The Fruit of Joy and Peace

The 9 Fruit of the Spirit

• Rooted in God:  Love, Joy, and Peace
• In Relation to Others:  Long-suffering, Kindness, and Gentleness (Goodness)
• Self-Regulating:  Faith, Meekness, and Temperance

Joy mean cheerfulness; calm delight.  Joy enables a person to endure the sufferings and trials of our Christian existence and experience.

Joy is a Grace that Transcends Circumstances 

2 Cor 8:1-2 (NKJV) – Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

“You can knock me off of happy, but you can’t take away my joy.” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson

When we look through the Bible, when we encounter the word Joy in relation to people, it is always in a pressure-packed situation.

Trials will mess with your ‘happy.” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson

Joy is a Living Example of a Life of Faith

1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (NKJV) – And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

Anybody can stand up for God when life is going well.  But in those times when situations are pressure-packed we can display a life of faith, through joy.  We are often asked during those times, “How are you able to stand with joy?”  And that is an evangelistic moment for the believers.

We see in the scriptures Paul referring to the people as “living epistles”.

“So often we want to talk faith but not live faith.” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson

Joy Provides the Fortitude to Endure

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) – Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

“For the joy that was set” means a place of view; something that was presented to the mind as an example or reward.  Jesus came to the earth, knowing his purpose.  He knew that He would be mistreated, abused, wrongly-accused, and crucified, but somewhere ahead, He saw you.  And so because of the joy set before Him, He endured.

Peace – -to join at quietness, at rest, to set at one again.  Untroubled tranquility and contentment.

Peace is a Result of Justification

From where does true peace come?

Romans 5:1 (NKJV) – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…

Justification is a legal term that literally signifies acquittal, or a finding of not guilty.  Or in the Christian context, justification means “to declare righteous”.

Peace is the Guard for our Heart and Mind

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The Peace of God is like a military sentinel posted to make sure nothing that is not supposed to be in our hearts or minds is there.

Peace is a Person, Not Just a State of Mind

Ephesians 2:14-17 – For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.

Christ is our peace and He is making peace.  He mended our separation and ended the strife.

“We have peace with God; we have peace from God; and we have the peace of God.” – Dr. D’Ann Johnson