The Fruit of the SpiritThe Fruit of the Spirit

JoyJoy

Fruit of the Spirit: Fruit of the Spirit: ReviewReview ““Fruit” is singularFruit” is singular

– All the qualities All the qualities togethertogether make make one fruitone fruit

– Love (“Love (“agapeagape”) is the central ”) is the central quality quality It is to be our motive for all we doIt is to be our motive for all we do It expresses itself through serviceIt expresses itself through service

– Now we will look at the second Now we will look at the second quality “Joy”quality “Joy”

Joy definedJoy defined

Greek, Greek, chara chara (joy, gladness, (joy, gladness, delight)delight)– Related wordsRelated words

chareincharein (to rejoice) (to rejoice)– The verb form of the word. Joy in The verb form of the word. Joy in

action.action. charis charis (grace)(grace)

– The objective form of the word. The objective form of the word. That which produces joy.That which produces joy.

Grace and JoyGrace and Joy

Joy is proportional to graceJoy is proportional to grace– The more grace you receive, the The more grace you receive, the

greater your joygreater your joy““The reason why many poor souls The reason why many poor souls

have so little heat of joy in their have so little heat of joy in their hearts is that they have so little hearts is that they have so little light of the gospel knowledge in light of the gospel knowledge in their mind. The further a soul their mind. The further a soul stands from the light of truth, the stands from the light of truth, the further he must needs be from the further he must needs be from the heat of comfort.” heat of comfort.” (William Gurnall)(William Gurnall)

The joy of the LordThe joy of the Lord

Jn 15:11Jn 15:11– God wants us to be joyousGod wants us to be joyous

1 Pet 1:6-91 Pet 1:6-9– In spite of trialsIn spite of trials– Based on our love for ChristBased on our love for Christ– Made complete in salvationMade complete in salvation

Not the passing pleasures of Not the passing pleasures of the worldthe world– Eccl 2:10-11Eccl 2:10-11

A Christian’s joyA Christian’s joy

A consequence of faithA consequence of faith– Rom 15:13Rom 15:13– Mt 6:25-34Mt 6:25-34

Faith will dispel worry (and thus Faith will dispel worry (and thus allow for joy)allow for joy)

A result of obedienceA result of obedience– Acts 8:5-8, 35-39Acts 8:5-8, 35-39– Disobedience brings fear (Heb Disobedience brings fear (Heb

10:26-27)10:26-27)

A Christian’s joyA Christian’s joy

A result of forgivenessA result of forgiveness– Psalm 32:1-5, 10-11Psalm 32:1-5, 10-11– Sins will weigh down our heartsSins will weigh down our hearts– Confession and forgiveness will let us Confession and forgiveness will let us

rejoicerejoice A result of Christian fellowshipA result of Christian fellowship

– Phm 1:7 – It builds on itselfPhm 1:7 – It builds on itself– 2 Cor 7:2-132 Cor 7:2-13

Even in the discipline of the Lord, Even in the discipline of the Lord, there is joy in properly serving God there is joy in properly serving God and in the outcome of saving soulsand in the outcome of saving souls

A Christian’s joyA Christian’s joy

A result of serviceA result of service– In the salvation of the lost (Acts In the salvation of the lost (Acts

11:20-23)11:20-23)– In seeing the spiritual progress In seeing the spiritual progress

of othersof others 1 Thes 3:6-101 Thes 3:6-10 Especially of those we helped Especially of those we helped

come to the Lord come to the Lord 1 Thes 2:19-201 Thes 2:19-20

– In giving to others (Acts 20:35)In giving to others (Acts 20:35)

SummarySummary

God’s grace allowed Christ to God’s grace allowed Christ to die for our sinsdie for our sins

Faith in Christ will produce loveFaith in Christ will produce love Love will express itself through Love will express itself through

serviceservice Service will result in joyService will result in joy

If you lack joy, then perhaps you If you lack joy, then perhaps you lack something that leads to joylack something that leads to joy