Tag: joy
Priest and Ark!
Scripture reading for August 7: 2 Chronicles 6:40-42 “Now, O my God, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer of this place. “And now arise, O Lord God, and go to the ark of Your might. Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice in Your goodness. O Lord God, do not turn away the face of your anointed one! Remember Your steadfast love for David Your servant.”
This passage is taken from Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple he had built to house the ark of God. He had asked that God would always have His eyes and ears attentive to the prayers of His people as they prayed there before Him. Even when they had been taken captive and would pray towards that place, he asked God to pay attention and act. Solomon closed by inviting God to arise and dwell in the ark in the midst of His people. He asked that His priests would be clothed with salvation and that all the saints would rejoice in God’s amazing goodness and love that endures forever! Solomon asked for himself that God would not turn away His Face from him as his anointed one to lead His people.
This prayer was given by Solomon around one thousand years before Christ under the Old Covenant of Law. But today under the New Covenant, we have something much better. As believers in Jesus, we have been told to ask for anything in His Name and He would do it. (John 14:13-14) This is because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has anointed us as His priests. He has purchased our salvation through His final sacrifice. We can now rejoice in His goodness as His saints, set apart for His glory and purposes. We are now the ‘Holy of Holies’ where God’s presence dwells through the Holy Spirit. We do not need to go to a ‘temple’ or turn towards a location on earth. Not only do we have what we ask for, but eternal life and joy unspeakable are ours!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for opening heaven’s door through Jesus Christ for salvation, healing, and relationship with joy. Help me to ask You in faith for every need and wisdom to walk with You indwelling me. Amen.
Out of Anguish–JOY!
Scripture reading for July 17: Isaiah 53:11-12 “Out of the anguish of His soul He shall see and be satisfied; by His knowledge shall the Righteous One, My servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide Him a portion with the many, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”
Hebrews 12: 2 “. . .looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah paints a picture with words of a suffering Savior Who willingly and faithfully obeyed God’s Will. He submitted Himself to God’s will, praying, “Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42) While suffering on the cross, He made intercession for the transgressors, praying “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) He came to earth to identify with those transgressing against His Father and He willingly bore their sins as an act of intercession that would open heaven’s door (His own body pierced) for all who would repent and believe.
Another revelation is that in the midst of His anguish, Jesus saw many being made righteous through faith. He understood that faith would bring revelation and salvation as a gift of grace, enabling sinners to call God their own Father. (Galatians 4:6-7) In the midst of anguish of suffering with other’s sins and its penalty of death, Jesus found joy set before Him of brothers and sisters walking in love. He endured the cross and it’s shame and rose again from the grave to sit at His Father’s right hand where He intercedes for us who believe! He is coming again to reward those who faithfully believe and follow by faith.
Prayer: Father God, what an amazing blessing to receive grace through Your sacrifice of Your own Son on my behalf! Because of His joy in showing mercy to lost sinners like me, many will enjoy eternal life and experience joy in Your presence. Amen!
All patience with joy!
Scripture reading for September 8: Colossians 1
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His Beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:9-14
Paul wrote another letter from prison in Rome to the believers in Colossae. The church there had been founded during Paul’s missionary journey where he preached for three years in Ephesus. They were being attacked by false teachers who were undermining the supremacy of Christ and His sufficiency. But Paul wrote to encourage them through prayer and words of truth. His prayer in these opening verses was for a knowledge of God’s will in spiritual wisdom and understanding. He knew when believers had a full understanding of God’s will that they could then conduct themselves in a godly manner and fulfill the good works that He had prepared for them.
Paul also prayed that they would be strengthened with all power through the Holy Spirit. When believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, they can grow spiritual fruit like patience and joy and endurance. They live lives of thankfulness and look forward to sharing in eternal inheritance in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. They rest in Christ’s sacrifice of His blood to bring their forgiveness of sins and redemption from death and eternal separation from God in outer darkness. They have joy in their deliverance from the darkness of sin through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Firstborn of all creation and Creator of all things. (Colossians 1:15)
Is your life today marked by the fruits of endurance, patience and joy? Is your knowledge of Jesus Christ continuing to grow and can you clearly define His will for your own salvation? Do you experience the pleasure of God and His power growing in your daily walk?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Jesus Christ, the Firstborn of all creation and my Redeemer. I understand the mystery of His will that through Jesus Christ, all mankind would be enabled to receive forgiveness of sins and a transfer from the darkness of sin into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in and through me today. Amen.
A Pastor’s heart
Scripture reading for December 19: 2 John; 3 John
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3rd John 2
John open his third letter with a greeting to his personal friend, Gaius, and a short prayer for him. Prayer should shape everything we do. It is an act of love coming from a soul that is healthy and focused on God’s will and His desire to love and bless others. This short prayer reveals John’s heart for his friend and us as well!
