FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – JOY & PEACE

 

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – JOY & PEACE

 

The second fruit mentioned is….

JOY

Have you ever been walking through a store and noticed someone (a complete stranger) smiling at you as they passed?  Did you find yourself smiling back?  And then realize you still have a smile on your face after you’re way past them and a couple isles over?

Or the opposite happens – you’re walking through Walmart with a smile on your face.  Suddenly, you find those you pass begin to smile back at you.  Smiles can be contagious.

Life can be tough at times. 

People look for things that will put a smile on their face.  That’s why comedians are popular and we often see Christmas decorations put up in homes 2-3 months before Christmas arrives. 

People are searching for something to make them happy, but only true happiness can be found in Jesus. 

Living for God does not mean life will be perfect, that you won’t have any struggles or upsets, and that you’ll always be smiling, but the Bible does say “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Neh 8:10). 

The joy of the Lord is our strength?  What about when we don’t feel joy; we don’t feel gladness, and we definitely don’t feel like rejoicing?

There have been times when I was going through some very serious and intense situations.  I knew my face revealed the stress and the load I was under, but walking around with a forlorn countenance was not going to be a good witness and reflection of the Jesus living inside of me.  So, I would pray every time I was heading to a store or wherever I needed to go, “Jesus, help me to have a smile on my lips and joy on my face despite the ache in my heart.” 

After that prayer as I was walking into a store, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in their gleaming windows and could see a smile on my lips that I did not feel in my heart.

It’s not that I felt joy, or gladness, or a rejoicing at that moment, but God gave me strength and helped me to smile despite all I was going through. (I’m not saying that it is wrong to be real, and that we have to hide our emotions to those near to us when our heart is overwhelmed.)

We may not feel joy in our heart when we’re going through intense struggles and trials such as the illness or death of someone close to our heart, but we can draw strength from knowing the One who is in control of it all and has the final say.  We can draw joy from knowing that one day life’s trials will seem so small when we see Jesus Christ and look upon His face.

A precious missionary (Barbara Willoughby) who has went on to be with the Lord preached a message many years ago titled, “If the devil can’t steal your joy, he can’t keep your goods.”

Life can deal us some blows, but we choose whether to be bitter over it or to become better.  Walking around with a frown or a scowl on our face does not help to make situations better.  Oft times, it can do the opposite and make it worse.

There are times when we have to pray as the psalmist did in Psalm 51:12 – Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation…”

Psalm 126:5 promises: they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Despite persecutions, severe beating, betrayals, and being near death at times, Paul said in Acts 26:2 “I think myself happy…”   Happiness is a choice.

Isaiah 12:3 - Therefore with JOY shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

What is the water that we draw from the wells of salvation?  Jesus said He will give us living water that will flow out of us like a river (which is the Holy Ghost – John 7:38-39)  We can draw with joy from the well of salvation, no matter what we face or go through, IF we keep our eyes on Jesus and stay FULL of the Holy Ghost.   We can have joy when we keep our eyes on the prize of eternity knowing one day we’ll see Jesus face to face and Heaven will be our home.   

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, knew where to find joy = in God’s Word.

Jeremiah 15:16 – Thy Words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

The Psalmist penned in Psalm 16:11 ….in Thy presence is fulness of Joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

We will find joy when we get in His Presence.  That’s why we often stress and repeat and repeat and repeat the importance of personal prayer and Bible reading time along with the importance of pre-service prayer as well as Church attendance.  

The time we spend in God’s presence is so small compared to the time spent doing everything else.  Take time and make time for Jesus every day.  That’s where you’ll gain and regain your joy.

 

The next fruit mentioned is….

PEACE

The opposite of Peace is Worry/Anxiety.

Paul wrote to the Philippians in Phil 4:6 – Be careful (anxious) for nothing (about not even one thing); but in every thing by PRAYER (talking to Jesus), and SUPPLICATION (petition, asking) WITH THANKSGIVING (remember to thank God for hearing and taking care of whatever the need is) let your requests (what you have need of) be made known unto God.

We live in troubled times. 

Mass shootings are happening often.
Wildfires and hurricanes destroying homes and lands. 
Our country is divided. 
Not to mention all the personal turmoil that goes on within homes.  

We all desire PEACE!

Jesus said in John 16:33  …in the world ye shall have tribulation….

The word ‘tribulation’ means ‘pressure, anguish, burdens, persecution, trouble.’   We’re going to go through tough times in life.  It’s all part of life.

But Jesus gave us some encouragement when He went on to say, “…but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Storms will come at times in our lives.  Tumults and rumors of wars may abound.  But Jesus is in control of it all!

Jesus calmed the storms that arose and threatened to drown the Disciples with 3 simple words: “Peace, be still!” 

He’s still able to calm both the natural and spiritual storms that come against us as well.  

In John 16:33, Jesus said:

These things I have spoken unto you, that IN ME ye might have PEACE….

There’s an old song that says, “I know the Peace-speaker, yes, I know Him by Name (Jesus), I know the Peace-speaker, He controls the wind and rain, when He says ‘PEACE, BE STILL!’ they have to obey….”

I don’t fret and worry when natural storms roll in – instead, I pray IN FAITH and rest in the peace that Jesus gives that HE is in control.

Storms (trials, tribulation, situations) that affect my children, my grandchildren, my family, and the Church are a greater struggle to pray IN FAITH and not worry or stress over it anymore.  That’s where we need to pray, “Lord, help my unbelief.”

Does Jesus not care about what concerns us, about them, about you and I more than we care?  Yes, He does.  When we learn to trust Him completely, we will have a peace that passes all understanding which will keep (guard) our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:7)

Isaiah described Him as the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

We may not be able to change or stop what’s happening but we can have peace because we know WHO has ultimate control. 

The Bible says “GREATER is He who is in me than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

When we have the Holy Ghost, we can have peace within no matter what may happen in life around us.

That is one facet of peace….to have peace within us and not worry whatever we face and go through. 

The other part of peace is that we need to be peaceful toward others, not quarreling, or fighting or striving with others.

James 3:18 teaches – the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Paul taught in Hebrews 12:14 – Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

1 Timothy 2:2 admonishes us to live a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

1 Thessalonians 5:13 admonishes us to be at peace among ourselves.

Jesus taught in Mark 9:50 – Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Make others thirsty for Jesus through the peacefulness that they see in you.

Paul sent letter to the Ephesian church in Ephesians 4:3 admonishing them to – Endeavor to KEEP THE UNITY of the Spirit in the BOND OF PEACE.

Being Peaceful will help bind us together.

Colossians 3:15 teaches to let the peace of God RULE in our hearts.

We need to let the fruit of peace rule in our hearts – whether it is being at peace no matter what we face or go through.  And have peace one with another.  

Sweet and bitter waters can not flow out of the same fountain. (James 3:11)  We can’t be bitter, angry, spiteful, hateful, gossipy and so on while claiming to be a Christian.  We need to be peaceful toward others.  

Are we pricking others with our thorny words?  Or are we drawing them to Jesus by our sweet fruit (meaning upright conversation and actions)?  

Jesus said by our fruits, they will know us.  (Matthew 7:20)