Last week we began a message series on the fruit of the Spirit. We looked at Galatians 5:22-23. Let’s re-read those verses:

I encouraged you to think of this fruit as a cluster. When you are filled with the Spirit you will experience all nine fruits. Because this is so important to our Christian life and growth, I am choosing to share a message on each fruit of the Spirit. Today we are going to look at JOY.

The words joy, joyful, rejoice, glad, gladness occur over 600 times in the Bible. Without joy we won’t be able to endure in this world. There is so much sorrow and grief that it can be overwhelming at times. We must remember that:

“...Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

The joy of the Lord or the joy of Jesus gives us strength to go forward; to press on. The word strength in this verse means a fortified place or a fortress. Joy is like a rock of defense! Joy is promised to us through the Spirit who dwells within us. Joy can be like a weapon to defeat distress, persecution, trials, and the world!

This rejoicing is a step of faith that we take. God makes it real through His Spirit who lives in us. Jesus told His disciples that they would rejoice because of His resurrection (John 16:22).

“Even though we can’t see Jesus now, we hope in Him with great joy, and he sustains that joy by his continual presence.” John Piper

That continual presence is the fullness of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us! Jesus said He would never leave us! We are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). As we walk in the Spirit His joy becomes ours in increasing measure. Is that your daily experience? A joy that is constant and does not come and go?

I’m seeking the Lord for this to be our experience. If you are watching online or YouVersion I want that for you too! Jesus promised it to all His followers; all those who have been born again.

Why is this a big deal? Because when you walk in the Spirit it brings glory to God!

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.John 15:8 (NKJV)

Open your Bibles to Isaiah 61:1-7

Part of this passage is what Jesus read in His home town (Luke 4:16-29). You would think that these people would have been overjoyed to hear this good news. But no, they tried to kill Him! So Jesus’ joy did not diminish because of His tough circumstances; it was constant (John 15:11 NKJV)!

This is all about Jesus and His presence in you. The joy you experience in walking with the Lord is His joy. You are experiencing Him! It’s not a joy like His. And the fruit shows; others enjoy it too. And God is glorified!

So what is the key to sustaining this kind of joy? The answer is simple but the truth is profound!

The answer is simple and the truth is profound but there is a great paradox! How can you command emotions that are spontaneous? Is fruit not produced naturally?

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 32:11 (NKJV)

Glad:to brighten...it affects your face

Rejoice...to spin around...it affects your body

Shout for joy...it affects your mouth

All these exhortations are commands! They are commanded in most passages of the Bible; especially the Psalms. In the O.T. righteous people walked with God and lived by faith. God gave the grace to do this. When a person was glad, rejoicing or shouting for joy he was demonstrating that God was His treasure above all else.

Even the New Testament says to rejoice in the Lord. Again I will say rejoicePhilippians 4:11. These are imperatives. So they are the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person that is abiding in Christ, walking with God, walking in the Spirit. If you are not experiencing joy (or any of the other fruits) there is a probable disconnect in your life from walking in the Spirit, Jesus and His Word. Sin definitely wrecks our fellowship and interrupts the Spirit’s flow. But remember the three powerful truths below. Begin to live them out. Ask God to help you.

The secret is to abide in Jesus. To walk in the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit. If you do the fruit will be produced through the Spirit in you! Look at the Scripture again:

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unlessyou abide in Me.John 15:4 (NKJV)

I say then: Walkin the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.Galatians 5:16 (NKJV)

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filledwith the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18 NKJV)

Fruit is produced naturally. Abiding in Jesus. Walking in the Spirit. And being filled with the Spirit are essential if we are to be fruitful!

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