Kingdom Joy

By Titto Thomas

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.

Over the past few articles we have been examining Kingdom Culture. In the preceding post, we looked specifically at Kingdom Righteousness. We saw that God is righteous and that He wants us to walk in it as well. The reason we shun pirated computer software, the reason we keep our word, or the reason we don’t slander others - is not because we are trying to be righteous but because we have already been made righteous. Kingdom Culture is all about realizing who you are, so that you would become conscious of who you represent. In this last article on Kingdom Culture, let’s look at ‘Kingdom Joy’.

WHY JOY?

The very fact that you have been made righteous, which results in peace with God and peace in the world, should make you bubble with joy. But it is amazing to realize that there is more! Also, analyzing this topic from a kingdom perspective – we see that whenever a good king rules, there is joy in the land. Every good kingdom is one that offers joy to its citizens. It is a matter of duty for the king. In ancient kingdoms, the king would go out on frequent trips, sometimes disguised, just to see if his subjects were happy. The King would consider it an insult to him if he found his subjects in sorrow and despair.Likewise, in this heavenly kingdom, which is the domain of our good God, he offers joy to His citizens. I firmly believe that God is confused to find his people in despair and lacking in joy since He is always there for you. “Why are you sorrowful when a good God is there for you?” God offers us joy; this offer is not just an instruction, it is a command.

HEAVENLY JOY

Just like the other two aspects of the Kingdom culture that we discussed, joy, too, is not birthed out of your circumstances. I don’t look at my bank account and be joyful; I don’t look at my situation and be joyful; I don’t look at my future and be joyful; I don’t listen to the doctor and be joyful; and I certainly don’t look at the economy and be joyful! But there is a real reason to be joyful and that is HIM (John 15:11). His Kingdom has been manifest in my heart and joy overflows. This joy overflows into situations that I face, and bears testament to the Kingdom I represent and the good king who rules there.

Now, what is the source of this heavenly joy? The Bible puts it plainly as the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Even in the Old testament, where neither the Holy spirit was given nor the work of the cross completed, they were instructed to be joyful. But now, through the victorious finished work of Jesus and His precious Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, we have access to God’s overflowing joy and a million reasons to rejoice.

I know of a wonderful family who was struck by tragedy. The head of the household had a motorcycle accident that crushed his spine. He had a slight chance of survival, but by the grace of God, he survived. However, the doctors told him that he had crushed some major nerves and that he would be a vegetable all his life. When he was discharged from the hospital to go home and lie in bed for the rest of his life, all his neighbors came to visit him. They were straight faced and in deep sorrow for the tragedy that had befallen the house. But they were shocked at the scene inside the house. His wife and two children were sitting beside him and sharing jokes (2 Corinthians 8:2)! So, the neighbors called his wife aside and said, “Aren’t you sad about what happened?” His wife nonchalantly replied ” No! I know the one whom I serve. He is there for me, why should I be in despair and turmoil?” This family knew who their King was and hence, they faced the situation with a different attitude. As a result , in less than a year he was back on his legs and now (a couple of years on), he is back on his motorcycle.

YOU NEED JOY

The Bible puts so much emphasis on joy that it says that joy from the Lord is our strength for our spiritual journey! The context to this particular verse in Nehemiah 8:10 is very interesting. The Israelites had just found the Book of the Law and when they read it, they realized that they weren’t living according to it. It was time to repent and turn to the Lord – but Nehemiah steps up and instructs them to rejoice and be joyful because even to repent, they would need strength from the Lord. “Joy” (Noun) in action is called “rejoice” (Verb). The Bible commands us to rejoice (Philippians 4:4), or put our joy into action, because it is a safeguard against the things that you face in this world and against yourself (flesh) (Philippians 3:1).

Joy accompanies faith. As you read Isaiah 53 and 54, you see a pattern emerging. After a call to believe, God is asking us to make a shout of Joy. True faith is always followed by a manifestation of joy (Philippians 1:4 and Philippians 1:25). Use that as a sign for true faith from the Lord!

BE FILLED WITH JOY

Joy is available from our good God, the King. I hope you now see why joy is not just important; it’s mandatory. It is an awesome resource that God has made available to us. Romans 15:13 teaches us that we are filled with Joy through believing. Acts 15:32 teaches us that the disciples were filled with Joy and with the Holy Ghost. For the early church, Joy was a way of life. Through faith, we can partake in the immeasurable joy that God has made available to us. This joy transcends all exterior circumstances because the substance of the joy is the fact that God is there for you!

I do not know what circumstances you may be in, but the will of God for you (in your current circumstance) is absolutely clear – Rejoice ( I Thessalonians 5:18). And as you believe in His word, you will be filled with joy – joy immeasurable. I pray that this need for Kingdom Joy would so grip your hearts that you would walk, not as people of this earthly kingdom, but as citizens where a good king reigns.

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