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| Having The Joy Of The Lord |
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| Joy -- more than mere happiness
! Jesus- the center of our joy! The Joy of the Lord is our strength! Romans 5:8-11 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Happiness fluctuates because it has for its source the "good times" of life. Whereas joy, in the Holy Ghost, is present in the gloomiest of circumstances. By the grace of God, we have joy. Jesus-- the joy of our salvation! JOY... A FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Joy-- one of the fruits of the Spirit. Joy is given to us by God. It is a Heavenly gift that cannot be taken away. It is not dependent on external conditions but rather upon internal possessions. We have grace, peace, blessed assurance, and fellowship with God Almighty through our Great Mediator-- the Lord Jesus Christ. We are Saints of the Most High God. We have access to the very Throne room of God through the Blood of the Lord Jesus. We have the ever abiding indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus-- our Savior, our Redeemer, Our Joy-- our Best Friend. The world cannot give joy. The world offers superficial happiness that renders a person empty inside. This world did not give us joy and the world cannot take it away. JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Faith in Christ implants that joy-- the joy that can see in the midst of a trial and say, "I have hope! My sins are forgiven! Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning! All things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose...Hallelujah!" 1Peter 1:7-8 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: The world does not understand; the ungodly will never understand for they have no peace, no fulfillment in their lives. They search for joy in their careers and from the things that they buy. These things are temporal fleeting moments of happiness and then the emptiness remains. What good is a mansion when your heart longs for lasting peace? The world searches for joy-- they want contentment but they search for joy in all the wrong places. Joy is only given to those who have received Christ as their Savior. He is the One who gives us joy. OUR SAVIOR'S JOY Peter said, concerning Jesus, in Acts 2:28 "Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance." Hebrews 12:2 : Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The Lord Jesus had joy in knowing that He would redeem us, by His sacrificial death upon the cross. The blessed Savior-- praise His name forever! He has given us the joy that world cannot take away. The material things of this world are temporal indeed. We cannot take them with us when we die but the things of God-- the treasures of Heaven are eternal. They last forever. When we remember the love of God-- how that He loved us with such great love-- How God the Father gave His only Begotten Son to die for us and to rise again that we might have everlasting life... how can we not have joy? Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. THE NATIONS SHALL SING FOR JOY Psalm 67:4 O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. We believe God's Holy Word. We know that we shall rule and reign with Christ Jesus forever. We know that our sins are forgiven and washed away. We know that every promise of God is true. We know that life on earth is as a drop of vapor. We know that we have riches in Heaven. We know that our God is greater than any problem. We know that we are joint-heirs with Christ. Our life is hid in Him. We are citizens of Heaven and our names are written upon the palm of His hand. If that is not something to smile about, I don't know what is. Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. The people of this present world are constantly looking for the "new and improved". They improve cars, houses, electronics, etc. All these things will perish but Christians look for the "new earth" wherein dwelleth righteousness and when we shall reign with Christ Jesus forever. If God be for us, who can be against us? Whatever problem...Jesus is the answer. He gives us His peace and joy in the midst of adversity. Psalm 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Jesus-- the joy of our salvation. He will be King forever and we shall reign with Him. Let that sink in for a minute. He is the giver of Life eternal. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are to look to Him always. Psalm 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. While we live on this present earth, there is much beauty to behold in the natural world-- the plants, creatures, clouds, skies, sunshine, flowers, etc. We have yet to see our eternal home-- but wherever Jesus is, there is home for the Believer who has put his trust in Him. Isaiah 12:2-4 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. The Lord is with us and we recognize His handiwork in the nature that is all around us. JOY OF OUR SALVATION Many people cannot believe the Gospel because their eyes do not look upon the things, which God has made. They do not acknowledge their Creator. Those who are religiously lost, they say, "We must work for salvation for nothing is free..." The Bible clearly states that salvation is a free gift from God. Jesus paid the price. Our salvation cost Jesus His life! He died for us; He shed His precious blood for us; He paid the ultimate price and arose from the dead on the Third Day. He paid the price for our sins. He freely offers eternal life to all who will receive. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. The sunset is free, the ocean is free, the butterflies do not charge you a fee, and the tree does not charge a service fee for blowing in the breeze. Bees do not expect a fee for making honey-- so why would not God's gift of salvation be free as well? The best things in life are the things that money can't buy and the things that God has freely given to us. Psalm 43:4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Isaiah 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. The Lord has given us a glimpse of Heaven within our heart. How awful it must be for the unsaved to go through life with no joy in their heart. What a horrible thought to die without knowing Christ Jesus as Savior-- and the joy that He gives to each Believer. What a horrible life the unsaved must experience as the weight of their sins rest upon their shoulders. They try to gain the whole world but for a moment in time. What will it profit them when they lose their own soul? The unbeliever knows not God and cannot have lasting peace. They run to and fro...searching for something to quench the longing of their heart. Their happiness is fleeting-- it depends on the day that they are having-- sad, moody individuals who shift and toss about as the wind with no real substance. Jesus gives life... a joy in Him that shall never pass away. Jesus said in John 10:10, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. Aren't you glad you know the Giver of Life? Aren't you glad that you know Jesus-- the giver of all joy and peace? True joy resides in the Christian's heart for they know the Lord. He is Alpha and Omega...He is the joy of our salvation. He is the Way, The Truth and the Life. 2Tim 1:12b ...for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH Joy of the Lord is my strength -- How are you going to get through whatever may face you on the road ahead? It is the Lord who will carry you. Know that the joy of the Lord is your strength. God will never leave us, nor forsake us. Faith in Christ Jesus arises above the present circumstances because faith in Him sees a better outcome. If you have full faith in God, then you will have fullness of joy. How can you be anxious or worried when the God whom you serve holds you in the palm of His hand...can anything but fullness of joy be present? Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Trials will come our way. Problems might, for a little while, stay. But we who know the Lord know that He will see us through every trial. Our hope, our trust, our joy is in Him. We must cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us. The Bible says in Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. When our life on earth is through, we shall enter into the joy of the Lord and shall reign with Christ Jesus forever! That alone is worth singing about! Amen! Matt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. ©2006 Cobblestone Road Ministries All Rights Reserved FURTHER READING: Trust In God, Hope in God Restore Unto Me The Joy Of Thy Salvation Are You Troubled? Give Your Burdens To The Lord Good Scriptural Medicine- Trust In The Lord Do You Have Time For The Lord? JESUS IS...Jesus is the Greatest Treasure! The Bible Cure For Doubting Christians -For when doubt comes your way God Is Our Shield Bible Study The Bible Cure For Bad Attitudes Learning To Lean on Jesus - Devotional |
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