Effie Darlene Barba

Last Sunday, Keith Simon from the Crossing Church in Colombia Mo spoke of the truth that Jesus was the happiest person of all and referred to the scripture in Hebrews 1.  Although I have read that many times in the past, it had never struck me as powerfully as it did when he was preaching about it.  Funny how the scripture can be brought alive like that.  So, I do recommend you watching his sermon.  https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/media-feeds/how-you-can-be-sure-youll-never-be-happy-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/ I mean I knew the truth that God is our only source of true happiness.  In Him is fullness of joy.  John Piper preaches Christian Hedonism which is defined as the pursuit of pleasure.  Philosophy of hedonism is defined as the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life.

So how does happiness and the pursuit of pleasure fit in with who we are as Christians? So many would save that is impossible.  After all, are we not to take up our cross daily to follow Jesus?  How can we know happiness while at the same time carrying a cross?  The burdens and sorrows that we face daily refute any hope of happiness.  How do we satisfy our desires and pursue pleasures in a world filled with such trials?  But that is because we are confused by thinking our pleasures and desires can only be fulfilled by worldly pleasures.

The book of Ecclesiastes refutes that idea thoroughly. Solomon wrote, “Vanity of Vanities, all is vanity” when pursuing every form of worldly pleasure from pursuing justice to holding position, power, money, human wisdom or seeking sexual fulfillment only to conclude: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Where is True Happiness Found?

My Grandchildren seem to believe that happiness is found in a carefree pursuit of “games, games, and more games” with no responsibility, no chores, nor school.  Yet, on those rare days that they get this, I have noticed that rather than happy they are more and more frustrated, irritable, and angry as the days wears on.   But isn’t that true of us as well?  So, like Solomon we find, what we thought was pursuing pleasure and happiness are all vanity and vexation of spirit.  In the end there is no lasting joy or happiness there.

On the contrary. “the joy of the Lord is our strength” as Nehemiah 8:10 says.  Let us look at that in context.

Then the children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth^[a] of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel. ²² And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful.  Ezra 6:21-22

But What about God’s Laws?

So, well and good. Of course they were happy. God had just returned them from captivity; but, life would have to go on at some point.  The labors of life as they rebuilt the wall and the temple.  All the temptations and frustrations society brings as well, many of which I detail in the book “When God Commanded Build that Wall” as a study in Nehemiah.

So, briefly back to the children of Israel’s story.  Later, the Levites read the law to the people, who initially worshipped God, then began to weep. Did they weep because they knew of their own inadequacies to fulfill the law?  Or was it the fact God had rules, something our modern society balks at.  After all, if I am to pursue all my desires and pleasures, what place do societal rules play? And God’s rules?  Won’t those mere restrict my pleasure? But this was God’s response through Nehemiah.

“This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8: 9-10)

So, Back to Us and how to know Happiness Always

Jesus in His prayer for us as recorded in John 17 says:

these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify^[i] them by Your truth.

Our Joy is fulfilled in what?  Knowing Him.  Even if the world hates us.  Our joy is fulfilled in Him, His Word, and the truth that He is my greatest treasure.  But is He truly joyous?  If we are to have His joy, what kind of joy is that?

Hebrews 1: 8-9

But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A ^[f]scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Therein lies a key.  Jesus Christ was given the oil of gladness.  His happiness exceeds all others.  But for what was He anointed this?  A scepter of righteousness, for He loved righteousness and hated lawlessness.”

So, to know true Happiness always begins not with a lawless pursuit of pleasure; rather to love God first.  He is the treasure, the true happiness and joy our hearts need to fulfill every desire of our heart.  Only in Him.

Happiness and True Joy

In his prayer to the Ephesians, Paul wrote:

⁹ For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and ^[c]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption ^[d]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1

Note—longsuffering with joy means even in suffering, we are filled with patience and joy giving thanks to the Father for His unfailing Grace, Love, and because He has already placed “conveyed us in the kingdom of the Son of His love.  My address has changed, I am merely awaiting the final move.  Meanwhile how to hold fast and know this joy here and now is through being filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understand.  WE are to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  Therein, we are strengthened with all might according to His Glorious Power for al patience and longsuffering with joy.  He is the happiness and joy we seek always and forever more.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to 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. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

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Previously

What is all you need to know? God IS!

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2020
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 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.

Credits

Scriptures here are from:

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo by Sander Weeteling on Unsplash

What is all you need to know? God IS!

In a world so filled with questions, chaos, confusion, and sorrows; what is ALL you need to know?  God IS!  He is Sovereign, on His throne.  God is just, righteous, all mighty and He never sleeps.  We may not understand all that is happening; but we can trust Him.

² This is what the Lord, the one who made you, says—
the one who formed you in the womb and helps you:
“Don’t be afraid……⁶ This is what…the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (says)
“I am the first and I am the last,
there is no God but me.
⁷ Who is like me? Let him make his claim!^[h]
Let him announce it and explain it to me—
since I established an ancient people^[i]—
let them announce future events.^[j]

⁸ Don’t panic! Don’t be afraid!^[k]
Did I not tell you beforehand and decree it?
You are my witnesses! Is there any God but me?
There is no other sheltering rock;^[l] I know of none.
⁹ All who form idols are nothing;
the things in which they delight are worthless.
Their witnesses cannot see;
they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame. (Isaiah 44:2,6-9 NET)

God IS and there is no other.  All the idols that we place before Him are useless.   Money, Pleasure, Power, Sex, Government, nor Self-reliance are powerless to bring peace, hope or joy.  God IS the only one on whom we can really rely to find joy, hope, peace, and love.

How Can I Know GOD IS Sovereign?

Continue reading “What is all you need to know? God IS!”

Comfort ye one another, but how?  When those who are dear to us die or when loneliness overwhelms our hearts, how do we know comfort?  Certainly, this pandemic heightens the despair.  Locked down in her nursing home, mom faded away until the grief overwhelmed her.  What could I do?  Finally, they set up zoom and it seemed for a moment she knew and returned while I read to her a poem written just for her.  Then, I knew.  Mom, our great prayer warrior needed me to place her on comfort care only.  Her fight here was over quickly and on her last day, my son was allowed in to sit with her a while.

We hear all the noise around us, clamoring for our hearts to be drowned in the sorrow, anger, fighting, and pain.  But the truth is:  God is Sovereign.  He is on His throne.  No President is ever elected outside of His will.  We who know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord can know comfort, though the world around us is raging.  That does not mean, I isolate from the world.  Rather, I must vote in this election.  Furthermore, I must stand firm in the truth of the gospel, rejoicing in Him though my heart is breaking in despair.  I can rest in knowing His unfailing grace.  He is on His throne and for that reason alone, my spirit can take refuge.  My heart, though broken, can rise to soar like the wings of eagles.

My refuge, my strength and my hope are firmly held in His right hand of righteousness.  I know comfort in such a time as this because I know Him.  That was true in Isaiah’s days and it is true today.  Therefore,

Know Comfort, Thus give comfort

Continue reading “How to Know Comfort in Such A Time as This”