Juicy Fruit
Taste the goodness of a spirit-filled life
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- That means you don’t produce the fruit—the Holy Spirit does.
- It grows when you stay connected to Jesus.
Juicy Fruit: Joy
Joy doesn’t just show up by accident, you have to be intentional about it.
Joy isn’t a feeling you fall into— it’s something God produces in you.
- So if your joy disappears every time life gets hard… that’s not real joy… that’s just a fleeting emotion.
Holy Spirit Joy: Is an inner gladness that isn’t controlled by outward circumstances.
- The bible defines joy as the confidence in what God has already done for you.
- Joy is an inner CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY in who you are in Christ.
- This joy CANNOT be stolen or taken unless we allow it to be.
Joy Unspeakable
Hebrews 12:1-3 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Jesus wasn’t just walking toward a cross… He was RUNNING a race… and He could see the finish line.
And what did He see?
- He saw redemption finished… He saw sin broken… He saw death defeated
- He saw you. That’s the joy set before Him. NOT the cross and pain… but you!
And that’s why Hebrews says: “Fix your eyes on Jesus…”
- Because the same way He ran His race— is the same way you run yours.
- You don’t run based on what you FEEL. You run based on what you BELIEVE.
Acts 16:25 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
1 Peter 1:8 “…you are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…”
Joy isn’t based on where you are, it’s based on who’s with you.
The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength
Nehemiah 8:10 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.”
Nehemiah says: “Do not grieve… for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
- Why? Because they just realized something bigger than their failure—
- God had not abandoned them…
- God has not abandoned you… He’s calling you back to him…
Psalm 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
- Joy comes in the morning doesn’t mean the night was short—
- IT means the NIGHT DIDN’T WIN!
How do I keep my STRENGTH in the night until God brings the morning?
1. HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU KNOW
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
- When you’re in a dark season… You don’t follow your feelings—you hold onto truth.
2. STAY CLOSE, EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
- In the night, you don’t need to do more… You just need to stay close to God.
3. KEEP MOVING, EVEN IF IT’S SLOW
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Morning comes when God steps in.
There is a moment… when God says, “Enough is enough… this season is over…
this weight is lifting… this night is breaking…”
- And when God speaks morning— darkness has to move.
Joy Will Rise
John 16:22–24 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Jesus says: There is a joy that CANNOT be taken.
- Why? Because it’s rooted in things that don’t move:
- KNOW WHO YOUR GOD IS…
- KNOW YOUR IDENTITY… YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD…
- KNOW WHAT YOUR FUTURE HOLDS… ETERNITY WITH GOD…
- When your joy is tied to what cannot be taken, JOY WILL RISE.
Psalm 126:5 “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.”
John 16:22,24 No one will take your joy from you… And your joy will be complete.
That word complete means brought to fullness… fulfilled… lacking nothing.
- Not partial joy. Not moment-based joy. Fullness of JOY…
This is how we know if we have the joy of the Lord – when the storms of life hit, what happens? Storms in life don’t create weakness… they expose shallow roots.
- So when the storm comes— If your joy is rooted in anything other than God… the storm will uproot you.
- That kind of joy doesn’t just struggle… it gets taken.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
So when the storm comes now— it may shake you… but it can’t uproot you.
- TRUST and be CONFIDENT!
- IN EVERY SEASON YOU WILL BEAR FRUIT.
- STAY ROOTED IN CHRIST!
Who is your life rooted in? You can’t produce any of this anyway.
What is your joy rooted in? Have you lost your joy?
Connect to Jesus today.