I did something different this past Sunday. I spoke about JOY (I am going through the fruit of the Spirit) and talked about the hindrances to joy and also the enhancements of joy. I chose to do it differently: the enhancements were actually the “answers” to the hindrances. Here is what I mean:

HINDRANCES

1. Not understanding the difference between happiness and joy.
2. Sin in our lives
3. Misplaced confidence
4. Experiencing trials of faith
5. Grumbling and Complaining

ENHANCEMENTS

1. Understanding the source of joy
2. Confess and forsake sin
3. Trust in God
4. Proper perspective
5. Give thanks

Sometimes things come a bit more easily when preaching than at other times. This was one of those time it came fairly easily. Don’t you wish having joy was that easy? There are times it is easy…when everything seems to be going our way. But that is not joy. That is happiness. Joy is apparent when not everything is going our way-when “C” comes to haunt us, we face financial reverses, nagging health issues, criticism and rejection, or even outright persecution. That is when we find out about joy and where it comes from.

One more simple word: pass the joy around. What about you? Do you have joy or happiness?