The Fight for Joy

Fight the good fight of faith. 1Ti 6:12 

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Joh 15:11  

And your joy no man taketh from you. Joh 16:22 

What Remains

Joy is deep.

It is not happiness, that fluttering of wild mirth.

Joy is high, it stirs the soul, it pierces the spirit, it settles finally into a halcyon contentment.

On another level joy pans into wisdom, of which Job struggled to catch in chapter 28.

“What is wisdom?” he poses, before he plunges into that shimmering poetics.

There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:

The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. Job 28:7-8

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? 

Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. Job 28:12-13  

Yet believing is the joy, because there is another who is altogether lovely.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1Co 1:30  

In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:3   

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power. Col 2:10  

The Triumph of Joy

It is a treasure we find, a treasure we sell everything and buy it. It is then that the fight begins.

The flesh wants his way, and the world, and the devil.

But the triumph is of God. “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place” (2Co 2:14).  

We fight, we flee, we mortify, we crucify, we beat hard our bodies. But we don’t despair.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. 2Co 4:8-9  

As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed.

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2Co 6:9-10  

Why this Joy is worth Fighting for

Because it is precious.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. 1Pe 2:4  

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2 

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Heb 13:14  

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1Co 2:9  

Because it is a life far superior to the present.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2Co 4:17-18  

Because it is a love that is beyond knowledge.

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Eph 3:16-19  

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Joh 3:16  

Prison and Freedom

Man was beautiful in his infancy. But after sin came, the prison doors opened. War entered, and hate, and death and the grave. But Christ has come and reconciled us back to God.

This is Amazing grace!

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
This grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun

Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see


The Bride and the Husband

Marriage is for life.

The old has passed away, and behold, all things are become new.

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. 

And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. Hos 2:14-15  

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. 

I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. Hos 2:19-20  

For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 

For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 

For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. Isa 54:5-7 

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. 

For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. Isa 62:4-5  

For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2Co 11:2  

May the joy of the LORD be your strength.

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