Joy
Last week we discussed recognizing if you are walking in the Spirit. We will continue with this same passage found in Galatians. Being led by the Spirit isn’t complicated because God tells how to recognize what is of the Holy Spirit and what is not. Galatians 5:22-23 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” The word of God is clear on what fruit we will be producing when we are led by His Spirit this should be the fruit coming forth from us.
Unfortunately, we forget the practical aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. I personally believe God is practical. I know His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts, but in understanding what it means to be led by the Spirit it seems practical to me. If I’m not walking in the Spirit, I produce the fruit or actions of the flesh.
The flesh is obvious, it’s stated in Galatians 5:19-21 NLT “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20) idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21) envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” When you are a child of God and you follow your own agenda you will manifest hostility, quarreling, outburst of anger etc. but when you follow the Holy spirit you will walk in peace, joy and righteousness that is the Kingdom of God.
Romans 14:17-19 NLT “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness (righteousness) and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18) If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19) so then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.”
So, let us look at the second fruit listed which is joy. What is joy? According to the dictionary the word joy means “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” In the Strong’s Concordance joy in this passage means “cheerfulness i.e., calm delight-gladness…” Joy is more of a state of being while happiness can be based in things, joy comes from within, and it is also a promise of God. He does not promise happiness He promises joy. In Nehemiah 8:10 “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Joy based in Christ is stable and full of thankfulness, kindness and mercy. The joy we have in Christ Jesus outshines the trials and persecutions we experience. When joy is based in Christ Jesus it is fixed and focused on Him. No matter what each day brings, as when we are led by the Spirit of God, we will produce joy.
Joy is a state of being that does not depend on the circumstances or people. Although, if we get our eyes on others it will steal your joy that is why the ‘Accuser of the brethren’ tries to keep us focused on people instead of the Lord. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The word joy in this passage is the same meaning as in Galatians. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and not people.
Let us remember that fruit is seen and experienced by others, my prayer is that people see Christ and not us.