RE: Importance of joy to a believer
This is a wonderful message. Joy can be defined as the natural heart feeling of a true believer to Gods mercies,blessing and benefits. It is a Gift of God through our lord Jesus Christ,and is one of the principal consequencies of true salvation. Joy is almost inseparable from gladness and heart felt or inner most feeling. John 7:3 says that he that believes in him ,as the scripture has said,out of his belly shall flow of living water,the flow rivers of living water is talking about joy flowing in our heart. All other joy not sourced from God is fake, temporary and unreliable. Many things present themselves as source of joy but in fact and sadly too,they are sources of woes and torment. These include wealth, educational attainment, position in life, connection, etc. Lots of these fake religions and occultic groups promise joy ,but instead all they deliver to their believers are sorrows and disappointment. Through the clever device of Satan, many times have pursued fake joy all of their life. Some discover at the twilight of their lives,that the ladder of their lives have been placed on a wrong wall,all along. All the joy we experience on earth are for a season. However,there is another joy beyond the river, across the bridge where sorrow can never inter-lase. This joy is reserved only for those who would hold on till the end. The ultimate for every Christian is to be a part of this final joy. This is so helpful