Joy!: God's Secret Weapon for Every Believer

By Georgian Banov and Bill Johnson

Experience God's Joy Daily!

Have you settled for less than unspeakable joy in your life's journey? The Holy Spirit is challenging you to expect more--a lot more!

Georgian Banov knew nothing of this supernatural joy. Born and raised under the oppression of atheist and Communist Bulgaria, he escaped miraculously to the United States, where he was embraced by the warmth and love of the "Jesus people." Encountering God, along with the truth of His Word and the ongoing work of the Spirit, has led him to a life of freedom and holy joy.

In these pages, Georgian will help you
· become a friend of God and know Him as an affectionate Father
· discover performance-free grace in the fullness of what Christ has done
· put an end to religious striving and self-effort
· find victory over the power of sin so you can be both holy and happy
· be the hands and feet of Jesus accomplishing His justice in the world

Joy is not some nice-to-have "bonus" of the Christian faith. With Jesus living inside you through the Spirit, you can experience the bliss of God's presence as you walk out your calling with purpose and power!

"Wow! I love this book, this man and this message!"--from the foreword by Bill Johnson

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Mar 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781493428427

Book preview

Georgian has always been a carrier of contagious joy and a global ambassador of the Gospel. His testimony will set you ablaze with fresh faith to experience the fullness of the abundant life that is in Jesus!

Dr. Ché Ahn, founder and president, Harvest International Ministry; founding and senior pastor, Harvest Rock Church, Pasadena, California; international chancellor, Wagner University

Joy is not a wish or a want. Joy is a weapon! Georgian personifies joy and has stewarded this ministry well to the Body of Christ at large. Joy has been Georgian’s weapon to transform culture, and those who do not understand the fuel that joy provides in the long road ahead are in danger of selling their car to pay for their petrol. I highly recommend this read for those who do not wish to make that fatal error.

Tomi Arayomi, RIG Nation

Georgian Banov is one of the most joyous people I know. His unique background and powerful Holy Spirit encounters have enabled him to walk in and share the joy of the Lord like none other that I know. He’s a dear friend. We’ve been on several missions together, and he is always the same—extremely joyful in all circumstances. You will love this book.

John Arnott, Catch The Fire, Toronto

Georgian and his wife have been two of our closest friends for over two decades, a constant gift to us through countless trials and celebrations. Their testimony of supernatural joy beyond every trouble in this world is something we have preached and witnessed all around the world. Be blessed by it!

Heidi G. Baker, Ph.D., co-founder and executive chairman of the board, Iris Global

"There has never been a time when Joy! was needed more in the Body of Christ. Georgian beautifully displays this through his own life story, coupled with strong biblical teaching. I have personally witnessed Georgian bringing to disaster zones a joy that seemed like it was otherworldly, like it didn’t belong among the devastation. It is because he lives out this message better than anyone I have been connected to. If you want to live with one of the richest tools God has for you, read this book and buy it for anyone who needs a dose!"

Shawn Bolz, author, Translating God, Through the Eyes of Love, Keys to Heaven’s Economy; television and podcast host

Joy can seem so elusive to so many who love Christ. But Georgian reveals in his life’s story that joy can become the one constant when we realize whose it is, how much He loves us and where He resides. Drink deeply!

Mark J. Chironna, bishop, Church On The Living Edge

Georgian Banov is completely qualified to write this book! He is truly an ‘apostle of joy’ who, along with his precious wife, Winnie, and their team, has spread the joy of the Lord into some of the darkest places of the world. As you read this book, you will catch the joy of the Lord for sure. Get ready to be filled!

Patricia King, author, minister, television host

It has been my delight and privilege to first meet and then become a friend to one of the great modern treasures of God, rescued and utterly transformed by His grace and goodness. Escaping from his own nation already deeply hurt by an adapted ugly philosophy forcing on its sad people an inhumanly damaging control, Georgian’s daring quest for freedom was finally found, not just in another country, but in Christ. It is high time we rediscover this most lovely and primary reason God made us all in the first place: joy! Go now with Georgian and Winnie to find what they both see as His game changer!

Winkie Pratney, author and speaker

Georgian Banov gives a masterful theological exposition of the ecstatic joy of being in God’s presence and, more importantly, how to experience that joy. Get this book and learn how to have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit every day.

Gordon Robertson, president, Christian Broadcasting Network

Talk about joy! What a wonderful gift this long-awaited book is to the Body of Christ! Georgian’s journey will inspire, encourage and provoke you to find this same freedom and joy that has marked Geogian’s life. The revelation that Georgian carries has the power to transform, and the incredible fruit that has come from Georgian and Winnie’s life work is testimony of this. Jump in and inhale this book—it will refresh, inspire and delight you!

