On the vine of our life in Christ, another fruit of the Spirit is Joy. This is not the fleeting moments of joy when all seems well in our life. Rather this is an abiding steadfast joy that the chaos and pains of this world cannot destroy. Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah, in whom our joy is founded. The Holy Spirit within us, filling us with God’s Joy shone brightly to us and within us through His love. Therefore, this is God’s promise to all who know Him, to all who have accepted His wondrous gift of salvation through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God. Comfort all that mourn. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion (and) give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning. (His) garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Because it is His overflowing oil of joy He pours forth, the mourning of our spirit and soul is erased by His steadfast joy.
The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy
Jesus in John 17 further explains this joy as He prayed to the Father. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:13-17).
The fruit of the Spirit is Joy. Joy founded upon the word of truth. Jesus is the word of God, made flesh. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (His) light shineth in darkness. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:1-5,14).
Therefore, this is the truth the angels sang forth to the shepherds. Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).
The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy-ever present, abiding, steadfast Joy
The fruit of the Spirit is Joy! Ever present within us reminding us that we are His. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (Romans 8:16) This is not some fleeting joy. Rather it is a deep, abiding, steadfast joy that life’s circumstances can never steal.
As Phillip Keller wrote: “in the process of His pouring His very own life into us that there springs up from the stony, weedy, hard-packed pathway soil of my soul joy. The joy of knowing He is at work in me and I am under His care.”[1]
As David wrote
Let this be our prayer. My soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation (Psalm 35:9) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalm 16:11). Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them. (And) let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee (Psalm 5:11).
Our joy is not founded upon the circumstances of this world surrounding us. Rather it is founded upon Jesus Christ, the very word of God made flesh. It remains steadfast in our knowledge of God the Father. Grounded, cultivated and fruitful as joy through the work of the Holy Spirit within us. No one and nothing can steal that joy from us.
If you haven’t yet, I urge you to read my book Abiding, Steadfast Joy. For those who have a kindle account, I do believe Amazon let’s you read it for free.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; Because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Previous Posts to Consider
Displaying the Fruit of the Spirit Love. How?
Perfect in Love Oh How Can it Be?
Is Your Fruit of Love Sweet or Bitter?
How Does God Prepare the Soil for Growth?
What Fruit is the Garden of Your Heart Producing?
How to Discern the Voice of God from Yours?
POEMS
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
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[1] Phillip Keller, A Gardener Looks at the Fruits of the Spirit, in The Inspirational Writings of Phillip Keller, (New York, NY: Inspirational Press, 1993), 494.