JOY Part 3

In your presence is fullness of joy.

According to this scripture, it seems obvious to me that there are "levels" of joy.  John 15:11, John 16:24, and John 17:13 all refer to our joy being complete and full.  In each of these passages Jesus tells us some things that He says are very important so that our joy can be complete and full.  He wants us to realize the importance of these things and live them out so that our joy will be full no matter what comes our way.

• Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you.  If you live in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.  When you bear much fruit, My Father is honored, and you show yourselves to be true followers of Mine.  Abide in My love.  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love.
• I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

Clearly this passage reiterates Psalm 16:11 - fullness of joy resides in the presence of God!  If we live in Him we will produce fruit, we will bring honor to Him, we will live in love, and we will obey Him.  All of these things add up to overflowing joy for us!

It's like what I said in JOY Part 2, the Lord has joy for us when we are living in Him and walking out His plans and purposes for our lives.  Therefore His joy and delight are in us, and our joy and gladness are overflowing!

• I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in my Name...but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full and complete.

It is clear in both of these passages that our joy does depend on our ability to ask and receive from the Father what we are asking.  Therefore, Jesus emphasizes this by the verb tense of the Greek word translated ask - ask and keep on asking.  Faith is not for the faint hearted.  We can't be wimps and expect everything to go as we plan or think it should go.  We must line ourselves up with the Word of God, and we must ask and continue to ask with faith knowing that God will perform His Word.  Our joy is dependent on believing that God is faithful, He cannot lie, and He will work His Word!

• I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [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].

Again, I believe that this passage emphasizes the joy that Jesus has in us.  He is reminding the disciples and us in this passage that we belong to Him, and He will keep us.  He wants us to know that no matter what unfolds or takes place, He is watching over us with complete joy as we walk out this life with faith and obedience to Him.

You've heard that expression, "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"?  Well, in this case, "If Jesus ain't happy ain't nobody happy!"  (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)  Truly, His joy brings us joy.  It is our strength!

Scriptures for reference and study: Psalm 16:11; John 15:4-11; John 16:19-24; John 17:7-13