A Prescription for Joy

www.insidethebible.ca /a-prescription-for-joy/
Micah Hackett
When was the last time you felt satisfied with a Christianity that was miserable, groggy, and depressing? Surely
none of us feel satisfied with it; even so, we put up with it, thinking there is no other option. Sadly we hear all too
often the phrase Life sucks coming out of our mouths, because we think that it is all life amounts to. But is this
really all there is? Is this really the sort of life Christ made way for through His cross? Is this having life and life
more abundantly? What about all the Scriptures that mention joy? Are they really just remote concepts that only the
highly educated or so-called clerical Christians can apply? Obviously not. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit: do we doubt
Gods power to work it in us? Perhaps in the conditions you are presently in, joy seems like a foreign impossibility,
but is it? Does not Scripture stand without defeat? Does not its authority remain steadfast? Surely we answer with a
resounding Yes! Why, then, would true rejoicing be offered if it was not available to us? Before embarking on a few
thoughts regarding joy, let us remember: it is available in every circumstance. With that in mind, we will approach
the subject by looking at three main roots of joy in Philippians, a few points on joy in regular Christian Living, and a
word on joy during trials.
Roots of Joy The Philippi Perspective
Before looking at these roots, we need to understand that a willing heart is necessary at the beginning. To rejoice
does not come naturally, nor will it come even after examining its sources if our hearts are not willing to respond to
those things. We have so much positionally as believers: we have an inheritance that nothing can touch, we have a
Great High Priest Who understands our infirmities, we have access to the Throne of Grace, etc. We have it by
possession, yet possession doesnt mean enjoyment. We must have open eyes to realize what is before us and
allow ourselves to appreciate it.
Firstly, joy is grounded in the gospel. Paul says in Philippians 1 that he thanked God with joy because of the
assemblys fellowship in the gospel, and later he said Christ is preached, and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will
rejoice. In chapter two he looks forward to rejoicing in the Day of Christ because the Philippians were holding forth
the word of life. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up
your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and
gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (Jn 4:35-36). The
gospel is where our journey of salvation begins, and it is what we constantly look to while the journey continues on
still. Surely if anything will promote joy in our lives it will be the gospel. Actually, the very first mention of any form of
joy was in Exodus 18 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had
delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. We commonly think of the goodness of God as being present privileges,
and that would be true. But is not the greatest privilege of all our salvation? Surely we would rejoice more often if we
were intelligent as to what we really have. And, as the John 4 passage emphasizes, if we were passionate to offer
what we have to others in terms of evangelism, perhaps then we would have more opportunities to rejoice. Let us be
gospel-minded saints. Just see what that will for you. Take initiative to prepare for the Breaking of Bread in gathering
thoughts of the Lords Death: it will lead you to the gospel once again. Study what the gospel means to you and what
it has really brought you into as a believer. Give a tract to someone. Talk to the person next to you on the bus, on the
plane, or wherever the opportunity seems available: tell them about Christ. Listen to gospel preaching. Whatever it
takes, surround yourself with the blessed message of the gospel in all its depths: this is the key to joyful Christianity.
Secondly, joy is grounded in the Person of Christ: Who He is in and of Himself. Four times over we see Paul using
the phrase rejoice in the Lord (or in Jesus Christ) within the last two chapters of Philippians. We like to quote the
verse often Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. But is He really always on our minds? Has such a
profound verse become a simple chich that we use as a filler in a conversation? What a tragedy if it were so! If only

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we were caught up with His Person, His glories, His roles, His character, and His promises as to our lives, surely we
would not be anything but joyful people. There is so much to learn of Who He is. There is so much to understand
that if we would take the time to study Him we would feel much more secure and much more alive. Was it not the
concept of abiding in Him that preceded the words These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain
in you, and that your joy might be full? Throughout all circumstances, there is one element of consistency
throughout them all: the Person of Christ. Looking to Him, your gaze will be stable. So then, why not set aside time
to consider Him? Why not make it a point of study to establish your mind in Who He is? It will be then that you see
the secret to joy.
Thirdly, joy is found in appreciating the assembly and its fruitfulness. In Philippians 2 Paul says Fulfil ye my joy that
ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Paul said later in the same chapter Yea,
and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also
do ye joy, and rejoice with me. In chapter 4 he describes the assembly as my joy and my crown, because they
were dearly beloved and longed for. Paul could look at that assembly and find joy by it when he invested his love
into it. Yes, assembly conditions can be tense at times because of people problems, but the general application of
this truth will yield great joy if it is indeed taken wholeheartedly. There is nothing quite like living by the motto
assembly first, for it embodies a deep-rooted love toward those for whom Christ died and an attitude of feeling
privileged just to be with them in the house of God. Of course Paul had a special connection to the Philippians,
because of his labors, but surely the same principles apply. After all, any investment in the assembly and its growth
yields a special bond to it. Surely then, when we take Gods assembly seriously we can take this verse for our own:
Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David
had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of
Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David. Has the blessed company of which you form a
part become a simple club and lost its dignity as the House of God in your eyes? Has it become much more
prominent to complain about it rather than edify it? Has guarding Scriptures doctrines for the assembly and
upholding Gods gospel become a secondary thing? There will be no joy if these include the attitudes one would
take. If our burden is with the assembly, then certainly our joy will be with it too.
Roots of Joy In Daily Christian Living
Perhaps one might wonder if joy is restricted to the times when we can be active in what has gone forth above. What
about the times when there is no opportunity for gospel work, when we are not in the setting to study our Bibles
regarding Christ, when the assembly doesnt meet for another few days? Are we to live checkpoint-to-checkpoint
as it were, just waiting for another spiritual boost so that we can be happy? Not in the least. While gospel
work/preaching should be a lifestyle, meditation on Christ an obvious habit, and assembly support unquestioned, the
question still arises as to unhindered, continual joy regardless of the day or time. What can we do to live in joy
instead of simply rejoicing occasionally?
1. We can take prayer seriously. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that
your joy may be full. John 16:24. Prayer is certainly an area of our Christian lives that can and indeed must
be a daily thing, and yet even then it is not restricted to our closet times. We have continual access before
the throne of grace. Why not take advantage of it? Surely a life of looking up will yield fewer anxious thoughts
from looking around.
2. We can take service seriously. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace,
and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of
men. Romans 14:17-18. From these verses it is quite clear that service with joy is acceptable to God. But
what constitutes service in His mind? Is it restricted to times of gospel-work or assembly participation?
Actually, no. Scripture says Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. It says in Colossians 4 that even
employed work that in mans eyes may not have spiritual significance must be done heartily as unto the Lord
and not unto men. Earlier in Colossians says And whatsoever ye do, whether in word or in deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by Him. It is a wonderful thing to know that in

