{"id":52889,"date":"2023-06-19T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-19T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nehemiahecommunity.com\/members\/?p=52889"},"modified":"2023-06-19T02:50:53","modified_gmt":"2023-06-19T06:50:53","slug":"joy-in-the-holy-spirit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nehemiahecommunity.com\/members\/devotionals\/joy-in-the-holy-spirit\/","title":{"rendered":"Joy in the Holy Spirit","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL BY PATRICE TSAGU<\/em>E<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you walking in the abundant life?
How is your joy today?\u00a0
Do you have joy in the Holy Spirit?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 John 10:10 (NKJV)<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Joy in the Holy Spirit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

John 10:10<\/strong> tells us that Jesus came so that we may have a more abundant life, and Romans 14:17 t<\/strong>ells us that the Kingdom of God is about living in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the previous two devotionals, we examined righteousness and peace. We learned that the righteousness of Christ is expressed through us when we live our lives in line with God\u2019s will by his power and not our own. We also learned that for the believer whose trust is in Jesus Christ, there is a peace that passes all understanding and an inner poise and tranquility that exists regardless of circumstances. This peace is not an absence of trouble, but rather a result of trusting God in a way that gives us comfort and courage to face trouble. We will conclude our series by learning how to experience joy in the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joy in the Holy Spirit is an emotion of profound happiness that comes from the Spirit of God. <\/strong>Jesus came to bring joy to the world, especially to those who would believe in Him. Joy produces outward expressions of praise because of a deep inward strength, conviction, and excitement about the blessings of God. Sincere expressions of joy, along with God\u2019s righteousness and peace, are the outward evidence of the abundant life of Christ working within us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is this joy important? The Bible says in James 1:2<\/strong>, \u201cMy brethren, <\/em>count it all joy <\/em><\/strong>when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>And, Hebrew 12:2<\/strong> tells us that \u201cFor the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame.\u201d <\/em>Think about the intensity of all that Jesus went through on our behalf, but because of the joy <\/strong>set before Him, He endured it all. There is supernatural strength contained in the joy of the LORD (Nehemiah 8:10)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joy is important because it gives us strength to face both the difficult moments and also the extreme trials of life. Joy is an outward expression of the internal assurance of God\u2019s ability to see me through. It is the confidence that the challenge I now face is not in vain, but that there are great rewards that await me as a result of my obedience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I possess joy when I believe that God sees me and intimately knows my needs in every situation. He is with me and on my side, even when circumstances are beyond my control. The Bible assures us that \u201c<\/em>in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose\u201d<\/em> (Romans 8:28)<\/strong>, and He is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24)<\/strong>. What great happiness and joy to have confidence in his nearness and his promises!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lack of joy says that I\u2019m not confident that I will make it, and there is no reward for my suffering. You cannot experience the abundant life of Christ and be lacking in joy in the Holy Spirit. The more abundant life is a blessed life!\u00a0 It is an exciting life and a life that is completely dependent upon the branch \u2013 you \u2013\u00a0 being connected to the Vine \u2013 Jesus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,
and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>
\u2013 John 15:6 (NKJV)<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How do I experience joy in the Holy Spirit?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n