The word “rejoice” in my convicting I Thessalonian’s verse "Rejoice always" is the Greek word “chairo” which occurs 75 other times in the New Testament. The word for “joy” is the Greek word “charah” which appears 59 times in the New Testament. Clearly, joy is a well documented part of the New Testament church. But what is joy?
The proverbial Webster’s states that joy is “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good
fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires”
So apparently, these people in the New Testament had multiple encounters with well-being, success, and good fortune...
Acts 5:40-41 when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
II Corinthians 7:4 “Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort ; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.”
I Thessalonians 1:6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
Hebrews 10:34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property
James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials
Philippians 2:17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake
I Peter 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing,
Do you get it?! Joy in the New Testament is not a result of Webster's "well-being, success, and good fortune." Look at what these baby believers went through! They were threatened, beaten, and plagued with affliction. These individuals went through suffering so acute it was labeled "tribulation." They're property was seized and confiscated. And they had joy. Paul speaks of joy as his life is literally spilling out of him.
How?
Because joy is not an emotion. Joy is not dependent on the circumstances of life. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and just like self-control, patience, and kindness, it must be cultivated, through the help of the Holy Spirit in each believer's life.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
From this passage in Galatians we know two things:
1. we need the Holy Spirit to accomplish any of these qualities
2. There is sacrificing of the flesh which must go hand-in-hand with the Spirit. The next verse states, “and those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
We've determined that joy is a spiritual discipline which is lacking in our depression riddled world and church. We know that joy is not dependent on our circumstances. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit which must be cultivated.
How?
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