The Fruit of the Spirit Pt.2: Joy
What is God’s purpose for His people? If you are born of the Spirit, what is God’s purpose for you as a Christian? Paul summed it up very succinctly in Romans 8 v 29. God’s purpose for His people in Christ is to make us increasingly like Jesus.
This leads to another important question, ‘What does the Bible tell us about the character of Jesus?’ We have one of the best descriptions of Jesus in John 1 v 14. The apostle John tells us Jesus was full of grace and truth. Therefore, this is God's intention for us! We ourselves are to be increasingly full of both grace and truth.
What does this actually involve? What does it mean to be full of grace and truth?
Being full of truth involves having our minds renewed each day by God’s Word (Romans 12 v 2). As we read, study and meditate on God’s Truth, it is to transform our thinking. As we hear it preached and apply it to our lives and live it out by the Spirit’s enabling, our minds are to be made new. We are to develop in heavenly wisdom and in the attitude of Christ. So, we are to be increasingly full of truth.
Being full of grace entails being filled with the graces or fruit of the Spirit. So, to become more full of grace involves the fruit of the Spirit developing more and more in our lives. It means we’ll display the Spirit’s fruit in greater and greater measure. This is key if our lives are to be transformed to be Christ-like
This series of messages focuses on this growing in grace - growing in the fruit of the Spirit and in likeness to Jesus. Last time we concentrated on the first fruit of the Spirit, love. This time we’re considering the next fruit mentioned - joy!
To begin with, ask yourself a couple of questions. Firstly, would you describe yourself as a joyful person? Secondly, would other people describe you as a joyful person? If you know Christ as your Saviour, they should be able to. For the Bible plainly teaches us that being joyful isn’t optional for Christ’s people. Being joyful is imperative!
Let’s consider this crucial subject of being joyful Christians under four headings...
(1) JOY REQUIRED
Being joyful is something God requires of His people. Indeed, the Lord has commanded us directly time and again in Scripture to be joyful. In Romans 12 v 12 Paul exhorts us, ‘Be joyful in hope!’ In 1 Thessalonians 5v6 the apostle actually put it as strongly as this... ‘Be joyful always!’ So being a joyful Christian isn’t just a blessing, it is also a duty. But how can this ever be a reality in our lives? How can we ever be joyful followers of Christ, especially when we’re hit hard by disappointment and trouble?
Paul doesn't leave us in the dark. He tells how we can be joyful in every situation and circumstance. In Philippians 4 v 4 he wrote, 'Rejoice in the Lord always!' This is the key to experiencing true Christian joy. This is the secret to being a truly joyful person. Rejoicing in the Lord always!
Before He died and rose again, Jesus spoke of the supernatural joy He longed for His disciples to experience. In John 16 v 22 Jesus said, 'Now is your time for grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy!' In John 15 v 10-11 Jesus declared,
'If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed 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.'
Clearly the Lord intends for His people to experience and exhibit the fruit of His Spirit, joy. It is a requirement for us and a mark of a maturing Christian. Yet how many of us who profess to know Christ are often gloomy and despondent, falling into times of pessimism and negativity. What is it that ruins our joy and makes us moody and joyless? This brings us to our second heading...
(2) JOY RUINED
A number of things can rob us of joy?
Refusing to repent
This is one of the most common hindrances. Christian joy is essentially the enjoyment of God. Our chief purpose in life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. We enjoy God most when we have close fellowship with Him and walk with Him day by day & hour by hour. But unconfessed sin in our lives ruins our fellowship with Him and our enjoyment of His presence. The Almighty is holy in character and in all His ways. In His holiness, He cannot and will not bless His people with joy if we cherish sin in our hearts
Relying on circumstances
Paul's exhortation, 'Rejoice in the Lord!' (Philippians 4 v 4) is highly significant here. Our Saviour Himself must be our primary source of joy. It is our relationship with Jesus which should fill us with joy. Yet it is so easy to fall into the deadly trap of relying on our circumstances for our joy! Why is this so deadly? Well, it means that if things are going fine, then we're happy. But if our circumstances are stressful and difficult, then our joy runs dry. The circumstances of life vary so much. There isn't one of us who will escape from times of trouble and trial. So, relying on our circumstances for our joy is foolish. For our joy will fluctuate up and down according to our circumstance.
Resisting God's Discipline
All of us who belong to Christ have God as our Father in heaven. Well, as our heavenly Father, God disciplines us lovingly as His precious children when we stray from His ways. He loves us too much to let us go our own foolish way. He will correct or rebuke us when we go astray for our good, so that we may share in His holiness (Hebrews 12 v 5-11). Yet in our foolishness and sin we can resent His discipline and this can cause us to lose our joy.
