Know Jesus, Know Joy

@V21Church is two weeks into a series on Philippians entitled “Unreasonable Joy”. In this letter, Paul leads the church to joy through reliance on Christ alone. Which is why we’re combining this series with our celebration of Lent through a Fasting and Prayer Journal called “The Joyfull Fast”. Fasting is an easy discipline to misunderstand, but in essence it should help foster reliance upon Christ. Which, according to Paul, leads to joy. Check out this quote from Richard Foster:

“More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside of us with food and other things.”

Richard Foster

Among others, Harold Best points out that our worship does not stop and start, but simply shifts. The question is not “When do I worship?” but instead “Who do I worship?” As this site primarily deals with corporate worship at @V21Church, today’s entry deals with fasting in relation to worship of God. More specifically, the frustration we encounter when our worship does not “feel good”. I believe this occurs not as a result of music style, sound quality, or melody but mainly due to our hearts worshiping things or people other than God. Have you ever felt like it takes several songs in order to “get into” worship? Is this simply warming up your voice, slowing down from a hectic morning, and focusing? Or rather, is it a shift from worshiping yourself to worshiping God? Followers of Christ should be able to stop and pray together, hear and receive the Word, or lift our voice in praise of God at any time. Don’t take this to a legalistic level and say (imagine me saying this in a mocking voice), “If I’m watching 30 Rock with friends and relaxing, and someone picks up a guitar and starts singing ‘Amazing Grace’, I’m not going to feel like jumping in.” But there is truth to this – if God is our primary love, if Christ resides in us and we are being sanctified, if we have a heart understanding of the gospel of grace, we should know peace. We should be thankful. We should experience a depth of joy unlike anything else. And this is not a stop-and-start thing, it’s the constant reality we reside in. If this is the case, why shouldn’t we be prepared to respond to God in thanks? In fact, if the reality of our lives is loving God above all else, and through the Holy Spirit residing in our hearts knowing Jesus Christ and the joy, peace and love he so mercifully gives, then every action should be a response to God of thanks.

On a personal level, this is not something I claim to truly now or understand, but it is something I long for. Sadly, a more accurate description is that I long to long for it. Which is why I’m fasting in this season of Lent, and specifically seeking to remove things that distract me from God, or that I love above God. The presence of these things has brought me to a place of frustration, discontent, anger even. The opposite of joy, and the opposite of what Jesus Christ lovingly offers and calls me to. So bring it on, Paul. Bring it on, God. Change my heart.

If you’re interested in joining us in this series on joy, and the accompanying celebration of Lent, here are some resources:
Vintage21 Fasting and Prayer Journal
Philippians Series Podcasts
The Celebration of Discipline - Richard Foster
A Hunger For God: Desiring God Through Fasting & Prayer – John Piper