Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Jesus Gives Joy...and Reasons for Joyfulness All the Time!

"Faith grows best in the soil of a heart that rejoices in Jesus despite what’s going on around it."

(From: Cymbala, Jim (2012-02-21). Spirit Rising: Tapping into the Power of the Holy Spirit (Kindle Locations 1337-1338). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.)

Joy and happiness are two different things. Happiness is about what happens to you. Joy is what God gives to those who trust in Christ and know that through Christ, nothing can separate them from God, not even death.

I love these words, also from Cymbala's new book, reminding us not only that Christ gives joy, but also reason for rejoicing:

"Should we be depressed that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave and that all of our sins are forgiven? Should we lament the knowledge that one day we’re going to be with the Lord forever? Should the fact that our name is written in the Book of Life make us sad? No. Those things should give us great joy."

(From: Cymbala, Jim (2012-02-21). Spirit Rising: Tapping into the Power of the Holy Spirit (Kindle Locations 1213-1216). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.)

Below, a video for Audio Adrenaline's great Rejoice. AA was a great Christian rock band, but they didn't impose the Biblical understanding of how believers in Christ can rejoice no matter what their outer circumstances on those they asked from through the country what made them rejoice. Crank it up!

 

 


Here are the lyrics to Rejoice:

"Rejoice"


I'll sing this song just as long as I'm breathing
I'm feeling good, I'm feeling right
Come sing a song a song of freedom
Sing every morning and into the night

[CHORUS]
You've got to tell everyone in the land
Come on, come on
Tell every girl, boy, woman, and man
Rejoice, rejoice
That god's been good yeah good to me
Come on, come on
I've been forgiven and it feels so free

It's a beautiful thing when I sing to you Jesus
The days are a joy
The nights are all bright
Even the rocks cry out your glory
Let everyone rejoice tonight
That God's been good yeah good to me

[REPEAT CHORUS]

Come on, come on
I've been forgiven and it feels so free
Rejoice

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