Today we begin to look at the second fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives which is Joy. Joy is a feeling of gladness, happiness, and delight; it is expressed with rejoicing, and is the opposite of gloom and depression! In the natural Joy requires favorable circumstances to be operative; but let’s face it, in a world filled with turmoil, strife, pain, and trouble, such an atmosphere is not easy to come by, but this joy of the Holy Spirit is not sourced from these surface surroundings, rather it is like an Artesian well which is not dependent on the surface conditions but pours forth its refreshing water from underground pressure – from within. Jesus says “the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain (well KJV) of water springing up into everlasting life” John 4:14! Oh, there may be times when we face the enemies attacks that try to rob us of our joy but we have this confidence, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” Psalm 30 5. This is where “the rubber meets the road”! Don’t let the enemy steal your joy, even Jesus was “A man of sorrows” (literally pains – our pains and sorrows I might add) Isaiah 53:3; in the garden of Gethsemane He said to three of His disciples “…My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death…” Matthew 26:37-38. Hebrews 12:2 tells us “…for the joy that was set before Him (He) endured the cross…” This fruit of joy will sustain you through the difficult times, and all times, and will be a witness for the indwelling presence of Jesus like the fruit of the branch is the witness of the life of the vine flowing through it, cf. John 15:5. Don’t allow the world or its circumstances to rob you of this joy; I am reminded of a chorus we used to sing, “This joy that I have the world didn’t give it to me, the world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away!
Joy will come
By Rose Hill
The night was so very long,
When will this awful pain be gone?
On You oh Lord, now I wait,
I know You never will be late.
Your promise is that joy will be,
At the break of dawn when I’m set free.
My Spirit also sees the light,
For You are making all things right.
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.