365: Benjamin Ryan - Exhortation: The Fruit of the Spirit

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:03

   Welcome to good Christophian talks. Thank you for joining us this week. On this podcast, we select one talk a week to help us get the Bible in our Daily News feed. Each week we post a talk that we previewed from suggestions sent in by listeners from around the world. Then we record a short intro beforehand as a personalized recommendation to you on why we are sharing the talk. And now let’s talk more about this week’s talk. This week’s talk is an exhortation that was given by Brother Benjamin Ryan at the Moorebank Ecclesia in February of this year.

2. 0:41

   This was a really wonderful study and exhortation on the fruits of the spirit, but more specifically Joy. He has quite a logical outline and I think my favorite, my favorite kind of highlight was he kind of proves or goes through a logical progression on how we should develop the fruits of the spirit and then the ending with a focus on joy.

3. 1:09

   It’s very well, again, well researched and well quoted. He quotes other Christadelphian writings a few times, which is also fun. I really appreciate again, kind of the effort and thoughtfulness that goes into the preparation that that includes those quotes from other brothers of ours from the past. So I really enjoyed this. So it was really thankful to have this talk suggested to us.

4. 1:33

   And you know, it’s kind of a silly thing, but we’re brother James going to be joining us as a host and his next talk, his first episode is next week. So we kind of have it have a self-imposed deadline to get this talk posted because ever since ever since Jason joined, we have not posted talks of any of our hosts. So brother Jason has some episodes from when from the time before he was a host.

5. 2:02

   But now since brother Jamin is joining us, we need to post his talk because until he ever decides to leave, we will never be posting another talk again. So just a silly rule. Besides, I guess saying all that with the silly difference being that I guess last summer we all posted our own talks as a, you know, as our kind of fun thing we try to do in July.

6. 2:25

   So anyways, as always, we’re self imposing restrictions we might not need. But this was a this was a really great talk and we’re really excited and thankful that Jamie and our other hosts are joining us. We’re going, as we’ve already said, from 4:00 to 6:00, losing Brian and adding three other hosts. So this has been a really great relief to me and Chris and Jason to involve more people, have more people in our kind of group emails and more thinking and meditating on how to make this tool, this podcast useful to as many people as we can.

7. 3:02

   In the meantime, here is Brother Jamin’s exhort, the fruit of the Spirit joy. This morning we’re going to be having a look at the fruit of the spirit. And I was just delighted that when I got to the Sunday school class, that’s effectively what we were looking at. So sorry if it’s a bit same, same, but I thought it’s rather fitting. And we’re going to have a focus, small focus on the joy aspect of the fruit of the spirit.

8. 3:30

   I first started looking at Joy about a year ago where for a youth group, I, I actually got asked to, to study Joy. And the truth was I, I wasn’t particularly interested in it. In fact, I was probably disinterested. At the very least I was uninspired to look at it. You know, we, we all know the fruit of the spirit.

9. 3:55

   We know the kids songs. I didn’t think it was a particularly rich subject. And over my study over the last year, I have totally repented this opinion and my interest has totally reverted. I think this is an exciting, encouraging, fascinating theme that’s so rich and deep in the Scripture. And I just, I just hope to share some of that with you this morning.

10. 4:24

    I think this is so important. In fact, Brother Colin Attridge in his book The Fruit of the Spirit says this where our characters are concerned. The fruit of the Spirit may well encompass everything Christ will be looking for in you and me at his return. Those are some big words. The Fruit of the Spirit may well encompass everything Christ is looking for in us. So I think this is a subject worth paying attention to broadly.

11. 5:04

    This talk is about the fruit of the Spirit, and it’s got a small focus on one aspect of the fruit, that being joy. So we’ll start with an introduction to the fruit of the Spirit, and then we’ll talk about what a fruit actually is, and then how a fruit can be of the Spirit.

12. 5:24

    What does that even mean? We’ll talk about love as the whole fruit very briefly, and then we’ll conclude with some thoughts on joy. Well, I’d like to first touch on on Bible study. Generally in our study of the Bible, sometimes we get trapped and bogged down in the technicalities, in the details. We get lost in the source now.

13. 5:56

    Now this depth of the Word is so important and it allows us to have all for God and wonder at His marvelous character and His Word. And we see His great glory in the depth of His Word. But in spiritual matters and in our study, we have to remember that the things we read need to be useful for our day-to-day living.

