top of page
Writer's pictureBrian Doyle

And the Fruit of the Spirit is Joy

Updated: Feb 1, 2020

"But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control; against such things, there is no law." -Galatians 5:22-23 Think about those words "Against such things, there is no law." Imagine going to court on the accusation "They're just so full of joy all the time." What would a judge say? When we reflect joy, it's the opposite of complaint, complacency, jealousy, anger, envy, divisiveness, and all sorts of other "fruits of the flesh." Our flesh causes us to be angry, the Spirit gives us joy. Why? Because the flesh reflects my basest desires, the Spirit bears fruit in line with God's own heart. When I reflect Joy, the Holy Spirit is producing within me contentment. When I reflect anger, envy, jealousy, and the rest, I'm focused upon myself and not surrendering to the Holy Spirit. Joy is not an option. It is something that, if we do not have it, I would wonder if we really know God at all. God Himself is Joy. Over and again, we hear verses that tell us our strength is the Joy of the Lord, that Jesus, who for the Joy that was before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and that we are to "rejoice always" (I will say it again, Rejoice!). The believers who were martyred in the early church endured their suffering with joy, and to this day, the persecuted church endures with Joy (they're sending missionaries to us now, what does that say of their joy?). We need to stop focusing on anything but Christ Jesus. He is the source of Joy, and will produce that Joy through the Holy Spirit as we submit to Him in all things. When the fruit is produced in us, the church is a bride who glows for her husband! Church, let us, then, seek the Holy Spirit. Let us draw near to God, that He may draw near to us, and the joy that transcends circumstances will show in all facets of our lives.

Hebrews 12 English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.


Do Not Grow Weary

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?


“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”


It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.


12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.


A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly[a] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.


25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.


Footnotes:

Hebrews 12:23 Or church


3 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page