John 17:9-19 - Perseverance
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Intro
Intro
Have been going through the “High Priestly Prayer”
And of course, as I have mentioned many times
This is right after what is called the “Upper Room Discourse” - Christ intimately teaching His disciples (Ch. 13-16)
And right before His passion (Ch. 18 - Arrest and Trial) (Ch. 19 - Crucified)
We see all of this is predicated on Christ knowing what He had come to do, and knowing that the hour had now come
To go to the cross and be a substitute for His people
And so He goes to the Father in prayer
Review
Review
And we have covered so far through vs. 8
And so we jump in now to vs. 9
But remember, Christ just began praying for His disciples
We see that in vs. 6
And He says that they have, vs. 7
And not only this, but that they have, vs
Received these Words
Known Surely
And believed
Exegesis
Exegesis
vs. 9
“I pray for them”
Now, we know that this is an essential duty of the High Priest
To mediate on behalf of the people of God
From the people, back to God
He isn’t here functioning in the office of a Prophet, where He speaks the word of God back to the people
But He is functioning as the High Priest
Where He mediates on behalf of the people, back to God
Not for an abstract people -
You look throughout the OT and the High Priest is never mediating for a people he does not know
Christ, as the true High Priest does not mediate for a people group He does not know
they are not those that will come to Him and say”Lord Lord, then we do all of these things in your name” of which he will say depart me I never knew you
Notice He says
“I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me”
This is an essential element/an essential duty of the High Priest
He knows who His people are by name - He has numbered every single hair upon their head
His eyes and love are set particularly on those that were given to Him out of the world
His sheep are written in the Lamb’s book of life - and he has the power to open up that book. And to save those that are written therein
Remember Aaron in Exodus 28
They are receiving instruction for the Priestly garments
And we are told that
Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.
If you are in Christ, then your name is written upon His breastplate
And He wears your name upon His heart
Those who’s names He bears upon His breastplate
Those Who’s names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life
They are those who He prays for
But the rest of the world He rejects
He says “I pray not for them”
“I pass by them, I leave them to themselves”
What a miserable condition/what a miserable state this is to be in
Scripture tells us that those who are in Christ, have such a unique benefit
Hebrews 4:16 tells us that because Christ is our High Priest
And not just any High Priest but THE great High Priest - who passed into the heavens
That we are able to come boldly unto the throne of Grace
In Hebrews 7:25 we are told
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
What do you do if you are without this hope?
What does the unbeliever do without the knowledge and hope that Christ is right now praying for them?
How does the unbeliever go through life without being crushed under the weight and the guilt of his shame
Knowing that the reality is
That there is no one praying for them?
That they have no mediator - no intercessor
Of course we know that the bible says the unbeliever is walking around in darkness
They’re blinded
Romans 3:18
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
But that’s the frightening part, is it not?
Not only does Christ here give us a positive statement
“I pray for them”
But He gives us a negative statement
"I don’t pray for the world” - I don’t pray for the unbeliever - I don’t pray for the hater of God
Whether it is someone who ardently rejects the Christian faith
Or someone who makes an outward profession but hasn’t truly closed with Christ- hasn’t truly rested and received Christ as their own
this is the reality
That this person has no High Priest
You think of the multitudes that sat under His teacher and preaching
That saw His miracles
Turning water into wine
Healing the sick & lame
casting out demons
revivifying Lazarus
Feeding over 5000
You think, many may have even walked with Him for a while, they may have followed Him for a season
But you think
Each time He says something difficult
Each time He presses home the reality of dying to self, of living to Him
What happens?
The multitudes leave
Now why do I mention this?
All of those that may have followed Him for a time just to witness the miracles
Or maybe they followed Him just to get a physical, earthly benefit from Him
You think of John 6:30-31 for instance
What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
“Jesus, give us bread. Give us something earthy that we may see and believe”
All they want is what their eyes can see
They are living by sight, not by faith
And for all of these, that may have walked with Him, and talked with Him, and witnessed His miracles.
At the end of the day, they have nothing - they walked away, they rejected Him
It doesn’t matter if you outwardly follow
It doesn't matter if you witness all of the miracles
Maybe you sit here right now
And you think
I go to church every Sunday
I attend all the prayer meetings and the fellowship meals and the study’s
But my friends, hear me
If you have not closed with Christ, He says He does not pray for you
It doesn’t matter what you do externally
The Bible says that there needs to be that internal change
Christ says a man must be born again
Have you been born again?
