Champions Of Christ Church Community Group
This is a church, but online! Most people view a church as the building you go to for worship. NOT TRUE. In the beginning, it was a community that shared things. This is a church. A web-based community who can share with others. Feel free to ask questions. There are no "dumb" questions. How will you know unless you ask. I only ask that you have JOY. (Respect of Jesus,...
So everyone in here must know this: The moments you are full of joy. So much happiness and such a calm feeling. All because of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
However, often when I have this feeling, a question pops up:
''Is this a unique feeling?''
With that I mean: ''Is it true that this joy can only be found in Christ? What about all the other people that find joy in their religion? What is it about this joy that makes me ''blessed'' by Christ, whilst many other people may experience the same thing whilst not even knowing Him?''
I learned not too long ago that what we ''feel'' does not necessarily determine the state of our Spirit. For some reason, however, I am not truly satisfied with this answer. How do you approach this?
God bless!
However, often when I have this feeling, a question pops up:
''Is this a unique feeling?''
With that I mean: ''Is it true that this joy can only be found in Christ? What about all the other people that find joy in their religion? What is it about this joy that makes me ''blessed'' by Christ, whilst many other people may experience the same thing whilst not even knowing Him?''
I learned not too long ago that what we ''feel'' does not necessarily determine the state of our Spirit. For some reason, however, I am not truly satisfied with this answer. How do you approach this?
God bless!
Great discussion. I wanted to add my thoughts here about joy.
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. See in Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Being that joy is fruit of the Spirit, I believe no non-believer can experience this joy. You have to have the Spirit of God in you to have fruit of joy.
Then there were thoughts of joy leaving us. The reason we have no joy is because we are not doing according to what Apostle Paul said in Philippians 4
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Joy is not a feeling by a fruit of the Spirit. Let's remember that we can not live by feelings but by the Spirit.
We need to walk in the Spirit not our flesh.
When Apostle Paul decribes our flesh at times he decribes negative feelings as in Ephesians 4
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice
I believe we can have the fruit of Joy in our lives while mourning over death of a loved one. One will say how can mourning and joy be in the same place. I am not sure how to explain it, but I have experience this in the last 6 months with the death of 2 family members. One of the joys is knowing you will see them again because they were born again through Jesus Christ.
Joy is something no one can take away from you. You are the only one who can stop rejoicing in Christ.
I find so much strength in the Joy of the Lord. I have physical health problems, it is through HIS joy I have strength. As in Nehemiah 8:10b
for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
We all can have joy through our trials. This is how God gave us the ability to get through the trials by rejoicing in HIM and having hope in HIM that we will get through the trials and tribulations.
Thank you for letting me share my thoughts on joy.
May you have a rejoicful day in the Lord!
Your sister in Christ,
HopeNHim