Before we see where joy is found, we want to see where it is not found.
It is not found in unbelief.
Voltaire was a well known unbeliever, and he wrote:
“I wish I had never been born.”
It is not found in pleasure.
Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did.
He wrote:
“The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.”
It is not found in money. Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that.
When dying, he said:
“I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
It is not found in position and fame. Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both.
He wrote:
“Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”
It is not found in military glory. Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day.
Having done so, he wept in his tent because, he said,
“There are no more worlds to conquer.”
A Biblical definition of joy is:
A Spirit produced quality of satisfaction and delight of mind arising from our true identity in Christ, our intimate fellowship with Him and our doing His will. Joy is the monopoly of the believer in Jesus Christ because it is only produced by the Holy Spirit.
If we are walking by the flesh, we will by-pass the joy that is ours in Christ; we must walk by the Spirit.
Joy is not an emotional experience or a feeling; it is an attitude which brings satisfaction and delight to the mind.
It is an inner orientation to the grace of God.
This attitude of mind is only experienced because of our union with Christ.
We are in Him and He is in us. It arises from believing in our true identity that we have in Christ, having intimate fellowship with Him, and doing His will.
If we are abiding in Him and His Word is abiding in us, we will experience joy! It is actually Christ’s joy.
John 15:11 says:
“I have told you this is so that My joy may be in you.”
Christ is the only source of joy.
It is not just human joy that is stimulated by God’s influence, it is Christ’s joy produced in us and passing through us.
It is the deep-founded joy of Christ; our relationship with Christ brings joy and satisfaction.
Where then is real joy found?
The answer is simple, in Christ alone.
Blessings!
Pastor Ken Keeler, Director of Church Ministries