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Christ-Centeredness (Yvan Amatagana)

Sat, 30 May 2009 01:24:27 +0100

CHRIST-CENTEREDNESS

Photo by MBonsi Jude

It is amazing how the focus of preaching and teaching has changed over the years in Christendom. Most Christians today are taught (consciously or unconsciously) to concentrate more on their needs and personal gratification than on anything else. It is always all about what you can get and how you can get it. It’s all about who you are, getting your needs met and achieving your dreams.

Now, all of these subjects are relevant and it's important for us to be taught in these respects. God wants our needs met and our dreams fulfilled. And we need to know who we are if we are going to live the lives He has purposed for us to live. He delights in all these things being a reality in our lives. The Bible says that the Lord has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant (Ps. 35:27); and in 3 John 2: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (NKJV).

The problem, however, is that we have given them a place and/or a coloration which are not God-ordained and differ from the Bible pattern. We have made them the focus of our spirituality. I have discovered that, first of all, focusing on these things will not improve the present state of the Church, and secondly, it generally does not yield the expected results. And even if it does, it carries very little eternal value because it was all founded on personal gratification and satisfaction.

You can talk about socio-economic affluence, personal development, successful family life, academic and intellectual dominion, and so forth, in a way that is Christ- and Kingdom-centered, and it will bear much fruit. But the sad truth is that most of the Church is spending time talking about these things following a pattern which is increasingly self-centered. And that's why there's little or no fruit at all – because the Holy Spirit doesn’t back selfishness and won’t help you fulfill your dream if it’s all about you– and the Church is growing weaker and weaker. Just look at a country like the United States where motivational speaking is more developed than in any other country in the world, and you will realize that getting people to focus on themselves always leads to failure! The American Church is not in a very good shape today, and all of this success talk will not make things better. It is Christ talk that will take the Church to her true destiny. So the Body of Christ in other parts of the world, and especially in Africa, should be careful not to emulate a pattern that’s not biblical. Again, I am not saying that those teachings are bad and should be totally discarded, for I benefit from them myself and also share them with other believers. We should only make sure we build everything on the foundation of Christ.

Read through the New Testament and you will discover that most of what we spend our time and energy talking and jumping about is given very little attention in the Scripture. Take the concept of material and social needs, for example. It will astonish you to know that the Holy Spirit always talks about it in passing (like: "by the way, concerning houses, cars, promotion, spouses and kids, don't you worry a minute, relax, for God knows you need those things") and then goes on with other more important things. There is something powerful the Apostle Paul said:

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. 1 Cor 15:19

He is saying in essence that if being Christians, all we expect from Christ is having our earthly needs met, then we are of all men the most miserable! Or, if all Christ can give us is earthly, what's the use being mocked and killed for his sake? For unbelievers don’t care about Him and they have these earthly things (to the best of my knowledge, none of the ten richest people living in the world today is a Christian). So the purpose of my being in Christ is not the betterment of my earthly life or ministry. That’s just one of the added benefits, but it’s not the real thing!

Even exaggerated focus on your personality in Christ can sometimes lead to frustration, as it might cause you to become self-centered, being overly consumed with what He has given you and paying little attention to who He is. Believe me, many Christians have fallen into this trap without even realizing it. If you want to know how self-inflated and self-interested (please forgive me; I don’t mean to be offensive) your Christianity is, just ask yourself how much you know (or desire to know) Him right now. Do you really have (or desire to have) a living love affair with Him? If the answer is “no”, then you probably have relegated knowing Him to the bottom of your priority list. You think more about yourself than about God and helping other people? You can’t remember when last you prayed for someone else? Then, I’m afraid you might be missing the point of Christianity.

Jesus said: “one thing is needed” (Lk. 10:42). David said: “one thing have I desired of the Lord” (Ps.27:4). And that one thing is knowing Him. That’s what was lost at the fall and that Jesus came to restore. Jesus said in John 17: 3a: “And this is Eternal Life, that they may know you.” That’s the abundant life he came to give us: GOD and the knowledge of HIM. That’s our primary calling, and it should be our primary focus. That’s why the early Apostles walked in so much power and glory. The Bible says in Mark 3: 14 that Jesus called twelve to himself, that they might be with him. What for? To get to know Him better and to get an indelible personal revelation of Him that would later enable them to be unstoppable concerning their Faith and mission. Just look at the introductory statements in some of the epistles. Take 1John1 for example:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life -- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us -- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3

These guys had a deep revelation of Christ (Life manifested). No wonder they could do all they did! Because they knew Him, they had more impact in a few decades than the modern Church has had in the last two or three centuries combined! The early Christians shook their world and turned it upside down! They walked in great holiness and power. They (except the Corinthians, as Bible students could argue) were healthier than most of us are today, in spite of poor hygiene. Many of them were killed, martyred because of their obsession with this Jesus-Christ who had given them abundant grace and truth. Remember this however: the first generation was sown as a seed so that the last generation may harvest a hundredfold of knowledge, power, holiness and glory. And this will not happen until we know Christ more than they did.

