When is the last time you experienced joy? There are many things that trigger a sense of happiness, but joy runs much deeper. So much so that when the fruit of the spirit is described ,joy is next to the top of the list.
Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) — 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.
Joy is said to be a feeling of great happiness, delight, or well-being. It’s a much deeper internal emotion so that joy is lasting where happiness is fleeting. Going back to the joy being an aspect of the fruit of the spirit, we can deduce that as fruit of the spirit, true joy cannot be produced on our own and as the Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives, He most often produces fruit in situations where we’d be hard pressed to find that fruit without His working in our lives. Think of the fruit of love produced in an environment of an unlovable situation or the fruit of joy found in a less than joyful time of life.
In 2005, I was very sick and in critical condition in the hospital with a very complicated lung disease. To make matters worse my lung collapsed after a lung biopsy, and I was in ICU for ten days. It was during that time that my wife and I found great joy from the Lord Jesus Christ. We couldn’t really explain it, but as Nehemiah reminded the people in his day that the “joy of the Lord is your strength,” so we found that to be so. Peter describes the “joyful situation” this way:
1 Peter 1:3–9 (ESV) — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Notice first that the joy of the believer is found in the great doctrine of salvation. Because of God’s great mercy, He causes us to be born again by the same power, we are told in Ephesians chapter one, that raised the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Not only that, but He has an inheritance for us that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It’s reserved in heaven for us and we are preserved by God to enjoy it. Wow! Is all this something that gives you great joy? That’s important because joy in the doctrine of salvation will hold us when our joy is tested as Peter goes on to tell us that “if necessary” we will be grieved by various trials. Keep in mind that it only happens, “if necessary.” God is not a child abuser. He cares enough about each of His children to accomplish His purpose which is for them to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:28–29 (ESV) — 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Back to 1st Peter where he goes on to tell us that when we do face the “necessary” trial, it’s to test or refine our faith, particularly the genuineness of our faith burning away the dross, so we will be found to the praise, glory, and honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. To which he reminds us that although we don’t see Jesus with our eyes now, we still rejoice in Him as we believe in Him, and that rejoicing or “joy” is beyond expression and full of glory. Is that worth going through any trial or difficulty to experience?
Remember the example of the Lord Jesus Christ and how He was willing to put up with the pain and suffering of the cross because of the joy that awaited Him as He pleased the Father and secured His bride.
Hebrews 12:1–3 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking 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. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
As we follow His example and wait upon Him for revelation of joy within that is produced by the Holy Spirit, we abide close to the Lord.
John 15:1–5 (ESV) — 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Notice how important being close to the Lord Jesus Christ is if we want to experience this great fruit of joy. Jesus simply says, “without me you can do nothing.” Joy just isn’t happening if we are at a distance from Him. As we draw close to Him, He draws close to us through the working of His Holy Spirit and for that we can focus on Him producing true joy in us. What a promise for which to focus.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
