The Fruit of the Spirit 32 (Origin of Joy)

 Origin of Joy

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,"
Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)

In today's article, we will be looking at the origin of joy. From Galatians 5:22, we see that joy is what the Holy Spirit supplies. However, I want to show the first expression of joy in the New Testament and what caused it, as described in Luke 2:8-11 (NKJV):

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"

The above scripture reveals the conversation between the angel and shepherds when Jesus was born. The angel told them, "He brought to them good tidings of great joy." The coming of Christ is the coming of enormous joy. Before He came, the earth knew no joy. People lived in perpetual fear, intimidation, anxiety, and vexation. But Christ's coming was a coming of joy. That's what He brings!

The angel told them he brought unto them good tidings of great joy. Good tidings mean gospel. With that, I can say joy connects with the gospel. So, do you want joy to reign in your heart? Then expose your heart to the gospel of Christ. The gospel is the magnet that attracts joy to the soul of a man.

Christ, in His glorious work, shed light on human destiny. Through Him, we can see the eternal destiny that God has prepared for humanity. And as long as a man can see it, he cannot remain down; instead, he soars with joy. Joy is the effect of the cause of the gospel.

One of the workings of the Holy Spirit is to make the heart merry and glad. He constantly does this by showing you your destiny in Christ. 

Dear believer, you can stay joyful because it does not originate from something material. It is a package that comes with redemption. And the Holy Spirit imparts it to our hearts as we open our hearts to the gospel. What is your heart exposed to? Is it the gospel?
Prayerfully meditate on these things. See you in the next article.

Article written by Peter Ayoola Fakeye

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