14. 6:24

    We can’t lose relevance of why we’re reading the things that we read. It’s not just details and technicality. The words are meant to mean something. If the words we read don’t change us, then we defy their purpose for being written.

15. 6:43

    And I think that the fruit of the Spirit are a particularly practical and exhortational thing, and we can draw a lot of really practical lessons from them. So what’s the fruit of the Spirit all about? Simply spiritual development. It’s about becoming like God. The fruit of the Spirit is about slowly turning our character into God’s character. The transformation of our character is the development of the fruit of the Spirit in US.

16. 7:23

    Now this is not some vague lovey dovey airy fairy concept. This is very practical. That means try to develop Lovejoy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. We develop spiritually by developing the fruit of the spirit. And I, I wanted to reiterate the importance of this subject of spiritual development. And to do this, I’d like to have a brief look at the record of Martha and Mary. So could you all please turn with me to Luke 10? Now Luke 10 contains the record of a story we may know very well, and I’m reading from verse 38. Now as they went on their way, this is Christ and his followers, His disciples.

17. 8:26

    Jesus entered a village and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

18. 8:39

    But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me. But the Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.

19. 9:09

    Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. So what’s going on here? Well, Martha’s probably stressed out of her mind. She’s running around getting things ready, cleaning the kitchen, organizing the kitchen, probably organizing the whole house. She’s doing the wash up, she’s preparing lunch, she’s getting the food ready, etcetera.

20. 9:35

    She’s distracted, anxious and troubled about many things. Christ assures her, but one thing is necessary. Well, Matthew 6 tells us not to worry about food and drink and clothes, et cetera. God cares for the birds. Are you not of more value than they? God will provide all these things for you. Don’t be distracted, anxious and troubled about many things as Martha was here, remember, But one thing is necessary.

21. 10:18

    What is it? What is the one necessary thing that Christ is talking about? Well, I think the apostle Paul picks up on what this one necessary thing in is in his letter to the Philippians in chapter 3 and verse 12. It reads, not that I have already obtained this or I’m already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own brothers.

22. 10:53

    I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. He doesn’t do anything else. That’s all he does. He forgets what lies behind. He strains forward to what lies ahead, and he presses toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. He doesn’t do anything else.

23. 11:36

    In other words, he’s concerned with his spiritual life, with spiritual development, with taking heed to the call, with living the new life. Essentially, he’s trying to live a godly life and develop a godly character. That is, he’s trying to develop the fruit of the Spirit.

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    What does that actually mean, and how do you actually do that? Let’s start by defining fruit. Well, fruit is is useful, It’s healthy, it’s refreshing, attractive, tasty, et cetera. A fruitless tree is pointless, Christ tells us in in Luke 13. Fruit, naturally speaking, is the visible evidence and expression of a tree’s good health.

25. 12:39

    Fruit producing trees are very good. They’re fit for purpose. They do what God requires of them. Likewise, spiritual fruit is the visible evidence and expression of a believer’s good spiritual health. The fruitful believer, like the fruitful tree, fulfills God’s purpose for him or her.

26. 13:08

    Fruit is the proof or result of a believer’s godly character. It’s the godly disposition, mindset, character, attitude that one shows in their daily life in whatever situation they find themselves in. The fruit of the spirit represents the whole balanced spiritual personality.

27. 13:33

    And spiritual fruit, like natural fruit, doesn’t just appear out of thin air one day, it needs to be planted in good soil, given plenty of sunlight and water. And over time, often a long time, fruit will develop.

28. 13:54

    Nice analogy, Benjamin, but how does this fruit or or character actually practically come about? Well, let’s remember from Galatians 522. This fruit is of the Spirit.

29. 14:12

    The fruit is of the Spirit because it results from the influence of the Spirit word on us. This character or fruit is a direct result of delight and meditation on God’s Word, along with putting trust and confidence in God. This is the only way one can develop the fruit of the Spirit. Let’s prove it.

30. 14:39

    Could you all please turn with me to Psalm chapter 1? And starting at verse one, we read. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord.

