Having seen that the Holy Spirit is given to God's children in answer to prayer, we are continuing to examine how (it therefore follows) prayer is linked to the production of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We have seen Scriptures relating to Love (Reason #38) and to Peace (Reason #11). This week our focus is on the relationship between prayer and joy.
In our text, Jesus is talking to His disciples about the day when He would depart to be with the Father, and the Spirit of truth would come (John 16:13). He indicates that the Spirit will produce in them joy in its fullness as they come to God in prayer and receive the things for which they have asked. So there is a link between being filled with the Spirit, praying in the Spirit and having fullness of joy in the Spirit.
We probably don't often think about this subject of joy, though we are commanded to be joyful as believers in the Lord Jesus (Philippians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16). If we examine the Scriptures more thoroughly, we see that this joy that should characterize a believer is a wonderful thing. It is not to be confused with the "happiness" of the world (which is dependent upon our circumstances, temporary and often very shallow), since it is something the Holy Spirit produces in us. This joy persists even in the midst of sorrowful situations (2 Corinthians 6:10) and therefore is something the believer can and should know at all times. Sadly, many modern churches have confused worldly happiness with godly joy - something which we see very often in what purports to be worship in these places. We see emotions whipped up and manipulated to create a temporary effect on the participants, which passes away soon after the meeting concludes.
In contrast, the joy of the Bible is described in wonderful terms - as being "inexpressible and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8) and as being the strength of those who possess it (Nehemiah 8:10). Why is this the case? It is because the transformed heart of the believer loves God above all things, and desires Him and His presence. In all the passages we have been mentioning, the focus is on the salvation that God has provided, and in the glorious being of God, His gracious presence in the life of every true believer and His faithfulness to keep every promise that He has made to them. Here is glory, something indescribably wonderful. Here is something durable, here is something that time and circumstances can never take away.
Here is Matthew Henry's comment on our text: That hereby [in the disciples' practice of prayer] their joy shall be full. This denotes, First. The blessed effect of the prayer of faith; it helps to fill up the joy of faith. Would we have our joy full, as full as it is capable of being in this world, we must be much in prayer. When we are told to rejoice evermore, it follows immediately, Pray without ceasing. See how high we are to aim in prayer—not only at peace, but joy, a fulness of joy. Or, Secondly, The blessed effects of the answer of peace: "Ask, and you shall receive that which will fill your joy." God's gifts, through Christ, fill the treasures of the soul, they fill its joy, Prov. 8:21. "Ask for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and you shall receive it; and whereas other knowledge increaseth sorrow (Eccl. 1:18), the knowledge he gives will increase, will fill, your joy."
Here is the remarkable thing for us to contemplate this week - this deep, indescribably glorious, abiding, strengthening, spiritual joy is produced in us by the Holy Spirit and it grows to fullness in us as we pray! Surely this is a good reason for us to be in prayer! To the extent we neglect prayer and immerse ourselves in the world, our experience of this joy and its glory will diminish - but to the extent we are in true prayer before the Lord, our experience of this joy will be ours in increasing measure. This is not unimportant (remember, we are commanded by our Lord to have this ceaseless, full joy) but as with all God's commands, the keeping of this one produces a very sweet result in the lives of His children!