Joy refers to a positive attitude or pleasant emotion and delight. Many kinds of joy are reported in the Sacred Scripture/ Holy Bible. This make it difficult to give a simple definition of joy. Even the wicked are said to experience joy in their triumphs over the righteous. Many levels of joy are also described including gladness, contentment and cheerfulness.

But the joy which the people of God should have is holy and pure. This joy rises above circumstances and focuses on the very character of God. In the psalms, for example, the psalmist rejoices over God's righteousness, salvation, mercy, creation, word and faithfulness. God's characteristics as well as His acts are the cause of rejoicing.

The joy required of the righteous person is produced by the Spirit of God. What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy , peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Gal. 5:22 -

This kind of joy looks beyond the present to our future salvation and to our sovereign God who works out all things for our ultimate good which is Christ-likeness and is distinct from mere happiness. Joy like this is possible even in the midst of sorrow.

We have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith God's power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold - only it is more precious than gold which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire - and then you will have praise and glory and honour. - 1Pet. 1:4-8 -

We know that by turning everything to their good God cooperates with all those who love him, with all those that he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified and with those he justified he shared his glory. - Rom. 8:28-30 -

We prove we are God's servants by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by a spirit of holiness, by a love free from affectation; by the word of truth and by the power of God; by being armed with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, prepared for honour or disgrace, for blame or praise; taken for impostors while we are genuine; obscure yet famous; said to be dying and here are we alive; rumoured to be executed before we are sentenced; thought most miserable and yet we are always rejoicing; taken for paupers though we make others rich for people having nothing though we have everything. - 2Cor. 6:7-10 -

I have the very greatest confidence in you and I am so proud of you that in all our trouble I am filled with consolation and my joy is overflowing. - 2Cor. 7:4 -

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Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -