The Fullness of Joy Requirements

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Have you ever been around someone who displays true joy? This kind of joy never seems to be deterred by circumstances—good or bad—and whenever you’re around them, you experience a contagious draw to what they carry. Joyous people are those whom we love to be around. Joy gives while complaining drains. Often, we confuse joy with being happy. Happiness and joy work hand in glove when joy is the dominant source; otherwise, we are dependent upon our circumstances for joy to abound, but that joy is not true joy. It is not the joy of the Lord. It is a counterfeit. What a blessing that our joy cannot be stolen away by circumstances as long as we guard it with intentional thankfulness.

Let joy be your continual feast (be joyous in every season of life). Make your life a prayer. And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 TPT

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you all.

Notice we are to (1) rejoice always, (2) pray without ceasing, and (3) IN everything give thanks…It did not say “for” all things; it says “in” all things be thankful. Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks create encounters of Holy Spirit to expand our capacity to receive more of Him, expand our fruitfulness, and live a life full of joy.

The joy that is not determined by circumstance but by the abiding presence of Jesus is described in John 15, a powerful chapter of empowerment if we take the time to read and understand what Jesus is saying. Like me, we like to jump to verse 11, “These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain IN you, and that YOUR joy may be full,” without considering the previous scriptures. What things is Jesus talking about?

3 Criteria for our Joy to remain full (verses 7-10)

• V7…”If you ABIDE IN ME and MY Words ABIDE IN YOU, you can ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”
  • Abiding IN Him is key. This is not just saying He is Lord or we follow Jesus. It is a determined position of placement where we are ATTACHED IN Him. Total surrender. From Jesus flows all the joy we will ever need.
  • Perhaps answers to our prayers are being delayed or hindered because He is requiring a closer abiding IN Him. IN Him is where total agreement is found, and we can pray the prayers Jesus is praying. Thus, we will always be in agreement with Heaven in our prayers.
• V8…”By this (abiding) My Father is glorified that YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT; (therefore from this condition) so you will be My disciples.”
  • Verses 1-6 speak to the importance of our fruitfulness…we cannot do anything apart from Him (apart from abiding IN Him); we are the branches that are pruned back to Jesus to create greater fruitfulness.
  • It is our fruitfulness—not our gifts—that is the greatest threat to darkness.
  • “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10)”. Remember IN all things give thanks. “Count it ALL joy when we have trials and tests (James 1:2).”

 Joy produces an atmosphere for the encounters of Heaven to invade the places where we are being tested.

• • Joy is a DNA reflection of a true disciple of Jesus. Joy is not a momentary experience but a living lifestyle of discipleship that draws all men to Him.
• V9…”As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; Abide IN MY LOVE.” (How do we do this?) V10…”If YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, you will abide IN My love, just as I have kept the Father’s commandments and abide IN His love.”

 Verse 11: “These things I have spoken to you that MY JOY may remain IN you, and that YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL.” What things?

•  Abide in Him, His Words in us
• Bear fruit and be a disciple
• Abide in His love by keeping His commandments…

Spoiler alert in closing: Verse 16…just in case we forget, Jesus says, “You did not choose Me, BUT I CHOSE YOU, and appointed you that you should GO and BEAR FRUIT, and THAT fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father IN My name, He may give you.”

We are chosen by Jesus to go and bear fruit. That fruit we bear must remain so that it unlocks the vault to answered prayer. We may not always know the entirety of God’s plan when we ask, but the fruitfulness of joy will constantly keep us attached to the Life Source of answered prayer, Jesus Christ. Be encouraged that although many of us have gone through a pruning (verse 1-2), it is the loving hand of God that is doing the cutting back. God prunes us all the way back to Jesus, the True Vine, and from that abiding relationship comes the growth of the Fruit of the Spirit within us. Truly, the joy of the Lord is our strength. Be strengthened today by abiding IN Him, not just near Him. IN HIM…