Publisher's Synopsis
Everyone is seeking the same thing in this life: happiness. When people find happiness, they are often dismayed when it leaves, and soon begin the search for it again. This pursuit of happiness leads on the quest for money and the "joys" it seems to bring. For those who find money difficult to find, this pursuit tends to end with the dangerous abuse of sex, drugs, and alcohol, and ultimately culminates in unhappiness and death.For many Christians, the intentional avoidance of these pleasures is part of their quest for happiness in holiness wrought by self-denial and "good works." Admittedly or not, they find that their Christian experience may have a form of happiness, but with scriptural cross-examination, they may find that they truly lack joy. Joy and happiness are not the same: happiness comes and goes, but no one can steal your joy. Joy will come in the morning and last forever. The truth is that this world holds no joy for the child of God. The Bible says that a friend of this world is an enemy of God (James 4:4), but the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 21:1), and our joy is found in the Church (John 3:29; Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19). The fullness of Christ in us is the only joy to be found this side of heaven. This joy is available for each of us if we trust and obey His commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves.The power to live in the fullness of Jesus Christ here on this earth has been given to us. Even more, it is God's promise to us if we seek Him and desire His Son. Jesus lived to teach us how to please God and fulfill the life of righteousness and holiness. There is great joy and power available for the follower of Jesus who lays down his life to serve in love the children of God.Explore the life-giving promises of God and realize the true joy which lies in following Jesus as a disciple. God has created you perfectly and blessed you abundantly to be able to accomplish the true good works laid out for you before the foundation of the world. There is great joy in finding your destiny in Christ, and no one and nothing can steal this joy once you find it in the promises of God.Paul knew the full joy of Jesus Christ as he served Him faithfully to the end. Many have found the joy of living for Jesus, and many suffered as martyrs for it, bearing their cross both spiritually and physically. But to personally know Jesus Christ is to be filled with joy, hope, and power, and the world cannot take away our hope and joy in the Lord.This is the third book in the "The Promises of God" series, and is filled with power and revelation for attaining to the highest calling of the Christian life. As we follow Paul in his final missionary journeys, we understand that the keys to life are love and faith and that Christ has given us His Spirit with power to overcome this world in victory.
