1 John 1:1–4 (NKJV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
The “Joy of the Lord” is only in the acceptance of Him as Savior and Lord. If what the writers of the New Testament penned is true, and it is, then the only true joy found in life is in Jesus Christ Himself.
John says he write that our “joy may be full.” The acceptance of Jesus is not just having a head knowledge of Him. It is knowing Christ and experiencing Him. Many have great head knowledge of Jesus. Just as Satan knows the Bible through and through, so do many “professing” Christians. Satan is spending eternity in Hell. So will many “professing” Christians.
Watch the people who come to a worship service. What is their focus? For many their focus is the music, or the temperature of the room, it may be who is present, how others are dressed, etc., etc., etc.,
The Joy of the Lord is not present. It is not present in the worship service because Jesus is not truly worshiped.
To know Jesus is to have Jesus dwell in our lives. There is no joy in the life of a professing Christian who does not know Jesus.
As Christian persecution grows in America, we will see who has truly accepted Jesus. We are already seeing this.
Matthew 24:10–13 “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”
The Joy of the Lord is not found in a person who does not have the Lord living in his life. The joy of the Lord is not manipulated by external means. True joy comes from a real and living Christ in our lives.