Welcome to the next study in our Fruit of the Spirit series on Galatians 5:22-23. Last time we studied “love.” Today we look at joy. We know that Christians have joy from God, but what does that mean? We’ll ask three questions to explain what it means that Christians have joy.
First, we’ll ask why do we have joy? Why are Christians full of joy? We have joy because Jesus is our Savior. He forgives your sins. He promises you will live with Him forever. We rejoice because we will live with Him, because He loves us and He forgives us. When you trust in Jesus, you will have the joy that Jesus gives.
Here are a few verses to show that.
You know the Bible story about Zacchaeus in Luke 19. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and He was walking through Jericho. The tax collector Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short to see over the people in front of him. So he ran ahead and climbed a tree so he could look down and see Jesus when He walked by. When Jesus got to the tree, He stopped and told Zacchaeus to come down because Jesus was going to spend the day with him.
Then Luke 19:6 tells us what Zacchaeus did: So he (Zacchaeus) hurried and came down and received Him (Jesus) joyfully.
Zacchaeus was full of joy because Jesus welcomed him! Jesus accepted him and showed that He loved Zacchaeus. Jesus forgave him, and that filled Zacchaeus with joy.
Romans 15:13 says, May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God gives you joy and peace through faith. You have faith in Jesus and He gives you joy.
Right now, as we get closer to Christmas, lots of people think about love and peace and joy and hope. There are two stories connected to Christmas that mention joy. The first one happened before Christmas in Luke 1:44.
Remember that God sent an angel to Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and told him that he would have a son. His wife Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist. About 6 months later, God sent an angel to Mary to tell her she will be pregnant with the Savior, Jesus. Then Mary went to visit Elizabeth. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the baby John, still in Elizabeth, heard Mary and he jumped with joy.
Luke 1:44 tells us what Elizabeth said: As soon as I heard your greeting, I felt the baby jump for joy.
Even when John the Baptist was still in his mother, he jumped for joy. Why? He heard Mary’s voice and he knew his Savior was there. He jumped for joy because of Jesus.
Luke 2:10 is a part of the Christmas story that you know. When Jesus was born, there were shepherds in a field nearby. An angel appeared to them, and this is what verse 10 says: The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.”
Why would everyone be filled with joy? Because Christ the Savior is born for them and for us in Bethlehem. The Savior is here! That is joy for the shepherds and all people.
The second question is where is joy from? Joy is from Jesus and His word. We can also say joy is from the Holy Spirit. He gives us joy.
This is where some people become confused. Some people think that if I’m a Christian, then I have to have joy. But I don’t always feel joy, so I have to try harder to have joy. I have to think positive and try to have a better life, then maybe I’ll feel more joy.
That won’t work. You don’t create joy. It’s not from you. Joy is from the Holy Spirit. Don’t pretend that you are full of joy. That’s fake. Instead, recognize that the Holy Spirit is giving you joy because of Jesus and what He’s done for you.
In John 15:10-11, Jesus is talking to His disciples. Jesus said, “If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love. I have told you this so that you will be as joyful as I am, and your joy will be complete.”
Jesus’ words to His disciples gave them joy. His promises, His love, His gifts give you joy. You don’t get joy from trying to make it up or think positive. Joy come from Jesus, His word, His work for you.
Romans 14:17 says, “God’s kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God’s kingdom consists of God’s approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives.”
The Holy Spirit teaches you about Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives you faith and trust in Jesus. He gives you that comfort and peace and joy, so it is His work in you that gives you joy. That leads to our third question…
But life is hard! How can I have joy if life is so hard sometimes???
That is a good question. I believe and trust that Jesus is my Savior. I believe the Holy Spirit gives me joy in Jesus. But life is still hard. Hey, it’s 2020! Everyone complains about this year and how bad everything is. How can we have joy now?
Joy in Jesus continues even through trials and difficulties. His joy in you continues on and on.
Understand, it is possible to have two different feelings or experiences at the same time. You can be suffering, tired, worn out, frustrated, because of troubles in the world, and at the same time you are full of joy in Jesus. So don’t think you have to be full of joy and never have any problems or feel trouble or stress. The truth is, you will experience trouble and feel trouble, but at the same time you will be filled with joy in Jesus.
James 1:2-3 says, “My brothers and sisters, be full of joy when you are tested in different ways. You know that such testing of your faith produces endurance.”
James is saying when you experience trouble, and you will experience trouble, think of that as joy because that helps you grow stronger in your faith. So that is trouble and joy at the same time. It is true joy because you know Jesus is still taking care of you. He is making you grow and become stronger in Him.
Luke 6:22-23 says the same kind of thing. Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people hate you, avoid you, insult you, and slander you because you are committed to the Son of Man. Rejoice and jump for joy! You have a great reward in heaven. That’s the way their fathers treated the prophets.”
Jesus is saying, when people hate you because you are a Christian, when they mock you, criticize you, and slander you, Jesus said rejoice! Jump for joy! Why? Because you will have a great reward in heaven.
Yes, life is hard. But through it, we still have joy because of Jesus. He has forgiven your sins. He gives you life. And we follow in His footsteps.
Remember Hebrews 12:2. “We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Now he holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.”
His joy was to save you. The suffering didn’t matter. He wanted to save you and that was His joy. That also means it is joy for us as we follow Him. Jesus suffered and was joyful because He knew the end was good. You also suffer and you are joyful because you know the end. Jesus forgives your sins and He gives you life in heaven. He will welcome you home with Him.
Continue watching Him. Remember everything that happens in the end – it’s all joy in Jesus.
