JOYFUL IN GOD

Time with Jesus - Friday, 20 July 2012

Hi all,

The meditation today is about joy. Joy is not happiness and happiness is not joy. You can be filled with joy, the Joy of the Lord, when you are extremely unhappy.  The author of Hebrews puts it like this: ² Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the author of faith. He also makes it perfect. He paid no attention to the shame of the cross. He suffered there because of the joy he was looking forward to. Then he sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 NIrV Now that’s joy!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 20 July 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	JOYFUL IN GOD
The derivation of words can be fascinating. The word translated “joy” in Gal 5:22 and rejoice in Phil 3:1 come from the same root. In other words joy and rejoice mean about the same thing! It’s important! When I first came into Christianity, I was full of the joy of the Lord. There were a number of other young men and women who had been touched the same way. It sounds a bit cock-eyed, but when we sang Wesley’s Great hymn, “And can it be that I might gain and interest in my Saviour’s blood?” I used to cry like a baby! God’s Spirit had so touched me I would weep tears of joy. It seemed the right thing to do. What disappointed me at the time was the fact that so many of the older people could sing it. But it was without any display of enthusiasm at all. At the time I felt that this was “normal” for older people. There was a problem in those days. People would not discuss religion or politics in public. It seemed to be an unwritten law of the “church” that people would not wax lyrical about Christianity. I’m reminded of a story from those days. A rather excitable Pentecostal visited a Cathedral while on holiday. Naturally, he got a bit excited during the service and kept on interjecting, “Praise the Lord” or “Amen, Hallelujah” Eventually one of the church elders tiptoed up to him and whispered in his ear, “We don’t praise the Lord here”. It would be funny if it wasn’t so tragic. No doubt the church elder and others in the congregation were disturbed by what they thought were the man’s emotional outbursts. Nevertheless, we see that the usual “atmosphere” in the church was one of strictly controlled emotion. Certainly that’s what I saw in the 1960’s. The comment was that the people looked as though they had been baptized in lemon juice! How the church of Jesus Christ has changed. There was a time when men and women were “thrilled” to have been whipped or beaten for believing in the Saviour. I’ve often wondered why it was like it in those dim and distant days. The question is not easy to answer. In every outpouring of the Holy Spirit that I’m aware of, the result was to touch the people in their emotions. People wept, shouted, cried and fell over unconscious as a result of what took place in their lives. There are even stories of people laughing hysterically under the influence of the Spirit of God. Why? I suspect it has much to do with the way they suppress themselves. Then, when they are touched by the Lord, the chains of their suppression are snapped. Then they start doing things they would have liked to do, but wouldn’t. Now they were free. Joy at their release would bubble up and overflow in a delightful expression of their love for the One who liberated them. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			15 All the days of those who are crushed are filled with pain and suffering. But a cheerful heart enjoys a good time that never ends. Proverbs 15:15 NIrV 10 He continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy of GOD (The Lord) is your strength!" Nehemiah 8:10 MSG 17 The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:17 TNIV 18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20 NLT 15 So let us never stop offering to God our praise through Jesus. Let us offer it as the fruit of lips that say they believe in him. Hebrews 13:15 NIrV 17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT 10 We are sad, but we are always full of joy. We are poor, but we make many people rich. We have nothing, but we own everything. 2 Corinthians 6:10 NIrV 3 That's not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. Romans 5:3 NIrV	God is not a spoilsport, He likes us having fun. It all depends on what it is He sees and what we’ve done. It is our definition of all the things we do. We may think it is funny! But what is it to You? If we abuse our parents, so we can have a laugh, The Lord will blow us all away like little bits of chaff. We may think stealing’s funny; but God is not amused; And entry into heaven, for you will be refused. There’s lying and there’s cheating and other funny jokes; And sexual offences with other gals or blokes. There’s cheating on your husband and there is also pawn. The only things these do to God are aggravate His scorn! God has a word for all of this. He says it’s blatant sin. And when we dabble into these, you’ll never see Him grin. In fact the Bible tells us, in words so very clear, That if we carry on with them, He never will draw near. We will not enter the reward the Lord Himself has planned; And end up in a dungeon, in darkest demon-land. The Lord is not a prostitute. He’s made it clear as day. That He is not a bit like that in the remotest way! He’s not manipulate-able; you cannot twist His arm. The Christians, who think that way, are at the “funny farm”! We really have to understand, that humour isn’t joy. The things I think are funny, may easily annoy, People who think differently. Perhaps you want to cry? But with the joy of Jesus, His peace is standing by. So even if the fig tree has no blossoms we can see. Even if the grape vine fails, perhaps the olive tree, Is barren and the flocks and herds lie slaughtered in the field. You can still rejoice because your covenant is sealed. With the blood of Jesus, there’s sure to be no lack. The Word of God declares that Satan has to bring them back! We don’t know how he’ll do it. We do not even care. He must find a method on time, in place, somewhere! Even if we suffer and they burn you at the stake. It’s an opportunity for joy to surely break, The bonds that are restraining you. So laugh aloud with glee. In just a few short moments, the Lord your God you’ll see. Pain is momentary and joy is evermore. Kept for those who persevere, right up to heaven’s door! Jim Strickland   20th July 2012