Full Joy
From Pastor Shemalya King
“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” - John 15:11
The joy of the Lord will remain in every believer as they abide in Christ. A believer is referenced as a branch (for understanding) and Jesus as the vine (for understanding). Naturally, a branch is only a fruit bearer–a source to display and hold the fruit of the vine. Others can partake from the branch the fruit that the vine produces. We see that, as a branch CANNOT produce its own fruit without the vine, neither can a believer produce “fruit” without Christ. The fruits of a natural vine are as follows: apples, oranges, plums, etc. But the fruit of Christ–the Spiritual Vine–is righteousness. No one can produce righteousness without Christ.
Jesus declared that those who remain in Him and He in them will bear MUCH FRUIT (not just a little)--John 15:5. When much fruit comes forth, God is glorified because He's the husbandman. Each is also vetted as a disciple of Christ. (John 15:1, 8).
As long as a believer abides in Christ, His words will also abide (remain) in him/her. If His words remain in the believer, Jesus declares that he/she can make any request they want and that request will be answered (John 15:7). Let's not glaze over this promise (I didn't make it up).
Jesus taught that if a disciple will keep His commandments, he/she will abide in His love. The commandment He is referring to is to love one another; not any kind of way, but the same way that Jesus showed love to His disciples–sacrificially.
What should speak loudly is that HE said, “This is why I'm telling you these things: so that My joy might remain in you AND your joy might be full.” (paraphrased: John 15:11).
NOTE: The disciples would be in Christ after His return to them as the Comforter–to remain with them forever (John 14:16-20; 16:22). From that point on, remaining in Him will take the continual fight of faith–not allowing the enemy to cause them to stop believing and fall away from God as Adam and Eve did. Today, Christ still comes to every believer in the person of the Comforter to abide and to cause righteousness to spring forth.
Is your joy full?
Most scripture came from John 15:1-12.
