Joy

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Today we’re going to talk about the fruit, joy. Of course the teacher in me will start with a definition.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary defines joy as being closely related to gladness and happiness. [It’s related, but it’s not the same thing]. It goes on to say, “…although joy is more a state of being than an emotion;”

Too often we are controlled by our emotions. Anyone ever heard or even been told, to get your emotions in check? When your emotions are out of control, your actions are typically not far behind.

When you’re emotions are in control, often times

It means your brain isn’t.

It means you’re not thinking clearly.

And it means you’re probably going to do something you will later regret.

The definition further states joy is a result of choice. And that’s why it’s a not the same as gladness and happiness which are situational.

I sure am glad I met and married my husband, but my joy is not wrapped up in him, because if it was I would lose my joy every time I got upset with him.

I’m happy I have two sons, but my joy is not in them because my joy would disappear every time they disappointed me.

And the last portion of that definition is, “having joy is part of the experience of being a Christian.”

Joy is the second in the list of fruit of the Spirit and it is one of the characteristics Christians should have and display, our definition said it is part of the experience of being a Christian. It’s a benefit

We see numerous references to joy in the Old Testament.

Joy is closely related to victory over one’s enemies, such as found in 1 Sam 18:6 “As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.”

It’s associated with religious acts and feasts, including sacrifices in Psa 27:6 “Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. “

“Joy” also occurs frequently in songs of praise, most frequently in the book of Psalms. But you can also find songs of joy in 1 Chr 16; Ps 20; Ps 33; and Ps 47.

We hear the

I get joy, joy thinking about what He’s done for me,

I get joy, joy thinking about what He’s done for me,

It’s in my hands, my feet, I’m talking about what he’s done for me

I get joy just thinking about what he’s done for me

and

Joy, joy God’s great joy, joy, joy down in my soul, sweet, beautiful, soul saving joy. Oh, oh, oh joy joy in my soul, oh, oh, oh joy, joy in my soul

The prophets speak of joy, when it was taken on account of exile in Ezek 24:25 - “And you, mortal, on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their heart’s affection, and also their sons and their daughters,”

and in Joel 1:12 “The vine withers, the fig tree droops. Pomegranate, palm, and apple— all the trees of the field are dried up; surely, joy withers away among the people.”

There is the celebration of joy’s return when the people are restored in Isa 35:10 “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

And in Jer 31:13 “Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.”

Joy is not just found in the Old Testament; in the New Testament, “joy” is still used for victory, as shown by the 70 disciples in Lk 10:17 “The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” There is power in the name of Jesus and the recognition and demonstration of that power brings joy.

However, the victory focuses more on salvation, such as in Luke 15:7 “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Joy is not just for us, there is joy in heaven about us. Think about those parents whose children go missing and are returned home safely. They

—the presence of Christ, the bridegroom, gives reason for joy (John 3:29). IIn the New Testament letters, joy is a desired attribute of Christians. Paul expressed frequently the joy he had regarding the salvation of those he was writing to and prayed that they might be full of joy