The Fruit Of The Spirit - Joy

Fruit of the Spirit – Joy

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law. [NKJV]

OPENING REMARKS

Study of Fruit of the Holy Spirit - Joy

The passage of Galatians 5:22-23 gives the reader nine (9) particular aspects that make up the Fruit of the Spirit. These are: Love – Joy – Peace – Longsuffering – Kindness – Goodness – Faithfulness – Gentleness – Self-Control.

The study at this time will look at Joy – the second aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

INTRODUCTION

1. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every morning that we get up?

The sun was shining –

The birds were singing –

There was not found a care in the world.

.. Now that would almost be like heaven to us and oh how our day would start off to a joyous celebration.

.. As Christians, we would be praising and thanking God for His wondrous grace.

2. However, often:

We find that it is raining –

There is static on the radio instead of music –

We stayed awake half the night worrying about everything that we can possibly think will go wrong - usually at this point we are not found lifting up in trust to God.

.. And when things are going so well:

. If married - our loving spouse wakes up and looks at us and says – “I slept like a log, what a beautiful day this is going to be, and I just can’t wait to get started. Come on honey, let’s go!”

OR

. If single – the first person we meet is so cheerful it makes us wonder what this world is coming to.

NOTE: Which then makes you think – if I only had the power to get it done – these obnoxious joyful people would definitely be going in for a personality transplant? [LOL]

I. DEFINITION OF JOY

Dictionary – [Considered] (1) A strong feeling of happiness; gladness; delight. (2) A state of contentment or satisfaction. (3) Anything that causes delight or gladness [F & W Dict. 1979 – 352].

Greek – Chara (Strong # 5479) means: “joy or delight” - [Vine Exp. Dict. of NT Words – 335];

The experience of gladness” - [Bauer/Danker - Greek-English Lexicon – 1077];

(1) literally joy, as a feeling of inner happiness rejoicing, gladness, delight … (2) by metonymy [a figure of speech … associated w/]; (a) the person or thing that is the cause or object of joy or happiness …; (b) a state or condition of happiness or blessedness … - [Friberg/Friberg/Miller - Analytical Lexicon of the Greek NT- 406].

Summary – Joy (chara) is a strong inner feeling (the experience) from happiness, gladness, or delight; it is a state or condition of contentment or satisfaction with the cause or object of one’s joy or happiness [BEA]. It is cheerfulness.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20

For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you [church at Thessalonica]? For you are our glory and joy! [HCSB]

II. ASPECT OF JOY

Every Christian has the capacity of joy within their lives because the Holy Spirit dwells within them

- Ephesians 4:30 | Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. And since we are sealed by the Spirit and since it is an aspect of His fruit [Text] – joy is to be found in us.

. Just as the Holy Spirit’s fruit aspect of Love is manifested in our lives so too MUST the aspect of Joy be manifested in our lives if we are children of God - because He [the Holy Spirit] produces fruit in our lives and FRUIT is an evidence of who we are [Matthew 7:15-20; 12:33].

A. What “joy” is not based on –

1) It is not based on Happy Feelings

Happiness is a feeling that can change as often as the weather does.

a. SPORTS - Using basketball as an illustration – how often it is when our favorite team is up by several points (truly, it is fair to say that you are very happy) but then the other teams has a scoring run and you can know it they are now ahead in the game (truly, at this point your happiness has turned to either anger or sorrow).

b. WEATHER - Here in the Ohio Valley - One moment it is sunny and bright and the next it is cloudy and gloomy. – You know the old saying around here, “If you do not like the weather, just stick around another day or so and it will change.” Then just by sticking around for a few more hours and you happiness or sadness (depending on the weather) will change.