 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
21g) Desire to render an account with joy:
Php 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

22) Serve God with joy:
Ps 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

23) Liberality in God's service should cause joy:
1Ch 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
1Ch 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

24) Joy is strengthening to saints:
Ne 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

25) Saints should engage in all religious services with joy:
Ezr 6:22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
Ps 42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

26) Saints should have joy in all their undertakings:
De 12:18 But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

27) Saints shall be presented to God with exceeding joy:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

28) The coming of Christ will afford to saints exceeding joy:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

29) Joy shall be the final reward of saints at the judgment day:
Mt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

30) Joy of the wicked:
 30a) Is derived from earthly pleasures:
Ec 2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Ec 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
30b) Is derived from folly:
Pr 15:21 ¶ Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
30c) Is delusive:
Pr 14:13 ¶ Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
30d) Is short-lived:
Job 20:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
Ec 7:6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.
30e) Should be turned into mourning:
Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
30f) Shall be taken away:
Isa 16:10 And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.

31) Holy-joy illustrated:
Isa 9:3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Mt 13:44 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

32) Holy-joy exemplified:
 32a) Hannah:
1Sa 2:1 ¶ And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
32b) David:
1Ch 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
32c) Wise men:
Mt 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
32d) The Virgin Mary:
Lu 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
32e) Zacchaeus:
Lu 19:6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
32f) Converts:
Ac 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Ac 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
32g) Peter, &c:
Ac 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
32h) Samaritans:
Ac 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
32i) Jailor:
Ac 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

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