Joy From The Son Who Pleases His Father Christian Joy Seekers Joy From The Son Who Pleases His Father

From Trust To Joy “We’re never so vulnerable that when we trust someone – but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy.” --Walter Anderson

Finding Joy Through Jesus The Son Matthew 13:44-46 – “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

The Kingdom Of Heaven Like a hidden treasure unearthed – unexpected, unsought, but found. Like a precious pearl – carefully sought, diligent effort. Both cases, sold everything they had to obtain that one precious thing which was a source of great joy.

True Conversion To Christ Only with that full surrender could the treasure be obtained. Nominal Christians think they have been converted. Yet drunks on the street think they’re converted. Adulterers in illicit relationships think they’re converted. Those who never attend worship, or do so only twice a year, think they’re converted. Have they surrendered all?

Why Is Conversion Needed? Starts with the fact that creatures owe absolute allegiance to their Creator Yet because of sin we dishonor our Creator. Romans 1:25 – “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

We Fall Short Through Sin As we fail God, we sever our joyful relationship with Him. The result of our sin is death and dishonor. Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And So We Encounter God’s Wrath Romans 1:18-21 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness….For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks….

Standing Before God In Judgment Two things One: Did you not see in creation that creatures owe absolute obedience to their Creator because of His love and devotion to them? Two: Did you love and obey your Creator in proportion to His love, mercy and grace?

Our Need For Christ God, in His righteousness, must punish sin. God in His mercy provided an alternative victim. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 – “…but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Romans 3:25-26 “…whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Jesus The Joy Bringer 2 Corinthians 5:21 -- He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Romans 8:3 – …sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh…. 1 Peter 2:24 -- and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin…. 1 Peter 3:18 – …For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.”

How Do We Accept That Gift? Acts 2:38 – “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

And What About Joy? Is Christ your greatest joy? Of Jesus, the root of Jesse, Paul says: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY…

Joy Inexpressible! I Peter 1:8 – “…and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory….”

Reunion With God IS JOY Jude 1:24-25 – “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.