Let’s Talk About Joy: The Purpose of Joy: To Protect
Another purpose or function of the fruit of joy is to protect against oppression by breaking the chains upon the believer’s neck, as we saw earlier in Isaiah 52:2. We will come against problems in our lives, and we will have those who try to oppress us, but we are told in James 1:2-4 (AMP), “Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.”
There’s that “wanting nothing” again that we just talked about, but what I want you to see here is that ‘the testing of your faith produces endurance,’ and endurance is patience, and patience will cause us to be perfect and entire. This will prevent us from becoming oppressed.Patience is a fruit of the spirit that we will explore later too!
Let’s look at an example of oppression and see how joy played a part in overcoming it. We know from the Old Testament that the children of Israel were enslaved in Egypt. And that they were oppressed, held in bondage. God did not want them to be oppressed, for he had told Abraham that they would be a mighty people. God brought them out of Egypt, lead by Moses, as we read in Psalm 105:37-43 (NIV), “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them. He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. The people asked, and He brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river. For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant. And He brought forth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness.”
Joy broke forth, and the people of Israel were freed from their oppressors! Just as in Acts 16 when Paul and Silas were in the prison – joy broke forth and they were freed! Wouldn’t you like to be freed today from the bondage of your oppressors?! Wouldn’t you like that kind of protection!? Begin to CHOOSE to lose those chains as you make a CHOICE to REJOICE!
Now that we know some of the marvelous advantages and benefits of the fruit of joy, let’s explore how we can cultivate this fruit and cause it to grow and produce in our lives!