THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS…JOY

And the disciples were filled with JOY, and with the HOLY SPIRIT – Acts 13: 52

“But the fruit of the Spirit is…JOY…” (Gal.5:22). In the rough and tough world we live in, many people are hungry for happiness, due to the hurts they have received in life. But there is a force of the Spirit known as “the Joy of the Lord”, “Joy IN the Holy Spirit” or “Joy OF the Holy Spirit” which flows from the “SUPPLY of the SPIRIT of Jesus Christ” (Phil.1:19). This Joy is entirely supernatural; it is an unwavering virtue of a Spirit-filled life. It is irrepressible, enduring, and abounding. The Joy of the Lord is more constant, enduring, and powerful than any adverse circumstance or situation a human being could ever face on earth. Indeed, afflictions bow to the Joy of the Holy Spirit (1The.1:6)! His Joy is your strength (Neh.8:10).

When you give your life to the Lord Jesus, all the traits of the Fruit of the Spirit are planted inside you in seed form. Through the Spirit you can experience and express Joy in every circumstance, no matter how adverse. Joy is more than happiness. Happiness depends on happenings; JOY depends on JESUS! Happiness depends on external events and life’s fluctuating situations. Joy is not a momentary occurrence subject to incidental climate. It transcends emotions or erratic moments of elation. It is bed-rock confidence that operates irrespective of your mood. It is the certainty that all is well, however you feel.

God wants you to experience His Joy, flowing from an underlying understanding of His eternal truths, in spite of whatever may be going on. Where you’ve sown in tears, you will reap in Joy (Psa.126:5). This is exemplified in Paul’s most joyous letter, written from prison, to the Christians in Philippi. The apostle praised God IN and FOR his prison experience. The main truth of this epistle, often referred to as Paul’s Hymn of Joy, is that CHRIST is the primary Purpose of a Life of JOY. When your mind is fully surrendered to Jesus – the Word – the Holy Spirit will empower you to reap and manifest the Fruit of Joy.

Joy is dependent on God Himself whose Spirit lives in you. It is primarily an Inside matter. Unlike happiness, you need not chase after Joy. It is the pursuit of God via the indwelling Presence of His Spirit that unstops the fountains of Joy. Joy is the supernatural product of addiction to God’s Word, Worship, and Ways. As you connect to the Father’s Heart, living and walking in the Spirit, the Fruit of the Spirit will supernaturally burst forth. His seeds of Joy in your heart will bloom from inside-out. You’ll rise up to display and demonstrate the lifestyle of overflowing Joy to your world, bringing glory to the Lord!