How do we have joy? When we focus on knowing Christ, loving Christ, and when we focus on loving people.

We need to have relationships that are truly authentic with one another. We share the good, the bad, and the ugly so that it gives people the opportunity to get on the same page and show concern for us.

It's our attitudes that are robbing us from the peace that God wants to give us and joy is a result of peace. So we are not experiencing peace nor are we experiencing joy. Why? Because we have bad attitudes!

We experience joy when we follow God's plan for peace.

We understand when Jesus comes back He is going to come back to rule and to reign and to set things right. He will wipe away every tear!

We experience joy when we have an eternal expectation that motivates present conviction.

We need to value knowing Jesus Christ above everything else.

We experience joy when knowing Jesus is more important than anything else in our lives.

The very nature of the apostle Paul was that he was a spiritual mentor. He was like a spiritual coach. He always took these young guys with him and he poured himself into them and he discipled them and then he turned them loose and they did amazing things for God's glory.

It's this abiding, connected, dependent, relationship with Jesus.