Why does the
Christian seem to have a
different kind of happiness than
others? Conversion does not alter
his physical body, the color of
his eyes, or the shape of his
nose. His financial standing is
not changed. Yet, his attitudes,
interests, and desires are
different. He has a new way of
life and a new kind of joy. There
is no dictionary definition for
this kind of joy. Kaleidoscopic,
with many facets, it simply has
to be experienced to be
appreciated. When David portrayed
Christ, he said, “God …
hath anointed thee with the oil
of gladness above thy
fellows.” Psalm 45:7.
Everyone who accepts Christ
becomes anointed with the same
“oil of gladness.”
A contagion of joy
surrounds true Christians! After
Pentecost, wherever the disciples
carried the message of redeeming
love, irrepressible joy sprang
up. The Spirit of God so filled
the disciples that they actually
rejoiced that they should be
found worthy of suffering for
Christ’s sake. (Acts 5:41.)
In this, they resembled their
Master “who for the joy that
was set before him endured the
cross.” (Hebrews 12:2.) For
the encouragement of the church
of the church to the end of time
Peter wrote, “If ye be
reproached for the name of
Christ, happy are ye; for the
spirit of glory and of God
resteth upon you.” 1 Peter
4:14.
The fifth book in
the New Testament called the Acts
of the Apostles could well have
been called the Book of Joy, for
as the disciples preached Christ
in the power of the Spirit, they
filled hearts and homes and whole
cities with heavenly joy. When
Philip preached Christ in
Samaria, the Sacred Record says,
“there was great joy in that
city.” (Acts 8:8.) Moreover,
speaking of the Gentile converts
who took their stand in Antioch
of Pisidia, the Bible says,
“The disciples were filled
with joy, and with the Holy
Ghost.” Acts 13:52. Joy
invariably accompanies the
operations of the Holy Ghost.
In times like
these when so much feuding and
fighting divides homes and
neighborhoods, churches and
nations, we need the fresh winds
of the Holy Spirit to breathe
upon us heavenly joy. If we have
the Holy Spirit, then we will
count trials and temptations for
Christ’s sake a joy! (James
1:2.) In this twilight hour of
earth’s history that
precedes Christ’s actual
coming in the clouds of glory, we
need a new revelation of the joy
that filled and overflowed the
heart of Christ, the happiest Man
that ever lived.
Paul described
God’s kingdom as
“righteousness, and peace,
and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
(Romans 14:17.) There must be joy
where God says there is joy.
Moreover, God says there is joy
in the Holy Ghost. How do we
receive this joy? Paul said,
“Now the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in
hope, through the power of the
Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13.
How do we get “all
joy”? By believing.
What is the source of “all
joy”? “The power of the
Holy Ghost.” The presence of
the Holy Spirit in the soul
brings health-giving, life-giving
joy.
Can the mentally
ill and the emotionally disturbed
experience all joy and peace?
Indeed, God specializes in what
man calls hard cases and
impossible situations! Is there
hope for the irritable and
nervous? Of course. For the
gambler and alcoholic? Surely!
For the philanderer and the
adulteress? Yes!
God wants His
children to be happy. Paul’s
admonition in Philippians 4:4
speaks to every Christian:
“Rejoice in the Lord always:
and again I say, Rejoice.”
We may find the same happiness
Jesus had just where He found it.
Jesus “rejoiced in the Holy
Spirit.” (Luke 10:21,
R.S.V.) Weymouth translates,
“Jesus was filled by the
Holy Spirit with rapturous
joy.”
“Joy
unspeakable and full of
glory” (1 Peter 1:8) awaits
you if you open your heart wide
to the Holy Spirit. Begin today
to obey the inner promptings of
the Spirit by doing those things
you know the spirit would have
you to do. You will find joy in
reading your Bible, in prayer, in
telling someone else about your
faith in Jesus. You may find
inner satisfaction in being kind,
thoughtful, and considerate; in
giving help to the needy,
encouragement to the downhearted,
and love to the lonely.
