What is this thing called joy? Where does it come from? Why is it missing from the lives of so many Christians?
God's salvation brings joy because it brings the person of all joy--Jesus, to reside in our hearts in the person of the Other Jesus without a body, the Holy Spirit. Joy is resident in every Christian's heart, but it is a daily lifestyle of praise and worship that unleashes or releases joy.
Do you have joy in your life? Would those who know you best describe you as one who is overflowing with joy? Do you know Jesus--the person of all joy? If you know him, have you lost the joy of your salvation?
In Joy – Heaven’s Serious Business, Wade Trimmer guides us through a wonderful study of biblical joy. Knowing Jesus intimately, loving and cherishing him for who he is, and seeing him as he is evokes spontaneous praise and worship, which brings forth both joy of soul for the believer and glory to God.
Two sisters were members of the same church, but they had contrasting dispositions. In fact, their dispositions were so different that the people nicknamed one “Gloomy” and the other “Glory.” If people had to call you by one of these nicknames according to your disposition, which one would they likely use? (page 39)
Romans 5:11 states that “…we joy in the atonement.”
Salvation and the joy it brings is not achieved but received. When it is
received the child of God is from necessity a joyful person. His sins are
forgiven, his soul is justified, his person is adopted, his trials are
blessings, his troubles are triumphs, his death is immortality and Heaven, the
place of boundless joy is his final home!”
(page 30)
Stagnant experience—the piety of the pond—is not of God. His
salvation flows in endless freshness.
(page 31)
Salvation isn’t just missing Hell and going to Heaven, or getting in on certain blessings – it is getting to know in an intimate way the living God and learning to glorify Him by enjoying Him. Paul writes in Romans 14:17 that “the kingdom of heaven is not a matter of eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” He prays in Romans 15:13 that “the God of all hope may fill you with joy and peace in believing. “ He writes in Galatians 5:22 that the “fruit of the Spirit is love and joy!”
We have had a four-square and a full-gospel church, but God’s desire
and design is a WHOLE GOSPEL church filled with Good News Believers! God
desires that His Church recovers and is captivated and motivated with a passion
for His-Story – the Big, Good News Story that’s played out on the
stage of life with a God-entranced view of the world; that’s hope-filled,
joy-abounding, Spirit-empowered, Christ-exalting, and devil-crushing, and
world-conquering! A dangerous, demanding, yet supremely delightful and
destiny-fulfilling God-authored, Christ-centered, cross-shaped, and
resurrection empowered – WHOLE GOSPEL that is not just in word only
– but in the Holy Spirit with much assurance!
(page 32)
God’s salvation brings joy because it brings the person of all
joy—Jesus, to reside in our hearts in the person of the Other Jesus
without a body, the Holy Spirit. Joy is resident in every Christian’s
heart, but it is a daily lifestyle of praise and worship that unleashes or
releases joy.
(page 40)
For more information about the author, Wade Trimmer, and the ministry, Training for Reigning Institute of Disciple Making, please click here