31. 15:05

    And on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither in all that he does, he prospers. And so we see here the image of a fruitful tree that’s planted by the water, and that fruitful tree that’s planted by the water is likened to a man who keeps from evil and loves God’s word. Now we know through Scripture that water is a very rich symbol for the Word, the word of God.

32. 15:48

    And I’ve got one quick example. It says in Ephesians 526 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word. So the word there is is likened to water that can wash us. And so let’s let’s picture this scene in in Psalm one. Imagine a tree sinking its roots into the soil, soaking up the water from the stream it’s planted next to, soaking up the word of God.

33. 16:19

    This is how fruit is produced. And so from Psalm 1 we see two of the aspects of the process of production of spiritual fruit. The 1st is delight in the law of the Lord. The second is meditation in God’s law day and night. And I just wanted to talk about that second aspect very briefly.

34. 16:45

    What does it even mean to meditate in God’s law Day and night? Does that entail intense study, which is a great thing, But is that what’s being asked here to study all day and night? No meal breaks, no toilet breaks, not even a break to sleep through the night? Is that what this verse is saying?

35. 17:10

    Well, I, I think we’ll find our answer in the 1st chapter of Joshua, where Joshua is told a very similar thing. And starting at verse 8, it reads in Joshua one, This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.

36. 17:38

    But then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, Do not be frightened, do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. So we get from Joshua that study is excellent, but God wants us to think about the things we study in our daily lives.

37. 18:04

    Or as it says in Joshua, wherever we go, we study God’s Word so that we may be careful to do it. As it says in verse 8, study it, then do it, live it, and God will be with you, right? We’re going to have a look now at Jeremiah 17, which will reveal more information about spiritual fruit. We’re going to see a very similar situation to Psalm 1 here.

38. 18:42

    Starting at verse 7, it reads, blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, who puts confidence in the Lord or the King. James says hope there, but it means confidence. It’s the same word, verse 8. He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

39. 19:13

    We can see that this is a very similar image. We’ve got a tree that’s planted by the water next to the water that sends out its roots deep into the soil and soaks up the water of the word by the stream. And because of this it’s not afraid when the heat and the drought comes, its leaves are green. And note that it says it doesn’t cease to bear fruit. And what is this image of a tree likened to what’s likened to a man who puts trust in God, who puts confidence in God? Combining this scripture with Psalm 1 reveals lots of information to us.

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    Firstly, it informs us how long the season in Psalm 1 is, where it says. He shall be like the tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth fruit in his season. How long is this season? When do spiritual trees have to produce fruit? Sometimes weekends. Spring on a Sunday at Wednesday night. Bible class Jeremiah 17 says it does not cease to bear fruit. The season in someone is endless. It’s always bearing fruit.

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    This scripture also reveals the two other aspects necessary for the production of spiritual fruit. The third aspect being trust in the Lord. The 4th aspect, putting confidence in the Lord and therefore, by combining these two scriptures, the four aspects of the formula for the production of spiritual fruit is revealed. One, delight in the law of the Lord. 2 Meditate day and night in His law.

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    Think about it. Three, trust in the Lord. 4 Put confidence in the Lord. This is how spiritual fruit is produced. There’s no other way. This is how we can develop the fruit of the Spirit.

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    Now, in terms of literal fruit, nobody but God can actually make a fruit. Regarding natural fruit, you can have the world’s richest soil, premium fertilizer, the best greenhouse filtered reverse osmosis water you. You still literally can’t make a fruit grow. It’s God that creates the fruit. Similarly, spiritual fruit. All we can do is provide the best conditions for growth, as does the diligent farmer or the natural tree.

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    God will give the increase our delight and meditation in His Word and trust and confidence in Him. Give the best conditions for God to create the fruit of the Spirit within us. That is, God works in us to develop our character to become like His. Or in the words of the apostle Paul, it is God who works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

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    And nothing brings more pleasure to God than to see one of His children slowly developing his character. This is His purpose after all. Now I’d just like to take this time to clarify that this fruit is of the Spirit and not a Holy Spirit gift. The fruit comes by God working through us to develop His character in us by delight and meditation on His living Word and trusting and putting confidence in Him. The fruit doesn’t come in some USB stick that we can plug into our brains and be instantly filled with God’s character. This isn’t how it works, and it isn’t how it worked for the people who were given the Holy Spirit gifts in the 1st century either.

