Nehemiah 8:1-10

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• Nehemiah 81-10
• Dont be dejected and sad for the joy of the Lord
  is your strength
• Where circumstances would bring sorrow let it
  be transformed into joy

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Joyful Transformations for Overcoming
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• Joy defined Joy is a delight of the mind
  arising from the consideration of a present or
  assured possession of a future good. When
  moderate it is called gladness raised suddenly
  to the highest degree it is exultation
  or transport when the desires are limited by our
  possessions it is contentment high desires
  accomplished bring satisfaction vanquished
  opposition we call triumph when joy has so long
  possessed the mind that it has settled into a
  temper, we call it cheerfulness. This is natural
  joy. (The New Ungers Bible Dictionary)

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I. Jesus Joy Response

• Hebrews 121-2
• Run with endurance the race God has set before us
• Keeping our eyes on Jesus who initiates and
  perfects our faith
• Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the
  cross
• Assured possession of a future good

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• Jesus instruction for joy response John
  1616-33

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II. Sorrow Turned to Joy

• Vs. 16-22
• Present anguish as in giving birth
• Your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy
• No one can rob you of that joy

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• Romans 818 Yet what we suffer now is nothing
  compared to the glory he will reveal to us later
• John 161 I Have told you these things so that
  you wont abandon your faith

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III. Joy in Answered Prayers

• Vs. 23-24
• Ask the Father
• He will grant your requests
• You will have abundant joy
• Our confidence in answered prayers 1 John 514 -
  15 14And we are confident that he hears us
  whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 
  15And since we know he hears us when we make our
  requests, we also know that he will give us what
  we ask for.

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IV. Joy in Overcoming

• Vs. 25-33
• You will be scattered leaving me alone
• I am not alone because the Father is with me
• I have told you this so you may have peace in me
• John 1427 I am leaving you with a giftpeace of
  mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift
  the world cannot give. So dont be troubled or
  afraid. 

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• On earth you will have many trials and sorrows
• Take heart, (take courage) I have overcome the
  world
• 1 John 54 For every child of God defeats this
  evil world, and we achieve this victory through
  our faith. 
• Hebrews 122 We do this by keeping our eyes on
  Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects
  our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he
  endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he
  is seated in the place of honor beside Gods
  throne. 

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• Joy is a delight of the mind arising from the
  consideration of a present or assured possession
  of a future good
• Present anguish turned to joy endurance
• Abundant joy from answered prayers
• Joy from vanquished opposition we call triumph
  overcoming the world with Jesus

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Interaction Time

• Have you experienced anguish to the point of
  wanting to abandon your faith? How did you
  endure? If you did not endure, what brought you
  back to faith? If you have not come back to
  faith, how can we help?
• When the scripture says ask the Father and he
  will grant your requests, How do you know if you
  are asking for the right thing? Is it possible
  that God would answer according to what is right
  rather than according to what you have asked?

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• What is it about this world that we are to
  overcome or defeat? How is it that our faith
  enables us to do this?

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