Spirit of Joy - PT 1

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." (Prov. 13:12) Our hope is not in a natural world. Our hope is in God. Our hope is in Christ, His Word and all of His Promises. When we become born-again, the Spirit of Christ lives on the inside of us. Therefore, since the Spirit of Christ lives on the inside of us, the fruit of His Spirit includes joy (Gal. 5:22-23).

"Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (Is. 12:3) The way we draw from the wells of salvation is with joy. If we are truly believing God there will be an inexpressible joy (1 Pt. 1:8). We have a joy that comes from the inside. We have a joy that comes from Christ. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is living in us. His life is flowing through us. When we are joyful in difficult times, it is a witness to the world, of the joy of the Lord that is in us.

"For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 14:17) When you have the Spirit of Christ on the inside of you, the Spirit of Christ is joy. Joy is the delight and pleasure we have in our relationship with God. Joy comes from the Presence of the Lord.