"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." - Galatians 5:22-25
The fruit of the Spirit does not have its expression through our natural emotions. Our emotions are dependent on our circumstances. The fruit of the Spirit is independent of our circumstances and solely dependent upon our faith, submission to the Spirit of God and our obedience to the Word of God. And as Dr. Henry Blackaby would say, "If you are having a problem with obedience, you really have a love problem." In other words, you don't love God enough. You have not yielded your heart fully.
I was listening to a recent sermon by Pastor Russell Howard, the lead pastor at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers, FL. (I devoted a sentence about who I am about to quote to give credit where credit is due.) He was preaching on 2 Corinthians 13:11-14.
"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." - 1 Corinthians 13:11
He made a distinction between the Biblical meaning of "joy" and "rejoice". "Joy, a fruit of the Spirit, is not an emotion. It is not elation." Butterflies in your stomach, that warm and fuzzy feeling that emotion stirs in us. It is not happiness in your heart. "Spiritual joy is a settled confidence. A knowing that what was eternally wrong has been made eternally right." Through Jesus.
Paul's encouragement for the Corinthains Church, and us, to "rejoice", is to live in "Joy". Rejoicing is the proclamation of spiritual joy in your life. Rejoicing not just with words, as important as our testimony is, but in the way we live our life - the litmus test of the presence of supernatural joy in our lives. Paul encouraged the Philippian Church in the same way.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoicing is having an attitude of gratitude.
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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