Biblical Joy and Happiness

Living a Life of Joy

• The Bible encourages us to live a life of joy, as stated in Deuteronomy 16:15, "You shall surely rejoice."
• True Christian joy comes from the Lord Jesus, as stated in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

Two Types of Gladness

• Worldly happiness: showy, exasperated, and temporary; affects thoughts and emotions but not the spirit
• True Christian Joy: given by the Lord Jesus; does not pass away

Sources of Joy

• The Joy of Repentance: repenting from sin, feeling guilty, and receiving absolution
• The Joy of Fellowship, Service, and Giving
• The Joy of Enduring Hardships: rejoicing in suffering for the Lord's name, as stated in Acts 5:41

Rejoice in the Lord Jesus

• Our Lord Jesus is Great! He offered the greatest love, created us in His image, and lived poor, suffered, and died on the cross for our sake
• He rose on the third day to raise us with Him, ascended into heaven, and sat at the right hand of the Father
• Isaiah 35:10 states, "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads."

Rejoice in the Holy Bible

• The Bible is our personal divine message, guiding us to eternal life
• John 15:11 states, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."
• Jeremiah 15:16 states, "Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts."

Rejoice in the Church - The House of Joy

• Our Coptic Orthodox Church is unique, redeemed by the Lord's blood, and faithful to the Lord
• The Church is the house of joy, giving us joy and identity

Rejoice in Being a Member of the Body of Christ

• We receive membership through the Holy Sacraments and keep it through spiritual struggle
• We serve inside the Church and witness to the Lord outside
• Each member has a calling and a message for the society

Joy in Spiritual Fulfillment

• Praying the Psalms daily, reading the Synaxarion, and receiving the Eucharist bring joy and fulfillment
• Church Fasts, Church seasons, and Church Feasts also bring joy

Joy in Asceticism

• Our Coptic asceticism is moderate and spiritual, under the direction of the father of confession
• Fasting brings joy, and we rejoice in our spiritual asceticism

Joy in Martyrdom

• Acts 5:41 states, "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."

Rejoice in the Eternal Life to Come

• We are spiritual beings, created with the breath of God, and will return to our heavenly and spiritual condition
• We will live in continuous communion with God, the angels, and the saints
• 1 Corinthians 2:9 states, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man. The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

The Importance of Prayer in Orthodox Spirituality

• Prayer is an essential part of Orthodox spiritual life, and an Orthodox believer's life is incomplete without prayer.
• The fathers say that "prayers are the door to heaven" and that they help build a connection with God, leading to companionship.

The Power of Prayer

• Pope Kyrillos the sixth said that "prayers move the hand of He who moves the universe."
• The parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) teaches that God will avenge His own elect who cry out to Him day and night.

Levels of Prayer in Orthodoxy

• There are different levels of prayers in Orthodoxy: Liturgical Prayers, Family Prayers, and Individual or Personal Prayers.
• Liturgical Prayers are prayers prayed as a community of believers inside the church, and they help teach us the faith and how to pray.
• Family Prayers are a mix of memorized and personalized prayers, and they help keep the peace of the home, bring joy, and bring blessings.
• Individual or Personal Prayers are prayers expressed in our own words, and they can be silent prayers.

The Jesus Prayer

• The Jesus Prayer, also known as the Arrow Prayer, is "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
• It is a powerful introduction to personal prayers, and it can be used to ask God for the ability to pray when we are at a loss for words.

Integrating Personal Prayers with Liturgical Prayers

• The ultimate goal is to integrate personal prayers with liturgical prayers and bring liturgical prayers into our individualized prayers.
• We can incorporate parts of liturgical prayers into our personal prayers, and focus on supporting our liturgical prayers with our personal prayers.

The Importance of Persistence in Prayer

• Praying is a skill that requires practice, and the more we pray, the better we get at it by God's grace.
• We should not get discouraged if we do not pray enough, but instead, we should strive to maintain the blessing in our daily life through prayer.
• The parable of the persistent widow teaches us that persistence in prayer is important, and that God sees our determination and persistence in prayer.

Remembering Others in Our Prayers

• It is important to remember others in our prayers as they remember us.
• We should pray for others, and ask God to help us attain virtues.

The Correct Way to Pray

• The correct way to pray is to ask for God's will to be done, regardless of what our will is.
• We should pray with hope, patience, and perseverance, and remember that prayer brings fulfillment within itself.
• Effective prayers bring joy to the believer's life when they are rested in the assurance that the Lord is in control of everything.