Good morning,

Last week we looked at the fruit of the Spirit. In the past we have looked at love. Now I would like to tackle joy. Joy is used 59 times in the New Testament. It is defined as gladness. Since joy is a characteristic, it should show action. Today we will look at Affliction/Tribulation Joy.

Affliction/Tribulation Joy

2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

2 Corinthians 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

So what did we see? There is a correlation between affliction, tribulations, and joy.

• Exceeding joy/tribulation
• Great trial of affliction/abundance of their joy
• Much affliction/joy
• Chastening/fruit of righteousness

So the conclusion of the matter is summed up in 1 Peter 1:3-9:

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: ⁷ That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: ⁸ Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: ⁹ Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

This is what our joy should be.

NOTE: We are working on getting the Daily Devotionals sent to your email addresses. In the meantime, each Daily Devotion is at the WASI website under Chaplain’s Services. You may even leave comments.

Tom Stearns

WASI Chaplain

907 715-4001

Good morning,

Last week we looked at the fruit of the Spirit. In the past we have looked at love. Now I would like to tackle joy. Joy is used 59 times in the New Testament. It is defined as gladness. Since joy is a characteristic, it should show action. Today we will look at With Joy, tomorrow, Affliction/Tribulation Joy.

2) With Joy

Luke 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

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

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Romans 15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

2 Timothy 1:4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

We see that “joy” is connected to some action.

• Received the word
• Returned again
• Disciples were filled
• I might finish my course
• Come unto you
• Filled

We are filled with joy when…….. (Fill in the blank)

Have a day filled with joy.

Tom Stearns

WASI Chaplain

907 715-4001

Good morning,

 Last week we looked at the fruit of the Spirit. In the past we have looked at love. Now I would like to tackle joy. Joy is used 59 times in the New Testament. It is defined as gladness. Since joy is a characteristic, it should show action. So today we will look at Great Joy, tomorrow, With Joy, and Friday, Affliction/Tribulation Joy.

GREAT JOY

Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Matthew 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word

Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

3  John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

So what do we see?

• They rejoiced
• Fear and ran
• Worshipped
• Heard

If we are joyous, we should be radiating it.

Have a day full of Great Joy.

Tom Stearns

WASI Chaplain

907 715-4001