Joyless Hearts

There is a lack of joy in the hearts of many in our world today. Joyless people are everywhere. I encounter them and know many of them personally. They seem to wander aimlessly from one unhappiness to another. They seem always to be searching for something that will make them happy but never finding it. They don*t know that the only thing that will give them joy is a close personal relationship with their Creator. I encounter individuals in nursing homes that have serious problems. The unbelievers and the believers have many of the same problems. The unbelievers lack joy and they believe that the pain and problems are what cause their misery. But the root cause of their misery is their lack of a loving relationship with God. The believers still have joy in spite of their pain and problems. Everyone*s worst pains and sorrows are spiritual and not just physical. The worst pains and sorrows are caused by the lack of a relationship with God. Pain medications do not take away those pains and sorrows.

Galatians 5:22a: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, . . .

Unbelievers do not have the Holy Spirit, the source of joy, living in them. Believers do.

John 14:17: Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

There are a multitude of passages in the Bible that teach that God is the source of joy and having it is the result of being right with Him.

Psalms 32:11: Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Proverbs 12:20: Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

Ecclesiastes 5:19: Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. 20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

Isaiah 65:13: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: 14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

There is special joy that comes to believers who study the Bible that does not come to believers that do not study the Bible or to unbelievers. Believers also have great joy promised in their future.

Jeremiah 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.

John 15:11: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

John 16:22, 24: And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

1 Peter 1:8: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him (Jesus) not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

1 John 1:4: And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

2 John 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.

Care to discuss Joyless Hearts with Ron?

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