The Joy of God

How Can I have It?

This week, I want to drill down deeper on this subject of joy. After the overwhelming response to the teaching on God's Gift of Joy, I realize there are so many who are struggling in this area of life.

Let's begin with the area of repentance. Is it the cause or effect of salvation? Repentance is not simply feeling sorry for my sins. Here is a great definition for repentance:

To change; to turn; to change one's mind; to turn one's life. It is a turning away from sin and turning toward God. It is a change of mind, a forsaking of sin. It is putting sin out of one's thoughts and behavior. It is resolving never to think or do a thing again. (Cp. Matthew 3:2; Luke 13:2-3; Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19; Acts 8:22; Acts 26:20.) - Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary

But be very careful here, for repentance is not the cause of your forgiveness and therefore your joy, it is the result! Listen to these words from Oswald Chambers:

The only reason for the forgiveness of our sins by God, and the infinite depth of His promise to forget them, is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the result of our personal realization of the atonement by the Cross of Christ, which He has provided for us.

The Apostle Paul said it this way:

Everything that we have-right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start-comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:30 (MSG)

Then Oswald concludes his thought by saying:

Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us, the limitless joy of God begins in us. And wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is still in effect. So, is there an area of your life where you're not experiencing joy? If there is, it's because you have not yet realized that attitude or mind set's death in you by its death in the sacrifice of Christ.

You can have a fresh start today by taking that fear, relationship, anger, depression, hurt, hang-up, or habit, or whatever it may be and literally receive God's joy over it through the Cross of Christ.

Joyfully!

Pastor Steve


Coming Next: Satan's Attempts to Destroy Our Joy