Joy! This is an often overlooked benefit of our Kingdom citizenship. In our previous kingdom (the world), the best we could have was happiness; and that kingdom promoted happiness and the pursuit of it, as a way of life.
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice”
The problem is that happiness comes from the English word happenstance, which is the same word for circumstance. So happiness is a result of happenings. If something good happens, we can be happy, if something bad happens we can be sad. That is truly no way to live. You are up today and down tomorrow, happy this week and sad next week.
We live in an ever changing and often frustrating environment, so if our state of well-being is contingent upon circumstances, you can easily see that our lives will be an emotional roller-coaster. The good news is that we don’t have to abide by the system of the old kingdom. Once we are born-again into the Kingdom of God, then we can learn about and apply His benefits.
One of the benefits of our life in this new Kingdom is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
One of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. Joy is not happiness. Joy is a calm delight and an exceeding gladness. It is both quiet confidence and celebratory praise. It can be a gentle whisper or a colossal roar. It is both peace and power wrapped into one
This joy is inherent to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in the lives of born-again believers. Since the Holy Spirit is always there for us to access, then His joy is always there for us to tap into.
Summary:
- The best that our old kingdom can offer is happiness.
- Happiness is a result of happenings.
- Our new Kingdom offers joy, from the Holy Spirit, as one of its benefits.
- As a born-again believer, I have the right to claim this benefit and the access to the Holy Spirit required tapping into JOY.
- This joy can give me calm delight and quiet confidence; and also exceeding gladness and celebratory praise.
- The old kingdom only offers happiness for good things that happen. After the good event is over, then that happiness is over. They can never re-happy!
- The Holy Spirit is in me and I can always tap into His benefits. No matter how I feel and no matter how bad things may look, I can always tap into this joy. I can always re-Joice, but the world can never re-happy!
Are you struggling with some issues in your life? Are you having a rough week? Are you frustrated here and there? Then why not tap into this benefit? It is your right as a citizen of the Kingdom of God to stake claim on your benefits.
Nehemiah 8:10; Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, I am a born-again believer. I have been born into Your Kingdom and have a right to all the benefits therein. One of the benefits of this new Kingdom is joy. I stake a claim on this benefit this morning and declare that I walk in the joy of the Lord. I will not allow happenings to derail me from enjoying my joy! The Holy Spirit is with me and His joy is overtaking me today and every day. I will never be the same. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
For Additional Information
Please see my book
(03) Covenant Claiming Covenant Citizenship Benefits and Inheritance
