Introduction: Have you ever experienced buyer’s remorse? You were happy when you purchased the item, but unhappy with the item when the first payment was due. The happiness you felt wasn’t sustainable. It was momentary. The Christmas story is about joy, not happiness. “What is the difference between joy and happiness?” is the question today. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”  Luke 2:10-11 NLT Happiness is What Happens to You; Joy is What is Produced in You • “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  Galatians 5:22–23 NLT • “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”  Philippians 1:11 NLT • “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”  Philippians 4:4 NLT Happiness is Insecure; Joy is Confident • “Just as death and destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.”  Proverbs 27:20 NLT Today’s contentment becomes the source of tomorrow’s complaining. Count It All Joy • “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4 ESV Count Your Blessings • “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.”  Philippians 4:6-7 NLT Happiness is Dictated by the Facts; Joy is Defined by the Truth • “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.”  Romans 4:20–21 NLT Difficult Situation Promise: • “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”  Romans 8:28 NLT Financial Challenge Promise: • “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19 NKJV Terrible Medical Report Promise: • “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.”  James 5:14-15 NLT Eternal Promises: • “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down—when we die and leave these bodies—we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands.”  2 Corinthians 5:1 NLT • “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT • “Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.”  Colossians 3:2 NLT • “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”  2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT • “…the joy of the LORD is your strength!”  Nehemiah 8:10 NLT Question of the Week: Where does your joy come from?

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