The Joy of the Lord by Deacon Kunle Olowoyo-Digging Deep

INTRODUCTION: Joy, like peace, is of a great variety; true joy, false joy; lasting joy, ephemeral joy; but the best and most enduring type of joy comes from the Lord. This joy is available to those who love the Lord, John 14:28, and obey him in all things John 15:10-11.

1. THE JOY OF THE LORD GIVES STRENGTH

1 Chron. 16:27: The secret of the Christian strength is the joy of the Lord. Because His joy is like a healing balm for the Body, Soul and Spirit. The foundation of this strength is based on the fact that the Lord reigns for ever and not only haste broken the back of our enemies, they are permanently under our feet. Infact not only have we strength enough, but we have more to spare so that we can be channels of joyful blessings to others in need by breaking their yokes through the supernatural strength that comes from the joy of the Lord. Neh.8:10, Prov. 17:22, Isa. 52:7-10, Isa. 60:14-15, Job 29:11-17, Isa. 61:1-3.

2. ONE OF THE GREATEST LOSSES OF THE BACKSLIDER IS JOY Psalm 16:11: One of the demarcating characteristics between sinners and saints is that sinners have sorrows while saints have joy. Infact, a backslider misses the joy of the Lord so badly that is usually an instrument of their restoration. That is why a restored backslider praises the Lord more than a non-backslider because he has tasted the Lord and the devil and he now knows the difference. It is also the reason why unrestored backsliders cannot praise the lord. If your praise worship is losing its quality, watch out; you may be slipping backwards. Isa. 65:13-14, Ps. 42:1-4, Ps. 43:3-5, 48:2, 137:6, Prov. 17:21, Jere. 31:10-13, Jere. 33:1-11.

3. THE GREATEST JOY IN THIS WORLD COMES FROM HAVING ABIDING FRUITS

Gal 5:22-23: It is a spiritual law that when people joyfully praise the Lord, the harvest will be great. This does not apply to material harvest alone but also to spiritual harvest as well. Spiritual children, more than physical children, are sources of great joy. The Bible calls them “crown to rejoicing”. Even though there are “joy unspeakable” and "joy exceeding”, the greatest joy in this life is to have spiritual children who will stand firm in the Lord. Psalms 67:4-7, Psalms 126:5-6, Phil 4:1, I Thess. 2:20, I Pet. 1:8, 4:13, 3 John v.4.

4. THE FULLEST JOY IS IN HIS PRESENCE:

Joy is never absolutely full except in the presence of the Lord. That is why there is never a place more delightful than the secret place of prayer. Only the beloved of the Lord know this secret and cherish it. Ps. 16:11, Jer.15:16, Matt. 25:21, Rev. 2:10, John 3:29.