Complete Joy

As promised, we are spending some time on complete joy. This may be known by many and it may not be known by others. Nonetheless, what we are all being encouraged and challenged to be honest about, is how we pray for others, who are believers. So what is complete joy?

Complete joy, is joy that lacks absolutely nothing and wants for absolutely nothing. It is joy which only comes from the Father above. It is joy that is full and entire, joy which is not understood by human reasoning or explanation.

Complete joy is the fullness of the Lord God. Can you ever imagine, in your mortal clay, the unfathomable depth, length, breadth and height of this joy? I tell you, even to receive it, in whatever measure of fullness, is impossible, without the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

Take a rose, when it is but a bud. Is it not a complete rose, with all its fullness inside? You see the bud, not the fully bloomed rose, and just with the bud, you are awed and blown away by its beauty. You can hardly find words to explain the rose, in this measure or state of its living, its blooming and daily, revealing life. Before your eyes, is miracle beyond compare, as the rose opens up more and more to you. This is how I have been shown the joy of the Lord. His complete joy is in us, and though we experience but a bud-like revealing of that totally full joy, we are lost for words, at how His joy moves within us and changes us. Daily, as we remain in Jesus and grow in Him, His complete joy is made more and more real to us and in us.    

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

Paul then goes on to elaborate a bit more, as he explains to them the reason for this joy, this continuous joy. Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1: 5. Paul’s praying with joy, for these believers in Philippi, is not as a result of their situation. It is not a case of where one prays with joy for another, because of some good thing that has occurred in the believer’s life. For example, Paul is not praying with joy, because someone, who wanted a child, has had a baby, or someone in need of a job, has now got a job. It is not even a miraculous healing, when a sick brother or sister has been made well. Paul prays with joy for these partners in the Gospel, regardless of their situations and conditions and despite the responses of people to the Gospel of Christ Jesus.

Paul’s only reason for his joy in praying is because of their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Their partnership in the Gospel, means that the people at Philippi and Paul, share the same discipline, leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, in the work of their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. In other words, they are all co-workers with Christ. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3: 9. Among many things, this Scripture confirms that all believers, all who have given their lives to Christ, all who are in the Lord’s service, are co-workers. When we are co-workers, are we not partners?

Paul’s only reason for his joy in praying, comes because of their, journeying together, their offering together and their yielding together.

Tomorrow, we shall expand a bit more on these.