Got joy? Joy can be a bit hard to grasp and is often misunderstood. Even the translators of the Biblical text are not sure how to express the word. Is it happiness or contentment or some euphoric feeling that comes from the Spirit's presence? Joy is an important element in our relationship with the Lord and with our walk with Him. It should be evident in our lives. After all if you have a personal relationship with the God of the universe and His Son, who gives you abundant eternal life, there is reason to be joyful. Yet for many believers it remains a bit of a mystery and perhaps a little illusive. Yet, I am convinced that Yahweh wants me to experience a joy filled life. So what do we do when we find ourselves feeling pretty joyless? Well, if we look at a few Scriptures we can learn a few things about Joy and even the cure for Joylessness.
I Peter 1:8 says, "And though you have not seen
Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe
in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of
glory". It Seems even Peter has a little problem with joy. For he says that those who believe are to rejoice or express joy that cannot be expressed. Is that really helpful? To express the inexpressible? Joy is to be apart of who we are. It is more than happiness. It is a sense of contented peace and satisfaction in knowing the One true God and His Son. Even in times when happiness is void, joy is to be ours. Habakkuk 3:17-18, "Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though
the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though
the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the
stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of
my salvation." The prophet indicates that joy is not dependent on what we possess but on the confidence we have in the God who is in control. Even with lack of food there can still be joy if our hearts are knit to the one who simply is good. For God is good all the time. He is worthy of praise and rejoicing all the time. We should know and experience His joy all the time for joy is grounded in who He is not how we feel at the moment.
The simple truth is the closer I am and walk with the LORD YAHWEH the more joy I will come to experience. Yet, there are time when joy seems to allude me What do the scriptures say is the disease that robs me of joy and leaves me joyless? David gives us some clues to the cure in the Psalms. Psalm 132:16 ""Her priests also I will clothe with salvation,
And her godly ones will sing aloud for joy." God's priests, which according to 1 Peter 2:9 we are, have been clothed with salvation and her Godly ones, oh there is the issue, Godly ones, sing aloud for joy. You have to be one of His Godly ones or the joy may not be there. See how David felt in Psalm 51:12 " Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit." David had sinned. He was no behaving as one of God's holy ones. He had not lost his salvation but the joy was gone. Disobedience simply takes away the joy we are intended to experience. Sin breaks our fellowship with God and others and until that is taken care of the joy honestly be gone. For we are not trusting in or resting in the God who bought us. The false joy of the prodigal does not last very long. Only repentance and return to the contented satisfaction of trust and obedience can allow true joy to blossom once again.
However, even when we take David's prescription we may not feel all that joyful. In fact we may feel pretty lousy. God's people did and Nehemiah had to tell them to get past the feelings and rejoice. God's people knew they had sinned and so they repented and wept over their sin. However, they could not seem to get beyond that. Nehemiah 8:9-10 " This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.' For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, 'Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Life without joy is a life without God's strength. If you are honest with yourself lack of joy sucks life from you. It makes you feel weak and even sickly.
Joyless people are either in some sort of disobedience or moping about sin already forgiven, which is really an affront to the God who forgave. Like, somehow His forgiveness isn't enough. Our standards are higher than His so we will continue to morn over what God has forgiven. That is not a humble heart that is more like pride, we just don't want to be honest about it. "I know God has forgiven me but I just can't forgive myself." How remarkably arrogant that really is. Take note, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. God is resisting those who hold that attitude. Is it any wonder folks like this have no real joy? Psalm 30:5 "For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning." God does get angry over our sin, we repent, His grace is extended for life, we repent and weep in the darkness. But joy returns with the light of our returning to His presence. We can know the return of His joy.
So do you want to know the deep satisfaction and contentment that comes from the Lord? To taste that joy that Peter says is inexpressible? Then take David's prescription. Walk holy. Stay ever so close to the Lord. I believe there are two things that often keep believers in a mediocre and joyless existence. They either dabble in disobedience and do not hunger and thirst for the righteousness that can only be found in a real commitment to know God's Word. Or they have determined to set a standard higher than the Lord's and "Can't forgive themselves" or perhaps someone else. Pride, sin and distance from the Shepherd, who longs to give you joy and rest for your soul, is a sure joy killer.
