n John 20 verse 21 Jesus tells us: "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. (NIV)
In Acts Barnabas and Paul are beside themselves that people in Derbe are going to sacrifice an animal to them treating them like gods. Then he went on to say, "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy." (NIV)
In Act 16 Silas and Paul were witnessing to a slave girl who had demon inside her and she would predict the future and her owner made money for her skill. When she was healed the owner became angry and through the town into an uproar and took Silas and Paul the Magistrate the flog them and put them in the inner most part of prison and locked the feet in stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening the them. (NIV) I contend in an inner joy in them caused them to pray and to sing.
Paul question the Galatians asking them "What has happened to your joy? Why did ask this because the false teaching crept into the fellowship and started teaching false doctrines and lead them to consider another way to god. (NIV)
In Philippians 1:25-26 Paul is teaching the Philippians and says, "I am Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me." (NIV)
In Philippians 4:4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praise worthy--think about such thing.
[/I] (NIV)
In I Thessalonians in chapter 1 Paul thanking God for how he has taken care of them and how they obeying in the faith Paul says, For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because of our gospel came to you not simply with words, but with the power of the Holy Spirit and with conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message the joy given by the Holy Spirit.[/I] (NIV)
In I Peter 1:3-7 Peter says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?" According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ for the dead, to an inheritance that imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded "through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, as was necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that parishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)
I John 1:4 says, "And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."
II John 1:12 [/B]"Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use pen and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
(ESV)
I contend that a sad Christian is contradiction in terms. Christians look to their salvation to their future resurrection. We hold on the promises God has given us and believe them. I came to came to Christ I wanted him heal all of me and every aspect of my life.
Isaiah 35; Isaiah 57:15; Jeremiah 29:10-14; Hebrews 13:5-6; Hosea 61-3; Habakkuk 3:17-19; Zephaniah 3:16-17; Roman 8; John 1:12; Galatians 6:20; Psalm 42 & 73; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Timothy 6:11-16; Titus 2:11-14; Titus 3:3-7
When think about these verses and passages fill me with great hope and that hope fills me with joy because I know my God is true and keeps every promise he ever made. I may have ALS but I am content with my life and no one can tell me otherwise. Read my personal blog below is the address.
A Grace Filled Life
