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Thursday, October 1, 2009

"That Your Joy May Be Full"

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11)

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes happiness as "a state of well-being and contentment: a pleasurable or satisfying experience."  It gives a similar definition to "joy."  This is a grave mistake.  Joy and happiness are not the same.  Oswald Chambers once said, "Happiness is based on what happens.  Joy is not."  Humanity can only be happy when life is "pleasurable or satisfying."

In any person's life there are seasons of happiness and sadness.  Joy, on the other hand, is a fruit of the Holy Spirit; and if I am full of the Holy Spirit, full of His Breath/Word, every day will be full of His joy.  "
Righteousness, peace, and joy" are "in the Holy Spirit," in nothing and no one else.  Right in the middle of the passage where Jesus declares, "Abide in me....You are my friends if you do whatever I command you....If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you....If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you," is Jesus' statement, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."  How can Jesus possibly speak of joy, and at the same time say, "the world hates you," and, "will also persecute you?"  For the unconverted, this is nothing but contradiction.  For the obedient lovers of Jesus Christ-------------------------------- nothing but remaining joy. 

Father, in Jesus' name, thank You for Your Joy which remains.  Amen.
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News, Commentary:          www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

"He...Makes The Grass Grow In Mountain Pastures"

"He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures ." (Ps. 147:8-NLT))

When our middle child was around 9 years old, she was praying before bed time once and prayed something like this-- "Lord, I thank You for the suuun, and the mooon, and the raaain, and the grass."  I remember thinking, "How cute."  As I walked out the door, I could hear the Lord Jesus saying to me, "When was the last time you thanked me for those things?"  If you are too spiritual to thank the Lord God for the "suuun, and the mooom, and the raaain, and the grass"-----  you're too spiritual.  

"
He provides rain for the earth...."  I am sure you have seen areas of the world in draught, and have experienced dry seasons in your part of the world.  Things don't grow without rain.  Life on earth would cease to exist without rain.  I am tempted to get really spiritual here and make the application of "the washing of water with the word."  Perhaps some other time.  But today, in this self complicated world, demanding more than Jesus Christ every intended us to have in this life, I think you and I just need to be thankful for something that little girl was thankful for, and, by the way, without which you and I would live but a few days.  

The next time you are anxious about losing employment, losing those retirement benefits, your health care, your savings, the next time you are tempted to complain about how inadequate the pastor, the worship, and the church building are, just remember that millions upon millions of people have survived throughout human history without all of the aforementioned----------------------- None have survived without water.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that You provide "
rain for the earth."  Amen.
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*     October 16-25:     Volunteer with the Israeli Defense Forces
*     October 30-16:     Berlin/Albania Mission
*     News You Need:     www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Monday, September 28, 2009

"As The Good Book Says"-- Does It Really?

"For 'all men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.'"(1 Peter 1:24)
 
In, "Fiddler on the Roof," Teyve is fond of saying, "As the Good Book says."  At one point he says to Mendel, "As the Good Book says, 'When a poor man eats a chicken, one of them is sick.'"  Mendel replies, "Where does the Book say that?"  Teyve responds, "Well, it doesn't say that exactly, but somewhere there is something about a chicken."  C.S. Lewis once summed up the dichotomy of Christians in politics.  "Most of us are not really approaching the subject in order to find out what Christianity says; we are approaching it in the hope of finding support from Christianity for the views of our own party."  Teyve was a "good" religious man in many ways, but, just as so many today, he was always hoping there was something in the "Good Book" to explain, even justify his life experiences.  This life approach is the great temptation.  But such approach to life leaves us "withered."
 
Our text declares that you and I are "grass."  Our ideas, philosophies, perceptions, understanding, everything about us is just "grass."  When man attempts to elevate anything above "the word of the Lord," he "withers and...fall[s]."  But to the degree you and I are in Jesus Christ and His Words rule in us, we are "forever."  This does not just mean eternal life.  It means our lives are indestructible, rooted in that sure foundation, the Rock, Jesus Christ, the Eternal One.  Whoever builds his life on his "own understanding," will not stand.  Whoever builds his life on Jesus Christ and the "God-Breathed" Word------------------- "stands forever." 
  
Father, in Jesus' Name, "keep back Thy servant from presumptuous sins."  Amen.
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News, Commentary:     www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
 
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

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