The Return of the Redeemed
Isaiah 51:11 (NKJV)
11 So they ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness:
Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
The Happy Church
The Joy of the Lord
Psalms 16:11 (NKJV)
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
John 15:11 (NKJV)
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
Romans 14:17 (NKJV)
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Christians should be the happiest people on the Earth!
The Job of the Devil
John 10:10 (NKJV)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
I Peter 5:8 (NKJV)
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Psalms 51:12 (NKJV)
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Beware: The Devil wants to steal your joy!
Joyless Christians are not very effective!
The Joyless Christian
Psalms 137:1-4 (NKJV)
1 By the rivers of Babylon,
There we sat down, yea, we wept
When we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our harps
Upon the willows in the midst of it.
3 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song,
And those who plundered us requested mirth,
Saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song
In a foreign land?
The loss of joy puts us in a “strange land.”
The Return of the Redeemed
Good News!
Psalms 30:5 (NKJV)
5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.
Psalms 126:1-6 (NKJV)
1 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.
4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.
5 Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
A Prophecy
Isaiah 51:11 (NKJV)
11 So they ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness:
Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Enjoy the Lord!