The prescription is available, live rightly, live humbly, and repent quickly when we stray. The only question remaining is will we take the cure so we can know His inexpressible joy.
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Peek a Boo, The Spirits See You
If you have been following my past few posts we have been looking a bit at the spiritual realm. Those, mostly hidden, creatures that both honor their creator and rebel against Him. In some ways they have a common trait or two with those of the human and material existence. Scripture tells us they are there. It warns us of the dark spirit's desire to embezzle our lives and leave us empty and useless. It also tells of the spirits of light who comfort, intercede and minister to the saints. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of this dark age. There is an ongoing battle between light and darkness and it pervades our very souls whether we recognize the battle or not. So we must be discerning and test the spirits (1 John 4:1) so we are not deceived when the dark ones come disguised in light.
However, there is more going on than just these truths. The spirits are watching us. They are watching you and they are watching me. Both the angelic being of light who serve Yahweh and the saints as well as the emissaries of darkness and the agents of the night. We may not be aware but we are on display. The question is what do they see? Just what do the spirits think of you? It is a question worth pursuing for it is one that God presents in His Word. So I ask again, what do the spirits think of you? Does it really matter?
Yahweh's angelic messengers keep watch over us (Psalm 91:11). They minister to those who are heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14). They watch over children (Mt. 18:10). We might entertain them unawares (Heb. 13:2). All pretty cool thoughts. However, they also look upon us with wonder. I Peter 1:12b, " things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into." Peter is speaking of the wonder of the death and resurrection of Messiah, God's plan to deliver us and to bring us into His kingdom. Peter says God's angels "desire", a strong word also translated to lust or covet or long for. Angels desire to "look", to inspect carefully, to become acquainted with, what God has done for us as human beings. They watch us and marvel at the love their God and Lord has for us. They cannot know redemption as we do. Messiah did not die for them.
They know us well. They have from the very beginning. The were there in Eden when we were cast out from the garden. They know of our disobedience. They have been messengers of hope and God's instruments of judgement in the past and they will be in the future. One of them observed the pain Messiah endured awaiting the cross. He saw his Master and Creator sweat blood as he comforted and strengthened Him in the garden (Luke 22:43). The holy angels know of our rebellion. So they marvel at the love Yahweh and His Son have for us. It is simply beyond their comprehension. They observe us. Just what do they see? Yeshua tells us they express joy in heaven when we repent (Luke 15:10). So is it reasonable to assume we grieve them with our sin and rebellion?
The angels of darkness also observe us. They battle against us, as we read in Ephesians 6. With God's permission, they have the power to touch our lives with pain and sorrow and even death. See the Book of Job for the unsettling details. They are close enough to inflict mental distress, to cause us to doubt. Satan accuses us before the Lord (Rev. 12:10). None of these are very pleasant thoughts, but then again Satan is not a pleasant creature. However, there is something powerful we can do. Something I had not considered until last week. Ephesians 3:10 is a remarkable verse, "to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the assembly to the principalities and powers in the heavenlies". The Principalities and powers in the heavenlies are not of flesh and blood.They are evil spirits, demons, powers of darkness. They are at war with us and want to destroy us. If not destroy they will embezzle our lives bit by bit and leave us feeling useless and despairing life itself. We are to put on the armor of God to combat them. However don't miss what 3:10 says. God's manifold wisdom is in calling us (in the context, Jews and Gentiles) to be united and citizens together of God's Kingdom. As the evil spirits observe we can testify of the greatness, power, and wonder of God. We are active witnesses to them by our active love for one another and our loving obedience to Yahweh and His Son, our Messiah.
If he is known as our accuse the Devil must still come before the Lord to bring accusations against humanity. Can the Lord can say, "Have you considered my servant Bob, or Alice, or Joe or Margaret or, __________ (just insert your name here)? You and I are God's witnesses to Satan and the principalities and powers of this dark world. We testify as to the greatness of God by our love for Him. Remembering, "If you love me you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Likewise, when we love one another we show the world that we are His disciples (John 13:35) and it appears the unseen world observes as well. Your testimony, your witness, goes beyond this world. Not only do your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors see your witness, the spirit beings do as well. It seems that God's angelic servants look upon us with wonder at the great love God has for us. It is also true that the spirits of darkness look upon us and see God's magnificent wisdom when they observe our love for Him and one another.
