So Your Joy is Complete

Set Right Think About That

So Your Joy is Complete

Steeped in the Word

April 25, 2025 – 04/25/2025

4 – Creation and Things That Are Made

25 – Grace for Grace

He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. Romans 4:25 NLT

So\u00a0Your Joy is Complete\n

Without a doubt, there are two times in your life when God is smiling. First, is when you were born and second, when you were re-born. It is the birth of a new day, every day!\n

Did you know Leonardo Da Vinci never finished the Mona Lisa?\u00a0\u00a0Unfortunately, I think our portrait of Jesus might look more like the Mona Lisa than anything else because we are not really sure if God actually smiles. It is absolutely evident to me, and anybody with a third-grade education, that the church as a whole is not convinced of God\u2019s goodness. Because of that, the church has not been known for being life-giving.\n

Many people throughout my life and ministry have told me they consider the church to be a lot of folks wearing frowns of disapproval. We\u2019ve all seen them. Has your kid ever thrown a fit during church? Frowns. Have you even worn less than your Sunday best? Frowns. Struggled with an addiction, sickness or had a financial hardship? More frowns.\n

The church has been known for judging people who are not just like them for far too long. Let\u2019s change that!\n

We need to paint pictures of God\u2019s goodness through our goodness. The Bible tells us in Ephesians that we\u2019re supposed to be imitators of God. It also tells us that God is love, so we should look like love! When we don\u2019t, people like Billy Joel write songs about us that reflect poorly on God.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, The sinners are much more fun. You know that only the good die young.\u201d\n

God doesn\u2019t laugh? He spends His time crying and being a killjoy? Who told Billy Joel that? We did. As the church, we have a lot of work to do. We need to finish the painting of God\u2019s goodness. It\u2019s OK to put a smile on the face of Jesus because He really is good!","hover":"\nWhich Wolf Do You Feed?\n

Jesus-driven thinking helps and heals. This is what the Bible has to say on the subject: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. \u2013 Romans 8:6\n

The Cherokee nation knew it, too. Check out this spot-on tribal tale:\n

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life. He told the boy, \u201cA terrible fight is going on inside me. It is a fight between two wolves. One wolf is evil. He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and self-doubt.\"\n

The old man continued: \u201cThe other wolf is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.\u201d He then told the boy, \u201cThis same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person, too.\u201d\n

The grandson thought about it for a minute, then asked his grandfather, \u201cWhich wolf will win?\u201d The wise old chief replied, \u201cThe one you feed.\u201d\n

What wolf have you been feeding? Just know the wolf of evil thoughts will eventually devour you, and likely others as well. Thoughts become actions, and there is always collateral damage.\n

That\u2019s not you! You can control your thought life and ensure the evil wolf starves to death."}},"slug":"et_pb_blurb"}">So Your Joy is Complete

Without a doubt, there are two times in your life when God is smiling. First, is when you were born and second, when you were re-born. It is the birth of a new day, every day!

Did you know Leonardo Da Vinci never finished the Mona Lisa? Unfortunately, I think our portrait of Jesus might look more like the Mona Lisa than anything else because we are not really sure if God actually smiles. It is absolutely evident to me, and anybody with a third-grade education, that the church as a whole is not convinced of God’s goodness. Because of that, the church has not been known for being life-giving.

Many people throughout my life and ministry have told me they consider the church to be a lot of folks wearing frowns of disapproval. We’ve all seen them. Has your kid ever thrown a fit during church? Frowns. Have you even worn less than your Sunday best? Frowns. Struggled with an addiction, sickness or had a financial hardship? More frowns.

The church has been known for judging people who are not just like them for far too long. Let’s change that!

We need to paint pictures of God’s goodness through our goodness. The Bible tells us in Ephesians that we’re supposed to be imitators of God. It also tells us that God is love, so we should look like love! When we don’t, people like Billy Joel write songs about us that reflect poorly on God. “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, The sinners are much more fun. You know that only the good die young.”

God doesn’t laugh? He spends His time crying and being a killjoy? Who told Billy Joel that? We did. As the church, we have a lot of work to do. We need to finish the painting of God’s goodness. It’s OK to put a smile on the face of Jesus because He really is good!

Grounded in FaithDeclare!

The Lord Jesus paid the price for my sin, the pain that came because of it, and for every sin that was done against me so that my joy could be complete. I will stand on His word that says He has overcome the world. The cares of the day can not take away my joy. I will tell of His goodness to all the world so others can have joy, too.

Pray a-Latte

CALLING ALL PRAYER WARRIORS! JOIN THE BATTLE CRY TRIBE!

Leanna, myself, and our team are constantly on the move—taking the Good News to the nations, rescuing women and children, and standing in the places where giants still roam.

Every mission, every breakthrough, and every soul saved comes with spiritual warfare, and we need YOU—our Battle Cry Tribe—to stand in the gap, covering us with prayers of victory, protection, and supernatural favor.

The Kingdom of darkness trembles when the saints of God lift up a battle cry in unity, covering the frontlines with prayer, power, and prophetic declarations!

Blessing,

Pastor Troy Brewer