DON’T LET THE (SPIRITUAL) GRINCHES STEAL YOUR JOY!!

DECEMBER 10, 2023

SESSION 2

è Review: Luke 2:8-14; Jesus is the JOY OF THE LORD PERSONIFIED!

Is Joy a feeling or a FORCE?

• True Joy can involve the emotions but is not just a feeling.

• Real Joy is a spiritual force which precedes from your reborn spirit!!

• A fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22; John 15:11)

• Real Joy sustains us (Nehemiah 8:10; Hebrews 12:2)

• Real Joy energizes our will to go on and go through! (James 1:2)

è Three “spiritual Grinches” that attack our Joy …. Especially in this season:

• Condemnation

• Culture

è Conflict and Contention

• Conflict: the collision of differing views, desires, agendas, strong disagreement

• Contention: An ongoing “stirring of strife, disturbing of the peace between 2 or more parties; ongoing strong disagreements that create distance in relationships. (Opportunities for contention will arise out of deep and unresolved conflicts!)

è Questions to ask ourselves in disagreements:

• Is my issue a principle or a preference?

• Have I forgiven my offender, even without being asked for it?

• Am I holding onto anger? (Ephesians 4:10)

è God’s requirement for us re: hurt, conflict, contention (Ephesians 4:25-32)

• Forgiveness and grace must be extended

• Ongoing anger and bitterness must be resisted

è Hurt and contention are not the same although unresolved hurt can lead to contention.

• Addressing hurt:

• Forgive by faith as act of obedience

• Withdraw from strife (poison) (Proverbs 17:14; Proverbs 26:20)

• In prayer, in Jesus’ Name, bless your offender (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:19, 20)

✴ Forgiveness is non-negotiable. However, a return to previous relationships is not always possible or immediately workable.

(See Acts 15:39; 2 Timothy 4:11)