Thaddaeus and to whom it concerns,
What kind of joy has God promised those who trust in Christ, in this life and the one to come? Everybody wants to be happy because that is natural. We will do things and have certain people around us just to be happy. We want to find the right job so we can be happy, the right relationship so we can be happy and even eat the foods that we like to make us happy. People take drugs and use alcohol to make them happy. Many live in immorality and have one night stands to make them happy. Those that have no family seek out love from others to make them feel secure and happy. Why are so many professing Christians so unhappy and suffer with bouts of depression and loneliness?
The following scriptures are not mentioned to bring up a subject that some have reacted to and accused others of judging the brethren. They happen to be scriptures that speak about joy. They are in the Bible and can not be avoided.
1Peter 1:3-10 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you'.
The reason that so many are unhappy is because they don't walk by faith in the word and promises of God and don't want anything from God that would try their faith. They look for happiness and forfeit being filled will joy. I know that because of John 15:11; 'These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full'. Joy is the fruit of being filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18). There is not a believer on this planet that can have the fulness of God's joy without walking by faith and being filled with the Holy Spirit. You just can't have it any other way. You can side-step faith, the promises of God and the Spirit and go after what makes you happy but that is not joy and it will not last and you will not be fulfilled. You know that what I am telling you is true, if you have the Spirit dwelling in you. If you don't have the Spirit, then you need to go to Christ by faith and believe upon His word and His name, who will give the Holy Spirit to you so that your sins can be forgiven and that your joy may be full.
What kind of joy has God promised those who trust in Christ, in this life and the one to come? Everybody wants to be happy because that is natural. We will do things and have certain people around us just to be happy. We want to find the right job so we can be happy, the right relationship so we can be happy and even eat the foods that we like to make us happy. People take drugs and use alcohol to make them happy. Many live in immorality and have one night stands to make them happy. Those that have no family seek out love from others to make them feel secure and happy. Why are so many professing Christians so unhappy and suffer with bouts of depression and loneliness?
The following scriptures are not mentioned to bring up a subject that some have reacted to and accused others of judging the brethren. They happen to be scriptures that speak about joy. They are in the Bible and can not be avoided.
1Peter 1:3-10 'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you'.
The reason that so many are unhappy is because they don't walk by faith in the word and promises of God and don't want anything from God that would try their faith. They look for happiness and forfeit being filled will joy. I know that because of John 15:11; 'These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full'. Joy is the fruit of being filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18). There is not a believer on this planet that can have the fulness of God's joy without walking by faith and being filled with the Holy Spirit. You just can't have it any other way. You can side-step faith, the promises of God and the Spirit and go after what makes you happy but that is not joy and it will not last and you will not be fulfilled. You know that what I am telling you is true, if you have the Spirit dwelling in you. If you don't have the Spirit, then you need to go to Christ by faith and believe upon His word and His name, who will give the Holy Spirit to you so that your sins can be forgiven and that your joy may be full.