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    It would defeat the whole purpose of God if it was so. God is looking for a willing response of love from His children. There’s nothing willing about being radically and miraculously reprogrammed by the Holy Spirit out of baptism, for example. Additionally, why is the New Testament full of warnings for the believer? Shouldn’t godliness come naturally to one who has been given a godly character via Holy Spirit gifts?

47. 24:15

    Love cannot be programmed in. It must be a free will response. The fruit is of the Spirit because it results from the influence of the Spirit Word. Another reason for this fruit being of the Spirit is that only by influence of the Spirit can these virtues truly be developed and shown. In other words, the only real virtues are those of the Spirit developed by delight and meditation on God’s Word, along with putting trust and confidence in Him.

48. 24:55

    Any Lovejoy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control found in the world only mimics the real fruit of the Spirit. How do we know this is the case? Well, the only way to develop the fruit of the Spirit is delight and meditation on God’s Word, along with putting trust and confidence in Him.

49. 25:23

    There’s no other way. Do those in the world who display these virtues do so on the basis of their love for God and His Word? Now, this is not an effort to condemn the virtue of the world or the genuine and sincere people who display these virtues. In fact, sometimes we could learn a thing or two from them.

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    Rather, this is an effort to convey that God is looking for people who develop characters by influence of His Word and love for Him. God is more concerned with who we are, flash who we are becoming, rather than our doing. We can’t do our way into the Kingdom.

51. 26:16

    God is looking for those who have a godly being and as a response to God’s love for them, show His character in what they say and do. Our doing should come as a response to our being, that is our godly being and it’s this type of people that will populate the Kingdom.

52. 26:40

    I just wanted to mention the fruit of the Spirit, love for a brief moment. I believe love is actually the whole fruit of the spirit, and the other 8 virtues are the 8 aspects of love. So for clarification, I believe joy, which we will speak about shortly, is an aspect of love rather than a separate entity. You can imagine an orange that being love with each carpal or or segment of the orange representing a different aspect of love, a a joy segment, a peace segment, a patient segment, etcetera, which all combine to make up the whole fruit that being love.

53. 27:25

    Now, the reason behind this is not in the scope of this talk. For time’s sake, in your own time, it’s well worth reading Colin Attrich’s The Fruit of the Spirit for an excellent explanation of this, along with a deeper look into the Fruit of the Spirit in its entirety. But importantly, whether or not you agree with this conclusion will not hinder the benefit you can gain by considering what the Bible has to say about joy.

54. 27:52

    So let’s take a closer look at biblical joy. Where does one even start in first Peter one verse 8, it reads, though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. Or in the King James it says joy unspeakable.

55. 28:22

    So how? How do you describe a joy that’s inexpressible and unspeakable? Well, with with great difficulty, but we’re going to try to do our best to have a look at it this morning. And I’d like to start our thought about joy with an example, an imaginary example. Imagine you’re walking along a path, going about your daily life, run-of-the-mill stuff, and suddenly an Angel appears to you in brightness and in glory. And in response you you drop to your knees and humility and respect.

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    The Angel helps you up with a hand outstretched and says to you, fear not, you’re on the right Rd. Keep going, keep living the new life.

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    What would our reaction to this be? Well, our initial reaction would probably involve us welling up with emotion, with joy that is inexpressible. Then, over time, this would simmer down into a relaxing, peaceful bliss that may sometimes bubble up into a joyful exuberance. We would feel secure. We would feel we’re on the right track.

58. 29:59

    We’d feel reassured, cheerful, happy, content, comforted. This is biblical joy. Let’s look further into what the Bible says about joy. So joy, that word joy in Galatians 522 is the Greek word harder and it means cheerfulness, delight, gladness and, and joy is one of three words that are very similar, that are in the same family.

59. 30:33

    And, and those 3 English words are joy, grace and gift. Joy in Greek, as I just said, is, is harder. Grace is hardest, gift is charisma. They’re almost all the same word and that’s purposeful. They’re highly related concepts, joy, gift and grace. So what we want to do in this very short look into joy is check out in the Bible what the source of joy is.

60. 31:08

    What context do we find joy in in the Bible? Is this just some fleeting joy? Is this the joy of when Kentucky Fried Chicken, the $5 fill up comes back in stock or, or the OR the Mackers Monopoly season comes around? Is this the joy of Ani Joan Bowen’s crustless sandwiches at Hunter Valley Bible class supper or or seeing Mum has restacked the the snack drawer in the pantry?

