The Joy of the Lord!

I remember going to Sunday School as a kid and singing a song called, “The Joy of the Lord”.

The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength

He gives me living water
And I thirst no more
He gives me living water
And I thirst no more
He gives me living water
And I thirst no more
The joy of the Lord is my strength

Through the years, I have heard many people talk about the Joy of the Lord. And I have asked a few people what is the joy of the Lord? And they give me an answer but for some reason it just did not sit with me well. So I begin to study the word of the Lord and I found that phrase.

“….for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

But it does not state what the joy of the Lord is. So I begin to back track and re-read the whole chapter. And I notice how that the how that the people asked the Priest Ezra to read to them the “book of the law of Moses”. (verse 1) Then Ezra reads the scriptures and gave prudence, insight, understanding to the reading of the word. Because of the reading, their hearts were touched and they begin to weep and cry. The priest had to tell them to stop grieving.

Then I was reminded of what Jesus said…

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

Take notice what Jesus said.. That “MY joy might remain in you” because of the “THINGS I have spoken unto you” What things? If you look in the begining of the chapter you will notice that he is talking about “Fruit”. But notice what he says in this verse..

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8

So in other words.. “The Father is glorified when you bear MUCH fruit which will be a sign that you are Jesus disciples. What is fruit? Fruit is what is produced after you plant seeds. When you plant seeds in others, it grows and produces fruit. The next scripture reminded me…

“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10

I was reminded by the Lord how I feel when I am teaching a Bible study to someone and their eye open to revelation of the word that I am sharing with them. And they see the word of God. That joy that overwelms my heart when that person begins to build a greater relationship with God. They begin to repent. And then revelation HIT me.. The joy of the Lord is when someone repents as all of heaven rejoices, and my strength is when I share the word and they see the revelation of the word. And That JOY becomes my joy and my strength.

So in other words, When I plant seeds of the word into others, They then repent of their sins, The angels in Heaven rejoices and that person begins to grow and produces fruit, IT IS the JOY of the Lord! PRAISE God for giving us Strength to fight the fight of faith!

Thank God for HIS JOY!

Are you being the Light?

Are you sharing God’s word with others?

Do you have strength?