Do You Know Abounding Joy with A Spirit Abundantly Alive? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba %

Ephesians 1 reminded us of who we are in Jesus Christ. In Him we are God’s Chosen, Beloved, Redeemed, and Adopted Child of God. Thereby we are the joint heirs with Jesus Christ, sealed and secured by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, we are counted as Saints, righteous because of being cloaked in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Empowered, equipped, and endowed with wisdom from High. All of this because of the Grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. Spiritually, we are made alive. Why would we not know abounding Joy regardless of the circumstances that surround us! How is it that we would not live with peace in our hearts, overflowing with love to others. We did not gain any of this because of our own works. It was purchased by Jesus Christ not us.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:1-6 ESV

Why Do We not Know Abounding Joy from a Spirit that is Abundantly Alive?

Not only did He save us, but has seated us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So, why is it that we do not know abounding joy, flowing forth from a spirit abundantly alive? We were dead spiritually. Not with a little twitching, spark of life to reach out to God. Dead, not moving, not trying to reach God. Salvation was His Work and His Alone. While we think we played some major role in our salvation, we do not truly grasp the magnitude of our own salvation. But why would He do that?

so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

He wants all to see His Glory and more importantly the Glory of His Son.

I am the Lord; that is my name;

my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to carved idols. Isaiah 42:8 ESV

That is why,

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

It is His work and His alone. There is nothing I do for which I can seek my own praise. Until I get that! I just keep on wanting some part of that glory to be mine. Unless I recognise the magnitude of His Grace, I do not grasp how to perform the good works He has prepared me for. And furthermore, I am miserable. Always searching for what I can never obtain. That is unless I surrender myself to Him. Furthermore, I am always critical of those around me. After all, that makes me look better. When I recognize my own inability to save myself, only then can I reach out to another with forgiveness and love.

How Do We Not Show Grace to Others?

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. Ephesians 2:11-16 ESV

We are not in the place to judge any others. Though we want to think of ourselves as better, we really are not without Jesus Christ. It is so easy to be disappointed in the acts of others, but who are we to judge? Most of the time, the very things I would want to point out about another, my thumb points right back at me.

It happens so easily. We take to heart and feel rejected when those we witness to do not seem to hear or follow. As though that is our job. But salvation is of the Lord. Not us we are to not grow weary in well doing.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Or the The Parable of the Seed Growing that Jesus Taught

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29 ESV

Ours is to continue sowing the seed. God is the one who makes it sprout and grow. It is not our part. We are to be light in a dark world. Pointing the way to salvation, not the ones responsible for the outcome. God is. We are to be examples. How? By recognizing who we are in Jesus Christ and that He is most important. When we see who He is, then we stop judging others. It is more than enough to make certain I am following Him, every day. Spending time with Him. Then let Him rule and reign in your heart. He uses every heart that is totally surrendered to Him.

Why Would I Do That?

And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2: 17-22 ESV

Even from Prison, after many years of trials, Paul wrote:

Therefore, my brothers whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:1-9

To Know Abounding Joy, One Must first be Abundantly Alive in Jesus Christ

As Paul also wrote:

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11

do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength Nehemiah 8:10

He is our Joy and His Joy is our Strength to keep marching forward no matter what surrounds us.

But to know Abounding Joy, one must first know Him. Only in Christ are we made abundantly Alive. He is the only true source of Joy and Strength. In Him with have life abundantly. All else are fleeting, dying pleasures that will never truly Satisfy. So do not let the thief steal your life, look to Jesus only He can save you and then you can know abounding joy evermore in Him.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 ESV

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

by Effie Darlene Barba

Accused, Condemned in eyes of men

Rejected, hated for my sin

No one stopped to see my heart

Cast aside some broken part

That no one cared to see inside

The scars and sorrows that abide

A heart so filled with hopes and dreams

Of meadows green and crystal streams

Lay shattered, broken cast away

With nothing good or kind to say

Chorus

Then God’s Dear Grace that loved me so

Looked deep within and bid to know

Each crevice of my heart and soul

Each broken piece to then make whole

In Christ I am set free from sin

My guilt and shame all taken in

And bore upon that rugged cross

My strength to stand though all else loss

My sins all covered by His blood

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

How quickly men’s own selfish pride

Does cast away and cast aside

A fallen one—a broken heart

Who needs your hand to help them start?

Christ had come to heal the lame

To lift their guilt and take their shame

He called the sinners to His side

To know His love-in Him abide

So why do we not give our hand

To help a fallen one to stand

So, prideful man with heart so small

Be careful lest you too shall fall

Chorus

For it was God’s dear Grace that loved me so

Looked deep within and bid to know

Each crevice of my heart and soul

Each broken piece to then make whole

In Christ I am set free from sin

My guilt and shame all taken in

And bore upon that rugged cross

My strength to stand though all else loss

My sins all covered by His blood

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

So, if you wish to help someone

Then point them to God’s Only Son

Who Gave His life to Save their soul

Transform their broken heart to whole

He’ll take their filthy rags and then bless

Them with His Cloak of righteousness

I know this truth because you see

I was the one, He came running for me

He took my broken, wretched heart

And brought to me a brand new start

My Sorrows He did turn to glee

In Him, I am a brand new me

Chorus

For it was God’s dear Grace that loved me so

Looked deep within and bid to know

Each crevice of my heart and soul

Each broken piece to then make whole

In Christ I am set free from sin

My guilt and shame all taken in

And bore upon that rugged cross

My strength to stand though all else loss

My sins all covered by His blood

In Christ, I am God’s own Beloved

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Live with Power Reigning Your Heart with Overflowing Joy How?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. That is except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

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