Because if not, Christ says He does not pray for you
And if you have not Christ praying for you, and interceding for you, your life is detestable in God’s sight
What a miserable state that is to be in
Why do I belabor this point?
Why is it so important that Christ is praying for us?
Of course we know Christ’s intercession is absolutely necessary for our justification - there is no justification - there is no being declared righteous in God’s sight, without His intercession
But that isn’t all - is it?
Unfortunately in many Christian circles the message of scripture is simply reduced to just our justification
Justification is important
It is absolutely vital that we get justification correct
But justification isn’t the only thing that scripture speaks to - is it?
Notice
Christ gives us the reason that His intercession is so vital to the apostles, and subsequently all Christian’s
vs. 10-13
Vs. 10
We are teaching our children the children’s catechism
A very short form of questions and answers
“Who made you? - God”
“And what else did God make? - All things”
And one of my favorite questions in the Children’s Catechism is the question
“Why did God make you and all things?”
I trust you know the answer to that - “For His own glory”
For His own glory.… I pray that this is something that my children never forget… something that you, who sit here now never forget
Why were we made? To glorify God
Now of course we know God didn’t need us in order to be glorified
God from all eternity past has been glorified
We know He is all sufficient - self existent
He didn’t need mankind in order to receive glory
But He chose to create us
And He created us uniquely, distinct from all other creation… Because we are created in His image
And you would think well there it is… Mankind is created by God, they are created with a uniqueness
That means they owe absolute obedience and allegiance to Him
Well of course, that is true, we do… but what do we see in the garden?
Genesis 3 - they break the focal command of the covenant - “Thou shalt not eat”
And in doing so Adam and all his posterity have now broken communion with God, are under His wrath and curse
And you think, that’s it.… That’s it, God owes us nothing… He didn’t even have to create us but He did, and now we have sinned against Him
But it isn’t, is it? In Fact, right after that God gives the gospel promise
And then the gospel promise is fulfilled
Because the God the Son steps off of His throne and stoops down to save sinners by grace through faith
And the question is why does He do all of this?
For His own glory
We must remember that its 1 John 4:10
not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
And if you are in Christ, know that God His set His love upon you
He loves you with a never ending love
And Christ says, that He is “glorified” in you
Vs. 11
“Holy Father, keep through thine own name”
This can be seen in really two ways
The first would be “keep through the power of your name”
Or the second, you may read it “keep them IN your name”
And either way it’s read it doesn’t really change the meaning of the text
What do we see here?
Divine Preservation - that those who are in Christ will persevere
Many of you know that there are a plethora of traditions that say that it is possible for a true believer to fall from a state of grace
that it is possible for a true believer to fall away from the faith
That man can be truly saved, and break this communion with God. That they can be adopted, and justified.… and still be condemned...
They say that apostacy is truly knowing, and believing, and trusting, and resting in Christ for salvation
And then one day, rejecting it all
Being truly born again, and then leaving the faith
I trust you know this is contrary to what scripture teaches
If you look at the totality of the Biblical witness
If you take into account all that it has to say
And interpret the less clear passages by those that are more clear
Then the evidence is overwhelming
The Bible is crystal clear whenever it comes to this topic
This was for instance, a topic of great debate at the Synod of Dort
The Remonstrance were those who came and denied key theological positions
Such as
The absolute depravity of mankind
Or the unconditional election of God
Or the atonement being limited
Or God’s grace being irresistible
And what they also denied, was the perseverance of the saints
In more modern terms, these are what would be considered Arminians
So the Synod was gathered
And what they ended up doing was creating 5 counter points addressing each point of controversy
And I’m sure you know the result of these counter points
It is best known from the Acronym TULIP
Unfortunately often times Reformed Theology is truncated into just believing in these 5 points
When it is far more than just these
And while we won’t get into all the points of that today, I trust you know it is far more than just believing in the points of the Acronym
But, all that to say, we do believe in the doctrines represented in the acronym, do we not?
We do believe in the absolute depravity of mankind
We do believe that God’s saving grace is irresistible
And, we do believe that the saints will persevere
Why?
Because the Bible teaches it!
Not only here
Remember Christ, in John 10, He is pulling back the veil as it were from Psalm 23 where David says
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
And Christ, of course knows His OT very well, it’s His OT
And He takes that, and He equates it to Himself
He says “I am the good shepherd”
He says, “The good shepherd gives His life for His sheep”
“I know my sheep, and my sheep know me”
“No man takes my life from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again”
And what do those around Him start to do?
