The Joy of Being a Faithful Christian

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The Joy of Being a Faithful Christian

• Philippians 44

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Difficulties in Being Joyful in the Lord

• Unable to see beyond the restrictions of Gods
  word cant feel free.
• Difficult being joyful when they see the sin in
  their lives discouraged.
• Try to reach for Christ, but godliness and
  maturity seem so far away grow weary.
• Difficulty letting go the things of the world.

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Joy in seeing from where we have come.

• Eph. 21-6 dead in trespasses and sins, but made
  alive.
• Eph. 212 Without God in the world.
• Eph. 417-19 Futility of mind, darkened
  understanding, ignorant, blind.

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Joy in seeing from where we have come.
To say a blind man is blind is simply a statement
of his physical condition.
God gives us a description of our spiritual
condition.
We can take joy that that condition is removed in
Christ! Eph. 420-24
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Joy in Forgiveness

• Without Christ we are in sin.
• Without Christ we have no way of overcoming sin.
• To be forgiven in Christ brings great joyActs
  839 1634
• But this is just the beginning!

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Joy in Truth and Simplicity
The World is a spiritual mire of human reasoning
and speculation 2 Tim. 43-4 Col. 228, 23 Rom.
121-23

• To those who see this, Gods word is not a
  burden, but a lifeline to pull us out of the
  muck!
• John 645 832.
• It is a light to our feet Ps. 119105

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Joy in Spiritual Growth

• Many wait to become Christians because they think
  they have to perfect now.
• On the contrary, we cannot be made perfect
  without Christ.
• We come to Him poor and wretched and He lifts us
  up and helps us to grow.
• It starts with a new birth (John 33 1 Pet.
  123).
• As babes, we grow (1 Pet. 21-2).
• Each step we take brings greater joy (Gal. 64).

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Joy in Peace

• Not the peace of the world (John 1427).
• Peace with God (Rom. 510).
• Peace with brethren (Eph. 41-6).
• Peace of heart (Phil. 47)
• Free from turmoil of sin.
• Free from prodigal living in the world.
• Peace and comfort in Gods eternal promises.

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Joy in Eternal Hope

• What can we look forward to in the world?
• An attractive plot of ground?
• Life without God ? Eccl. 95-6
• But for the faithful there is so much more!
• Glory beyond compare (Rom. 818).
• 1 Cor. 1550-58 Matt. 621

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Joy in FAITHFULNESS
Faithfulness full of faithfaith perfected by
works (James 222).
Only those who build their houses upon the words
of Jesus can know this joy.(Matthew 724-27)
Only those who do the will of the Father can know
this joy.(Matthew 721-23)
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Conclusion

• God offers this joy to all men.
• But we must be willing to let go of the passing
  pleasures of this world in order to appreciate
  the eternal joy in Christ.
• Faithfulness is worth it!