As Christians, we have been taught by the Spirit of God to rejoice.  When we accept what the Spirit teaches, teachings that are found on the pages of inspiration, that is, the Bible, the end result will be joy.  This is why Paul refers to joy as a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Joy is a characteristic of every healthy Christian.  We sometimes do not realize how impactful joy can be to the people around us.  Anne Frank once said,  “Whoever is happy will make others happy too.”   I know that biblical joy is much more than just being happy, those who are filled with the joy of the Spirit, are happy more times than not, and this happiness is contagious.

People like to be around others who are happy.  In contrast, it is not very pleasant being around someone who is always unhappy.  Unhappiness tends to express itself in negative ways like anger and rudeness and, no one likes to be around that for too long.  How can we be effective in winning souls to Christ, when people rather not be around us because of our behavior?

The joy of the Spirit is not determined by outward circumstances.  Paul exhorted the saints at Philippi to “rejoice in the Lord always,” even though he was a prisoner for Christ at Rome.  We can rejoice in the Lord every day because this joy is based on what lies ahead, not on what is going on in the present.  It looks toward heaven.  Regarding the salvation that will be realized because of our faith, Peter said, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6).

The important side effect of biblical joy is endurance.  The Greek word translated endurance is hypomonē.  It is a great word that characterizes true Christianity.  Thayer says it describes “the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).  But, I want you to notice the connection between it and joy.  Hypomonē denotes, not just endurance, but cheerful endurance.  William Barclay put it well.

“Hupomone is not simply the ability to bear things; it is the ability to turn them to greatness and to glory.  The thing which amazed the heathen in the centuries of persecution was that the martyrs did not die grimly, they died singing.”

The ability to die singing is produced by the joy of the Spirit.  Those early saints who endured such terrible persecution could do so because of their hope of heaven.  We should possess that same joy because we have the same hope.  Never forget what Paul said about suffering for Christ.

Romans 8:18 (ESV)
¹⁸  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

As Christians, we should be the most joyful people on earth.  Yes, there is a difference between mere happiness and the joy of the Spirit.  We are not expected to be happy every second of every day, but we are expected to rejoice always.  This is because of all the blessings we have from God.  Things like daily fellowship with the Father, access to prayer, God’s ongoing providential care, and, of course, the hope of heaven, remain intact no matter what happens to us in this world.  So, sleep well tonight, and every night, with the joy of the Spirit on your heart.        

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.