FOUNDATIONS, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: LESSON #2

FOUNDATIONS, THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT: LESSON #2 Intro. We are going to continue our class on The Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 1. Last week we talked about the most important fruit we can possess; love. John 13:35 (NKJV) "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." a. We are to have God s kind of love, unconditional, selfsacrificing b. Not, I love you if or I love you for 2. We talked about how this love comes a. By a revelation of forgiveness b. God teaches us love; by experience and by example Tonight we re going to look at the second fruit of the Spirit I. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS Definition JOY, Greek Chara, cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness A. JOY IS PART OF GOD S Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV) Then he said to them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Luke 15:7 (NKJV) I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 1

Hebrews 1:9 (NKJV) You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions. This verse is referring to Jesus Christ; anointed with the oil of gladness 1. The Bible says God is a a. This is probably not the first image that comes to mind as someone thinks of God on the throne; smiling and laughing Quote, A.W. Tozer, What comes to mind when we think of God is the most important thing about us. b. There s a reason we like to smile and laugh c. We are created in the image of God and He likes to smile and laugh 2. Christian means a. Heb. 1:9 says Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness above His fellows b. Jesus was more glad than anyone around Him c. God is a glad and cheerful God B. JOY IS ONE OF THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT WE MUST HAVE IF WE ARE GOING TO BE 1. Joy should be one of the most prominent attributes of our a. This is the kind of church we are and should contend to be b. To be Christ-like, joy has to be a part of our life C. THE OF GOD S JOY We need to know where God finds His joy in order to understand how to receive more Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 2

Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV) The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. 1. God s joy is in a. In other words, God s joy is in you! Psalm 149:4 (NKJV) For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; he will beautify the humble with salvation. b. One of the most amazing things about God is that He can find joy in us c. He s not just our God, He s our Father d. As a Father, He finds His joy in His children II. HOW JOY A. OUR JOY COMES FROM KNOWING We read Psalm 149:4 earlier but it is followed by something interesting in verse 5 Psalm 149:4-5 (NKJV) 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; he will beautify the humble with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. The result of us knowing that God takes pleasure in His people is for us to be joyful 1. Understanding that God s joy comes from us enables us to a. The reason some Christians don t enjoy their relationship with God more is their inability to understand they are the source of God s joy b. Because of this, their relationship may be based on fear rather than a quiet sense of joy and peace Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 3

Psalm 37:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. c. The only way we can delight ourselves in Him is if we trust Him d. We need to develop a sense of trust that He likes us and we are His joy (God doesn t just tolerate us) B. JOY COMES THROUGH Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV) 1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." This is speaking prophetically of Jesus The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and one of the results of that was, the oil of joy John 7:37-39 (NKJV) 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 1. The Holy Spirit is the Romans 14:17 (NKJV) for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 4

2. Joy is a fruit or of the Spirit being active in our lives as believers Acts 2:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:13-15 (NKJV) 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 "For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. a. The evidence of the Spirit in these believers lives was more than speaking in other tongues b. It made them appear like happy drunks C. JOY COMES THROUGH 1. It is not determined by a. The following happened to Paul and Silas Acts 16:22-26 (NKJV) 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. a. Imagine how deeply this event would shake Paul and Silas Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 5

b. They were sure that preaching in Philippi was God s will; they had seen a vision telling them to go c. Then they are beaten and put in prison d. Beyond the physical, think how this must have shaken their faith and confidence They probably didn t feel like praising God At midnight they sang and prayed anyway The spirit of joy and power was released 2. We joy with our mouths Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, a. Words carry spiritual power ex. Negativity, complaining, arguing, and words of unbelief, all carry spiritual power. We can feel a spiritual presence with these words. b. The same is true with praise and worship; a spiritual presence is established c. It can change the atmosphere of how we feel ex. When we feel sad, down, pressured, mad, irritated, (in other words those things are opposite of joy) as we begin to praise and give thanks it can lift that negative spiritual presence off. Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV) To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." ex. Sometimes we can not only change the atmosphere around us by praise and thanksgiving but even our circumstances. When Paul and Silas prayed and sang, prison doors flew open. Ephesians 5:18-20 (NKJV) 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 6

20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, d. Be filled with the Spirit, how? e. speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord There s something we can do about the negative emotions and feelings we have 3. We have to be careful about hearing things so often that we become a. This is the reason Jesus would say, he who has ears to hear let him hear. b. This is one of those truths we need to hear again Praise is spiritual power! Joy is released through praise 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NKJV) 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever." 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. Psalm 149:5-9 (NKJV) 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment this honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord! Joy is released through praise Praise is more than gratitude power is released in the spirit and upsets the strategies the enemy has against us Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 7

For joy to be released we have to go to the source, the Holy Spirit D. JOY COMES WHEN WE WITH GOD Hebrews 1:9 (NKJV) You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. 1. Joy comes through a. Living the Christian life releases real joy b. Everything else is a cheap counterfeit ex. Drinking, drugs, immorality, etc. Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV) A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. PRAYER AND CONFESSION: Father, thank You for being a God of joy and I that I am a part of Your joy. You take joy in me. I believe that. Because of this, I can have joy in You. You are the source of my joy. Holy Spirit, fill me with Your joy. I will increase joy through praise and worship. Lord I ally myself with You. I will love what You love, and hate what You hate. I am anointed with the oil of joy, in Jesus name. FILL IN THE BLANKS FROM LESSON #2 I. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS (JOY) A. JOY IS PART OF GOD S (NATURE AND CHARACTER) 1. The Bible says God is a (glad God) 2. Christian means ( Christ-like ) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 8

B. JOY IS ONE OF THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT WE MUST HAVE IF WE ARE GOING TO BE (LIKE GOD) 1. Joy should be one of the most prominent attributes of our (church) C. THE (SOURCE) OF GOD S JOY 1. God s joy is in (His people) II. HOW JOY (COMES) A. OUR JOY COMES FROM KNOWING (WE ARE GOD S JOY) 1. Understanding that God s joy comes from us enables us to (enjoy Him) B. JOY COMES THROUGH (THE HOLY SPIRIT) 1. The Holy Spirit is the (Spirit of joy) 2. Joy is a fruit or (evidence) of the Spirit being active in our lives as believers C. JOY COMES THROUGH (PRAISE AND WORSHIP) 1. It is not determined by ( happenings or circumstances) 2. We (release) joy with our mouths 3. We have to be careful about hearing things so often that we become (immune to the message) D. JOY COMES WHEN WE (ALLY OURSELVES) WITH GOD 1. Joy comes through (righteousness) Praise Chapel 419 Harrison St. Kingman, AZ 86401 (928) 753-1909 Alex Wilson, Pastor 9