Focus: Joy Of Faith

Text: Phil.1:25

"And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and JOY OF FAITH."

Just imagine a joyless life! Joy is a scarce commodity in the world. In fact, there is no supermarket on earth where joy is sold. Man is trying his best to be happy but happiness remains elusive.

The only community in the world capable of radiating joy is the Christian community, and the only individual that possesses or houses joy is the believer in Christ.

Tell me, who doesn't want joy in this world of suffering and sadness? We all desire to be in possession of sacred joy. Peter calls it "the unspeakable joy and full of glory" (1Pet.1:8). We live in a godless, faithless, hopeless, loveless, lifeless, powerless, and joyless world where no eternal meaning exists, but in Christ Jesus Christians exude and radiate joy, regardless of what the circumstances say. Joy is the exclusive preserve of Christ's church on earth, and of every individual who has encountered Jesus Christ as His own supreme Lord and the Savior. Our faith in Christ Jesus produces joy. Paul calls it, "The joy of faith." The psalmist describes it as the "joy of salvation," and he calls God, "My exceeding joy" and "My chief joy."

Truly God is our source and supplier of joy.

The psalmist says, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore" (Ps.16:11). It is with joy that we draw water from the wells of salvation, and we gladly make "sacrifices of joy," and hear the "voice of joy" (Ps.27:6; 42:4). The psalmist prays, "Make me to HEAR joy and gladness" (Ps.51:8). He says again, "Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy" (Ps.43:4). Boundless joy is available and accessible to those who are born of the Spirit, for joy is described by Paul as a "fruit of the Spirit."

Let's begin now to let the Spirit saturate our hearts with the unspeakable joy of the Spirit, and let's spread joy all around us! Truly Jesus' joy is contagious. No one can hide joy, just like no one can hide cough. Draw your joy from the presence of God and go about sharing it to others!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter