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Joy of the Lord
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“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). We are in the “morning” of a new year. It is important that we place all of our failure, disappointment, pain and our entire past under the blood of our Savior, Jesus, and permit Him to fill us with fresh and jubilant joy. He loves us intensely; He deeply desires that we radiate His joy and rest in His peace.
“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy” (Job 8:21 LB). This scripture belongs to each of us if we will receive it. Even now, the Lord is pouring out His Spirit of joy upon the Body of Christ. Joy, accompanied by hilarious laughter and awesome miracles, is occurring in many churches and individuals throughout the world. Somehow, God’s joy is accompanied by His power.
For the most part, we have read across the word, “joy,” in the scriptures and failed to grasp both its reality and meaning. We have known it is good but seldom sought the Lord to experience it. Yet Jesus Himself told us in John 16, verse 24, “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. “
Some of Webster’s Dictionary definitions of “joy” are: A very glad feeling; happiness; great pleasure; delight: rapture; ecstasy; exultation, to rejoice; to be full of joy. The original Greek word for joy described an experience that which took possession of the whole person!
Jesus was Himself anointed with joy. It was for the joy that was set before Him that Jesus endured the cross (read Hebrews 12:2). Joy gave Him the strength to face His impending death. Note that we have been informed plainly in the book of Nehemiah, chapter 8 and verse 10, that the joy of the Lord is our strength! For some reason, most of us have not fully grasped the import of that scripture or often experienced the truth within it. Nonetheless, our Savior definitely intended that we partake of joy, for He declared, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full “ (John 15:11). Jesus did not intend that we experience merely a tinge of joy. No, He wants us to be full of His joy!
Signs and wonders, power, and exceeding joy seem to be close “buddies.” The more joy-the more power and fruit. This was certainly true in the beginning days of the church: “The people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying, with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them:and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city “ (Acts 8:6-8).
Joy also gives power to withstand persecution and rejection. When Paul and Barnabas were thrown out of Antioch, they “shook off the dust of their feet against them and were filled with joy, and telling us, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings. That, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding joy “ (I Peter 4:12 & 13).
If ever there was an hour in which God’s people needed to experience the strength and peace brought by joy, this is it. Joy may manifest in a life in a variety of ways, all of them powerful. Ecstatic worship may take place, there are also tears of joy. Very often, a wave of God’s Spirit envelops a person or congregation causing literally uncontrollable laughter which may continue for a length of time, then reoccur ever so often. During this time healing, deliverance, or miracles of various sorts may manifest. Regardless, the expression of joy brings both spiritual and physical strength and kindles a new fire in hearts that long to effectively serve their triumphantly risen Lord.
The book of Proverbs is making no light statement when it declares, “A merry heart does good, like medicine “ (Proverbs 17:22). There are many instances recorded where people have literally laughed their way to health. The vital organs of mankind respond extremely favorably to laughter. It actually performs a kind of inner massage. Our Creator, the “I AM the LORD that healeth thee “ has decreed it so. How very marvelous of Him!
The writer of Psalm 92, verses 10 and I I exclaimed, “I have been anointed with fresh oil. My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies. “ We too, can be anointed with “fresh oil.” We will also see our victories will take place to the glory of God. We will be able to experience Psalm 144, verse 15, in a new dimension: “Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!”
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