So, let’s take it all over: what’s the focus of Christianity? Christ. First of all this whole thing is named after Him. So really, He is the essence of it, “the Author and the Finisher of our faith”. The Church itself is built on the revelation of Christ. Remember what Jesus said to Peter, after the latter had told Him He was the Christ, the Son of the living God:

"Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:17-19).

And Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians:

For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 3:9-11)

These two passages unequivocally show us that the very foundation on which the Church is built is (the revelation of) Christ. That’s God's pattern for the Church and for our individual lives. Anything short of this is off target.

Therefore the number one characteristic of the Glorious Church that will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air is not financial prosperity, great miracles of healing, political power or great and diversified knowledge. The utmost characteristic of this Beautiful Bride is that she knows the Bridegroom intimately. My friend, remember this: the Glorious Church is a Church that is consumed with Christ; a Christ-centered, Christ-addicted, Christ-talking, Christ-living, Christ-sharing, Christ-overflowing Church. And so is the glorious believer. Personally, I am not impressed with anything anybody says or does if I don't see the love and life of Christ in it. I surely do respect all those who have achieved great things, but I’ve learnt (and am still learning) to be impressed only with what really matters to God. What’s more, I believe all the great achievements lose their value when compared to the greatness of knowing Christ. Paul said: “But what things were gain to me (my credentials and achievements before I got saved), these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things (my great feats as an Apostle in Christ) loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord … that I may gain Christ”. He had understood how worthless and vain achievements (including his great work for the Gospel and for the people of God) were, unless they were built on Christ, who is the only foundation of the Church.

Now, this is precious advice: whenever you realize that what you are involved in (be it an activity, an ideology, a doctrine, or a particular lifestyle) does not promote your relationship with God and your revelation of Christ, pause a little bit. Then reorient and refocus it on Christ. Even ventures that started in Christ sometimes get derailed over the years. That’s why the Bible in 2Cor.13:5 says to "examine yourselves, as to whether you are in the faith". Paul here is not saying that you should check whether you are still saved—for he was talking to people he knew to be believers, as the end of the verse clearly shows—, but rather whether you are still walking according to His pattern and for His glory. And the word "examine" in the original text (peirazo) means an honest and objective testing. Really, there comes a time in our lives when we must honestly and objectively examine ourselves and ask ourselves some serious questions: "Am I making spiritual progress?", "Is this strategy really working?", "Is my preaching producing strong Believers?", “Is this conference bearing fruit?”, “Is my conduct any different now than it used to be?”, “Do I only think about me, myself and I?”, “Am I putting God’s Word into practice?”, and so on. Once the questions are answered, genuine change occurs by the Holy Spirit and deception is overcome. So the examining is not for condemnation, but for transformation.

Finally, having said all the above, I want to further challenge you to refocus your life on the one thing that is needed by leaving you with a selection of Scriptures that speak much louder than the best of my discourses. They are presented here in their order of appearance in the Bible, so you won’t have to go back and forth trying to find them. Read them, meditate upon them and conform your ideas and lifestyle to them.

- And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 1 Cor. 2:1-2

- For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 1 Cor. 4:17

- What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. 1 Cor. 9:18

- I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal. 2:20-21

- My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you. Gal. 4:19

- For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph 3:14-19

- But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus… Eph 4:20-21

- For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phil 1:21

- Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Phil 1:27

- But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. Phil 2:19-22

- But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ - and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Phil 3:7-1

Intimacy with God (Yvan Amatagana)

Sat, 30 May 2009 01:13:55 +0100

Intimacy with God

Intimacy with God is the only way to experiencing true fulfillment in life. Yet only a handful of Christians really experience that intimacy. And this explains why not too many of them really enjoy life – because life is a person, and enjoying it in abundance comes from knowing that person: Jesus. Everything outside of Him is vanity and deception.

Unfortunately, most Christians get discouraged whenever they hear about intimacy with God. Because they think it’s a long, tedious and perhaps hopeless quest. But I have good news for you: it is easy to know Him intimately. In fact, there is nothing more natural than that for a child of God. And I believe what you will discover in the lines below will open your eyes and set you on the right track to knowing Him.

