The Fruit of JOY!

Greg Daley

There is an interesting scripture about Joy in the Old Testament found in

Deut 28:47-48

"Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies,

NKJV

The lack of serving the Lord with Joy and gladness of heart in may cause you to develop an attitude that is the opposite of thanks-giving and gratitude, so that you eventually waiver in faith, lose your overcoming mindset and succumb to the enemy.

The fruit of Joy produces some very important effects.

1. It disposes for action: Fear and sorrow depress and overwhelm the soul.  They can even disable us from normal healthy living and from extending relief to others. 
2. It qualifies for suffering. When the spirit of man is oppressed, even the smallest trial is a hard thing. When the soul is Joyous, affliction appears light.

Proverbs 17:22 says; A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

I recently received a prophetic word, while attending Bethel church in Redding, that the Lord would use my Joy and laughter to bring healing to others.  I have seen that in the past and look toward it manifesting in the future.  I think we should all receive that word. 

The Bible says in Neh. 8:10 “the Joy of the Lord is our strength.” That word strength can also be translated as “fortress”. Joy is a place of refuge and safety, in the Spirit, from the enemy’s assaults that try to wear you down.  

Jesus endured much to bring us the revelation of the Father’s Love. He was able to persevere and continue His ministry with the Joy of the Lord. 

…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross. - Heb. 12:2

Jesus served His Father and walked in incredible Joy.  It is written that He was anointed with Joy, even above all his friends and associates.

Heb 1:8-9: But to the Son He says:  

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;

Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness more than Your companions ."  

Joy is not some religious, non-emotional, spiritual force.  The word gladness in the above scripture is agalliao (ag-al-lee-ah'-o); which means to jump for joy, i.e. exult:

be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly).

There is an experience waiting for us in Joy.   The Kingdom of God is a real place that we can occupy in the Spirit which transcends the natural realm and even overrides and subdues it.   In Him we live and move and have our being.

After the disciples returned with joy from healing the sick and casting out demons in Luke 10, it says in Luke 10:21 that “Jesus rejoiced in that hour” He agalliao-ed  That word describes Jesus jumping up for joy and even twirling about! 

I can imagine what the religious folks thought about that.  “How undignified, He’s to emotional” 

Joy is a product or fruit of living in the Kingdom of God.  Rom 14:17 “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.