 Joy is as Good as it gets.  It is a state of exhileration in Spiritual ecstasy. Disconnected from the care of Life.  Free and Alive !
<p>
How do you get Joy?  Where does it come from?
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 Act 13:52 <br><i>And the Disciples were filled with Joy , and with the Holy Ghost.</i>
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 Rom 14:17 <br><i>For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but Righteousness , and  Peace , and Joy in the Holy Ghost.</i>
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 Rom 15:13 <br><i>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.</i>
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 1Th 1:6 <br><i>And ye became followers of us , and of the Lord , having Received the Word in much affliction, with Joy of the Holy Ghost:</i>
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You cannot experience the fullness of Joy without the HolySpirit !
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<hr>
<ul>
<li>What can hinder Joy?
<ul>
<li> Fear 
<li> Doubt 
<li> Conflict 
<li> Preoccupation (other gods)
<li> Not Thankful 
<li> No Worship 
</ul>
<li><b>First reference:</b> Deuteronomy 28:47,48<br><i>
47 Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;<br>
48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.</i>
<li><b>Victory:</b> 1 Samuel 18:6<br><i>
And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.</i>
<li><b>Accomplishment:</b> 1 Kings 8<br><i>
65 And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God , seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.<br>
66 On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.</i>
<li><b>Worship:</b> Ezra 6:22<br><i>
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.</i>
<li><b>Deliverance:</b> Esther 8:16<br><i>
The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.</i><br>
<li><b>Psalms</b><br>
<ul>
<li>Psalm 5:11<br><i>
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.</i>
<li>Psalm 16:11<br><i>
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 27:6<br><i>
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 30:5<br><i>
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 32:11<br><i>
Be glad in the LORD , and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 35:9<br><i>
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD : it shall rejoice in his salvation.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 42:4<br><i>
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.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 43:4<br><i>
Then will I go unto the altar of God , unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 51:12<br><i>
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 63:5<br><i>
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:</i><br>
<li><b>Psalm 65:13<br><i>
The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.</b></i><br>
<li>Psalm 66:1<br><i>
Make a joyful noise unto God , all ye lands:</i><br>
<li>Psalm 81:1<br><i>
Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 95:1<br><i>
O come, let us sing unto the LORD : let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 95:2<br><i>
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.</i><br>
<li>Psalm 96:12<br><i>
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice</i><br>
<li>Psalm 100:1<br><i>
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD , all ye lands.</i><br>
</ul>
<li><b>Other Old Testment</b><br>
<ul>
<li>Proverbs 15:23<br><i>
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!</i><br>
<li>Isaiah 12:3<br><i>
Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.</i><br>
<li>Isaiah 35:10<br><i>
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.</i><br>
<li>Isaiah 61:10<br><i>
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.</i><br>
<li>Habakkuk 3:18<br><i>
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD , I will joy in the God of my salvation.</i><br>
</ul>
<li><b>New Testament</b><br>
<ul>
<li>Matthew 13:44<br><i>
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.</i><br>
<li>Matthew 25:21<br><i>
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.</i><br>
<li>Luke 1:14<br><i>
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.</i><br>
<li>Luke 2:10<br><i>
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.</i><br>
<li>Luke 15:7<br><i>
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.</i><br>
<li>Luke 24:52<br><i>
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:</i><br>
<li>John 15:11<br><i>
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.</i><br>
<li>John 16:22<br><i>
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.</i><br>
<li>John 16:24<br><i>
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.</i><br>
<li>John 17:13<br><i>
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.</i><br>
<li>Acts 13:52<br><i>
And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.</i><br>
<li>Romans 5:11<br><i>
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ , by whom we have now received the atonement.</i><br>
<li>Romans 14:17<br><i>
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.</i><br>
<li>Romans 15:13<br><i>
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.</i><br>
<li>Galations 5:22,23 <br><i>
But the fruit of the Spirit is Love , Joy , Peace , Longsuffering , Gentleness , Goodness , Faith , Meekness , Temperance : against such there is no law.</i><br>
<li>Philippians 1:4<br><i>
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,</i><br>
<li>Hebrews 12:2<br><i>
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.</i><br>
<li>James 1:2<br><i>
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;</i><br>
<li>1 Peter 1:8<br><i>
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:</i><br>
<li>1 John 1:4<br><i>
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.</i><br>
<li>Jude 1:24,25<br><i>
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,<br>
25 To the only wise God our Saviour , be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.</i><br>
</ul>
</ul>
<hr>
The Joy of the Lord! by Barry Bennett<br>

<dir><i><br>You can Live in joy. If You are Born again, the Joy of the Lord is within you!
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But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, Peace . . . (Gal. 5:22)<br>Jesus told me to Abide in Him so that His Joy may be in me and that my Joy may be full. (Jn. 15:11)
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My Sorrow Will be turned into joy. (Jn. 16:20)
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My Heart Will rejoice, and my Joy no one Will take from me. (Jn. 16:22)
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I Ask and I shall receive, that my Joy may be full. (Jn. 16:24)
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With Joy I Will draw Water from the wells of salvation. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. Therefore God is my Joy and my strength. (Is. 12:2-3. Neh. 8:10)
<p>
I rejoice in the Lord always! (Phil. 4:4)
<p>
God Will show me the path of life. In His Presence is Fullness of joy, and at His Right hand are Pleasures for evermore. (Ps. 16:11)
<p>
God Gives me the oil of Joy for mourning, and the garment of Praise for the Spirit of heaviness! This is God’s Gift and God’s will! (Is. 61:3)
<p>
God’s Word is to me the Joy and the rejoicing of my heart! (Jer. 15:16)
<p>
Jesus wants His Joy to be fulfilled in me! (Jn. 17:13)
<p>
The God of Hope fills me with all Joy and Peace in believing, that I may Abound in Hope by the Power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 15:13)
</i></dir>