The Substance of the Joy of the Lord
While you'll hear people talk about having "the joy of the Lord," there's often a lot of confusion about what it actually is and how it functions differently than having natural joy.
Just like the other fruits of the Spirit, joy is one of those things that you'll hear mentioned amongst Believers in Jesus Christ, but many people often mistake the joy that you can have in the natural realm with what the joy of the Lord actually is in substance.
The fruit of the Spirit (much like the gifts of the Spirit) only comes by the Holy Spirit's ability and agency, as they are supernatural in their ability. Regular joy does not operate the same way as the joy of the Lord, just as natural peace is different than the peace of God.
"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 ESV)
How the Joy of the Lord Operates
You can have joy in the natural realm, when everything is going exactly the way that you want it to, but the joy of the Lord operates totally opposite of its natural counterpart, for it comes upon your life when things aren't going right. (Photo via Unsplash)
"But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone's shackles were unfastened." (Acts 16:25–26 AMPC)
While Paul and Silas were in the dungeon (the deepest depths of the prison), fastened in chains and stocks, they were singing hymns to the Lord, for the joy of the Lord was upon them.
That joy didn't just change their moods as the other prisoners were listening; it shook the actual foundations of the dungeon itself, causing the most selective earthquake in the world's history. All of the prison cell doors flew open and all of their shackles fell off!
The deepest and darkest places that the enemy can throw you into are where the joy of the Lord will come upon you. It'll shift the atmospheres of your situations and cause those chains of the enemy to completely fall off of your life!
Joy Is a Bondage Breaker
Real joy from Jesus Christ is a bondage breaker; it is a captive releaser; it is an atmosphere changer! It'll come upon you when natural joy is standing far away from your life, but it'll cause the Lord to appear with you in whatever fire someone decides to throw you into.
God's joy sends depression and suicide packing! It destroys heavy yokes entirely, and it even becomes a catalyst for healings and miracles.
When I was in Arkansas a few years ago, a woman approached me in the prayer line, bound up by demonic oppression. As she placed her depression into the hands of Jesus Christ, she began wailing and sobbing uncontrollably, going straight to the floor for about seven minutes. (Photo via Unsplash)
After that time frame was up, her sobbing transformed into the most incredible laughter and joy that I have ever heard in my life, as the Holy Spirit came with the joy of the Lord, completely releasing her from the chains of that oppression.
If you're underneath the oppression of the enemy today, and you feel chained up by your circumstances, fear, and opposition from the enemy, the Holy Spirit can bring His joy upon your life to not only shift your atmosphere, but to also set you free from those things.
Ask the Lord for His joy, His peace, and His love coming from the Holy Spirit to fill your life and overflow your circumstances. It'll throw the enemy into utter confusion and destroy the yokes holding you back!
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Daniel Pontious
Every Believers Destiny
Email:Â Daniel.pontious@yahoo.com
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