61. 31:38

    I’m not sure why all those examples were food related, but you get my point. Is this just some fleeting joy? What’s the source of this joy? What does the Bible say?

62. 31:52

    Well, we’re going to have a look at just one example to prove what joy is all about in the Bible, and it’s the example of the people in Nehemiah’s day. So could you all please turn with me to Nehemiah chapter 8? So Nehemiah 8 contains the story of when Nehemiah and Ezra orchestrate the reading of the law publicly in front of all the people.

63. 32:27

    And it starts in verse one where it reads. And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Watergate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard on the first day of the 7th month.

64. 32:53

    And he read from it, facing the square before the Watergate, from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And all the years of the people were attentive to the book of the Law. So what’s going on here? Well, as as we just mentioned, Ezra and Nehemiah have orchestrated the reading of the law for the first time in a very, very long time. And everyone gathers around and they they read all day, from early morning until midday.

65. 33:23

    And everyone who can understand gathers around. And all the people were attentive, but not everyone could understand. And so it says in verse 7 halfway through that the Levites went down and helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. And in verse 8, it says they read from the book, from the law of God clearly, and they gave the sense so that the people understood the reading. Notice here the people now understood what was being read out.

66. 34:02

    They got the sense they understood what God required of them. They understood God’s laws. They didn’t previously or or at the very least they hadn’t heard this law read in a very long time.

67. 34:18

    The record continues in verse 9. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, this day is wholly to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep for all the people wept as they heard the words of the law.

68. 34:38

    What was their reaction to hearing and understanding God’s laws? Weeping. Why were they weeping? Well, they wept because they hadn’t been keeping the law. They neglected and turned away from it. They realized they had rejected God by rejecting His laws. They had forsaken God and His laws. That’s why they were weeping.

69. 35:10

    The record continues in verse 10. Then he said to them, go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready. For this day is holy to our Lord, and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. And that word joy. There is the Old Testament equivalent of our Greek word harder.

70. 35:40

    And in fact in the Septuagint, in the Old Testament it is the word harder. So what does Nehemiah say in response to this situation, in response to their grief, sadness, shame, their sorrow and their neglect, their mourning and weeping? Nehemiah tells them not to weep, but to celebrate. Share food and drink with each other. Give to those who have naughty.

71. 36:08

    Don’t be grieved. Why? What’s the reason he gives? Because the joy of the Lord is your strength, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. The Good News Bible translates this. The joy that the Lord gives you will make you strong.

72. 36:34

    So the story continues in verse 11 where it says, so the Levites calmed all the people saying be quiet for this day is holy, do not be grieved. What’s happening in this verse? The Levites calm the people. Well, that must be because they weren’t calm. The people were still mourning and weeping. They were still sad and sorry even after Nehemiah told them not to mourn.

73. 37:07

    The Levites had to actually go down and comfort the people, telling them not to grieve for the past, but to rejoice instead. Although the people had recently become deeply aware of their sin and discovered how serious their failure was, the Levites remind them that this day is an holy rehearsal or, or celebration for God.

74. 37:34

    It’s a holy, a holy day. What? What celebration was it on that day? What are the Levites referring to? Well, I think we get some very crucial information to figuring out the answer to our conundrum in verse 2 where it reads that this is the first day of the 7th month.

75. 38:03

    And we know from the law that the 7th month is a very significant month. In fact, in Leviticus 23, verse 24, it reads, speak to the people of Israel saying in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of trumpets, a holy convocation or a holy day, a holy celebration rehearsal. And so we get there that the 7th month is actually the month for the feast of trumpets.

76. 38:42

    This is a day of rejoicing. This is a day of blowing of trumpets. Now there’s also something very significant about the timing in Nehemiah. It’s not only the 7th month, but it’s the first day of the month. It’s the first day of the 7th month, the first day of the month. What’s so significant about the first day of the month? Well, we’re given detail in Numbers 10 verse 10 as to why that’s so important.

77. 39:18

    It reads on the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginning of your month. You shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. There shall be a reminder of you before your God. I am the Lord your God. So what does the beginning of a month symbolize? What does it mean?

