The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy

The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy

One fruit of the Spirit’s work in us—when we become one with the Word—is joy. It is mentioned after love in Galatians 5:22 and is a strong companion of it. Joy increases after we have come into possession of what we have yearned for and longed to partake of.

As long as a person loves money and the things of this world, he does not want what the Lord wants to give of the fruits of the Spirit; but when he is liberated from that kind of love he longs for the reality of salvation, which makes him forever happy.

There is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents. In heaven they follow along with everything that God fosters on earth, and they are glad and rejoice over all of it.

Those in heaven have a vision for everything that is truly great and glorious, praising Jesus “who was slain” and giving Him the honor that is due Him. We can also receive enlightened eyes of the heart so we may understand the hope of our calling, and “what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance of the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,” etc. Eph. 1:17-23. Sin hides all this from people. Only after Christ has made a person alive and has given him these enlightened eyes of the heart, so he may understand all that was done and was given to him in Christ, can he depart from sin and self-life and partake of the heavenly joy that is found only in Jesus Christ.

This salvation was revealed to us through the preaching of the brothers, but many are, more or less, still under the power of sin and their self-life. They rejoice in money, honor, clothing, position, etc. They do not see that unspeakably great salvation that greets them from afar and bids them welcome.

Paul also says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil. 4:4. Then we have partaken of that heavenly joy. But that state requires something from you: it encourages you to win precious souls for God which in turn will give you great joy over everyone who truly turns to God.

We must not be deceived by the greatness of the work of winning souls, but rather do the little we can willingly and joyfully, and be faithful to the Lord our God.