“Joy…Rejoice…grace” all are related, they come from the same Greek ROOT Word! They are relatives.
Joy is to Deligtht in God’s Grace- The conscious Favor of God! Gladness of heart!
Consider this…
“xaírō (from the root xar-, “favorably disposed, leaning towards” and cognate with /xáris, “grace”) – properly, to delight in God’s grace (“rejoice”) – literally, to experience God’s grace (favor), be conscious (glad) for His grace. xaírō (“glad for grace“) has a direct “etymological connection with xaris (grace)” (DNTT, 2, 356). S. Zodhiates (Dict, 1467). likewise comments that xará (“joy”) and /xáris (“grace”) are cognate with /xaírō (“to rejoice”), i.e. all share the same root and therefore the same core (fundamental) meaning.”-{Help Word studied- Greek Lexicon for Philippians 3:1}.
THE FOUDATION OF JOY;
JOY IS RELATIONAL-“FOR THE rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him.”-{Philippians 3:1 Amplified Bible.}
THE FRUIT OF JOY;
JOY IS PERMANENT– “I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing” –{John 15:11-Amplied Bible}
JOY IS STRENGTHENING– “ Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.-{refuge, stronghold}” – { Nehemiah 8:10}
JOY BECAUSE OF INSIGHT/ Understanding– “Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].“ -{James 1:2-3 Amplified bible}. The word “Consider” is sometimes translated “count” and speaks of examing, scrutinizing…
JOY IS PRODUCED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD– Who is only Given to followers of Christ- Rom 8: ; – “ But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness “-{Galatians 5:22}
JOY DELIGHTS IN THE EXALTATION OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST PROCLAIMED ABOVE PERSONAL ATTACK– “ but the former preach Christ [insincerely] out of selfish ambition [just self-promotion], thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment. What then [does it matter]? So long as in every way, whether in pretense [for self-promotion] or in all honesty [to spread the truth], Christ is being preached; and in this I rejoice.“ -{ Phil 1:17-18 Amplief Bible}.
JOY IN THE WORD OF GOD –” –“ The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eye.”-{Psalm 19:8}
JOY IN SERVICE- WORSHIP – “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness and delight; Come before His presence with joyful singing.”-{Psalm 100:1-2}
JOY PRODUCED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT– “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy,…“-{Galatians 5:22}
Paul Commands the Christian to Rejoice and Continue to Rejoice in the Lord! And only the Follower of Christ can.
The nonbeliever may speak of “positive thinking” and the problem they have is they have no firm eternal foundation to do so to stand on, to build on, namely- the Word of God, His promises and the Intercessory and Advocacy of the LORD Jesus Christ on their behalf.
They are without God. Without a personal relationship with the One true and Living God through the LORD Jesus Christ. They are like a car without an engine- No power to please God because they are without the One who is the Source of Power in the Spiritual realm, the Holy Spirit! They are without spiritual power as they are without the Spirit of Joy- The Holy Spirit to enlighten and empower them for the ability to rejoice as the various reasons above show as His follower who are in a right relationship with God EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH our LORD Jesus -{ Read Romans 5:1-2; John 14:6},
As His follower you have REASONS and POWER to DELIGHT in the Gracious favor of God to you found exclusively in your relationship “IN The LORD” WHICH IS THE SPHERE of JOY. And you have the Spirit of God gifting you the POWER to DELIGHT IN THE GRACIOUS ETERNAL FAVOR THAT HAS BEEN GIFTED TO YOU “IN THE LORD!”
May you delight in God’s grace towards you as you recount the character of God as revealed in His Word– The Bible, and the many reasons , some listed above to think on and use as a springboard to delight in the graciousness of God’s favor towards you!!
Here is a prayer for you and one you can pray for others.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”-{Romans 15:13}
God bless,
Aidan,