I came to this study the spirit of joy thinking that in the epistles of Paul, he seems to rejoice the most and is filled with the highest gladness when someone is saved and the good news is spread to non believers for the first time. I was convinced the greatest rejoice was what we see in The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7) when the lost is found.  Spreading the good news and salvation delivers the best joy. Then I went deeper, and began searching.

I found some verses that support the hypothesis that I just mentioned. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth,” (3 John 1:4). Paul rejoiced that the good news continued to spread: “Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice,” (Philippians 1:12-18).

Then the Word revealed to me that rejoice seems coupled to its counterpoint emotions. If joy is happy, then what is sadness? Jesus Christ was a man of sorrows — and yet he was also a man of joy.

“A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,” (Ecclesiastes 3:4).  “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep,” (Romans 12:15). “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy,” (John 16:20).

The Spirit of Joy turns out to be God. Joy in my spirit is a gift from God. “…with the joy given by the Holy Spirit,” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete,” (John 15:11).

In this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. God is joy. Gladness and the joy of the Lord (Acts 2:46; 13:52), and “joy in the Holy Spirit” is a distinguishing mark of the kingdom of God (Romans 14:17). “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” (Nehemiah 8:10). “He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy,” (Zephaniah 3:17). Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). “You believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,” (1 Peter 1:8).

God’s Joy in Us, John Piper says, “When we experience the joy of the Holy Spirit, we taste the joy that is at the core of ultimate reality.”

Jesus says, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. Rejoice and be glad when reviled and persecuted and slandered and they utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account,” (Matthew 5:11-12). For our faithfulness, on His account, we have joy.
The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7 and Matthew 18:10-14) “more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.”
“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy,” (Psalm 45:7).

Our greatest joy is God.

Isaiah 35:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 61:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Prayer: God, all the glory is yours. At a time such as this, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude and awe. O Lord, you are faithful to show us the way. Thank you for the Joy. We reflect on the powerful and matchless name of Jesus. Thank You for sending Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, to save us from our sins. May His selfless act inspire us to live lives of gratitude and purpose. We walk in the joy and love that you provide. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.