Focus: Unalloyed Joy

Text: Ps.16:11

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

This is the season of unalloyed joy. As a matter of fact, joy is the distinctive and distinguishing feature of a Christian. We are known for joy - joy so pure, so true, so unadulterated, so sweet, so strong, and so unique. It is joy that is not mixed with anything else to make it good. It is joy that is good in itself because of its source. Do you know the source of joy? Joy originates from the place of God's presence. In the presence of God there is fullness of joy. We are destined to carry and spread divine joy everywhere we go. O yes, we bring joy with us from the presence of God!

Joy originates from the Spirit of God. Paul tells us that the kingdom of God is "joy in the Holy Spirit." In 1Thes.1:6, Paul tells us about "the joy of the Holy Spirit." In fact, the Holy Spirit produces in us the fruit of joy. Joy is the Spirit's crop, and we harvest and manifest it. Also, Paul tells us about "the joy of faith." The Christian Faith is a joyful religion. Joy is an inward reality, and we exude it everywhere we go and everywhere we are.

Also, the word of God prompts joy in our hearts. Jeremiah declares, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts" (Jer.15:16). God's word is good news; it fills our hearts with joy. 

Don't forget that the Spirit of God is the original author of Scripture. The word of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit, and it is the Spirit's sword.

Understand also that Christ is more than enough reason for joy. Matthew says, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy" (Mt.2:10). Just seeing the star of Jesus was enough to cause their joy to overflow. What an exceeding great joy! God is our source of joy. He is indeed our joy, for the psalmist declares, "Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto GOD MY EXCEEDING JOY: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God" (Ps.43:4). 

God is our exceeding joy. This joy can also be triggered by good news. The Word says, "And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, WITH JOY, and with instruments of musick" (1Sam.18:6). God makes us joyful. Ezra says, "And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with JOY: for the LORD HAD MADE THEM JOYFUL…" (Ezr.6:22). God is the maker and producer of joy. Nehemiah says, "Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God HAD MADE THEM REJOICE WITH GREAT JOY…" (Neh.12:43).

God not only produces joy; He also makes us the channels for spreading His joy.

Job said, "The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's HEART TO SING FOR JOY" (Jb.29:13). God's people are merchants of joy. Making hearts to sing is our God-given job. God's unalloyed joy inspires to make sacrifices to God. The psalmist says, "And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle SACRIFICES OF JOY; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD" (Ps.27:6). You know, joy has a unique voice and speaks joyful words. The psalmist speaks of the "voice of joy," and he says, "Make me to HEAR JOY and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice" (Ps.42:4; 51:8). Joy speaks and we hear.

We are constantly faced with situations that tend to steal our joy, but the psalmist says that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Ps.30:5). Our joy always returns to us and abounds in us. We never lose our joy forever. What Jesus Christ has given us is eternal joy. Hear me, missing joy can be restored. David prays, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit" (Ps.51:12).

The church is designed to be the home of joy.

The psalmist says, "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King" (Ps.48:2). The King of kings in our midst means so much joy to us. The church is the city of joy. The whole world rejoices because of the church. Jeremiah says, "Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?" (Lam.2:15). It is a great tragedy if or when the church loses her taste, radiance and fragrance of joy. We are filled with joy to emit it. The people of the world need to smell the fragrance of our joy. 

Jeremiah testifies that "for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy" (Jer.48:27). Let people leap for joy, talking about the church or talking about you. Jeremiah calls Zion, "The city of my joy" (Jer.49:25). Isaiah calls it, "The joyous city" (Isa.32:13). God says of us, "I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations" (Isa.60:15). He says again, "For, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy" (Isa.65:18). 

As God's people, we are a joy to every one around us. Isaiah says, "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isa.35:10). The church carries and conveys God's joy to the people of the world. The psalmist says, "If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my CHIEF JOY" (Ps.137:6). Nothing makes us happier than the church of Jesus Christ.

Whatever the situation we joyfully labor for the name of our God.

The psalmist says, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" (Ps.126:5). Regardless of what life hands us, Habakkuk says, "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Hab.3:18). Yes, we rejoice even in bad times. Jesus Christ says to us, "These things have I spoken unto you, that MY JOY might remain IN you, and that YOUR JOY might be FULL" (Jh.15:11). In John's Gospel the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of His joy and the disciples' joy. He says, "My joy… Your joy…" Jesus' joy becomes ours. We possess in us the joy of Jesus. He also speaks of our joy being full. 

Paul talks about the "abundance of their joy" (2Cor.8:2). Peter talks about "joy unspeakable and full of glory," and "exceeding joy" (1Pet.1:8; 4:13). That is surpassing and unspeakable joy. Paul prays, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…" (Rom.15:13).

Jude tells us about our eternal bliss. His doxology says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jud.1:24). When we are finally with God in eternity, unalloyed joy will continue to be our experience. Let's rejoice and exude Jesus' joy in this season of the year!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter