John 15:10-11  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

They should abide in his love as he always abides in the love of the Father

John 17:13  "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

They should be one as he and the Father are one.  Here again joy is found in our relationship to the Son, and through the Son to the Father.

Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, was also the Man of Joy.  He obeyed the will of the Father and endured the cross by focusing on the joy set before him-the joy of unshakable love relationships in the heavenly Jerusalem.

Heb. 12:2  2   Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb. 12:22-23  But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.

Finding Lost Joy

Many years ago, a little boy was given a gift beyond price: his dead grandfather's gold pocket watch. How he treasured it! But one day, while playing at his father's ice plant, he lost the watch in all the ice and sawdust. He searched and scratched, and even became very upset, but no watch. Then he suddenly realized what to do. He stopped running around and became very still. In the silence, he heard the watch ticking. God has given each of us a priceless gift of joy in Jesus. How easy it is to lose our joy in the running around of life. Yet it is always there to find, if we will just pause and listen to the still small voice of the Spirit. (Submitted by Steve Morrison, Bremerton, Washington.)

One way to bring joy back is to meditate on the Word of God.  Let Him speak words of wisdom into your life.  Read the Psalms when you are hurting or sad.  Remember that the joy of the Lord is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Rom. 14:17-18  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

Conclusion

Ps. 126   A song of ascents. When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

One of the great joys in the Lord is sowing the seeds of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  When you see the tears of repentance on the faces of those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you come to know the