There is Joy!

Joy what is it? It is something that we all desire. It is something that many go to great lengths to find and experience.

The world defines joy as happiness. Happiness is based on happenings. We can be happy one moment and then something happens and we become sad or mad or depressed. It all depends on the circumstances.

Joy as defined by Scripture is a state of being brought about by the presence and filling of the Holy Spirit. It is not based on happenings or circumstances. It is based on the truth of God and the confirmation of that truth by the Holy Spirit.

In Luke 2:10 when the angel appeared to the shepherds he said, “Fear not, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Again in Matthew 2:10, when the wise men saw the star, it says they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

When Jesus came into the world His coming was received with great joy.

When Jesus came into the world His coming was announced with great joy.

According to Galatians 5:22, joy is produced by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The reality of life is that it has a way of beating us down. Life has a way of draining joy from us.

What are the things that can encourage us and renew the joy of the Spirit in us?

The Bible mentions several things that renew and even increase joy in us.

Luke 15:7

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

1. Joy comes when a person repents and enters the Kingdom of God.

For a believer there is no greater joy than to see a person experience salvation, forgiveness, and enter into a relationship with the Father through Jesus.

Luke 24:52

Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

2. Joy comes when we worship Jesus.

Worship means to bow down and honor the king.

Worship is praising Jesus.

Worship is extoling Jesus.

Worship is thanking Jesus.

Worship is adoring Jesus.

Worship is telling Jesus that we love Him.

All of these bring joy to the follower of Jesus.

John 16:24

Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.

3. Joy comes when we pray and Jesus hears and Jesus answers.

Prayer is an awesome privilege based in the relationship we enjoy with the Father through Jesus.

Knowing that when we pray God hears us and that when He hears us, He will answer brings great joy to the heart of the believer.

Romans 15:32

So that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.

4. Joy comes when we are refreshed by other believers.

The encouragement and support of fellow believers bring joy to us.

Not only has Jesus brought us into relationship with God, He has also given us a relationship with a family, the church. The church brings joy to the believer.

Philippians 1:25

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for the progress and joy in the faith.

5. Joy comes from our faith in Jesus.

Living a life of trusting Jesus is joyful. When I live life based on my resources, I live based on the finite. When I live life based on Jesus, I live based on the infinite. Living based on trust in the Infinite One produces joy.

Philippians 2:2

Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

6. Joy comes from our unity with other believers.

The marks of being disciples of Jesus, according to Jesus, are love and unity.

Experiencing oneness with other believers and working in unity with them produces joy.

Colossians 1:11

Being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy

7. Joy comes as we experience the presence of Jesus.

Jesus is our joy. When we experience the presence of Jesus we are experiencing pure joy. That joy is not a temporary joy, but an eternal joy.

Philemon 1:7

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

8. Joy comes as we experience the love of fellow believers.

The greatest fear that we humans face is the fear that no one will love us.

We as followers of Jesus know that He loves us. He proved it on the cross. But God as our creator knows that we were created to need the love of other human beings. God thus gave us each other as fellow believers, fellow disciples. Joy is produced when we know the love of other believers in our daily life.

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

9. Joy comes when our faith is tested and we pass the test.

Our faith is like the muscles of our body. To grow strong, it has to be tested or exercised.

Joy comes when our faith is exercised and we come through and grow stronger in our trust in Jesus.

2 John 1:4

It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.

10. Joy comes when we see others walking in obedience to Jesus.

I Corinthians 13 says that agape love rejoices with the truth. When we see others obeying Jesus and walking in His truth, it produces joy in us.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing joy daily because of our relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior.

In Joy Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                      Joe