No more secrets

So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend. (Ex.33:11)

When the bible says this kind of thing, it is not for the sake of decoration. Neither is it meant to intimidate you and show you just how awesome Moses was. The Holy Spirit wrote these words to tell you that you can and should enjoy this same level of intimacy with your God – and even more.

Thus, the good news is that you can truly know Him. It is time to quit religion and trade it for communion. God does not want to be a secret to you any longer. He has never wanted to. Remember the veil was torn; the barrier of sin was destroyed; the way was opened. Now, in Christ, all ancient secrets have been made available to the public! God so much wants to reveal himself to his Children, who will in turn reveal him to the world.

Your inheritance

Let me reiterate this: contrary to what most believers have been taught, it is not difficult to know God intimately. Neither is it impossible. It is not the special reserve of a privileged few. God has not called only Church leaders to intimacy with him. It is His perfect will for every one of his children. It is what was lost at the fall and which was restored through Christ. Of course we will never know everything there is know about him; we will never know him fully, as Paul said: ‘we know now in part’. Nevertheless, it is really possible for us to know him intimately.

In fact, the least New Testament believer has the possibility of enjoying deeper intimacy with God than Abraham, Moses and David did! Believe me, if you are in Christ, you really do not have anything to envy such great Old Testament prophets and patriarchs as the father of faith, the deliverer of Israel and the man after God’s heart. I know that most believers do not believe this but it is the simple truth. The Scripture tells us that all these great men of the Old Testament desired to see what we have at our disposal today. Yet, many of us wish we were in their shoes. Remember, Jesus said in Luke 7:28 that ‘among those born of women (as opposed to born of God or born again, which you are) John the Baptist was the greatest, yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than him’. Jesus was saying in essence that none of what people experienced in the Old Testament can compare to what you have in the New Testament. So remember, knowing him and enjoying his fellowship is your inheritance in Christ, who has opened the way for you to approach the throne of grace boldly (Heb.4:16).

Confident search

It is sad to say that in their quest to know God, most Christians behave as though God is hiding and does not want to be found. They believe that God wants to prove and test them for ten, twenty or thirty years before they can fellowship with him and talk with him ‘as a man with his friend’. Granted, knowing God must be a lifelong quest, for He is infinite. But you can start somewhere. You can begin to know him intimately today! And you will grow in that intimacy with time. You can have a deep revelation of his person and glory. But you must first believe that he is not hiding! Believe me, he is eager to flood your life with the knowledge of himself. He does not want to hold anything back from you. In Christ, all secrets are out! You can take as much as you want to, hear as much as you want to, know as much as you want to. It all depends on you. But you must believe that!

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb. 11:6)

We learn from this passage that there are two crucial truths we must hold on to when we come to (or seek) God: the first is that he is (or exists, lives eternally as the sovereign God); the second is that…He is a rewarder! Let us pause a little here.

I know that many Christians have no problem believing the first one but, believe me, very few really believe the second truth. What does it mean exactly? It is so simple most people miss it. It simply says (among other things) that when you seek God diligently you must believe that he intends and is going to give you just what you desire! That is in essence what ‘rewarder’ means. Seeking him is never a waste of time; it is never a grope in the dark; it is never an uncertain venture. It always leads to the same conclusion: ‘I’ve got it!’ The failure to believe this simple truth is exactly what will hinder your growth toward intimacy with God. If you want intimacy, expect just that.

So, when you speak to God, stop complaining and saying things like ‘O, God, don’t hide your face from me’. God does not hide. Hiding is contrary to his nature and original intent. Since the beginning, he has always wanted to fellowship with man and to make himself known to him. He has always wanted man to interact freely and easily with him.

Easier than you expect

As I often tell some of my friends, I hear God speak to me even when I do not want to. Almost every time I am faced with a dilemma, I know what to do virtually instantly. Now, God does not tell me things about other people anyhow, but when it concerns me, I am always informed. I am never confused. And he always comforts me in the midst of hardship. I know that some people might not believe this, but that’s my experience. And I thank him for that and hope it becomes your testimony too, from today.

Why does it work that way for me? It is because I have trained myself to believe that it has to be that simple! I have trained myself to believe that knowing God intimately and hearing his voice all the time is the most natural thing that should happen to me as a Christian! In addition – and most importantly, it is clearly stated in the Word of God. Jesus said: ‘my sheep hear my voice’. He did not say ‘they try hard, fast for days and really struggle to hear’! He said that they do hear and do recognize his voice amongst others; it is just natural for them to hear. Actually, God is surprised when we complain that we cannot hear his voice or grow in intimacy with him.