Grumble, complain
Blaspheme even
“He has a devil, he is mad” they say
But what does Jesus go on to say? John 10:27-30
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life;
Remember Christ just told us what eternal life is, “That they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent”
How does He give eternal life? Through illuminating the mind of His sheep
and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Christ says no one, is able to pluck them out of His hand
There is no one strong enough, or powerful enough to pluck you out of the hand of Jesus, not even the devil himself
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
What is that? Divine Preservation - this is perseverance of the saints
Christ, in John 6:39 says
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Peter, in 1 Peter 1:3-5 says that God, according to His abundance of grace has begotten us to a lively hope by “the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
to an inheritance that is incorruptible, an inheritance that never fades away
And he says of us in Christ
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Paul says in Philippians 1:6
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
- Why do I give you whip lash by taking you take these scripture text’s?
I do it to show you this isn’t just someone standing up here stating these things
This is what scripture through and through teaches
And it isn’t because you are working hard enough or striving to do your very best
As many have said before, “If I could lose my salvation, I would”
Notice what each Scripture points to
Not us… But God
God keeping us, God preserving us
No one, can pluck us out of His hands
How?
Through our union with Christ
We see that here of course
“That they may be one, as we are”
Speaking of the union we have in Christ
Not just with Christ but with all true believers
Christ says
“I am the good shepherd.… no one can pluck them from my hand.… no one can pluck them from my Father’s hand”
“Of all that the Father has given me I should lose nothing”
Because you are united to Christ He is the one that keeps you
I was talking with Rev. Welsh last Sunday after church and we were talking about how the last couple times he’s been down here he has preached on Union with Christ
And then it clicked in my mind
As you look throughout this passage what is it all predicated on?
Christ’s intercession
Him functioning as our High Priest
Him praying for us, not passing us over but praying specifically for us
What is it all predicated upon?
Our union with Him
This is clearly something God is intending to drive home for us
He wants us to understand very clearly
That if you have been quickened by His Spirit
You are united to Christ in an inseparable bond that can never be broken
And because of this, “Who can separate us from the Love of Christ”, Paul says
shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
how?
through him that loved us.
My friends
Because we are united to Christ
He prays for us
And because He prays for us
We are preserved
And it is only through His preservation that we stand
Without His prayers we fall
Notice he says vs. 12 He says it is something He does
“but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled”
Now here poses an important question
You say, “Malik you just said no one can fall away, does this mean that Judas fell away from a true saving faith”
No
Why?
Because Christ said, from the very beginning, that he was a devil
Remember back in John 6:64 it says that Jesus knew
from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Only 6 verses after that Christ says John 6:70
Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
But it says here that the scripture were fulfilled in this
John is speaking of the OT when he says this
David, 1000 yrs. before Christ, says
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Which did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.
Is this speaking of Judas?
Christ certainly perceived it to be
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
This was prophesied before hand
Jesus knew that this was going to take place
Before the foundation of the world Jesus knew that this was going to take place
He was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world
Remember Jesus Himself says to Judas John 13:27
Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
Does this prove that a true believer is able to fall away?
Of course not, quite the contrary
Even in their rebellion the Sovereignty of God is made manifest
John says in 1John 2:19, and in a very real sense probably having Judas in mind
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Judas was not one given to Christ to preserve. He was called a “son of perdition”
The same name that is given to the “man of sin”/ the “man of lawlessness” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
And rightfully so
He has the same spirit in him that resides in the antichrist - because he is opposed to God
The true God
So Christ goes on to say
vs. 13
“That they might have MY joy fulfilled in themselves”
Notice, Christ desires the joy of His people
He knows that just shortly after this He will be in agony hanging on the tree
And yet, He cares very little for His poor condition and lift’s up His sheep in prayer
What an amazing savior He is
And this is not just any joy that He desires for them
But His joy
Christ IS the Christian’s joy
He is our delight
And this joy that is found in Him is not the joy that we see of the world that is fleeting
Here today and gone tomorrow
No. This Joy is an everlasting joy
And Christ would have nothing less, but for His joy to be full in us
And this joy is not just a privilege but a great duty, of the Christian
To cultivate this joy within our lives
To seek this joy earnestly
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Earnestly seek the joy of your Lord
vs. 14-15
Christ knows that the disciples, and we, are left in this world
He says, “I don’t pray that you would take them out of the world”
And here is a condemnation of any sect or movement that says we need to remove ourselves from the world
You think of Monasteries for instance
They look at the wealth and the pomp and the sin and evil of the world and they say
“well all of this is just antithetical to Biblical teaching”
and so what do they do?