Katherine Ruonala, senior leader, Glory City Church, Brisbane, Queensland; author, Supernatural Freedom, Speak Life and Life with the Holy Spirit

The apostle Paul tells us, ‘Let joy be your continual feast’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16 TPT). And what a feast you are going to have as you read this book. From living in Europe to living in ecstasy, Georgian has a message from God for us. You will gleefully discover the secrets of joy on a brand-new level. This book will rock your world and leave you wanting more joy. I found delight in every page. Get ready to receive a God-given joy that is out of this world. And get an extra copy for someone you know that needs the gift of joy!

Brian Simmons, The Passion Translation Project

This book is packed with great revelation about the finished work of Christ. But that is not all—it also provides the capacity to reproduce inside of you what you are reading. That probably is the power of the testimony. Georgian takes you on his life journey, and while you experience his and Winnie’s adventures, you are plunging into the practical application of the revelation. Amazing!

Martin Spreer, pastor, Christus-Gemeinde (Christ Church), Duisburg, Germany

The infectious joy that surrounds Georgian Banov is always a game changer. When I am with him, I feel the shift to hope and life. His intense focus on the atmosphere of the Holy Spirit has been sustained for decades. His messages, his violin and now his book will fill you with the joy needed in these challenging days we live in. Get it, read it and soak in its words.

Steve Witt, founding pastor, Bethel Cleveland

© 2021 by Georgian Banov

Published by Chosen Books

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.chosenbooks.com

Chosen Books is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Ebook edition created 2021

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-2842-7

Cover design by Darren Welch Design

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations identified AMPC are from the Amplified® Bible (AMPC), copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations identified ARAMAIC BIBLE IN PLAIN ENGLISH are from The Original Aramaic New Testament in Plain English with Psalms & Proverbs Copyright © 2007; 8th edition Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified AKJV are from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

Scripture quotations identified BARCLAY are from The New Testament: A Translation by William Barclay, copyright © 1968, 1999 by The Estate of William Barclay. All rights reserved.

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Scripture quotations identified GNT are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version-Second Edition. Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

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Scripture quotations identified KJV2000 are from the KJV2000 Bible, copyright © 2011 by Telma J. Couric.

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Scripture quotations identified NASB1995 taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org Scripture quotations identified NEB taken from the New English Bible, copyright © Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press 1961, 1970. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified NET are from the NET Bible®, copyright © 1996–2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Dedicated to

Jesus my Savior, who for the joy set ahead endured the cross. Through unspeakable suffering, You rescued us from this present evil age and brought us into Your Kingdom.

My heavenly Father, who relentlessly pursues the prodigals. Thank You for the privilege of participating in the joy of Your harvest and homecoming celebrations.

The precious Holy Spirit, who keeps us and instructs us daily. Your supernatural currents of love and joy empower us to do what Jesus paid for.

My radiant bride and best friend, Winnie, lovingly called Cóco. I treasure your insatiable hunger for the Word and prophetic insights into the mysteries and bliss found in our marriage union with Christ. You are also the inspiration and force behind our ministry to the poorest of the poor.

Our beautiful miracle daughter, Yana, whose tender heart and compassion helped expand the scope of our extravagant love feasts among the nations.

My mother, who bravely raised me in the best way that she could as a single mom under very difficult circumstances, and my father, who gave me the gift of music. I cannot wait to see you both in heaven.

Contents

Cover    1

Endorsements    2

Half Title Page    5

Title Page    7

Copyright Page    8

Dedication    9

Foreword by Bill Johnson    13

Acknowledgments    17

1. Jesus Encounter    19

2. Friendship with God    39

3. Discovering God as Father    51

4. Jesus to the Core    67

5. Faith inside Christ    77

6. Performance-Free Grace    91

7. The Sanctified Heart    105

8. God’s Party for You    121

9. Joy Is Not Dessert—It’s a Weapon    135

10. Supernatural Joy and Justice    155

About the Author    174

Back Cover    177

Foreword

Wow! I love this book, this man and this message! I don’t know many people who are as qualified to write a book called Joy! as Georgian Banov. The joy of the Lord truly is his strength. This book is rich in inspiration, but carries deep insights from the Scripture that we might grow in authentic grace. Welcome to Joy! Welcome to the journey of a lifetime.

The Bible gives us two very different responses to joy. When King David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, the Bible says he danced wildly before the Lord, worshiping Him with abandoned joy. Michal, his wife and Saul’s daughter, watched him from the palace and was not impressed. But David let her know that his joy in the Lord would not be dampened by her disdain. And the Bible says she had no child to the day of her death (2 Samuel 6:23). She lost the capacity to be fruitful by despising a joyful response to God.

Isaiah depicts a very different relationship with joy. He writes, Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud (Isaiah 54:1a NASB1995). We all have places in our lives that have been affected by barrenness, areas where we have yet to see fruitfulness. And this prophetic message tells us to shout for joy . . . cry aloud.

The word cry actually means to scream. This is not a scream of fear; it is a scream of anticipation. It is a deliberate, extreme expression of joy. We