“I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.” 2 John 4 “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3rd John 3-4
Our reputation gets around in the church. If we are faithful and walk in the truth, everyone knows about it. Faithfulness brings great joy to God and to those in authority in the church. Those in authority have to give an account to the Lord for those they oversee. (Hebrews 13:17) When pastors talk to the Lord about those who are disobedient and unfaithful, it brings sorrow and painful intercession! Gaius had been walking in the truth and blessing visiting missionaries by providing for their needs. He was commended!
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” (3rd John 9-10)
Diotrephes was one of those brothers that was causing pain to the Apostle and others in the body of Christ. A bad reputation spreads around and must be dealt with. If the person will not change and repent after confrontation, others in the church must be warned so that they are not caught up in the sins. John wanted to come personally and deal with the situation, and would soon.
This short letter shows us how our personal attitudes and actions affect others and are known in the body of Christ. Leaders must have a good reputation. When we love to be first like Diotrephes, our selfishness causes troubles and indicates that we are not from God. (3rd John 11) If we are a loving servant, like Gaius and Demetrius (3rd John 12), we show by love that Christ’s love is in us! There’s no greater joy for a pastor than to have God’s people walking in truth and love!
The blessing of sharing our faith
Scripture reading for December 9: Philemon
This short personal letter from Paul to Philemon concerns a run-away slave who got saved under Paul’s ministry in Rome. This slave could easily have been sentenced to death if he had been caught, but God was working something else out in his life. He heard the Gospel message from Paul and gave his life to Jesus Christ. Paul was writing his master, Philemon, to appeal to him to take him back and receive him as a brother in the Lord. Philemon was a believer in a church that Paul had planted and Paul had been his spiritual father. This simple letter reveals the heart of forgiveness we must have toward others as they repent and come into the kingdom.
“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.” (Philemon 6-7)
Paul’s prayer for Philemon is an encouragement for us to share our faith. As we learn to give away what we have received from the Lord, we get back a more complete understanding of all that is ours in Christ. Giving by sharing brings blessings of deeper understanding and causes joy in pastoral leadership!
Paul next, gently appeals to Philemon to take Onesimus, this converted slave, back and restore him. (Philemon 8-10) Paul states that Onesimus was formerly useless to him. Before salvation, he was in bondage to self and sin and could not be loyal and serve him properly. Now, as a brother in the Lord, Onesimus was useful to the kingdom and to Philemon! This is an added blessing of sharing your faith! Others come into their full purpose and become brothers and sisters in the family of God!
Love isn’t love unless it is freely given. Forgiveness isn’t real if it is not also freely given. We can’t order forgiveness. We can’t command that another love us or love God. When we appeal to another person to do what is right, then they can more easily choose to freely give. Paul’s letter is a great example of a godly appeal to someone in authority to do what is right. May the Lord grant us grace today to love and forgive freely according to the example of Jesus Christ!
Our Hope, Joy, and Crown!
Scripture reading for December 2: 1st Thessalonians 1-5
“They tell us how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead–Jesus, Who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1st Thessalonians 1:9-10) Every chapter of this short letter has a reference to Jesus Christ’s return. Believers are focused on the greatest event that can happen to them, the return of Jesus Christ! Jesus is alive and He rescues us from the coming wrath of God!
“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” (1st Thessalonians 2:19) Paul was expecting a reward when Jesus came back. We should too! Every soul who has been saved through our ministry or giving to the Lord will bring joy and a crown and glory! This is the hope that we have as Christians!
“May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.” (1st Thessalonians 3:13) Paul prayed for strength in these believers’ hearts so that they would be able to stand before the Lord when He does appear. It will be a glorious time for those who are ready. Purity and holiness are required to see the Lord and to stand before Him! May God strengthen our hearts today in preparation for that fast-approaching day!
“For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will arise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17) Jesus is personally coming back for those who have trusted in Him. The dead rise first to receive glorified bodies. Then we who are alive will be caught up and instantly changed. This will happen in an instant at the shout of the archangel and the trumpet call of God. It will catch many by surprise!
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One Who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” (1st Thessalonians 5:23-24) Thankfully, Paul prays again for the Thessalonians. (And us as well.) Thankfully, Jesus Christ is faithful and He will keep us blameless! What comfort! Amen!
From the ends of the earth: singing!
