Fight Back With Joy

FIGHT BACK WITH JOY

“Joy is not the absence of . It is the decision to

not let pain have the final .”

Acts 16:25-34- 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.  27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”  32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.  33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.  34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

Nehemiah 8:10 – 10 “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Here are three things this means for your life today.

1. Joy Is a , Not a . 

Philippians 4:4–5-  4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

James 1:2–4- 2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  

2. and , are build together. 

• Joy is not a reward you receive at the end of the repair. It is a fuel you choose to carry through the disharmony.

John 16:33-  33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

3. Fighting back means, . 

Joy in motion becomes !

Philippians 4:7-  7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

“Your pain is not a . In the hands of God, it is a ”