From the desk of Steve Shultz:
I don't think you could ever have too much JOY. In fact, I think most of us need much more of it! I'm glad Ivan Roman shares what joy means in his latest article. Read this word by Ivan and grab more joy for yourself and make sure to share this with your friends and loved ones.
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Joy
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Ivan Roman:
Got Joy?
Recently I woke up to a memory of my older brother, Israel, and I sitting at the dinner table and for no apparent reason when our eyes met we began to laugh uncontrollably. The memory brought tears to my eyes because I miss him. He has lived in California with his family and I haven't been able to see him for close to three years, but the memory also brought a warm feeling in my heart. I miss those days with my brother when we were younger and had all the time in the world to be together before our lives took different paths. The memory stayed with me and I began to realize that this memory was triggered by the Holy Spirit. As I meditated on what God was saying to me, these three Scriptures popped up in my head:
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
Psalm 2:4 He who sits in the heavens laughs...
Nehemiah 8:10 ...the joy of the Lord is your strength.
I realized that a lack of joy in our lives is the working of unbelief. When we have faith that Jesus will help us, guide us, and provide for us, the only thing left is to praise God and laugh in the face of adversity.
Regardless of whether we are in the greatest or most difficult times in our lives, the Lord invites us to sit down with Him, look in His eyes, and laugh together. Happiness is circumstantial, whereas joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and as such, will remain. Joy, along with Worship and the Word of God, are the greatest weapons of our warfare. It's time to fully live the life that Christ has purchased for us. What if one of the greatest tools of evangelism wasn't only what we said or how holy we appeared to be but how filled with joy we were?
1 Peter 1:8-9 Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy...
What Would Inexpressible, Glorious, Triumphant, Heavenly Joy Look Like?
I love the way my boys laugh when I tickle them; it's just like when my brother and I were younger, and not a care in the world could keep us down. There is no fear or worry on the earth that can stand in the face of a child's laugh. What more perfect way is there to describe the inexpressible joy that the Father has for us than this image of a child completely secure in his Father's love?
The Scripture tells us that in God's presence there is fullness of joy, and not only that but Jesus instructs us to ask that our joy may be made full. Some of us have become too busy doing the work of the Lord to take time to just enjoy Jesus; others are too consumed with worries to take the time to smile, let alone laugh, while others yet have never even heard that Jesus could be fun. God's desire is that the cups of our hearts overflow with love and joy as He pours His Spirit upon us. In the days ahead, I predict that one of the greatest weapons that God's people will need to lay ahold of is going to be the joy of the Lord.
Happiness is Different than Joy
Despite the circumstances we find ourselves in, joy resides within us as long as we are in Christ. Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit; like fruit in the natural it must be watered, but through the Holy Spirit it is always within reach. Let me illustrate an example of Believers having joy in the midst of difficulty.
Paul and Silas were thrown into prison for preaching the Gospel, and while they were imprisoned they sang praises and worship to God.
Acts 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
During pressure what is inside of us is revealed. Paul and Silas' hearts of gratitude couldn't be contained by prison walls. As they joyfully worshiped the Lord, the earth shook and the prison walls were opened. The response of joy in trials was freedom for them and those around them. The jailor and his family get saved and they greatly rejoice!
Acts 16:34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God – he and his whole household.
In this time of so much transition in our nation, people's circumstances may feel at times like prison walls. Joy will not only be the key to our own breakthrough, but will also impact those around us. Just as the jailer and his family were saved after experiencing the joy and freedom of Paul and Silas, those living in darkness will be drawn to those who emanate the atmosphere of Heaven.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ivan Roman
A Friend of God Ministries
Email: ivan@afriendofgod.org
About Ivan Roman: Ivan Roman has a passion to see the Body of Christ walk in intimate friendship with God. Ivan moves in a prophetic and healing anointing that flows out from a heart of love. He has traveled the nations seeing signs, wonders and miracles almost daily. After one year of traveling, Ivan attended Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry under the leadership of Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton. Ivan currently travels around North America and the nations; he also oversaw the Jesus Revolution ministry in Albany, Oregon that began in August of 2007. Ivan and his wife Erica have three children.
