Ministering: Tobi Thompson
Date: 31st July 2023
Topic: The Joy of the Holy Ghost
Father, we thank You for everything. Thank You, in Jesus name.
Tonight, we’ll be looking into THE JOY OF THE HOLY GHOST 🤸🎊.
Personally, I love stirring up the atmosphere of joy because it makes me feel light, really really light and so, 9.9/10 you’ll always find me shining my teeth.
So I’m going to speak tonight both from the book and experience.
Joy is not a feeling (as it were) and therefore can’t be totally defined as a human emotion. Joy is actually a state of BE-ING. It is a spiritual nature, that’s why it’s of the Holy Spirit.
When we see God and the realm of light being described as well as angelic beings in the Scriptures, joy is always a recurring element. So you’ll see David saying
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
[Psalms 16:11 NLT]A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it.
[Psalms 46:4 – 5 NLT]
The joy of the Holy Spirit is a nature that dwells in ALL believers. God knew that as long as we are in this physical world we will have certain unpleasant experiences and so He made provision for us to be able to pass through these things..
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
[James 1:2 NLT]…….Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
[Nehemiah 8:10 NLT]
The truth of the matter is that we can’t really escape unpleasant experiences BUT we can always choose our state of being when these things happen. The Bible says about Jesus Christ that the only thing that kept Him going even unto His death, was joy.
In spite of the whole beatings and mocking done to Him, He chose to maintain that state of joy.
You’ll even see the Apostles maintain that state of being even during persecution.
The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus
[Acts of the Apostles 5:40 – 41 NLT]
Joy is a great giver of strength, if you meet anyone who has learned how to maintain that state of being they are always patient, enduring, and hopeful.
Joy is not just a strengthener, it is also a healer according to the book of Proverbs,
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
[Proverbs 17:22 NLT]
At the same time, joy is not just meant for hard times alone. It is also meant for the good times because joy only sees the good, better, and best things.
With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!
[Isaiah 12:3 NLT]
A music minister of God said Joy is a fetcher and of a truth it is. I’ve come to notice that in the atmosphere of joy, there is always a wanting for more because joy can’t see lack. It opens you up to an unending source of abundance.
In case you never knew, the Phillipian church had a major struggle with their finances, they did not have so much yet Paul said,
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
[Philippians 4:4 NLT]
Why?? If they were full of joy ALWAYS, they would always see abundance. Sad, depressed people will always struggle because all they can see is lack BUT joy is different.
Joy says there is always more than enough! There is always more than enough!
Now because the Holy Spirit now dwells in us…We now have the responsibility to stir up the joy of the Holy Spirit in us, remember we started with, Joy is a state of BE-ING, it then means it is largely dependent on your consciousness of it.
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.
[2 Timothy 1:6 NLT]
There are many ways outlined in the Bible by which you can fan into flames the joy of the Holy Spirit in us. Jesus Himself said this,
You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
[John 16:24 NLT]
Since we ask and receive in prayer, it goes to say a believer who doesn’t pray will hardly be in an atmosphere of joy. It then means Consciousness of the gift of God that dwells in us is closely linked to prayer, especially praying in tongues.
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
[Colossians 3:16 NLT]Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[Ephesians 5:18 – 20 NLT]
These are things you already know but start putting into practice. Whatever circumstance you are in right now, fan into flames the joy of the Holy Spirit in you. It is your responsibility.
God bless you.