Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
This last Sunday, Pastor Herk of the Little Church in the Pines preached a sermon on Christian joy. We receive joy from the Lord, if we have faith in the Lord. Born-again Believers have the Holy Spirit living within them for the fruit of the Spirit. We have different seasons that we go through in our lives, but we should have joy in all seasons of our life, regardless of what is going on in them at the time. Even in difficult seasons of life, we know that God cares and is looking out for our best interests as He dearly loves us. The Lord Jesus tells us in John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” God loves us more than all the love that we feel for others; it’s an “agape” love beyond our comprehension.
We are going to encounter different circumstances in our life, in different times and seasons. Ecclesiastes 3:1 explains, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Every season that God takes us through has a joyful purpose; a means to a way in His over-arching plan. There should be contagious joy in the Lord, His purposes being fulfilled and His work in us. God gives us the gift of joy. The Greek word for “joy” is “Chará” meaning cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness, greatly or exceeding joy. The word “joy” is defined in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary as: The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits. Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good. Joy to my soul for what God has done, is doing and is going to do. A joy that comes when we are aware of all that God is doing for us; God’s grace, God’s mercy, God’s forgiveness, God’s healing, God’s provision, and God’s protection wrapped up in God’s love for us.
Nehemiah 8:10 “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Godly joy is in knowing God in trust and obedience, abiding in Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was born, in Luke 2:10, the angel said to the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” If you are a repentant and born-again Christian, a disciple and follower of Jesus Christ, then you have already experienced the good tidings of joy that the Lord has brought into your forgiven and transformed life. It is joyful to know that Believers have a place reserved for them in heaven because of what Jesus (the Savior of the world) has done for us; this is the eternal perspective and blessed assurance! The sins of the repentant convert to Christianity (past, present and future) have been nailed to the Cross and forgiven. We are in a personal relationship with our Creator God who love and cares for us, and has a plan and purpose for all His children.
Luke 10:21 “At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”
Knowing God, knowing Jesus and knowing the indwelling Holy Spirit that leads and guides us, brings joy into our lives every single day. In thankful gratitude, let us praise the Lord with joy for what He has done, is doing and is going to do. Jesus said in John 15:9-11 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept 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.” And in John 16:24, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” In Jesus’ parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son, all end with joy. In Luke 15:10 Jesus says, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” When someone repents of their sin, accepts the free gift of salvation, invites Jesus into their heart as Savior and Lord with dedication and devotion to follow Him as a true disciple, the angels in heaven are joyfully rejoicing.
Joy was a natural “fruit of the Spirit" outpouring of the early church. Acts 2:46-47 tells us that, “Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.” And Acts 13:52says that “the disciples were continually filled [throughout their hearts and souls] with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” The Apostle Paul confirms in Romans 14:17, “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you are a sanctified disciple of Jesus Christ, then you are a citizen of Heaven and a loyal subject (One that owes allegiance to sovereign God and is governed by His laws. Subjects as well as citizens; as citizens, they enjoy rights and franchises, while being under the authority, power and dominion of the King, the Lord of the kingdom of Heaven). You are part of the kingdom of God, sharing in the life peace and of God’s dominion. Philippians 4:4proclaims, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”
Let's continue Pastor Herk's message on "Godly Joy" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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