Lesson 31
The Power of Fruit
Fruits of the Spirit - Part 2
by Ruth Mahoney Swaim
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25.
At the risk of sounding repetitive I would like to remind you that we are talking about the Fruit of the Spirit. Remember that the Holy Spirit is the 'DOER' of the Godhead. Anytime we are talking about the Holy Spirit we are speaking of the third member of the Trinity who is the Power and the Action of the Godhead.
Therefore, if the scripture tells us that we should have and operate in the Fruit of the Spirit that means the Holy Spirit will give you the power to use these fruits and the power to show forth these fruits...and the power to receive and benefit from these fruits. He will put those fruits within you both for your benefit and for the benefit of those with whom you come in contact.
JOY
The second fruit of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 is JOY. This fruit is usually more difficult to share because it tends to be reactive. But according to scripture this should not be so.
Then he said unto them, go your way; eat the fat and drink the sweet and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord neither be ye sorry (or sorrowful) for the JOY of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
Sacrifice and Planting
Psalm 27:6 speaks of offering sacrifices of JOY to the Lord, even when we are surrounded by enemies. David says 'my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of JOY in His tabernacle.'
You are His tabernacle so you are where the sacrifices of joy are to be offered. Keep in mind that whenever the joy of the Lord is mentioned it is usually paired with sacrifice and giving. In the first verse referenced above (Neh. 8:10) notice that the first part of the verse admonishes them to 'send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared.' This is giving. And this is especially important in reference to getting the Gospel to those who have not heard.
We don't always feel like offering sacrifices of JOY. That's why it's called a sacrifice. A sacrifice is when you are willing to offer it to God in spite of the cost or circumstance...whether you feel like it or not.
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of JOY. I will sing, yes I will sing praises unto the Lord. Psalm 27:6
A 'sacrifice of praise or joy' is when you are wiling to give when you don't feel like it; or when you are willing to walk away from something you love because you love God more.
It's hard to exude joy in those times. That's why it is called 'the joy of the Lord.' It's not our joy, but His joy flowing through us. When we begin to be full of His joy then we begin to see victory in the circumstance.
Remember, the joy of the Lord does not always mean happiness. It is a far higher level of experience than temporal happiness. The joy of the Lord is experienced, often, in the midst of turmoil or tragedy. But the joy of the Lord will be the strength you need to walk through it and come out in victory and glory.
Harvest and Reward
A sacrifice means death, but out of death comes life and resurrection.
'Break forth into joy oh my soul.' Yes, in that joy will be your strength and life. David says in Psalm 16:11 'Thou will show me the path of life; in thy presence is fullness of JOY.'
What is the inference here? There is also life in the JOY of the Lord. It brings life and strength to our bodies, souls and spirits as well as pleasures forevermore (eternally).
'For you shall go out with JOY and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.' Isaiah 55:12
Interesting thing about joy, it is infectious. It spreads. You can spread joy. Just like gooey peanut butter, you can spread it all around And anybody who reaches out and tastes it gets the benefit of its nourishment.
Real joy is something that the world longs for. The world doesn't have joy. They may have temporal happiness, gaiety and even thrills, but that deep down joy which only the Lord can give is missing from their lives.
This is often what they see in some Christians and gaze in wonder, pondering and wondering what we have that gives us such deep down joy.
Have you ever been around someone with joy simply bursting from their countenance? We had a friend, Costa Deir, now with the Lord, who epitomized this quality. He was called 'the apostle of joy.' He simply could not keep that joy hidden. If you were around him you broke out in joy also and it changed your whole outlook that day.
Joy is not just a state of mind. It is not a fleeting emotion. Joy is a strong force of the Holy Spirit and the enemy (the devil) doesn't have anything that can stand up against it.
Just as faith is the antidote to fear, joy is the antidote to discouragement and discouragement must yield to joy.
Psalm 48:2 says that we are 'beautiful for situation, the JOY of the whole earth (Mt. Zion)'. That's us. We are to be that light of joy which attracts the world to it's shining.
BREAK FORTH - BREAK THROUGH
Psalm 126:5: 'They that sow in tears shall reap in JOY. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.'
So if you're in a 'weeping time' right now, your breakthrough is coming. You will break forth into joy...the joy of the Lord. And you will bear precious fruit and have a bountiful harvest. Joy is a learned response to the processes of God. Are you learning to take joy in your circumstance?
If you will break forth into joy you will then get your break through to blessing and harvest. It often takes a breaking forth before we get the break through.
Take heart. He will restore to you the joy of your salvation and much more. Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and you have it residing within you. Let the Holy Spirit continue His work and watch that wonderful fruit of JOY pop forth on your tree Then let it ripen Oh what a sweet taste and essence you will be handing out.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I now take joy in entering your presence and I offer you a sacrifice of JOY. Thank you for salvation. Thank you for your JOY. I receive you and your joy into my life. Fill me with your 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.'
This teaching by Ruth Mahoney Swaim is distributed free of charge and may be copied, expanded and distributed.
Copyrighted only for protection from commercial use.
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