The Second Fruit of The Holy Spirit – JOY!

The Second Fruit of The Holy Spirit – JOY!

From Deuteronomy to Jude there are 203 scriptures concerning Joy in the ESV, English Standard Version Bible. There are so many scriptures concerning Joy it would take months to talk about them all. As a servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I have been led to focus on the Joy in The Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy16:15 talks about feasting and celebrating God.
For seven days you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.

Under the law, the bible actually warned the Israelites about not having Joy.

Deuteronomy 28:47 Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things…

But, under Grace the bible further reveals what Heavenly Joy is about

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul was telling Jewish believers in Rome, feasting under the law had its place, and we should always serve the Lord our God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, and praise Him for the abundance of all things that He has blessed us with. However, Paul said there is a better way to receive and express joy. True Joy can only be obtained in Jesus Christ and the work of the Cross. Our foundation in Christ is the way we receive righteousness and peace. Through the blessing of our salvation in Jesus is the only way we can receive the Joy that is found in the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, Himself, tells us about such Joy
John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Jesus explained what this means:

Jesus said: I Am the True Vine
John 15:1-17 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior we become clean; we have received cleansing from ALL of our sins. We have been forgiven and stand before God in the righteousness of Christ. Because Jesus is Holy and Righteous, we are holy and righteous and bear this first fruit called the fruit of our salvation. Also, this blessing of our salvation allows us to fellowship with Jesus. This means we get to fellowship, hang out, with Him and talk to Him.

In the next verse Jesus actually tells us to fellowship with Him, to “Abide” in Him. This means to trust Him about and for everything.

4 Abide in me, and I will abide in you! As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Warning! Jesus is telling us that we have to abide in Him, worship Him, pray to Him, fellowship with Him, read the bible, listen to Him and do what He asks us to do. If we choose not to abide in Him, our behavior will cause us to fall away, wither, dry up, look like a prune or a raisin and become fruitless.

Tough Love: It’s our choice to Abide in Jesus. Our actions and choices dictate what happens in our lives. The Lord will not force you to Abide in Him. The Holy Spirit will encourage you, remind you, to spend time with Jesus. You have to make that choice for yourself. If you choose not to abide, spend time in prayer and the bible, you will dry up and be removed from the vine and …

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Jesus did not die on the cross for us to fall away and He does not want us to dry up, look like a prune, die on the vine and then get thrown into a fire to be purged. He died on the cross to give us a destiny, a future, to live very productive and fulfilling lives with great Joy. But you have to make that choice for yourself.

Choices: we can choose to abide in Jesus or choose not to. If we choose to abide this is what we can expect:

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

11 These things I have spoken to you, that My Joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

And don’t forget:

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Do you want the Joy of The Holy Spirit in your life? Abide!

Jesus gave His all, to give us a choice to find it all and what He loved the most; a loving Holy Father God and eternal life. If you don’t know Jesus has your personal Lord and Savior there is no better time than right now to invite Him into your life.

Jesus gave His all, to give us a choice to receive what He loves the most; a relationship with a loving Holy Father God and eternal life.

If you don’t know Jesus has your personal Lord and Savior there is no better time than right now to invite Him into your life.

A Call Unto Salvation:

Pray this simple but very profound pray with me.

Heavenly Father, In The Name Of Jesus, I want to get saved so I can go to heaven.

Please forgive my sins and Jesus please come into my heart and be my personal Lord and Savior.

Please Write my name in Your Book of Life.

Please fill my heart and life with The Holy Spirit to guide me through Your Word and empower me to live my life everyday for You.

Welcome to Body of Christ! You are saved and blessed with the favor of God! You are part of a family of over 2.4 billion brothers and sisters world wide.

Now that you’re saved, here’s what you need to do:

1) Tell someone “Jesus loves me and I’m going to heaven”. This is called confessing your faith unto salvation.

2) If you have a bible start reading The Gospel of John. It’s the fourth book in the New Testament.

If you don’t have a bible, click this link: http://www.biblegateway.com

In Gateway’s search section type in The Gospel of John (NASV) and read about how much Jesus loves you.

3) Find an awesome church, like an Assemblies Of God worship center or church that teaches the whole Bible.

Here’s one way to find a church: In your search browser type in Or Click this link: http://ag.org

In the middle bottom portion of the page click on the Find A Church ad. It will open up a spread sheet to help you locate a church in your area.

If you have problems let us know at es@edwardbiamonte.org and we’ll try to help you find a church.

4) When you find a church ask to be water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

BONUS: This prayer and blessing is for you:

Heavenly Father, in Jesus Name, I pray Your blessing to be upon every daughter and son who has given their life to Jesus by asking Him to be their personal Lord and Savior. Bless them Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit. Protect them from every evil in every dimension. Allow their new faith in Jesus to grow deep in rich wonderful soil watered daily by Your Holy Spirit and fed by Your Word. I pray they would become as “oaks of righteousness unto Your glory” through Jesus name I pray, Amen and Amen.

Numbers 6:24-26 I Pray God Bless you and Keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon you, and, be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace in Jesus’ name. Amen and Amen!

Rev. Edward Biamonte Stockl MA, ORD / Assemblies of God