JOY
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Ephesians 2:14-15"
Joy is the supernatural presence of God and His word over an individual that guarantees happiness through miraculous encounters continually.
It is the right of redemption and a fruit of the Holy Spirit- the evidence of Christ living in the life of a Christian.The difference between joy and happiness is the source. While happiness depends on material resources, joy depends on eternal spiritual resources.
By this definition, Joy is the fuel or the engine of happiness. Without joy there is no happiness. By endowing lives with joy, God seeks to glorify Himself and enrich human lives.
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal". 1Corinthians 12:7
Although God has freely endowed joy upon every of His children by the Holy Spirit, yet not many believers have joy or can truly be said to be enjoying it today. There seems to be many happy people around, but few joyful people.
WHY THERE IS NO JOY
That you don't have joy doesn't mean there's no joy, you simply do not have it's evidence. The manifestation of joy is sometimes threatened by:
1: A Lack of knowledge
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation". Habakkuk 3:17-18.
Many are of the erroneous idea that Joy is the absence of troubles; to such, it is having abundance of everything we desire at anytime in life! This is not so. Even joyful apostles still rejoice "glory in tribulations" Rom.5:3, Rom.12:12, Matt.5:11-12
Understanding will teach you patience, a restful knowing that even in times of trouble you should be joyful because you are aware that no situation is bigger than God's ability to handle, if we believe.
2: MISPLACED PRIORITY
People no longer have joy because they go carnally in search of joy where it does not exist.
"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" Luke 12:15. Rom.8:33-34, 2Cor.6:10
It could be in the area of your career, academic, marriage etc. Being at the wrong side of eternal affairs cannot bring you joy but agony and unprofitable labour.
3: TRIALS
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35,37-39, Jn.16:20-22.
As a Christian don't forget that trials are necessities in the kingdom and an important part of our joy walk. Without trial of faith, your membership of the body of Christ is yet to be confirmed. So, to be a confirmed fellow in the body of Christ, you must be able to engage your trials and persecutions and emerge victorious.
4. DISOBEDIENCE
The wrath, not the joy of the Lord is revealed in response to disobedience. Sin is any disobedience or transgression of God's law, whose consequence is "woe" unto any unrepented and dryness to the bones of people.
"The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!" Lamentations 5:15-16
When ever you live in disobedience to God or His word, you cannot see the joy of God. Gen.4:5-6.
5. HATRED FOR THE TRUTH
"But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions" Matthew 19:22
The foundation of joy in the kingdom of God is truth. A hater of truth is a fool and deals foolishly. Proverbs 30:32. Anyone who hates truth cannot experience the joy God gives.
6. WHAT YOU SEE, HEAR OR THINK ON
The things you see, listen to and meditate upon are the basic drivers of your life. Seeing things by God's definition brings joy and gladness, but the contrary brings sorrow and mourning.
As he thinks in his heart, so is he! Prov.23:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:7-9
Heb.2:8-9, Luk.8:18, Mark 4:24- Having your sight, hearing and meditation contrary to God's word will erode your joy in this kingdom.
7. LOSS OF JOY
A heart full of sorrow has lost joy and can't enjoy it.
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Luke 21:25-26, Luke 15:16-18
People don't have joy because they have lost it. The prodigal son lost his through his ego. Others due to impatience, lack of the word, failed or delayed expectations and unbelief. They forget that God's promise will never fail no matter what the devil throws up.
BENEFITS: THE MYSTERY OF JOY
When the joy of the Lord comes and its receive in, life becomes a wonder to it's generation. Naturally, joy is..
1. Tool for drawing on Salvation
"Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation" Isaiah 12:3
You are empowered to draw from the riches of God's grace,i.e salvation, for life and godliness.
Remember, salvation is all that embodies the promised blessings of God contained in the birth, life, death, resurrection and glorification of Christ for the saints.
It takes nothing but joy to draw on the gains of salvation.
2. Source of Strength
Joy is the secret of a sound mind and a rewarding life in the flesh, Prov.14:30.
Joy is the kingdom source of strength, Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. Nehemiah 8:10-11
3. Antidote for Sorrows
Only joy have the transformational capacity of overturning sorrows when engaged,
"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5.
Joy erodes sorrows! No matter the weight of persecutions, mourning and reproach that abounds, joy will wipe it without a trace. John 16:20-22
4. Antidote for Fear
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:2-3.
Neither David, The three Hebrew boys; Mishael, Azariah and Hananiah like their Lord Jesus saw fear, simply by the joy that was set in their hearts.
Dan.3:16-18, 1Sam. 17:32,48-50
5. Access to the Miraculous
Joy is a secret spiritual gate that provides access to the miraculous when scripturally engaged.
"And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 2 Chronicles 20:22,27, Acts 16:25-26
6. Total Restoration:
Joy brings restoration. It turns an ugly situation to avenues of praise.
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. Isaiah 61:3-4
The Joy of the lord works wonders. All that is needed to get into it, is to let Jesus come in to our lives and take His place.
Why don't we just pray, that all that Christ died for be evident in our lives from now in Jesus name. Amen.
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