DON’T LET THE (SPIRITUAL) GRINCHES STEAL YOUR JOY!! DECEMBER 10, 2023 SESSION 2

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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)