FIGHTFORJOY.NET
  • Home
  • About
  • Jesus
  • Blog
  • Bible Prophecy
  • Sermons
  • Resources
  • Transitional Pastor

Fight for Joy! Blog

Where Jesus Changes Everything

Fight for Joy!

1/23/2007

 
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). I’m sitting here at Scott Air Force Base listening to The Cathedrals sing the awe inspiring song of hope: We Shall See Jesus. Songs like this serve to remind us of the hope we have as believers of something better to come. That something, of course, is eternity with Jesus. It will be an eternity without pain, without suffering, without sickness, without sin, and praise be to God, without death! With such an awesome future that awaits us as believers, why then do most believers fail to experience ongoing, deep abiding joy? 

The pain and suffering of our lives encompasses a myriad of possibilities. Cancer. Calamity. Conflict. Sadness. Death. These are all normal aspects of our existence here. It is the things we must deal with on our way to heaven. God knows this, yet over and over again He admonishes us to have joy. This raises a legitimate question: Is it possible to experience biblical joy in the midst of pain, suffering and sadness? Numerous times throughout the scriptures we are commanded to rejoice. Even Paul, who wrote many of his letters from prison and whose own letters include an autobiographical description of his own pain and suffering, said over and over to rejoice. In Philippians 2:18, he wrote, “I urge you, rejoice.” In the next chapter he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord” (3:1). Yet again, in the next chapter (4:4) he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Obviously, this is the word of the Lord!

So what’s the secret? I believe the key is found in Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, constant in prayer.” Here Paul tells us to do three things which I believe is at the very core of experiencing joy, even in the midst of pain, suffering and sadness. Notice he says, “Rejoice in hope.” Don’t miss this: Our joy is rooted in our hope! This hope is, as the writer of Hebrews says, “an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast” (6:19). In Colossians 1:27, Paul described it as, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Romans 8:18 ties it all together: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” We have the sure hope of glory. Therefore, we can have joy right now, even in the midst of suffering, because one day it will all fade into glory when Christ’s face we finally see. What a hope! Therefore, “Rejoice in hope.”

Secondly, he tells us to, “be patient in tribulation.” This is possible, if I understand the hope that is mine in Jesus Christ. Even the writer of Hebrews said this is, “a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered” (6:19-20). Finally, he tells us to be, “constant in prayer.” If I am to “rejoice in hope,” and “be patient in tribulation,” then I must be a person of prayer. I must give priority to my relationship with God, even when I do not like or understand what is going on in my life. I must be a person of deep and committed prayer. There is a mystery here. When I fight for joy, through rejoicing in hope, patiently enduring tribulation and constantly praying, God does what only God can do. He brings about the joy of the Lord through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit in my life. To God be the glory!

Comments are closed.
      Get Notified when New Posts and Updates are Added
      We promise we won't spam you or sell your information!
    Submit

    Comments Policy

    You are welcome to leave comments and you don't have to necessarily agree with me. However, I expect a civil tone and charitable spirit. We can disagree with one another without being disagreeable. "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt." (Colossians 4:6)

    Archives

    August 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    May 2022
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    December 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    October 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007
    February 2007
    January 2007
    November 2006
    July 2006
    May 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    July 2005
    June 2005
    May 2005
    March 2005
    November 2004
    March 2004
    October 2001

    Categories

    All
    Bad Theology
    Bible
    Christlikeness
    Church Revitalization
    Culture
    Death
    Deception
    Demonic
    Evil
    Faith
    False Religion
    Family
    Fight For Joy! Journal
    Finish Well
    General
    Gospel
    Grace
    Holy Living
    Hope
    Incarnation
    Israel
    Jesus
    Live The Word
    Love
    Make Disciples
    Meditation
    Obedience
    Persecution
    Photos
    Prayer
    Preaching
    Prophecy
    Proverbs
    Replanting
    Romans
    Salvation
    Sanctification
    Sin
    Spiritual Disciplines
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Warfare
    Stewardship
    Suffering
    Theology
    The Rapture
    Treasure Christ
    Video Blog

    RSS Feed

Striving to glorify God by becoming more like Jesus.
Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
  • Home
  • About
  • Jesus
  • Blog
  • Bible Prophecy
  • Sermons
  • Resources
  • Transitional Pastor