A Minister of JOY will wear many hats and may be known by other names such as Counselors of Peace and Helpers of JOY. So what is a Minister of JOY? Its a modern title for what the following translations of 2 Cor 1:24 express:
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your JOY.
Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your JOY (NASB).
Not because we are lords of your faith, but we are helpers of your JOY (Aramaic).
Not that we rule over your faith, but are fellow-workmen of your JOY (Darby).
Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your JOY (WEB).
Not that we are lords over your faith, but we are workers together with your JOY (YLT).
Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are joint promoters of your JOY (LO).
We are not the boss of your faith but we are working with you to make you happy (NLV).
Notice that the original calling of ministers and pastors was to assist people with JOY. Now let's review the second part of that verse with its first part:
Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your JOY.
Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your JOY (NASB).
Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are fellow workers with you for your JOY (WEB).
Not that we lord it over your faith, but we are joint promoters of your JOY (LO).
We are not the boss of your faith but we are working with you to make you happy (NLV).
See that the first is a warning for believers not to lord over others, and the second a reminder of what a ministers original call and purpose was. This knowledge can reform our efforts as believers and particularly refocus leaders in the body of Christ. Now with this theological Framework of JOY, it is possible! It is envisioned that churches would be converted to "Houses of JOY," and pastors become Ministers of JOY. Ministers of JOY will specialize in one or more of the following ministries:
- Ministry of Laughter
- Ministry of Movement
- Ministry of Breath
- Ministry of Lifestyle
- Ministry of Theology
A Minister of JOY understands the theological Framework of JOY and can administer its teachings and quote pertinent verses to help a person move toward living a JOY-filled life. Depending on their areas of focus, Ministers of JOY would become trained and certified in the following therapies: breathing, movement, singing, lifestyle, diet, remedies, and supplements, including amino acids, vitamins, minerals, herbs, essential oils, and flower essences.
Therapies
Random House Dictionary defines JOY as "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying."
JOY wont be found by going to psychics or in investing in the latest fad; only by experimenting, trying, and exploring the world firsthand will JOY be discovered. Its Gods Earth; everyone on it is His child, and anyone who experiences true JOY is fulfilling His will for his or her life. Every day that we are not experiencing JOY—are not in the process of making it full—is a day lost. So dont waste any time! Now is the time to start!
Therapists describe two core issues that rob most people of their JOY and should be examined and corrected first: not knowing who they really are (identity crisis/true self) and innocence lost (reclaiming the child within). These two areas are the core focus of Ministers of JOY.
True Self
If we have been wired for JOY but are not experiencing JOY, it stands to reason that we are not experiencing our true selves. The worth of learning just who you are is a Pearl of Great Price:
46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it (Matthew 13).
We will know with absolute certainty that we are experiencing our true self when we experience JOYroutinely. How? Hear what Jesus said to His disciples:
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13).
Now substitute love with JOY:
34 A new commandment I give unto you, make your JOY full.
35 By this shall ye know your true self, your JOY will be full (John 13; revision mine).
If we are experiencing true JOY, we then know we are being obedient to Gods will in our life. Remember, it is the will of God that we have JOY, and that our JOY be FULL! John 10:10 describes this perfectly:
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
You know you are living right when you are experiencing JOY. Those not experiencing JOY feel as if their life is passing them by. We are meant to engage this world in the very unique way God designed us and planted within each of us. No two people will have the same path in life. There are no cookie cutter humans when it comes to God. To find our true self is a journey of discovery that comes to each person at different times. Again, no two people are on the same path, therefore, one persons timing will not necessarily be the same as their friend's or neighbor's.
Child Within
It is interesting how many people resonate with the need to find or heal their inner child. Scripture supports the premise:
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19).
He also said that we must become as little children to enter Heaven:
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18).
So finding or healing the child within IS scriptural, which means that Jesus who made us, was aware that a person could become lost and lose their identity along the way. The traditional religious way of saying that is that we must repent. Repent in Greek means to return which traditionally has been interpreted as returning to God. There is another view. If it was all about sin, Jesus could have used any of a number of analogies to juxtapose filth with cleanliness, dark with light, etc. But He chose children, and one of the distinguishing characteristics of children is—they are full of JOY.
The JOY-filled Way views that verse through a new prism:
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted to the concept of JOY, and become full of JOY as little children are, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven, which is a Kingdom of JOY (Matthew 18; revision mine).
There, those who have been faithful to JOY will be rewarded with Everlasting JOY:
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the JOY of thy lord.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the JOY of thy lord (Matthew 25).10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting JOY upon their heads: they shall obtain JOY and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away (Isaiah 35:10).
11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting JOY shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and JOY; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away (Isaiah 51).
7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting JOY shall be unto them (Isaiah 61).
One of the ways to reclaim childhood JOY is by removing awful memories that impede or are in the way:
20 For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the JOY of his heart (Ecclesiastes 5).
Reclaiming the child within may be viewed through the prism of reclaiming JOY rather than the traditional sin against God prism. The one is more abstract, while the other more practical.