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whatever we do, we can have joy. And surely it doesnt have to be menial joy considering our reward! God is
not unjust to forget our labor of love for Him. So then, whether your work be in the assembly, in the factory, in
the yard, or wherever it might be, if God has placed you there to serve Christ in some capacity, it pleases His
heart and thus should allow us to take joy in it.
3. We can dwell on spiritual successes. John 15:11 says in the context of fruit-bearing These things have I
spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. In 3 John 4 he says I have
no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. In each one of our lives, regardless of time we have
been saved, there should always be some sort of spiritual achievement that we can look back on a person
we encouraged, a contact we led to Christ, a growing knowledge of Christ, etc. The basic question is one of
fruitfulness. Surely that is something we can seek and be thankful for on a daily basis. Fruit is Christlike
character: we must be thankful that in some measure God has been changing us despite our slowness. Fruit
is building up the down-cast. Fruit is explaining Scripture to a seeker. All these things, and so many others,
we have opportunity for on a day-to-day basis. Let us seek those things which are above and rejoice when
we see treasure laid there. This is the secret to joy.
4. We can learn the truth of fellowship. In 2 Timothy, Paul says Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy
tears, that I may be filled with joy. In Philemon, Paul says to Onesimus, a member of the Colossian
assembly, For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed
by thee, brother. Then we see John say in his second epistle saying Having many things to write unto you, I
would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be
full. These were men who understood the greatness of being in fellowship with Gods people. They always
looked forward to being with them. And even when not with them they rejoiced in the thought of being in
fellowship with them. Every day, if you are part of an assembly, you are in constant fellowship with that
assembly, regardless of whether you are with them or not. Why not rejoice in that?
Joy In Trials
This is where the question of joy becomes especially real: Is joy offered, or even possible, during trials? At this
point, the answer cannot be according to our experience, nor the experience of others. Gods final Word must be
enough for us. The world looks to philosophy and psychology, but we look higher: to theology. Consider Scripture:
The Possibility of 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. Let us not feel defeated the moment
a trial steps foot in our door. Though it may not be ours at that moment, let us at least maintain a goal for
joyfulness in the midst of the dark hour, for it is indeed possible.
The Source of Joy: Future Hope 1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christs
sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy . Jude 1:24-25
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his
glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever. Amen. A gaze above earthly circumstances provides a consistency in where base our hope
upon. Often our main failure lies in a misunderstanding of where true joy is derived from. Being let down
depends on what we allow to hold us up.
The Mindset of Joy. James 1:2-5 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing
this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be
perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.. Perhaps instead of targeting our feelings, we should
target our minds and first of all inform them as to the reality behind each trial: God is fulfilling our highest
desire, that is, to be more like His Son. From that point, it depends on whether or not we count that joy or not.
And if we want wisdom (mind-power) to do this, God is waiting to give it.
The Pattern of Joy. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy

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that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God. Perhaps we could actually look at this trial as an opportunity to grow closer and more
affectionate toward the cross, because to some extent we are able to share with His sufferings (Phil. 3:10 / 1
Pet. 4:13). And if this should be so, we can learn from His own example of the suffering He bore for us.
The Strength of Joy. Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all
patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Patience and peace seem to be
the impossible things of a difficulty above any other character traits. Yet they are the very ones prescribed.
Thankfully, it is not for us to work these things in ourselves, but to simply respond to His working them out in
us. It is only and ever His power and His strengthening. And thank God they are offered!
So much more could be said about joy, for we have barely touched the Old Testament in our studies. Even so, joyful
Christian living is mainly a personal struggle that we must each individually wrestle with. So then, dont be afraid to
stop here. Go further. For example, you may want to keep the writings of John in mind: each book he wrote except
for Revelation has the concept of writing these things that your joy may be full. Or perhaps you could write down
specific areas of your life needing joy and could ask God for wisdom in those things. Ultimately it will be His grace
that makes way for a joyful life. We are thankful that He is gracious. So then, joy is set before you to choose: will you
take it? Wouldnt it be nice to be known as the Christian who smiles? Wouldnt it be nice to be someone whose
presence lightens the day of others? There is so much potential with a simple three-letter word. Rejoice in the Lord
always, and again, I say rejoice!

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