“And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).
Jesus has spoken the Word to you so that His joy would be fulfilled in you. God’s will for you is for you to be filled with joy. Classical religion has a way of putting a face on God that appears sad, bad, and mad.
I can remember that when I grew up, you could go to some places in the church, and if anybody said hallelujah, the whole church turned around. You had better not have made an expression of joy in a church. They think God is all solemn.
Man, joy comes from God! God is the author of laughter. He is the author of excitement. When the people of God come together, if there is any place where there should be expressions of joy, it is in the house of God.
We ought to be people of joy. We ought to be people of excitement. We ought to be people that have delight because we know that victory is ours despite what the circumstances may say.
God’s desire is for you to be like a tree that is planted. You have deep roots, and despite whatever winds blow up top, the roots of joy, the roots of righteousness, the roots that we find in the Word of God are so deep. Therefore, whatever is happening in your life won’t move you a bit.
You should be filled with joy because you are saved, you have been delivered, you have been set free. That is a reason to stop right now and give God praise.
Be filled with joy at all times, not just when you are in church. Joy ought to show even on the job. People ought to know that you must be one of those Jesus-people because you are filled with joy all the time. They may call you names, but don’t let them be able to deny that you are filled with joy. It is a fruit of the Spirit.
Study References: Isaiah 61:1-10; Psalm 35:27
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).