Spiritual joy is not an emotion like natural joy.  As we saw in last week’s study, natural joy is the feeling derived from some pleasure, delight, success, accomplishment, etc.  Spiritual joy, on the other hand, is derived from the Lord.  

However, as natural joy is manifested in your feelings and emotions, so spiritual joy is also manifested in your life, though not as an emotion.  Before we see the ways that spiritual joy is manifested in your life, let’s look at some of the things that yield spiritual joy.

Things that bring joy:

Salvation of souls – Lk 15:7, 10; 1 Thes 2:19, Acts 15:3, we rejoice when see souls saved and when we hear of other souls who have been saved.

Getting right – Ps 30:5; being in right relation with God Ps 32:11.  There is great joy in being in a right relationship with God.

Answered prayer – Jn 16:23-24.  We certainly rejoice when God answers prayer.  Often many other people rejoice when God answers prayer, as well.

Bearing fruit – Jn 15:11.  There is joy in bearing the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of the word, and the fruit of God’s righteousness in our lives.

Children walking in truth – 3 Jn 4.  Not only so we rejoice when souls are saved, but we also rejoice when we hear that they are walking in truth.

Victory – Ps 35:8-9.  There is great joy when God delivers us from something.

Note: You can have this joy despite persecution – Acts 13:49-52

Here are some ways that spiritual joy is manifested in your life:

Your heart is merry – Prov 15:13 a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.

Your mouth sings – Ps 71:23; your lips rejoice and sing; Ps 98:4 you make a joyful noise, a loud noise, and sing praises.

Your spirit rejoices – Lk 1:47 Mary said, “My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour;” Lk 10:21 Jesus rejoiced in spirit.

Your tears dry up – Is 51:11 when you “obtain gladness and joy… sorrow and mourning… flee away.” See also Ps 30:5.

Your burden is lighter – Heb 13:17 watching for the souls of others can be a burden.  When they obey, you “do it with joy, and not with grief.”  Joy helps you work with a lighter burden.