The last blog post detailed the fruit of the spirit versus the working of the flesh. We will now take dive into each fruit produced by the Holy Spirit and how we can ensure we can live from it each day. "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22 "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" Galatians 5:22 From the scriptures above we can clearly see that joy is a derivative of the Lord. Instead of focusing prayers on "Lord, fill me with joy", our focus should be "Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit". This is not to say joy cannot be obtained by specifically praying for it however focusing on the root of joy may yield benefits that the fruit doesn’t have. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13 Praying solely for a fruit may get you the fruit temporarily but once consumed it is gone. When we pray for the root of joy which is the Holy Spirit we can ensure that the fruit of joy will continuously produce in our lives. Asking for joy in His name as noted in John 16:14 sends a signal to Holy Spirit to begin activating. It is at that time we choose to be led by Holy Spirit or not. Even in times of trial and tribulation we can rest assure that joy still radiates from the inside out when we are yielded to the Spirit. "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4 The flesh can only do this for so long as it doesn’t have the eternal tools needed to produce consistent joy. Instead it works in overdrive to do something it was never intended to do becoming drained and lifeless. How can we have consistent joy even during hard times? It’s the power and production of the Holy Spirit that gives us hope to keep believing and pressing forward. Position yourself to be connected to the true vine and allow the Holy Spirit to do what it came here to do.
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:16-18
Fellowship Question Have you ever been in a place where your flesh was working overtime to obtain something that could only be produced by the Lord?
How did you overcome and yield yourself to the Holy Spirit?
