There is rich joy and peace for those who are following Jesus as disciples.
The joy and the peace are not like the world, coming from the outside.
Rather the joy and peace of God come from the soul that is being inspired by God.
The world derives its joys from eating and drinking but the denying self, hating their own life disciple that is following Jesus is given joy by the power of God.
God’s power protects, inspires and refreshes those who are seeking to be righteous by doing the will of God as communicated by the voice of the Holy Spirit.
In order for God to fill you up with His righteousness, peace and joy you must also be surrendered to letting God fill you up with the sufferings of Jesus.
The joys of Jesus and the sufferings of Jesus are worked at the same time in various ways and degrees each day.
Anyone claiming to be a Christian but has not the signs of sufferings and joys of Jesus being pressed into their lives is not a disciple of Jesus. There has to be the “if” to have righteousness, peace and joy.
Summary
If you follow Jesus, God, has both joy and suffering planned out for you that is according to His perfect loving will. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:4-11)
Cultural Christianity seeks to preach a Jesus without the suffering for and by the hand of God. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. (Philippians 3:18)
Timothy Williams
Because Jesus Said “Sit Down”
www.luke1425.org
