Fruit Of The Spirit ... Joy ( Part 2 )

November 19, 2015

This week's class will not meet next week because of Thanksgiving !   We rapped up our discussion of Joy.  This week we looked at 7 versus in God's word. A couple were reminders of where Joy comes from and others gave us new info to learn about this part of the Fruit of the Spirit. By taking versus from both Old and New Testament we can see that this fruit, as all the others, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. For that we should all say AMEN !!!

" The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight. "  Proverbs 15 : 8       This shows that what gives God Joy is not  for His creation to follow laws and rules, but the humble supplication showed by coming to Him in prayer.  Sounds simple, but the Jews have NEVER figured this out !  All through history they have tried to follow laws rather than admit to God that without Him we can do nothing... including worship Him as He wants us to worship Him !!!

" So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. Acts 5 : 41      This is a concept that most Christians and all non believers still do not understand.  When a Christian suffers, their first response is " what have I done wrong that God is punishing me ?" This is normal and a proper response. However, as we mature in Christ, we count ourselves lucky that the Father counts us worthy to suffer for Him and to be a witness to those around us.  Easy ????  No, but God receives the glory when His people use suffering to witness for His Son,  Jesus !

" And the disciples were filled with Joy and with the Holy Spirit. "  Acts 13 : 52      This verse just reminds us that the Fruit of Joy, as all the fruits do, come from the Holy Spirit.

" ... as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. "  2 Corinthians 6 : 10     As Paul is talking he tells the Corinthians that by the power of the Holy Spirit we do these things. The paradoxes used here show the difference between the things of this world and of the spiritual world. As an example when he says  " as poor , yet making many rich.."  He is saying that the world may see us as poor but in the spiritual world we are rich !!   Why ? Because by the power of the Holy Spirit people can gain eternal life. Therefore, we truly possess the ability to make many rich !!!

" Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. "  Luke 6 : 22 - 23      Here Jesus is saying that the believer should jump for joy when things are done or said about them FALSELY for the faith in Jesus. God gets no glory if the things they say about you are true, in fact that makes you a bad witness. But, if not true, your reward is great in heaven !!!

" ... whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory ... "  1 Peter  1 : 8       We are filled with joy because we love  God and we have not seen Him !!! Why ? .... because joy comes from the Holy Spirit that fills us when we are born again !! By His power we are able to love that which we can not see !! God is good !

" The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. "   Isaiah 29 : 19    Here Isaiah is telling of a future when Jesus comes that people will have much joy in the Lord. When believers are saved they will receive the Holy Spirit and all that  is included with that, including the fruit of the spirit.  Notice also that he addresses the humble and poor.... all conditions of the heart. This is no accident,,, without the proper condition of the heart the fruit can not grow well !!!  Like planting grass seed in sand...  it will not grow !

We will take next week off and when we come back we will look at another Fruit of the Spirit. Hope to see you here and may God bless you richly as you study His word.