Rebelling against God's testing
In His infinite wisdom, God brings trials into our lives to develop Christ-like character. One of the main ways we grow in Christian character and faith is by depending on God in the midst of trials. Testing can come in many forms, suffering serious health problems, losing abilities through illness, struggling with financial pressures, dealing with strained relationships at home or at church or in our workplace, working in an ungodly environment, bullying in our school or workplace, losing our job or not getting a desired promotion, being criticised or rejected by colleagues or friends, facing outright persecution as Christ's people.
So, trials can come in a variety of forms. But however severe they may be, they are intended for our spiritual good. They're always sent to strengthen our child-like trust in Christ and to develop our character to be more like Christ. In the pain of trials, we must remember God's purpose in such testing is always our spiritual good and growth. If we rebel against such testing, we'll lose sight of the Lord and our joy in Him. If we just focus on our troubles, we'll not know the joy of His presence and sustaining power.
(3) JOY RESTORED
If we're not experiencing God's joy, how can we regain this blessing? By doing the opposite of what robs us of our joy in Jesus.
Repenting of our sin
The Lord will not bless us with joy if we hold on to sinful attitudes such as resentment or a critical spirit or an unforgiving spirit. We won't know the Spirit's joy if we refuse to repent of sinful motives, thoughts, words or deeds. Confessing and repenting of our sin is essential.
2. Relying on the Lord
We need to stop relying on our circumstances for joy and start relying on Christ for joy. Our Covenant Lord is not like our circumstances. Our circumstances change, but the Lord never changes. Our Saviour is the same yesterday, today and forever. Our Covenant Lord is constantly perfect, utterly faithful and amazingly gracious. His steadfast love and mercy is new every morning. So, we are always able to rejoice in His glorious character, no matter what our predicament. Paul not only preached, 'Rejoice in the Lord always!' He put it into practice in his own life. In Acts 16 Paul and his fellow worker Silas were in the most appalling circumstances in prison. Yet they rejoiced in the Lord!
3. Recognising God's reasons for discipline
There are two main reasons. Firstly, our heavenly Father loves us as His children and 'the Lord disciplines those He loves' (Hebrews 12 v 6). Secondly, our heavenly Father intends for us to mature as His children through His training and discipline, for us to become increasingly Christ-like! (Hebrews 12 v 11)
4. Remembering the reasons for God's testing
God's testing can be very difficult and challenging for us but James tells us the main reason for God's testing. In chapter 1 v 2-4 James states:
'the testing of your faith develops perseverance. And perseverance must finish its work in us so that we may be mature and complete, not lacking anything!'
This is the reason why, in God's providence, we face severe trials at times. The Almighty uses them to shape us and to make us mature as Christ's people. James actually tells us to consider it pure joy whenever we face trials of many kinds, because we know that God is at work. Our trials are not meaningless or pointless. Our loving Lord is using them for our spiritual good This is a reason for thankfulness and joy. Fourthly and finally let us consider .
(4) JOY’S RESULTS
When we walk in the joy of the Spirit, one of the most wonderful results is that our heavenly Father is greatly pleased. Romans 14v17-18 '...the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.’
What a glorious result. As we serve the Lord with gladness, especially in times of deep disappointment and sorrow, our God is pleased! Indeed, our heavenly Father is thrilled, for His loves to see His children in Christ rejoicing in Him. This is His chief purpose for us, to glorify Him and to glory in or enjoy Him forever.
A second result of walking in joy is that we are strengthened inwardly in our Christian service. Nehemiah declared a vital truth to the repentant exiles who had returned to Jerusalem. 'Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!' (Nehemiah 8 v 1).
Joylessness can contribute to us feeling physically weak and lethargic. Joylessness can also contribute to us feeling spiritually weak and apathetic. But when the joy of the Lord fills our hearts, we're reinvigorated both physically and spiritually. With the Spirit's joy in our hearts each day, we're strengthened to be zealous workers in the Kingdom of Christ.
You have a choice to make each day. Are you going to be a joyless Christian or a joyful one? Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. But joy is also something we must do in faith. By the Spirit's enabling, we must joy always in the Lord! As we rejoice in Christ in every circumstance, we declare to the watching world, 'Our King reigns and I am trusting in His loving purposes in my life and in His infinite wisdom and complete control over this world!’
In your most difficult, distressing days, remind yourself of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk who lived in a day of overwhelming darkness and desolation. The enemies of God's people were rising up on every side. But just listen to Habakkuk's thrilling declaration of faith at the end of his prophecy in chapter 3.
'Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour!’
