Do we really know the joy of Christ and what it means?
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Psalm 126:5
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
In the presence of Our God
Psalm 16:11 KJV
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm 98:4
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Galatians 5:22-23King James Version (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Romans 14:16-18King James Version (KJV)
16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Why do Christians, of all people, walk around with dour expressions? No smiles, no joy, no promise of the hope we have within us?
Why are we considered most miserable? Is it because we have quenched the spirit? Is is because we are so unhappy and unfulfilled that we fail to mirror our Lord and His Love?
Joy is spoken of throughout the bible, Joy is used 165 times in the Bible.
By contrast forgive is used 56 times, Grace is used 170.
It has been said that when in the bible you see something twice it is important, 3 or more times it is really really important. Well Joy is used 165 times in the Old and New Testaments. 102 in the OT and 63 in the New Testament.
It is used in conjunction with sorrow.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
In the knowledge of Our God.
Psalm 5:11 KJVBut let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
In the presence of Our God
Psalm 16:11 KJV
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
In the praise of our God
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Our Joy is to be full. We are saved to the Hope of Eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. We of all people should be most happy, exuberant, overflowing with life and energy.
Joy in the Holy Ghost is that joy we get through service in His name, for His Word and His Will.
Yet we walk around as if we are the same as all the rest of the people lost and dying. We are a poor example of the Love of Christ and the Joy of Salvation. The Joy of Service and the pure Joy of witnessing for Christ.
Joy is evidenced through our faith, through our service, through our works, and through our lives.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Joy is ours when we walk after the Lord and seek His face. Joy is ours when we walk in the knowledge of the grace that has been proffered to us. Joy is ours when we understand that this world is of no moment and we work towards the Kingdom to come. Joy is ours when we realize that the bills, the cares of this world, the concerns of this day are of no consequence except what we do for Him.
Find the Joy of the Spirit, find the joy of service. Find your joy that it may be full.
That you may have life and have it more abundantly. Whether rich or poor, sick or healthy - find your Joy.
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