Today’s New Covenant nugget is from Acts 2:28
You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
Psalm 16:11 - You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
PICTURE JESUS WITH PEOPLE AROUND HIM…
Are they smiling? Laughing? Excited? What is Jesus’ body language? Is Jesus stern? Serious? Is He looking down His nose at those around Him, speaking Elizabethan English? Scripture actually depicts Jesus as happy, full of Joy, smiling, laughing with a loving, embracing stance… Jesus is Joy personified!
JOY DEFINED
Happiness is based on circumstances, but scriptural, New Covenant Joy is a euphoric excitement and a confident expectation of the best possible outcome… Joy is the highest level of faith! Joy is filled with miracle working power, strength and anointing.
John 15:9-11 - “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
John 15:11 (AMPC) - “I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing”.
JESUS LIKENS HIMSELF TO A VINE… “A LOVE VINE”
JOY IS THE FRUIT THAT THE ‘LOVE VINE’ BEARS…
IF WE REMAIN ENGRAFTED IN THE VINE, WE WILL WALK IN LOVE AND OVERFLOW WITH JOY FRUIT - JESUS IS JOY PERSONIFIED.
HAVE YOU EVER MEASURED SPIRITUALITY BY THE LEVEL OF JOY IN SOMEONE’S LIFE?
If an overflow of JOY is the fruit of being ‘ingrafted’ into Jesus, then joy should be the way that we measure true spirituality. Many people who consider themselves very spiritual never smile, they have lost their sense of humor and they walk around with a pious, ‘I’m so spiritual’ face.
We need to renew our minds when it comes to true spirituality… if FULLNESS of joy is poured out in the presence of JESUS, and if being deeply connected to Jesus and His love produces an abundant overflow of joy, then a person’s joy level should be the true measuring stick of deep, powerful spirituality… not only ‘heart joy’ but, expressive outward joy!
IF THERE WAS AN IMAGE OF THE AVERAGE EXPRESSION OF YOUR FACE OVER 24 HOURS… HOW SPIRITUAL WOULD YOU RATE YOURSELF?
Most of us are way too serious and the joy levels of most believers are way too low… it is definitely not a level of joy and gladness that is a full measure, complete and overflowing.
HOW DO I INCREASE MY JOY LEVELS?
1. PRESS INTO JESUS AND HIS WORD AND RECEIVE HIS JOY IMPARTATION.
When you spend time worshipping, praying, or time in the Word, do you have faith to receive more joy in your life? As you worship Jesus, as you spend time with Him, and as you meditate upon His Word, expect to receive greater levels of joy. Use your faith and confess… “as I spend time with You Jesus, as I spend time basking in your love, I believe that I receive what You have promised… an overflowing, full measure of JOY… I receive it now!”
2. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BAPTIZE YOU INTO JOY…
Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Jesus is joy personified, so being emersed, or baptized into Him is being baptized into JOY. Ask the Holy Spirit to immerse you into holy, anointed joy until it overflows!
3. LIGHTEN UP…
Work on your sense of humor… laugh at challenging things… be cheerful, by faith! Smile and laugh by faith! Work on maintaining a cheerful countenance – if you are joyful and you know it, tell your face
4. DO FUN THINGS…
Watch and listen to funny things… get out… go swimming… throw a Frisbee.
WHY IS JOY SO IMPORTANT IN A BELIEVER’S LIFE?
NUMBER ONE… JOY IS FILLED WITH HEALING POWER…
Proverbs 17:22 (TPT) says, “A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.”
Joy is anointed, Isaiah 61:3 calls joy, ‘the oil of joy’, or, ‘the anointing of joy’… joy is filled with anointing that heals and brings divine health!
NUMBER TWO… JOY IMPARTS STRENGTH AND POWER…
Nehemiah 8:10 says, “Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The joy of the Lord is holy… the joy of the Lord imparts strength and power. Believers without joy are weak believers… joyful believers are anointed, powerful miracle workers… unshakable, steady, consistent and strong.
NUMBER THREE… JOY IS THE BUCKET THAT DRAWS WATER FROM THE WELLS OF SALVATION.
Isaiah 12:3 says, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
As I said before, joy is the highest level of faith… faith receives what the Lord gives… faith is a vehicle that transports what we have been given from the heavenly realm to where we live… faith brings what God has promised into manifestation… Joy is the highest level of faith, therefore, “with JOY you will draw water from the wells of salvation”.
JOY RECEIVES EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU!
Family, let me encourage you to use your faith to increase your joy levels, in Jesus Name!
CONFESSION
“Jesus is joy personified.
Jesus, I receive Your Joy anointing now.
Jesus, You show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Jesus, may Your joy and delight be in me, so that my joy and gladness may be of full measure, and complete and overflowing.
I receive fullness of joy, the highest level of faith.
At trials and tribulation, I shall laugh, in Jesus Name!
With Joy I draw out health, strength, prosperity, peace of mind and everything that I need for life and godliness, in Jesus Name!
Ha-ha, hee-hee, ho-ho”
In His amazing love, Nick
