Because of God Part 3: Living in Supernatural Joy
By Pastor Ron McKey
I cannot think of anything more important than having supernatural joy in the life of a believer, especially for the days we're living in. We are living in dark days, and yet God has given us the fruit of joy in our lives to overcome no matter the circumstances.
Bible joy is not just retreating to your happy place or fake enthusiasm. It is not happy, clappy Christianity. In fact, there is nothing artificial about it. Bible joy is a powerful supernatural expression of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Every believer needs the spirit of joy in their life for three reasons:
Spiritual Warefare
#1 Spiritual Warfare
There is a constant colliding of two kingdoms – God's kingdom and Satan's kingdom. And there is spiritual warfare that happens 24/7. As we work our way closer to the end days, that spiritual activity and conflict will continue to increase. So, we need the spirit of joy in our lives.
See, it is the joy of the Lord that keeps you in the battle. If you don't have it, you’ll find yourself stuck in a trench. Even worse, you may find yourself taken captive by the enemy if you don’t have the joy of the Lord as your strength.
#2 Joy Helps Us Stormproof Our Lives
It's not storms that make ships sink, it’s when what's on the outside gets on the inside. And the joy of God will stormproof our eyes and prevent what’s on the outside from getting on the inside.
#3 The Joy of the Lord Will Carry You Through Dark Days
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
As long as you can laugh, rejoice, and praise God, you cannot be defeated. Each fruit of the Spirit is supernatural, meaning it’s God-assisted in our lives. The Holy Spirit will help you in each area of your life. The Holy Spirit didn't come just to make you dance around and speak in tongues. Love, joy, kindness, and peace are supernatural. They are the language of the Holy Spirit.
The Difference Between Joy and Happiness
The Difference Between Joy and Happiness
Happiness is fleeting, and your source of happiness varies with age and time. Happiness is an emotion that’s always circumstance-based. In other words, if all your ducks are in a row and there are no wrinkles in your life, then you can be happy. But if things get out of order, you can't be happy.
Joy is the complete opposite. It is not dependent upon circumstances. When you’re filled with joy, it doesn't matter what's going on out there because you know what God is doing within you. The joy of the Lord is your strength. So, you know you can get through any storm that comes your way.
What the Bible Says About Joy
· Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV – “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
· Psalm 16:11 NKJV – “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
· Psalms 126:5 NKJV – “ Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.”
· John 15:11 NKJV – “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
· Romans 14:17 NKJV – “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
· Philippians 4:4 NKJV – “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
The apostle Paul went through all types of hardships, including beatings, stoning, a shipwreck, and getting lost at sea. He was hunted down, betrayed by his own countrymen, and thrown in prison. Despite all of this, Paul still wrote in the book of Corinthians that he was overwhelmed with joy. There is something spiritual and significant about possessing the joy of the Lord in our lives.
Psalm 51:11-12 NKJV – “Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”
According to the Bible, salvation is supposed to make life better. It’s supposed to make you happy, not miserable. And yet, a lot of Christians have had just enough of God in their life. They're miserable because they feel like they’ve lost control of their lives. However, Christianity is all about a relationship with Christ and getting closer to Him.
Salvation is good because God is good. It’s supposed to bring you joy. If how you interpret the Bible doesn't bring a smile to your face, then you might want to rethink what you think salvation is.
Proverbs 17:22 NKJV – “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”
A broken-down spirit refers to a depressed, joyless, critical, or hateful spirit. This verse tells us that a merry heart brings healing into your life. But a critical, hateful spirit is an open door for the enemy to walk in and out of your life. Joy keeps the enemy out. Laughter and joy are two signs of a spiritual person.
A Christian that cannot praise is a defeated Christian. Praise gets your eyes off the problem and back on God. It allows you to turn your weakness into a strength, and praise overcomes discouragement. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is keep yourself full of joy. When Satan comes with a crisis, remember that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. So, keep your joy full.
When Satan comes with sickness and disease, remind yourself that by His stripes, you are healed. When Satan comes with a financial setback, remind yourself that God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and glory. Keep your joy full.
The joy of the Lord changes your attitude, and your attitude towards God determines how you approach Him. If you see God as some angry and abusive father figure, then you won't run to Him when things get bad. Rather, you'll run in the opposite direction.
If you see God as some mysterious, passive-aggressive deity, then you're going to avoid getting into His presence. If you see God as too busy, then you're not going to bother pressing in or drawing near.
If you see God whose presence is full of joy, then you'll run to Him every time. You'll spend time in His presence, and you'll draw close to Him because there is fullness of joy in His presence. The fruit of joy outlined in scripture keeps us in a praise posture towards God.
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
The Bible doesn't describe faith as some mental realm we ascend to. The Bible says that faith is to be demonstrated. Faith is a substance, not a noun. We have all been given the measure of faith. But until we use our faith, we're not going to receive anything. See, faith is the currency of heaven. If you want anything from God, you’ve got to put your faith in Him.
If faith is the currency of heaven, then your worship and praise are your receipts for things hoped for. So, our worship is significant.
So, How Do You Praise God When You’re Wounded?
You have to push through the pain because there’s a prize at the end. Praise God through difficult situations and keep pushing through the pain to get the prize.
See, pain is the process that strengthens you for the breakthrough. If you're going through a storm, a battle, or a trial, God is strengthening you to prevail and eventually enjoy the blessing that's on the horizon. If you feel like life has dumped on you, don't feel sorry for yourself. Prepare yourself.
You grow through what you're going through. Your broken marriage, that dead-end job, and the pain you're feeling are not the end. Wherever you are in your life right now, talk to God first. God is always our first response, not our last resort. So, we always go to God first. If you're going through something, God wants you to seek and keep seeking. Ask and keep asking, knock and keep knocking. Make running to God a lifestyle.
The Bible says those who ask, God is going to answer; for those who seek are going to find; and for those who knock, God will open the door. So, the key to whatever you’re going through is to let God move in your life.
I Corinthians 1:5 NKJV – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
God gives the victory. Just like victory, salvation is a gift from God. You don't work for it; God gives it to you because He's gracious. We fight from victory because God has already won the battle. Jesus has already defeated the enemy. Now we're just going to stand on His shoulders and thank Him for everything He's done because His joy, strength, and peace are already ours. He's already won it all, you just have to accept and receive it in Jesus’ name.