Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV) ~ For the joy of the LORD is your strength.

What does it mean to have joy in the Lord? Having joy includes feeling good cheer and a vibrant happiness. But joy, in its fuller, spiritual meaning of expressing God's goodness, involves more. It is a deep-rooted, inspired happiness. The Holy Bible says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Neh. 8:10).

What is the spiritual meaning of joy? good pleasure and happiness that is dependent on who Jesus is rather than on who we are or what is happening around us. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, abiding in God's presence and from hope in His word.

Why is joy so important to God? Through that joy, they unlock a sense of purpose and hope which ultimately releases them from poverty. For God's children, the power of joy is never-ending. Although not one fruit of the spirit is more important than another, joy enables us to experience the others in the way that Jesus did.


He gives you a joy which is unspeakable, a joy that over flows, a joy which keeps you going inspite of hardship and through the trials of life. His joy is a joy which the world can neither understand, nor can it take away from the saints of God, for you have something in which to be joyful, and that is the fact that in Him you have a new life. When someone asks you why you are smiling, why you seem so happy, why you sing with joy, you can tell them, “I sing because I am happy, I sing because I am free, I sing because I have a new life in Jesus. I sing because I am saved, sanctified, Holy Spirit filled, Jesus on my mind, I have a new life!”

The Bible says in Habakkuk 3:18 (KJV), “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation”. Also in Psalm 35:9 (KJV), “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation”.

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise,
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad!

In the Book of Acts, the people were filled with Joy in the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52: “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit”). The Kingdom of heaven gives you joy in the Holy Spirit, a joy in Jesus. Also in Acts 2:28, we read, “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence”. The Greek word for joy is, euphrosyne, meaning gladness, joy that fills you with rejoicing. It is exuberant joy! Joy produces strength, and in His strength, we can face anything!

The Bible says in Isaiah 61:7 (NIV), “They will inherit a double portion, and everlasting joy shall be theirs”. The Hebrew word for joy is, samha, meaning a celebration of joy, make merry, delight in and be joyful. Also in Isaiah 61:10 (KJV), “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels”.

Perhaps a modern paraphrase might read like this, “I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul! He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jewelled tiara. For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, so the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations”.

My friends, your strength comes from the Lord, your joy comes from Him. It is through His joy that you draw your strength from and His joy is one which never fades, His joy is full of victory. When I feel a bit down, or things try and get on top of me, or circumstances try and get the better of me, I look to Jesus for inspiration, and I raise my voice to Him and sing. His joy keeps me going, His joy keeps me smiling through the hard times and His joy cheers my soul.

To think upon this wonderful verse of Scripture from Isaiah 61:3 (NIV) He has given you a crown of beauty for ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, And a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair.The joy of knowing Jesus, the joy of salvation, is an overflowing joy, as our text for today says in Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV), “For the joy of the LORD is your strength”.

God bless you my friends, Pastor M.Bertrand.

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