When you go for a burger you order the main thing. Then you may order ‘fries on the side’ then there’s other extras’ that that may take your fancy. Burger take out restaurants offer so many options it is often hard to make a choice.
Sometimes as believers we think that joy is an optional extra. You may buy into the salvation by grace but think that the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ and joy being one of them, are extra somehow and will come later at some point.
This view is a distorted view of what salvation does for you. The fruit of joy like all the 5 fruits (Galatians 5) are a by-product of your inner change and not an ‘extra option thing.
Not an Optional Extra
Joy is not an optional extra, but is the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Joy is not a side order but an essential ingredient of the main course.
During our most painful losses and sufferings, we discover just how deep the supply of Christian joy is. Such joy is not thin and frivolous and empty, but thick and substantive and full.
The joy of the Lord is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 1: 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.
The joy of the Lord may be totally weird to those who don’t have it. But, for the believer in Christ, the joy of the Lord comes as naturally as grapes on a vine. As we abide in Christ who the True Vine, are full of His strength and vitality, and the fruit we produce, including joy, is His doing John 15:5.
Keep Joy Alive in You
Philippians 4:4-7
Always be joyful in the Lord! I’ll say it again: Be joyful! Let everyone know how considerate you are. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.
You have inexpressible joy as a result of salvation- so allow it to grow, and nurture it to keep it alive.
Acts 8: 34-39
In this passage the Ethiopian Eunuch, heard, understood and believed the gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ, so wanted to be baptised and asked Philip to baptise him. When they came out of the water, the Holy Spirit caught Philip away and he disappeared, even so the Eunuch went on his way rejoicing. (39). This is the Joy of Salvation.
The Joy Of Salvation: What Is It?
Salvation though faith in Jesus Christ is an experience that brings deliverance, restoration and preservation, and as a result you are filled with joy.
It is a deliverance from the grip of Satan, a restoration and a U-turn from the pit of hell. Salvation and the joy of salvation are closely connected though separable. Joy is the natural fruit of salvation, which you open yourself up to so you experience it.
Joy is a foretaste of heaven (1 Pet. 1:8). Unfortunately, not many people have this joy, including those who attend Church services regularly.
This is because they don’t nurture it and allow it to dry up.
Spiritual dryness is one of the worst things that can happen to a believer. Joy is the water that will bring your life. Joy is the result of the infilling of the Holy Spirit who is the Living water Revelation 21.
Thank you for visiting me here; I hope this post was helpful. Come back here soon because In my next post I will share more about joy and how you can maintain it in your life.
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Virtual hugs, I look forward to your visit to my next blog post!
Paula Rose Parish
Hope. Faith. Love. 