The Fruit of the Spirit Joy

Fruit of the Spirit: Review “Fruit” is singular “Fruit” is singular –All the qualities together make one fruit –Love (“agape”) is the central quality It is to be our motive for all we do It is to be our motive for all we do It expresses itself through service It expresses itself through service –Now we will look at the second quality “Joy”

Joy defined Joy defined Greek, chara (joy, gladness, delight) Greek, chara (joy, gladness, delight) –Related words charein (to rejoice) charein (to rejoice) –The verb form of the word. Joy in action. charis (grace) charis (grace) –The objective form of the word. That which produces joy.

Grace and Joy Joy is proportional to grace Joy is proportional to grace –The more grace you receive, the greater your joy “The reason why many poor souls have so little heat of joy in their hearts is that they have so little light of the gospel knowledge in their mind. The further a soul stands from the light of truth, the further he must needs be from the heat of comfort.” (William Gurnall)

The joy of the Lord Jn 15:11 Jn 15:11 –God wants us to be joyous 1 Pet 1:6-9 1 Pet 1:6-9 –In spite of trials –Based on our love for Christ –Made complete in salvation Not the passing pleasures of the world Not the passing pleasures of the world –Eccl 2:10-11

A Christian’s joy A consequence of faith A consequence of faith –Rom 15:13 –Mt 6:25-34 Faith will dispel worry (and thus allow for joy) Faith will dispel worry (and thus allow for joy) A result of obedience A result of obedience –Acts 8:5-8, –Disobedience brings fear (Heb 10:26-27)

A Christian’s joy A result of forgiveness A result of forgiveness –Psalm 32:1-5, –Sins will weigh down our hearts –Confession and forgiveness will let us rejoice A result of Christian fellowship A result of Christian fellowship –Phm 1:7 – It builds on itself –2 Cor 7:2-13 Even in the discipline of the Lord, there is joy in properly serving God and in the outcome of saving souls Even in the discipline of the Lord, there is joy in properly serving God and in the outcome of saving souls

A Christian’s joy A result of service A result of service –In the salvation of the lost (Acts 11:20-23) –In seeing the spiritual progress of others 1 Thes 3: Thes 3:6-10 Especially of those we helped come to the Lord Especially of those we helped come to the Lord 1 Thes 2: Thes 2:19-20 –In giving to others (Acts 20:35)

Summary God’s grace allowed Christ to die for our sins God’s grace allowed Christ to die for our sins Faith in Christ will produce love Faith in Christ will produce love Love will express itself through service Love will express itself through service Service will result in joy Service will result in joy If you lack joy, then perhaps you lack something that leads to joy