As an apostle of Christ in the early church, Paul faced many trials and persecutions; yet, in the midst of all that, Paul knew joy, hope, faith and love. The one thing that Paul urged the early church to grasp hold upon was the Joy of knowing Christ as their Savior. The Hope that could be found in Him. He urged them to understand the truth of the riches which were theirs in Christ. He constantly reminded them to remember these truths. He knew that if we were to know the truths of our inheritance in Christ and all that it meant to be eternally alive in Him, we would live lives fully Alive with Joy.
That joy is to be ours today. When Christ arrived at the tomb of Lazarus and he asked Martha, Don’t you believe that I am the Resurrection? She had replied with tears, I know that one day you will return as the resurrection. We as Christians all too often walk around with moping faces, just as did Martha. Oh, woe is me; I know that one day Christ will return and I will be with Him; (long sigh)—but until then, I will carry my cross. (Long sigh). I know. I was one of those Christians. Having grown up with the idea that laughter and fun were not reverence toward God, I seemed to see a stern and harsh God. I was to dutifully bear my burdens here on this earth. Let me tell you that is not who God is.
God is a joyful God and He wants His children to be bathed in that same joy. Not frivolous counterfeit joys which lead to sorrow; but, rather deep ever flowing joy that bubbles up from the heart. Christ died and rose again that I might have new life in Him, here and now. So, rejoice. Joy has come into the world.
How do I experience that Joy?
Christ prayed to the Father: “John 17 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” We are to have the joy of Christ fulfilled in us, here and now. How? By understanding the truth of our inheritance.
When Christ died on the cross paying our penalty of sin and then rose from the grave gaining victory over death forever; he bought for every believer—eternal life that cannot be taken away by anyone or anything, even our own self. Listen to what Christ said, John 10: “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.30 I and my Father are one.”
From the moment we accept Christ as our Savior, we are secured in Him. We are at that instant made alive to Him, in Him and through Him. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. Our spirit now is alive in constant companionship and communion with God. Every barrier has been broken. We are instantaneously grafted into the vine with God’s power, love, joy and might flowing through our veins. The problem is we don’t realize it or think upon the truths of what that means. We must know and see these truths of what that inheritance is. Then we can begin to feel the pulsation of what it means to be fully, joyously alive.
As, Paul continuously was praying for the early believers, Romans 15: “13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
He knew as did David in the Old Testament that we must feed our minds with the knowledge and the truth. We must focus on the truths, thinking about these things. Positive thinking—yes preaching to ourselves. The thing is this positive thinking is powered by the mighty power of God Himself.
Acts 2: “I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:…28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”
Before I can understand the fullness of what it means to have been given new life; I must know what the riches of my inheritance in Christ and the mighty power of God toward me.
That is what I want to help you understand—I want you to know that you are His redeemed, beloved, and chosen child of the King, heir of the kingdom, and glorified saint. I hope that as we dissect our way through even a miniscule part of the riches of your inheritance in Christ you will begin to grasp hold of the power, joy and hope which is yours.
Listen to the words of this song—singing them to God The song is I’m Alive
©2014 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. 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.