They seclude themselves from the world
They go and hide from the world
But Christ here completely condemns that notion
If we practiced this escapism how would we fulfill the great commission
How would we go out into all the world making disciples
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, but how would they hear without a preacher
Christ doesn’t call us to escapism
He doesn’t call us to remove ourselves from the world
He calls us to not live like the world
That is why He says
“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil”
Read through vs. 19
vs. 17
“Thy word is truth”
Scripture is the sole infallible, and inerrant rule of faith and practice for life
It is THE truth, which we are to conform our lives by
vs. 18
“Even so have I also sent them into the world”
Again, a flat out denial - rejection- of any form of escapism
Christ sends us “into” the world - He uses us for His intended purposes
Application
Application
Okay, so now, circling back to a question I asked towards the very beginning
Why is it so important that Christ prays for us
And this will be our first point of application
Divine Preservation
Divine Preservation
Why is it so important that Christ prays for us?
What do we see in our text today?
Christ says “I pray for them”
He goes on to say vs. 11 “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me”
vs. 12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them”
Christ, over and over again is emphasizing this fact
“Keep them”
Preserve them
Remember back in Luke 22:32 when Jesus tells Peter that he is going to deny him...
And He says
“but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.””
Christ clearly understands the estate of us fallen men
It isn’t like we have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our infirmities
He was -
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Christ understands the necessity of His intercession, because He knows just how sinful we are
So the question then arises, how are we preserved?
Is it through our own striving?
Is it through our own righteousness
Is it just because we are righteous enough to endure to the end in our own strength?
Of course not
In fact, Paul says, “when I am weak, then am I strong”
Why? Because God’s grace is sufficient
His strength is made perfect in our weakness
Elsewhere Paul states,
“I can do all things”… through who? Through yourself? No..… “Through Christ who strengthens me”
The Bible is very clear that we are weak
Fickle
Prone to backsliding
We are prone to going astray, whether it be to the right or to the left
My friends, how are you preserved?
It is only through the immutable character of God
It is only because of His unchanging love for you
It is because of the merit and the intercession of Christ on your behalf
Does your faith feel weak?
Guess what, the Bible says it is
Even the greatest men, the hero’s of the faith that we look up to fell
Abraham feared Pharaoh and Abimelech more than God, and lied abut Sarah being His sister
He doubted the promises of God and went and had a child with Hagar, not the child of the promise
But the child of a concubine
David
He lusts after Bathsheba and commits adultery with her
And in turn, he doesn’t initially repent but has Uriah killed
Solomon
Solomon multiplies his wives, which is explicitly forbidden in Deuteronomy 17
And his vies in turn turn his heart away from God
He commits idolatry
We can go on and on about the sins and the failings of our fathers in the faith
Why?
Because their faith was weak
And our faith is weak
But when you feel weak, it is all the more reason to turn to Jesus, is it not?
Even our prayers feel weak, don’t they?
We pray, and lack faith
We don’t pray for certain things, because we feel as if those prayers are too big
But as James says James 4:2
ye have not, because ye ask not.
“Prayer, as it comes from the saints is but weak and languid; but when the arrow of a saint's prayer is put into the bow of Christ's intercession it pierces the throne of grace.” Thomas Watson
Why is it so important that Christ prays for us?
Because His prayers piece the throne of Grace
And This is for all circumstances
Are you being tempted?
Remember Christ prays for you
And these prayers don’t go unanswered
They are effectual for His sheep
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation
Maybe you succumb to the temptation
Have you fallen into sin?
My friends, if you are united to Christ, He prays for you
Have you sinned?
The overwhelming answer is yes
Well then run to Him
“The pray of a righteous man availeth much”
Is not Christ THE righteous Man?
And He prays for you
Maybe you’re dealing with a particular affliction
and in those moments of affliction what are we so prone to do?
Doubt, are we not?
We’re so weak, despite all the promises of God we think He has left us
We think He has abandoned us - and forsaken us
And the main culprit is standing right here
If I get into a season of affliction my first inclination is to doubt
But Solomon says in Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.
The Psalmist says Psalm 119:67
Before I was afflicted I went astray: But now have I kept thy word.
Do you not know that the Lord works all things.
