September 19th, 2023
This week, the importance of joy has been on my heart. If you’re honest with yourself today, would you say your joy is full?
Psalms 16:11 says,
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
The Bible says that “little foxes spoil the vine” (Song of Solomon 2:15) and “a little leaven leavens the lump” (Galatians 5:19). Sometimes, we allow little things in life to stifle our joy before we’ve realized what’s happened, but it’s so easy to get it back. In His presence is fullness of joy! That word for presence can also be translated face. It’s only in intimacy with Him that our joy is filled and as believers, we need joy! Without it, we have no strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
I’ve searched the word of God this week and I want to share you some truths that I’ve discovered about joy:
Psalms 16:11 says,
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
The Bible says that “little foxes spoil the vine” (Song of Solomon 2:15) and “a little leaven leavens the lump” (Galatians 5:19). Sometimes, we allow little things in life to stifle our joy before we’ve realized what’s happened, but it’s so easy to get it back. In His presence is fullness of joy! That word for presence can also be translated face. It’s only in intimacy with Him that our joy is filled and as believers, we need joy! Without it, we have no strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
I’ve searched the word of God this week and I want to share you some truths that I’ve discovered about joy:
- First of all, joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Most of us probably know this, but does our joy overflow daily as the Holy Spirit moves in our lives? That’s one way His work in our hearts is demonstrated to the world around us!
Galatians 5:22-24 says,
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
- Joy is a characteristic of the kingdom of God! That means that no matter where we are or what we’re doing, we should have joy!
Romans 14:17 says,
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
- Joy is not dependent on circumstances. In fact, the Word of God emphasizes the importance of joy in trial, difficulty, and affliction. We always need joy, but we especially need it when things aren’t easy. If joy was dependent on circumstances, Jesus could not have endured the cross for the joy set before Him. He took joy in the cross because He was in His Father’s will and He could see the outcome: our salvation.
James 1:2 says,
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
1 Thessalonians 1:6 says,
“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
Hebrews 12:2 says,
“[Look] to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
2 Corinthians 7:4 says,
“I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.”
We have to understand that joy isn’t an emotion; it’s much deeper than that. This doesn’t mean there won’t be trials, but the joy of heaven is our strength in the midst of those things, and we come out in victory! We get to experience His love and goodness regardless of what’s going on around us. You can have joy, no matter what, because the word of God says you can!
- Answered prayer produces joy. Jesus said,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:23-24)
Prayer is the point of contact between heaven and earth! We touch heaven not by our works done in righteousness but by humbling our hearts before the Father. The power of God will then move in our lives as a product of intimacy. Only through the Holy Spirit can we pray in alignment with God’s will, in the name of Jesus, and see His kingdom come!
- Salvation brings joy. We were created to partner with God in taking the gospel to all the world. The Great Commission is the call of every believer and there is nothing that will ignite the joy of first love in our hearts more than seeing the lost come home.
Luke 15:7 says,
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Isaiah 12:3 says,
“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
Psalms 126:6 says,
“He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalms 51:12 says,
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
- The Word of God brings joy. We can’t read the Bible like it’s just another book because it’s not. It’s breathed by the Holy Spirit, living, active, and sharper than a sword. Only when we lose ourselves in the Word of God will we experience the hidden joy it carries. The prophet Jeremiah experienced this truth and said,
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
Walking with Jesus means living in unspeakable joy. That joy isn’t dependent on circumstances because we find it in His presence, and He never changes. If you lose your joy, you lose your strength, but the solution is so easy. As the old hymn says,
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace.”
If you’ve laid down your joy, picking it back up is as easy as looking in the face of Jesus. You can live in unwavering joy! Get lost in His Word. Get lost in His presence. Joy is your strength, and you’ll find it only in Him!
Habakkuk 3:18-19 says,
“Yet, I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength. he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.”
1 Comment
I love your messages. I do not know where you got such wisdom. Oh, yeah, from your other Father.