Romans 15:13 (NKJV)-13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 (NKJV)-17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The other night I was watching Rodney Howard Brown by accident in an interview. I have never really followed his ministry or knew much about him. I know there has been some controversy in the past. If you saw some of his meetings there are times when people are overcome with holy laughter. That seems to characterize a lot of his meetings. I’m not here to judge the man of God or his meetings. If people are getting saved, healed, and set free I’m all for that. What about this Holy Ghost laughter?
I’m a proud grandad and I love to watch my grandkids. Our little AnnaJoy has a great smile and an infectious laugh. Her name fits her perfectly. Look at what Jesus said in Matthew. Matthew 18:2-3 (NKJV)-2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. What is Jesus saying? What are children like? They are trusting, pure, innocent, and uninhibited. They are eager to learn and express themselves. God is calling us to have childlike faith but not be childish. Kids giggle and laugh a lot. They are just filled with joy. Especially if Christ lives in their hearts.
Who doesn’t like laughter? The Bible tells us that a merry heart does good like a medicine. Wouldn’t the world be a better place with more joy and laughter? (Prov. 17:22). The Bible has a lot to say about joy and even laughter. It tells us in Psalm 2:4 (NKJV)-4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. Nehemiah 8:10, tells us the Joy of the Lord is our strength. We are living in stressful and challenging times. It is easy to be overwhelmed by trials and tribulations. Do you know heaven is filled with joy, and singing? Revelation 4:9-11 (NKJV)-9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” God has given us the capacity and the grace to give Him praise and worship. The ability to rejoice in Him no matter what. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:4 (NKJV)-4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Some may have not seen this scripture in Deuteronomy 28:47 (NKJV)-47 “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, God is calling us to serve Him with joy and gladness of heart! We need to smile and laugh more! Who wants to be like a sour lemon or an old prune? Just saying. Psalm 126:1-2 (NKJV)-1 When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream.2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
Throughout the Old Testament, there is much singing, rejoicing, and dancing among the people of God. 1 Samuel 18:6 (NKJV)-6 Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. There is something about praise and worship and the presence of God. The glory of God and its effect on people. Sometimes we cry, or we laugh or we are quiet in His presence. Look at 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (NKJV)-13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God. Also in Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)-11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
If the Holy Spirit is moving in a service and people are being prayed for and they start to laugh there must be a reason for it. Many are so bound up spiritually, dealing with grief, sorrow, or carrying a heavy burden that they need to laugh. They need to rejoice. They need to experience freedom. Look at Isaiah 51:11 (NKJV)-11 So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Can I say that the Holy Spirit is a joyful Spirit?
- Psalm 30:11-12 (NKJV)-11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
- Psalm 4:7 (NKJV)-7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
- 1 Peter 1:8 (NKJV)-8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
Honestly, I need more of the Lord’s Joy operating in my life. Do you know one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy? (Gal 5:22-23). I guess I do not have to pray for more joy but operate in the Joy I have and learn to release that joy. In 1 John 1:4 (NKJV)-4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. We can release joy in praise and worship, in the reading of scriptures, and in times of prayer. Another way is remembering past victories in how God has brought us through, healed, and delivered us. Psalm 105:3-5 (NKJV)-3 Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!4 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!5 Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, Remembering what God has done is a powerful thing!
I think it’s important that we don’t seek laughter in and of itself or seek experiences but seek the Lord. We need to be led by the Spirit of God. He knows what we need every day. We do not need to put God in a box or be limited by man-made traditions. We need to be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I like Genesis 21:6 (NKJV)-6 And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” This is when she gave birth to Isaac in her old age. How about Job 5:21-22 (NKJV)-21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, And you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes.22 You shall laugh at destruction and famine, And you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth. Holy Ghost, help us to laugh at the enemy. Let us not let the devil steal our Joy! Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time to laugh! (Eccl 3:4).
God has given us the gift of natural laughter but there are times when the Holy Spirit gives us a burst of heavenly laughter. This may happen at home or in a church service. Psalm 42:11 (KJV)-11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Nothing like a countenance filled with joy and holy laughter. Sometimes we are just too serious and inhibited to rejoice before the Lord. Maybe just too prideful? Look in 2 Samuel 6:14-15 (KJV)-14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. Wow, what a sight to behold. King David rejoiced before the presence of the Lord. He didn’t care what anybody thought. What was important was the presence of God. The return of the Ark of the Covenant to its rightful place. David’s cup was overflowing- Psalm 23:5 (KJV)-5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
You know joy can be times of great contentment, a wonderful peace that overcomes you. It can be a settled feeling in your spirit where you are not moved by difficult situations. It can be an assurance that God powerfully is with you. It can be a lingering smile on your face. One of the great things of Joy is knowing that your sins are forgiven. Psalm 32:1 (NKJV)-1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV)-11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. It doesn’t always have to be expressed in laughter but it can be. I’ll close with this scripture found in Jude 1:24-25 (NKJV)-24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen. What a joyful day it will be when we see Jesus face to face.
In Christ’s love;
Brent and Linda
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