3 qualities of the joy of the Holy Ghost

by Bibi Babatunde-Ikotun

Hi everyone, welcome back to my blog. I trust you're all doing really well. Today's topic was inspired by the teaching of a good friend, I learned a lot and decided to share with everyone today. It will be a short sweet read and I hope that it edifies you no matter the situation you are going through. God is mindful of you. 

So joy. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, it was poured into our Spirit at the point of salvation. We may not feel joyful all the time but the joy of the Lord remains our strength. 

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

The Greek word for joy in the above verse translates to gladness and delight.  This is straight forward and very relatable to unbelievers. A "feeling" of gladness and delight based on the situation. However, our joy as believers is different. Our joy is established in our salvation. We may not "feel" joyful and that's because the joy of the Holy Ghost is more than a feeling. It is a state of being or atmosphere. 

Let's talk about some attributes of this joy.

3 qualities of the joy of the Holy Ghost

1.) It is tamper-proof; Nothing that happens around us can take it away. The joy of the Holy Ghost doesn't fade away or respond to change, it doesn't come and go. It is constant because the Holy Spirit lives constantly in the believer. 

John 16:22  (NIV) So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

2.) It is not subject to external circumstances; This joy is constantly there. The joy of the Lord is in you at all times, even in pain and trials that joy is available. If you know this, it impacts the way you see life. Because you are experiencing a lack or loss of a loved one doesn't mean the joy of God leaves you. Have you seen some believers in mourning? They mourn but the joy of God still radiates from them, this is how you know this joy is not ordinary. In good times and bad times, the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

3.) It's voice-activated; Whenever you want to be joyful or be rejoicing, it is always there. How do you bring it out of you? You sing and make melody in your heart to God. Shifting your focus from life circumstances to your reality in Christ gives you joy. The fact that you're eternally saved, makes every other problem minuscule. 

Ephesians 5:19 (NIV) speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,"

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV) Rejoice always,

Quick story;

One day, I woke up in a depressed mood. There was a spirit of heaviness roaming around my space and I didn't know how to go about it. I remembered that I have the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is love as said in Romans 5:5. And the love of God is what brings the remaining 8 fruit of the spirit. I started to sing and speak in other tongues till I could feel the joy of the Holy Spirit bubbling up in me. 

I didn't choose to wallow in sadness like the enemy had initially planned for me. I just had to reach into the joy of the lord that was deposited deep in my soul.

What is it that you're going through?

What is stopping you from reaching deep into your soul with songs, rejoicing, and speaking in tongues? Remember, you are full of the Holy Spirit as a believer hence you have the joy of the Lord in you. Don't let the enemy win by giving you emotions that isn't yours, you're full of joy and you impact every space you find yourself with the joy of the Lord.

Remember, joy isn't about happiness even though happiness is one of the emotional expressions of joy. Some happy people don't have joy and some joyful people aren't happy. Joy is a state of being that can be expressed through happiness. 

Let me end with this verse that I love so much:

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

This verse is the yardstick for the kind of things you're allowed to dwell on as a believer. If it is not true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy, please remove it from your mind!

The joy of the Lord is your strength always and forever.

With love,

Bibi

Check out my latest video on how to start a prayer journal. If you don't know what prayer journaling is, you're missing out. Check out this video to learn more.