“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. As you allow the Spirit of God to do a work in your heart and life, the natural result will be that the fruit of the Spirit is manifested through you. If you are full of God, you will be full of joy.
1 Chronicles 15:16 (NKJ)
16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy
When we praise God, we should do so with joy. Joy has a voice. If you are full of joy it will be evident to others around you. They will see joy on you countenance and they will hear joy in your voice and in your song of praise.
1 Chronicles 29:9-10 (NKJ)
9 Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly. 10 Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: “Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.
1 Chronicles 29:16-17 (NKJ)
16 “O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. 17 “I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.
It is right and scriptural to give willing and joyful offerings to God.
Isaiah 12:1-6 (NKJ)
1 And in that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; he also has become my salvation.'” 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted. 5 Sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”
Verse 3 says that with joy we draw forth water from the wells of salvation. In other words, you could say that joy is the bucket we use to draw forth the salvation that God has provided for us. The Hebrew word translated here as “salvation” means deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health, help (-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), and welfare. God has already handed salvation to us on a platter. It is up to us to open our hearts to receive it. Joy is a key to receiving from God that which we need.
True joy is not manipulated by our circumstances like happiness (which is dependent upon positive circumstances). Even in the midst of a storm, joy is there, strongly anchoring us to the Word of God. We are instructed by God to cast all of our cares upon Him. There is a rest and a joy for us as we allow Him to carry our burdens. When your faith is working for you, you rest in joy, knowing that God is bringing it to pass. Why worry when God is in control!
Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)
17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
The Lord rejoices over you. He loves you with an immense, incredible, everlasting love that cannot be stopped. He will never stop loving you. All you need is His love. In His love is every answer to every question you could ever have. He loves you so much that He sings joyfully over you. You can rejoice over the fact that He loves you and that He rejoices over you!