Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

THE FRUIT OF JOY

This entry was posted on 10-30-2008 and is filed under uncategorized.

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11 ESV).

Again our Lord reminds us of the cleansing power of His word. Back in verse 3 He declared to His disciples, "Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you." The Word of God is the pruning knife of the Gardener. The Living Christ desires that His Living Word (His teachings) abide in us (v. 7). And what is the result? More fruit! "That MY JOY may be in you...that YOUR JOY may be full."

Are you amazed that when Paul writes about "the fruit of the Spirit" in Gal. 5:22-23, he follows the order set down by Jesus in John 15? Jesus said that we are to "bear much fruit" (v. 8). He then speaks of "love" and "joy." Paul says that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, et al. Jesus wants His joy to be in us so that our joy may be rich and full. When we are in Christ, connected to the Vine, His joy will flow into our lives and we will reflect His life to others. "Joy" is certainly not the identifying mark of a disciple of Karl Marx or Charles Darwin, but it is in the spiritual DNA of every true disciple of Jesus Christ! Charles Wesley said, "Sour godliness is the devil's religion." What a terrible testimony a sour, joyless life is! Can you say with John the Baptist, "That joy is mine, and it is now complete" (John 3:29)? He declared that the bride (the church) is "full of joy" when she hears the voice of the bridegroom (Christ). Joy will get you through when nothing else can. Inner joy is what sustained suffering saints even when they were burned at the stake or torn to pieces by lions in the amphitheater. Joy comes from Jesus, the True and Living Vine. We will be fruit-bearing branches bursting with "joy unspeakable and full glory" when His joy flows into our hearts.

Hymn: "Joy floods my soul for Jesus has saved me, freed me from sin that long had enslaved me, His precious blood He gave to redeem, now I belong to Him. Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, not for the years of time alone, but for eternity" (Norman J. Clayton)