JOY

 Satan is a thief. John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.10.KJV 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.5.KJV Job 2:1 “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.2.KJV In Job chapter 1 Satan takes away everything from Job, all his possessions and even his children. Then in Job 2, he causes Job to suffer with sore boils. All evil comes from Satan. Yes, God must give his permission, but the evil comes because of Satan. Luke 13:11 “And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.13.KJV Mark 4:14 “The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MRK.4.KJV Acts 26:15 “And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 18 to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.26.KJV Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.12.KJV Satan causes misery, pain, and death. He uses three “D’s” --deception, distraction, and discouragement as weapons in his arsenal. Satan is using the culture of today to aggressively chase after the hearts and minds of people by redefining the views on morality, purpose and truth. 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care (anxiety) upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.5.KJV Worry and anxiety steals our joy. Jesus came to take away Satan's power. Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.28.KJV Sin brought sickness and death, Jesus came that we might have life. John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.16.KJV Luke 15:7 “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.15.KJV Matthew 6:31 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought (do not be anxious) for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.6.KJV Philippians 4:6 “Be careful (or anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.4.KJV  Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.55.KJV John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.14.KJV Romans 12:9 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.12.KJV Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/NEH.8.KJV Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.15.KJV Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GAL.5.KJV 1 Peter 1:6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.1.KJV Ecclesiastes 9:7 “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.9.KJV Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.17.KJV James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.1.KJV Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.4.KJV 1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, And his ears are open unto their prayers: But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.3.KJV 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.4.KJV Psalm 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.34.KJV It has been said that JOY is an acronym for Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. Many in today’s society have this backwards, it’s all about themselves. They rarely think of others and when they do it’s only for what they can get out of the other person. God is little thought of, if at all by the majority of people. If you want to have true JOY you must get your priorities straight and put God and others ahead of yourself.