The Greek word translated joy is “chara.” This is very close to the Greek word translated grace, which is “charis.” Joy and grace are certainly related. Chara is used in the New Testament primarily to tell of a joy the basis of which is God. The Holy Spirit brings the joy of Jesus with Him when He enters our lives. Perhaps that is what Jesus meant in John 15:11: “My joy I give unto you that your joy might be full.” All of which leads me to the following observations about “chara joy.”
Chara is a lasting joy. This kind of joy is not circumstancial. Perhaps we can differentiate between joy and happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances, while joy depends on God. Joy is in the heart of believers as a fruit, or a gift, of the Holy Spirit. It is a joy that no person or circumstance can take away from us. The staying power of chara is illustrated by Jesus in John 16:22: “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” Chara is a fulfilling joy. In reference to Jesus, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:8: “Whom having not seen, ye love, in whom though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” What could be more fulfilling in life than unabated joy, unspeakable and glorious? Isn’t this what people are looking for in drugs, alcohol, sex, money, etc.? Little do most people know that the joy that they seek in the world’s seeming delights can only come by the entrance of the Holy Spirit into their lives. That, however, is the last thing they want, and then they wonder why fulfilling joy eludes them. Chara is overcoming joy. While speaking of His coming death and resurrection, Jesus said to His disciples: “You will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will be turned to joy.” This is the way life is, or should be, in the lives of Christians. (Remember that we are not writing about circumstantial happiness, but eternal joy.) Sorrow is continually turned to joy, because the Holy Spirit sees to it. This presupposes that sorrow will come into our lives, but it will not make itself at home in our lives. If we will turn sorrow and defeat over to Him, the Holy Spirit will turn them into deep and lasting joy. This does not mean that we will never have seasons of grief or sorrow, for those times surely come to all people. Again, they do not make themselves at home in our hearts and minds. We overcome by faith, but that faith is certainly mingled with the fruit of the Spirit that is called “chara joy.” If you are a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit in your life; therefore, you have the joy of Christ in your life. Notice that as a fruit of the Spirit you do have joy, not that you can have it. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, given to you the day that you were saved. This means that the joy of life can be yours for the asking. We have this joy embedded in our hearts, but we have to claim this joy. Too often self-pity and depression claim the joy that we should have in our hearts. This is one reason why the world gets turned off by our lives and our worship. People want to be where real joy is. There is joy in the heart of every Christian. I look forward to seeing what would happen if we unleashed all of the spiritual joy that we have in our hearts, in our lives, and in our worship. Claim the joy that the Spirit has given you!!! Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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