The Fruit Of The Spirit – Joy

Joy (Chara)

Introduction

• Today we will Discuss Joy.
• Charein (rejoice, 72 times); Chara (joy, 60 times)
• Joy Must be Distinguished from Happiness.

I.  There is Joy in Christian Fellowship

• Fellowship (Phm 7; Ph 4:10)
• Fellowship Restored (2 Co 7:6-7, 13)
• Fellowship Reunited (2 Jo 12)

II.  There is Joy in the Gospel

• The Joy of the New Discovery (Lk 2:10; Mt 28:8; Lk 24:52)
• The Joy of Receiving the Gospel (1Th 1:6; Ac 8:8; 39)
• The Joy of Believing (Ro 15:13; Ph 1:25)
• The Sternness of Christian Joy
• Joy in Discipline and Testing (Ja 1:2 ; Jo 16:21, 22)
• Joy in Persecution (Ac 13:50-52; 2 Co 6:4-10; 1 Th 1:6)

III.  There is Joy in the Christian Work and Witness

• The Joy of Seeing God in Action (Lk 10:17; 13:17; 19:37)
• The Joy of Seeing the Spread of the Gospel (Ac 15:3)
• The Joy of a Teacher in the Progress of his People  (Co 2:5; 2 Jo 4; 3 Jo 4)
• The Joy of Giving Others Joy (Jo 15:11; 17:3; 1 Jo 1:4)
• The Joy of Seeing Our Converts Saved (Ph 4:1; 1 Th 2:19-20)
• The Joy of God (Lk 15:7, 10, 32)

Applications:

• The Fruit of Joy is a Distinguishing Characteristic of the Christian Life (Ph 4:4; 1 Th 5:16; Ro 14:17).
• The Fruit of Joy is a Byproduct of Christian Living Derived from fellowship, the gospel, and ministry.
• The Fruit of Joy is Available even in trials and persecution.
• The Fruit of Joy is Produced by the Spirit.

Christian joy is to be distinguished from happiness.  Generally speaking, happiness is dependent upon circumstances, but joy is a blessing imparted by the Holy Spirit as a part of the fruit he produces in the lives of believers. If we don’t make this distinction, we risk allowing the disap­pointments, sorrows, and tragedies of life to steal away that joy. The Holy Spirit opens our eyes (Ephesians 1:17-20) to the tremendous love and faithfulness of God as expressed in Christ.  This love produces trust in his faithful transformation of our character into the image of Christ and hope in our eternal glory. The end result is joy—even in the midst of suffering.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  ³ Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope.  ⁵ And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us (Romans 5:1-5).

This week we will be studying the joy produced by the Spirit.  I’ll say more in the lesson. Be sure to print out your bulletin or pick up a copy in the foyer so you can complete the fill-in-the-blank outline.