Stand Firm in Your Freedom

The Fruit of the Spirit of Joy, Part 2

Galatians 5:22-23

2. The Source of Joy

a. God is the source of joy.

1) Joy is an attribute of God.

2) God expresses joy. (Psalm 104:31; Zephaniah 3:17)

b. Our joy comes from God through the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52; Romans 14:17)

1) The joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

2) Complete joy comes from complete obedience. (John 15:9-11)

3) Joy comes through trusting in God. (Romans 15:13)

4) Faith fills us with an inexpressible joy. (1 Peter 1:8-9)

5) Joy is the result of rejoicing.

3. The Expressions of Joy

a. We are commanded to rejoice in the Lord. (Psalm 32:11; Philippians 4:4)

b. Even inanimate nature is poetically called upon to rejoice in God. (Psalm 96:11-12; 98:4-9)

c. Some Hebrew words for “joy”:

1) Ranan – to sing for joy (Psalm 33:1; 67:4)

2) Alats – to jump for joy (Psalm 5:11; 68:3)

3) Teruw` ah – to shout for joy or raise a battle-cry (Psalm 27:6; 33:3)

4) Giyl – to spin around or dance for joy (Psalm 21:1; 31:7)