(SHARP): NAU Hebrews 1:9 "YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS."

Point of View: By the Holy Spirit whom dwells within us we can have the joy of Jesus in the midst of trials.

Action Step: We must choose to not give in to the temptation to stay in mourning but rather offer up the sacrifice of praise.

Benefit: You will see your mourning turned to His joy. NAU John 16:20 "Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. (cf. Jeremiah 31:13b)

Key Point 1: We are not to yield to the sorrow of the world.

Subpoint 1.1: NAU 2 Corinthians 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Subpoint 1.2: The sorrow of the world is just being sorry for being caught and having to face the consequences (e.g. King Saul - 1Sam 15:14-30, Judas Iscariot - Matt 27:3).

Subpoint 1.3: The sorrow that is according to the will of God is to be sorry for having sinned against a Holy God (e.g. King David - Psalms 51:4, Peter - Luke 22:61,62).  This sorrow realizes that to sin against God is infinitely more serious than any of the consequences of the sinful act.

Key Point 2: Continually offering up the sacrifice of praise leaves no time to yield to the sorrow of the world.

Subpoint 2.1: NAU Hebrews 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

Subpoint 2.2: NAU Habakkuk 3:17 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

Subpoint 2.3: NAU John 16:22 "Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 23 "In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.  24 "Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. NAU Psalm 16:11b In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Key Point 3: The Holy Spirit within you is the oil of gladness! (cf. Hebrews 1:9, Acts 10:38, Luke 4:18).

Subpoint 3.1: NAU 1 Thessalonians 1:6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,  NAU Acts 13:52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. NAU Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. NAU Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. NAU Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Subpoint 3.2: NAU John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." NAU 1 John 3:8a The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. NAU Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Subpoint 3.3: NAU 1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith. NAU Revelation 3:21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. NAU Revelation 12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Repeat Point of View and Action Step.

Benefit: NAU Psalm 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. NAU Nehemiah 8:10b Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."