My friends, glory in your afflictions
Because it is Christ who works them
And it is Christ who prays for you in the midst of them
One thing we can not do is think that things come upon us in life and Christ doesn’t know
Or Christ doesn’t see us
He see’s all things
And He knows all things
And He prays for you
Do you trust in Him in the midst of your
Temptation
Or doubt
Or affliction
Do you trust in Him when you are cast down
Know that you are not forsaken
Because He prays for you
Chiefly, How is this done? How do we learn to trust in Christ and in His promises
Through His word
Christ says, I have given them thy word
He says
Sanctify them through your truth, thy word is truth
And this is a theme that we see continually through this section
Christ is always pointing to the Word of God being manifest, being proclaimed, being preached and given to men as the means by which men are preserved, and strengthened, and full of joy
All scripture, as Paul says, is 2 Timothy 3:16
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Do you, as the Psalmist, look to the word of God as Psalm 119:105
a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.
The word of God is quick
It is sharper than any two edged sword, able to pierce the heart
And Christ has given it to us and preserved it for us for our instruction and our joy
The Word of God to the believe ought to be a delight to read
It ought to be that which we search first, diligently and faithfully
Always looking to it to guide our path
God works through His word as we read it and meditate upon it
Do not forsake it
Do not waste time on other things when you can find God through it
What better is there for you to do than read it?
Joy of the Lord
Joy of the Lord
Lastly
Notice that Christ indicates something that is very near and dear to Him
He says He speaks so that
We might have what?
His Joy
What is His joy?
Joy often times is equated with happiness
Which is really not the case
You can have joy in the midst of sadness, or trial
You can still find joy
The world looks to the things of the world to bring happiness, but the world cares nothing about “joy”
And the world doesn’t have anything that can bring true joy, does it?
True joy only comes from Christ
That is why He says, “My joy”
This is a joy or a gladness of heart that comes from our Union with Him
Once again, as I mentioned
The Lord wants you to understand that if you have been united to Him, it produces real change
And we think of those changes often times analytically
I have been adopted
I have been justified
I am being sanctified
And if we aren’t careful what ends up happening is
A deadness creeps into our relationship with Christ
My friends understand
A lot of Christianity is, in a very real sense, concerned with objective truth
But we cannot miss the reality that there is a subjective side to our faith
There is our experiencing of Christ that of course is directed by the word of God, and cannot contradict the word of God
But in experiencing Christ we do experience emotion
we experience quickening's and fresh outpourings and fresh manifestations of God’s glory and His light in my life
Because of our sin we do not experience the glory of God the same in every season of life
Have you noticed that?
There are certain times in your life when we may exprience God more vividly or more clearly than others
You think about Peter, James, and John in Matthew 17 when we see the Transfiguration of Christ
They didn’t always experience Christ in that way, in that light
But God is pleased at certain times to pour out His grace in abundace in certain seasons of our lives
And here we see one of those things that we ought to be striving for
As I mentioned before, it isn’t only a privilege
But a duty, to seek the joy of the Lord
And this joy of the Lord that shines abroad in our hearts - a sense of being filled with the Holy Spirit
It feels us with gladness and peace -
And this is something that we see in Scripture is it not?
We have true and real examples of what this joy is - what Christ’s joy is
We see this in Mary for instance, before Jesus was even born
Mary sings Luke 1:47
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
John, hearing Mary’s voice, who was carrying His savior
Is said to leap for joy in His mothers womb
And Jesus, in His earthly ministry exemplifies this joy
Those who hate Him accuse Him of being too joyful Luke 7:34
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
We are told that Luke 10:21
Jesus rejoiced in spirit
In Nehemiah 8:10 we are told by Nehemiah that
the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Joy of the Lord is a fruit of the Spirit, is it not?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
My friends
If you have been united to Christ, then you are indwelt with His Spirit
You are the temple of the Living God
This joy is something that you can have now
Not just during easy and luxury
Because it isn’t a produce of human initiative, it isn’t of human origin
This is something you can have no matter your situation
We see that in the early church
They are brought in to a council in Acts 5, and beaten, and commanded to not speak the name of Jesus
And what do they do?
Do they go away, groping and complaining?
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Because Christ tells us no one can snatch us out of His hand
That He has overcome the world
That He has defeated death, and the devil
We are told therefore we are heirs, joint heirs with Christ
That He has made us partakers of heavenly blessings
That we have been made heirs 1 Peter 1:4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
What can separate us from the Love of Christ?
Nothing!
This inexpressible joy is something that flows freely from the throne of grace to all who have been united to Jesus Christ our Lord
Have you been united to the savior of sinners?
Peter tells us
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Seek His presence daily
