Point number seven about how then shall we fight for joy.

So I'm assuming that at this stage there's a lot of, okay, I see all those texts.

I see that Christian hedonism, that is, God is most glorified in us when we're most satisfied in him, and that the Bible calls us to be satisfied in him, and all those reasons you gave.

But my heart doesn't seem very engaged.

And I grew up in a church where they didn't talk much about that.

So that's why we're doing what we're doing here.

These are practical how questions.

And I've got 14 or 15 answers.

And I'm going to blaze through, I hope, to get through as many as I can.

First, realize that authentic joy in God is a gift.

Yes, it's commanded, and it's a gift.

Remember St. Augustine?

He got converted when he was 32.

He lived with a mistress for 16 years and was sexually in bondage, as he said. He had one child out of wedlock.

When he was saved, he never married again. Never married. And became Bishop of Hippo,

fourth century. And God gave him a victory over his sexual bondage.

And he said, you command continents, O Lord, command what you will and grant what you command.

That's the famous sentence of Augustine. And it's right. It's

absolutely biblical. It's a gift. Grant what you command. The fruit of the spirit is joy.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation he's asking god to do it

no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him

so it's a gift to have joy in god

...