So, I urge you to believe this day that you can really get to know the Lord like you had never dreamed of and enjoy a living and lively relationship with him. Only seek him with all assurance and confidence.

Carnal or Spiritual? (Watchman Nee)

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:41:56 +0100

Carnal or spiritual?

(This is an excerpt from Watchman Nee’s The Spiritual Man; all text in italics was added by me (Yvan); all text in bold is the author’s original thought – I just did the highlighting)

How long have you believed in the Lord? Are you spiritual yet? We should not become aged babes, grieving the Holy Spirit and suffering loss ourselves. All regenerated ones should covet spiritual development, permitting the Holy Spirit to rule in every respect so that in a relatively short period He may be able to lead us into what God has provided for us. We should not waste time, making no progress.

What then are the reasons for not growing? Perhaps there are two. On the one hand, it may be due to the negligence of those who, watching over the souls of the younger believers, may only speak to them of the grace of God and of their position in Christ but neglect to encourage them to seek spiritual experience. (Nay, those who watch over others may themselves be ignorant of life in the Spirit. How then could such ones ever lead others into more abundant life?) On the other hand, it may be because the believers themselves are not keen on spiritual affairs. Either they assume that it is sufficient enough merely to be saved or they have no spiritual appetite or they simply are unwilling to pay the price for advancement (like setting time aside to fellowship with God… so don’t mind the terminology; just get the principle). As a deplorable consequence the church is over-stuffed with big babes.

What are the characteristics of the fleshly (or carnal)? Foremost among them is remaining long as babes. The duration of babyhood should not exceed a few years. When one is born anew by believing that the Son of God atoned for his sins on the cross, he simultaneously ought to believe that he has been crucified with Christ in order that the Holy Spirit may release him from the power of the flesh. Ignorance of this naturally will keep him in the flesh for many years.

The second characteristic of the fleshly is that they are unfit to absorb spiritual teaching. “I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not ready.” The Corinthians grossly prided themselves on their knowledge and wisdom. Of all the churches in that period, that at Corinth was probably the most informed one. Paul early in his letter thanked God for their rich knowledge (1.5). Should Paul deliver spiritual sermons to them they could understand every word; however, all their understandings were in the mind. Although they knew everything, these Corinthians did not have the power to express in life that which they knew. Most likely there are many fleshly believers today who grasp so much so well that they can even preach to others but who are themselves yet unspiritual. Genuine spiritual knowledge lies not in wonderful and mysterious thoughts but in actual spiritual experience through union of the believer’s life with truth. Cleverness is useless here, while eagerness for truth is insufficient too; the sine qua non (i.e. what you must do absolutely) is a path of perfect obedience to the Holy Spirit Who alone truly teaches us. All else is merely the transmission of knowledge from one mind to another (or also from one spirit to another, but even the effect of such spirit to spirit transmission will be limited until you cultivate it). Such data will not render a fleshly person spiritual; on the contrary, his carnal walk actually will turn all his “spiritual” knowledge into that which is fleshly. What he needs is not increased spiritual teaching but an obedient heart which is willing to yield his life to the Holy Spirit and go the way of the cross (fear not; he’s simply talking about spirit-led discipline) according to the Spirit’s command. Increased spiritual teaching will only strengthen his carnality and serve to deceive him into conceiving himself as spiritual (brethren I tell you, I have seen this happening to many who had knowledge). For does he not say to himself, “How else could I possibly know so many spiritual things unless I were spiritual?” Whereas the real touchstone should be, “How much do you truly know from life or is it merely a product of the mind?” May God be gracious to us.

Paul wrote of yet another evidence of being fleshly when he affirmed that “while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men?” The sin of jealousy and strife is eminent proof of carnality. Dissensions (or divisions) were rife in the church at Corinth, as is confirmed by such declarations as “I belong to Paul,” “I belong to Apollos,” “I belong to Cephas,” I belong to Christ” (1 Cor. 1.12). Even those who were contending for Christ by saying “I am of Christ” were included among the fleshly, for the spirit of flesh is always and everywhere jealous and contentious. For these to hold themselves up as being of Christ, but in that attitude of spirit, is inescapably carnal. However sweet the word may sound, any sectarian boasting is but the babbling of a babe. The divisions in the church are due to no other cause than to lack of love and walking after the flesh. Such an individual, supposedly contending for the truth, is simply camouflaging the real person. The sinners of the world are men of the flesh; as such, they are not regenerated; they are therefore under the rule of their soul and body. For a believer to be fleshly signifies that he too is behaving like an ordinary man. Now it is perfectly natural for worldly people to be fleshly; it is understandable if even newly born believers are fleshly; but if, according to the years during which you have believed in the Lord you ought to be spiritual, then how can you continue to behave as an ordinary man?