78. 39:53

    It says beginnings of your month shall be a reminder of you before your God. I am the Lord your God. What does that mean? Well, that the NASB 95 translates that they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the Lord your God. The beginning of the month was a symbol for God’s remembrance of you. He remembers you.

79. 40:21

    He is your God. He hasn’t forgotten about you. God thinks about and cares for you. I am your God, it says in the law. You are my people. This was a reminder of God’s presence. This was a reminder that Yahweh was their God. Applying this to the people of Nehemiah’s day, even though they had sinned, God was reminding him that he was still their God. Even though they had forsaken him, the new month was a symbol that God was still with them.

80. 41:03

    Perhaps these are the words the Levites comforted the people with. There is a time for sadness. There is a time for mourning. But the Levites remind the people that this is the first day of the month. A day to be celebrated for God. A day to remember that God has not cast off his people. A day that is evidence of God’s great gift of grace. A day to remember that Yahweh was still their God even when they were down.

81. 41:40

    This joy the people experience was because of this. So after the Levites talk to and comfort the people, the record continues in verse 12. And it reads, And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing because they had understood the words that were declared to them. What had they understood?

82. 42:12

    They understood the law and remembered their sin. They were deeply saddened by the previous actions. That’s what verse 8 and 9 say. What exactly did they now understand? After the Levites came to comfort them, they finally understood even though they were sinners. God is a loving, compassionate, graceful God. Who is their God, who was still their God. The joy they received was the joy of reassurance, of comfort, of love.

83. 42:55

    This was the joy of security. They were now happy, content, cheerful and comforted by the reassurance of God’s grace, love and mercy. It’s the joy of God still being with them. It’s the joy of having their fear and doubt cast out. Brother Dave Pogson in his 1964 Galatian series says joy is the harder is that quiet in a sense of happiness which comes as a result of knowing your position in the truth and the hope that’s before you.

84. 43:40

    Effectively, biblical joy is that inward happiness that we have because we understand how much God loves us and how much God cares for us and how graceful he is to us and that we don’t need to be worried. And, and this is not an isolated incident in Scripture. Almost everywhere in Scripture we see joy. It’s in response to God’s grace.

85. 44:11

    Brother Colin Attridge in his book The Fruit of the Spirit, says our joy comes from our security in Christ. It’s the joy of doubt cast out and of knowing we’re on the right Rd. There’s this very close relationship with the grace that God so abundantly gives us. And our response to that grace, that being joy.

86. 44:38

    As we said before, joy and grace are almost the same. Greek word para is joy. Paris or charis is grace. Our response to God’s grace should be joy. We should feel comforted, cheerful, and secure because of what God has so mercifully done for us. Isn’t this the same feeling we all imagined at the start, where we pictured an Angel appearing to us and reassuring us?

87. 45:16

    So, like the children of Israel, even when we are down spiritually, let’s try to remember the abundant grace of God. Let that bring us the heart. Or in the words of James, my brethren, count it all joy para when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

88. 45:46

    But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be entire and perfect, wanting nothing. So how do you actually develop this biblical joy?

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    What’s no different to developing any other aspect of the fruit of the Spirit? We just need to follow those four simple steps we looked at earlier. Delight in the law of the Lord, meditation day and night in his law, trust in the Lord, put confidence in the Lord, and we will develop these fruit of the Spirit and this biblical joy.

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    Our Lord Jesus Christ did this perfectly. He delighted in the law of the Lord. He meditated day and night in his law. He trusted and put confidence in God. And God worked in him, as he does in us, to develop the heart. He had the complete biblical joy. John 15 verse 11 tells us His joy was full. He was entirely trusting in God.

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    He was delighted, content and comforted by God’s grace and love. He was so secured by his joy that he was able to endure the cross, despising the shame.

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    Hebrews 12 verse 2 reads looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. For who? The harder that was set before Him, the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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    This is the ultimate act of God’s grace giving His Son for us. Let us be thankful, comforted, secure, happy, cheerful, content, and reassured because of this grace, mercy, and love that our God gives. Our response to this grace to God giving His Son should be biblical joy. I’ll finish with the words of Philippians 4 verse one. Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for my joy and my crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. Thank you for listening to the Good Christadelphian Talks podcast.

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    God bless and talk to you next week.