Each day the spirits observe you. The angels marvel at the grace poured out upon you and wish they could know, could experience, what we know and experience. The spirits of darkness are looking to accuse, looking for the rebellion they know so well. What will our witness, our testimony be to them? Loving obedience or will we be playing their game?
What do the spirits think of you?
However, there is more going on than just these truths. The spirits are watching us. They are watching you and they are watching me. Both the angelic being of light who serve Yahweh and the saints as well as the emissaries of darkness and the agents of the night. We may not be aware but we are on display. The question is what do they see? Just what do the spirits think of you? It is a question worth pursuing for it is one that God presents in His Word. So I ask again, what do the spirits think of you? Does it really matter?
Yahweh's angelic messengers keep watch over us (Psalm 91:11). They minister to those who are heirs of salvation (Heb. 1:14). They watch over children (Mt. 18:10). We might entertain them unawares (Heb. 13:2). All pretty cool thoughts. However, they also look upon us with wonder. I Peter 1:12b, " things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into." Peter is speaking of the wonder of the death and resurrection of Messiah, God's plan to deliver us and to bring us into His kingdom. Peter says God's angels "desire", a strong word also translated to lust or covet or long for. Angels desire to "look", to inspect carefully, to become acquainted with, what God has done for us as human beings. They watch us and marvel at the love their God and Lord has for us. They cannot know redemption as we do. Messiah did not die for them.
They know us well. They have from the very beginning. The were there in Eden when we were cast out from the garden. They know of our disobedience. They have been messengers of hope and God's instruments of judgement in the past and they will be in the future. One of them observed the pain Messiah endured awaiting the cross. He saw his Master and Creator sweat blood as he comforted and strengthened Him in the garden (Luke 22:43). The holy angels know of our rebellion. So they marvel at the love Yahweh and His Son have for us. It is simply beyond their comprehension. They observe us. Just what do they see? Yeshua tells us they express joy in heaven when we repent (Luke 15:10). So is it reasonable to assume we grieve them with our sin and rebellion?
The angels of darkness also observe us. They battle against us, as we read in Ephesians 6. With God's permission, they have the power to touch our lives with pain and sorrow and even death. See the Book of Job for the unsettling details. They are close enough to inflict mental distress, to cause us to doubt. Satan accuses us before the Lord (Rev. 12:10). None of these are very pleasant thoughts, but then again Satan is not a pleasant creature. However, there is something powerful we can do. Something I had not considered until last week. Ephesians 3:10 is a remarkable verse, "to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the assembly to the principalities and powers in the heavenlies". The Principalities and powers in the heavenlies are not of flesh and blood.They are evil spirits, demons, powers of darkness. They are at war with us and want to destroy us. If not destroy they will embezzle our lives bit by bit and leave us feeling useless and despairing life itself. We are to put on the armor of God to combat them. However don't miss what 3:10 says. God's manifold wisdom is in calling us (in the context, Jews and Gentiles) to be united and citizens together of God's Kingdom. As the evil spirits observe we can testify of the greatness, power, and wonder of God. We are active witnesses to them by our active love for one another and our loving obedience to Yahweh and His Son, our Messiah.
If he is known as our accuse the Devil must still come before the Lord to bring accusations against humanity. Can the Lord can say, "Have you considered my servant Bob, or Alice, or Joe or Margaret or, __________ (just insert your name here)? You and I are God's witnesses to Satan and the principalities and powers of this dark world. We testify as to the greatness of God by our love for Him. Remembering, "If you love me you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Likewise, when we love one another we show the world that we are His disciples (John 13:35) and it appears the unseen world observes as well. Your testimony, your witness, goes beyond this world. Not only do your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors see your witness, the spirit beings do as well. It seems that God's angelic servants look upon us with wonder at the great love God has for us. It is also true that the spirits of darkness look upon us and see God's magnificent wisdom when they observe our love for Him and one another.
Each day the spirits observe you. The angels marvel at the grace poured out upon you and wish they could know, could experience, what we know and experience. The spirits of darkness are looking to accuse, looking for the rebellion they know so well. What will our witness, our testimony be to them? Loving obedience or will we be playing their game?
What do the spirits think of you?
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