It must be emptied to be filled!!
I'm still full of 'me'
When I disappear and become empty, I can become the one in whom the Holy Spirit works.
The Secret of the Joy Jesus Enjoyed: Kenosis

People think that they can be happy by filling themselves with many things, but true joy begins with emptying oneself.
Joy begins only when you empty yourself and fill yourself with the Holy Spirit.
This book introduces the 'paradox of joy' that the Bible speaks of.
It seems like the most painful thing would be to empty himself and go up to the cross, but Jesus was most joyful on the cross.
Because he loved God, he willingly emptied himself and filled himself with God's will and desires, thereby fulfilling His will.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to experience the power and beauty of kenosis, the joy of self-emptying, and the joy poured out from heaven by joining the journey of joy.

There is a paradox in joy.
Jesus was most joyful on the cross.
When he emptied himself and went up to the cross, paradoxically there was full joy.
Emptying oneself is called 'kenosis' (κενοσι?) in Greek, self-emptying.

--- p.9

I believe this is the essence of the joy that Jesus gives.
The joy that Jesus gives is a joy that is independent of circumstances.
It is a joy that shatters discouragement and apathy, and a joy that overturns people's common sense.
So he told us to always be happy.
Jesus is not unaware of our situation.
Nevertheless, he said to always be joyful.

--- p.19

When the ego fills our inner self, we cannot receive what God gives us.
There is only pain, sorrow, resentment, and discouragement caused by the fallen self.
But when we empty ourselves and create an empty space, and then invite the Holy Spirit to fill that space, we will experience a joy that cannot be found or tasted in this world.
That joy is an eternal joy from heaven.

--- p.31

I believe this is the essence of the church.
The church is a place of engagement.
The church is a place where people are involved in each other's lives and are involved in each other's lives.
In that sense, the modern church has lost its spiritual power by losing its ability to be an engaged community.
When people are interested in each other's lives and seek to care for each other's work, God's grace is poured out and His glory is revealed.

--- p.63

Kenosis is emptying oneself to create space for God to work.
Only when our fallen self is emptied and filled with the Spirit of God can we have the life and heart of a saint “worthy of the gospel” as Paul speaks of, and enjoy unstoppable joy and peace.
This is the secret of the gospel and the power of kenosis that Jesus performed.

--- p.71

Rather than being emptied of ‘self’, it is filled with ‘me’.
‘I am this kind of being, so I have the right to be treated this way, and people should acknowledge and treat me like that!’ The ‘ego’ is not emptied at the base of the mind, but is full.

--- p.79

The Holy Spirit who works within us places ‘desires’ within us for ‘His good pleasure.’
In other words, it means that you act based on your ‘longing.’
That is, God gives us a heart that desires and longs for His good will.
This is what the Holy Spirit who lives in us does.

--- p.131

We need a revolution of the cross to change the corrupted and rebellious nature of human beings into the heart of Jesus Christ, the heart of kenosis that humbles itself and obeys even to death.

--- p.156

Do you have "that person" like the Philippian saints, someone you can boast about on the day of Christ? May the Philippian church, a place you wouldn't mind pouring your life into, a place you'd be happy to share in and rejoice with, become the reason for your life.
You will have absolutely no regrets.

--- pp.172~173

Kenosis is different from impersonal self-denial, where emptiness itself is the goal.
The purpose of kenosis is not emptiness.
The purpose of kenosis is rather to fill.
Timothy filled himself with Paul's will and desire.
Why? Because I love you! You fill me with God's will and desire.
Why? Because I love you! This was Timothy's kenosis.

--- p.205

A characteristic of the brotherhood community is that everyone has the identity of a ‘helper.’
We exist to make each other successful.
I confess it.
Epaphroditus willingly volunteered to be Paul's servant for the rest of his life.
Just as Jesus dedicated himself to be God's servant, an eternal servant.

--- p.216