The Journey

JOY

I just listened to the best message I have ever heard on joy.   It is called the Supernatural Power of Overflowing Joy.  

As I ponder the fruits of the spirit, I would have to say that my favorite is joy.  I love to laugh and I love to hear others laugh.  There are many videos being posted on facebook of babies laughing.  We all love laughter.....so why don't we laugh more?

During our fire tunnel on Sunday there was alot of laughter....even some mirth (a laughter so obnoxious it offends everybody around them)   Now I don't know if anyone was offended but that may have been because I was laughing so hard I hardly would have noticed.     And there we many others. 

Some say that laughter doesn't belong in the church.  Jesus prayed in John 17 " that they would "have the full measure of my joy" or in the amplified, [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts"

What does it mean to have the full measure of Jesus' joy?   (Take a moment and ponder that) 

If Jesus prayed this then why would He mind laughter and joy in His church. 

As you knowJonathan Edwards, a few hundred years ago, had a message called "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God". This is how the story really goes.  While Jonathan Edwards was reading his message people started wailing and crying and repenting for their sins.  At the time people people believed that salvation was based on a confession of Christ alone.  So they had never had an experience of the Holy Spirit in them to even give them a conscientiousness to live for God.  So as they got saved they wailed and confessed their sins.  After that the joy of the Lord would come and they would start laughing.  Jonathan's wife laughed in church for 6 straight months.  And others with her.   When Jonathan refused to control his wife and the others he got kicked out of his denomination.

It is interesting that we think that tears are a manifestation of God but laughter isn't.   His kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.  So if we are praying that His kingdom come His will be done ....... what can we expect?  Psalm 16:11 says that in His presence is fullness of joy. 

So laugh in church, laugh at home, laugh in the grocery store, or at the dentist.....or at least giggle or give a little tee hee. Laughter does good like a medicine.   I take mine many times a day and show no sign of stopping.