It is evident that a person is carnal if he comports himself like an ordinary man and sins often. No matter how much spiritual teaching he knows or how many spiritual experiences he purports to have had or how much effective service he has rendered: none of these makes him less carnal if he remains undelivered from his peculiar temperament, his temper, his selfishness, his contention, his vainglory, his unforgiving or unloving spirit.

To be fleshly or carnal means to behave “like ordinary men.” We should ask ourselves whether or not our conduct differs very radically from ordinary men. If many worldly manners cling to your life then you are doubtless still carnal. Let us not argue over our being labeled as either spiritual or carnal. If we are not governed by the Holy Spirit what profit will the mere designation of spiritual be to us? This is after all a matter of life, not of title.

Words of Power

Sat, 30 May 2009 01:09:27 +0100

Words of Power

“...who being the shining splendor of His glory, and the express image of His essence, and upholding all things by the word of His power, through Himself cleansing of our sins, He sat down on the right of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3 ).

1:3: "Upholding all things by the Word of his power"

Christians are often encouraged to say things and to speak the word. But we realize that not much has been changing in their lives, in spite of all the talking. Their problem is not words but power – active power. Paul said the kingdom of God is not in words only but in power. So we must speak from power.

Words without power is mere noise making. Power without words, however, equals to barrenness. It's like a man who is potent but never goes into his wife, yet expects to have children. Therefore a blend of both is important.

But notice that power comes first: "the word of his power". The word originated in the power or, in other words, the word came (was uttered, or sent) only because the power was there. So power is first, not in the sense of pre-existence but of pre-activation. That's why Jesus told the disciples to wait until they were endued with power, before they could proclaim his words (Acts1:8). Thus, we Christians today, knowing that the power lives in us by the Holy Spirit, just need to stir this power up in order to make it active, or else our words will not produce anything big. Eph3:20 says "now unto him who is able to do...according to the power that worketh (from the Greek energeo meaning “active”, that is, stimulated and operative--not dormant) in us". That is why any Christian who doesn't pray and study to stir up or make this power active will never experience the potency of words as intended and made available to us by God. He will speak and very little will happen. Every single person in the history of the Church who has demonstrated the power of God in a great dimension spent a lot of time stirring up this power through prayer and study, primarily. And you are no exception. So I encourage you to do that and when you speak great things will happen.

Oil of Gladness

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:58:20 +0100

Oil of Gladness

“You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity, therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your fellows” (Heb 1:9). NKJV

You loved justice and hated evil, and so I, your God, have chosen you. I appointed you and made you happier than any of your friends. CEV

There is a joy in the spirit that those who do not walk in holiness and i ntimacy with God can never experience. It is bliss that is deeper than laughing in the spirit (as it is called). The latter is a temporary, transient uplifting experience emanating from a punctual revelation of victory (in its global sense); the former is joy unspeakable, that is there even in the midst of trouble, needs no stimulus, and overwhelms the heart even in total silence. Yeah, this joy doesn't need noise or laughter - though it always (more or less) eventually produces it. Tears might be rolling down your cheeks but this joy is still there. It is joy that emanates from the experience of a holy and profound union with God, because this is the place (experiential union with God) where all revelations are constant and transcend the realm of emotions.

Though this verse talks about Christ, we know that it also applies to Christians. The CEV puts it in a way that I find particularly interesting: it reads “I appointed you and made you happier than your friends”. Really, some Christians are happier than others; not because they have more money, nicer cars and finer houses, but because they have this joy that comes from knowing God and walking in his ways.

It is that joy that keeps you happy even when you haven't yet received in the physical the object of your faith.

That is the joy Jesus had while on earth and which enabled him to endure all things. Many of us can't endure anything, for lack of this joy, which betrays our lack of intimacy with God. People who are really intimate with God and put his Word in practice (I am not talking about giants of the faith – just Christians living the normal Christian life) are always happier than the rest, even when they weep for burden for the lost or hurting souls, or when things are not moving the way they expect them to, for this joy easily cohabits with and transcends all natural circumstances.