Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:8
The call of every believer in Jesus Christ is the same: to bear much fruit. The fruit we bear in the kingdom of God will cause us to be witnesses for Christ. If fruit is so important in the kingdom of God, then what is one of the key ingredients that will give us the ability to produce fruit? Joy. The book of Joel paints a picture of Israel in a very low state; the lack of fruit and harvest is an expression of Israel void of the favor and the blessing of God. This is how Joel 1:17 describes Israel’s condition: “The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered”. This verse gives us a a picture of an unfruitful season, but why were all these trees so withered? The next part of the verse gives us the answer: “because joy is withered away from the sons of men”. Joy plays a key role in the condition of our life.
Joy in the kingdom of God is not something that we conjure up; in the kingdom of God, our joy has a definite source. There are two very important sources of our joy. The first source of joy for every believer in the Lord Jesus is the voice of God: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:11). The primary source of our joy will always be the voice of our beloved bridegroom: “The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes…” (Song of Solomon 2:8). Let us make room in our lives to hear His voice. The second source of joy will be our prayers and the answers to our prayers: “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24). Do not restrict your joy by restricting what you ask the Lord; our joy will be sourced by the answers to our prayers. May it not be said of us, “ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2). In this season of your life, your joy is going to precede your harvest and “no one can rob you of that joy” (John 16:22).
Declaration: I am entering my season of joy and my harvest is at hand.
Scripture: a shout of joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).