Scripture reading for July 23: Isaiah 24-27
Isaiah broke forth in a dissertation about the coming “day of the Lord”. The watchman of Israel was given a description of that day to warn the people of Israel to be ready for what was coming. God’s people are set apart from this day of wrath and welcome it with singing and joy. (Isaiah 24:14-16) The people of earth without a knowledge of the Lord and faith in Him are filled with terror! (Isaiah 24:11-13)
Let’s focus on those who know the Lord! Out of this vivid description of the terror for the lost comes bright rays of hope for those of faith! Isaiah heard shouts of joy for the glory and majesty of the Lord arising from the East and West! He heard singing coming from the islands of the sea and the ends of the earth! God was bringing His people together! (Isaiah 24:14-16) God would reign in their midst on Mt. Zion and His glory would radiate through and in His people! (Isaiah 24:23)
In Isaiah 25, Isaiah broke into praise for His fulfillment of God’s Word! God spoke His plans from ancient days and then brought them to pass! He humbled the proud and exalted His humble people! He cared for the poor and needy and defeated all their enemies! Isaiah saw the Lord preparing a banquet of rich foods for all peoples! On Mt. Zion, God would destroy the shroud that enfolded all peoples and swallow up the ‘swallower’ of His people! Death would be defeated and tears wiped away!
The Apostle Paul quoted these truths in 1st Corinthians 15:50-57 to describe the resurrection body that would be given to each believer at the coming of Jesus Christ! They were referred to by the Apostle John in his vision from the island of Patmos in Revelation 21:1-5 as he described the new heavens and new earth as the believer’s eternal home! Revelation 19:6-9 describes the wedding supper of the Lamb! When we receive Holy Communion, we are proclaiming that Jesus’ death destroyed the shroud of death over us and our hope of eating at that great banquet!
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:3-4) Put your trust in Jesus Christ again today! He is our Rock eternal! From your end of the earth let songs of worship resound and rest in Jesus!
May God direct our way!
Scripture reading for November 16th: 1st Thessalonians 3, Psalm 79, Proverbs 12
1st Thessalonians 3: 8-13 “For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”
Paul was commending these persecuted believers for standing firm in the Lord. It brought him great joy and he offered prayers of thanksgiving to God for His protection of them and provision for them. Here he prays that God would graciously direct his way back to them that he might meet face to face with them again. Paul knew that it was all God’s grace to direct his steps, increase their love, and establish all hearts blameless at Christ’s return. It is by faith that we daily appropriate His grace and live a life of joy and effective witness. He daily delivers us and covers our sins for His own Name’s sake and directs our way to our heavenly home.
Psalm 79:8-9 “Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let Your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your Name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for Your Name’s sake!”
Prayer: Father God, I depend today on Your grace and covering for my sins. Thank You for Your divine promise to direct my way and establish my heart blameless before you through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I offer my body, mind, and spirit to be directed in Your way today and to live in such a way that I will help guide others into the Way, the Truth and Life of Jesus Christ, my Lord!
Proverbs 12:26 “One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”
Joyfully waiting for Jesus’ Return!
Scripture reading for November 14th: 1st Thessalonians 1, Psalm 77, Proverbs 10
1st Thessalonians 1:6-10 “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the Word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the Word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, Who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
The Thessalonian believers were strong in their faith and their testimony of Jesus Christ. But some believers had already died and there was confusion among them about what events of the end times to look for. Some false teachers had tried to confuse them about Christ’s bodily return. Paul refers to Jesus’ return in each chapter of this short letter. His goal was to strengthen their faith through a deeper understanding of salvation and Jesus’ return to reward the faithful. These rewards awaited the living as well as those who had already died and were with the Lord. Paul assured them that God was faithful and those who had already died would rise first. He commended them for their repentance and patience to wait for Jesus who had already delivered them from the coming wrath of God against sin.
Psalm 77:19-20 “Your way was through the sea, Your path through the great waters; yet Your footprints were unseen. You lead Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your encouraging Word through the apostles of Jesus. Thank You for revealing Jesus Christ as the Way through the waters of judgment and the only escape from Your righteous wrath against sin. The hope of salvation brings me joy and my faith is a stronghold in this world. Use me to encourage others and to share the Good News of Jesus’ return for His own.
Proverbs 10:28-29 “The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers.”
Again I say rejoice!
Scripture reading for June 20th: Philippians 4, Psalm 122, Proverbs 29
Philippians 4:4-8 “Rejoice in the Lord always ; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, my brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Paul concludes his short letter with an exhortation to rejoice with a double emphasis! He encourages the believers to live a life of continual rejoicing. If they have any worries or fears, they are to realize that the Lord is there with them and they need to cast these cares and fears on Him. Jesus will restore their peace and take away the fears. As the Jews were glad when they traveled to Jerusalem to visit the temple and experience God’s presence, the believer is to experience God’s peace because they are the ‘new temple’ of the Holy Spirit. Joy and rejoicing and peace are fruits of dwelling in God’s presence! Amen and amen!
Psalm 122:1-2 “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.”
Prayer: Father God, I am glad today that I am the temple of the Holy Spirit and that You dwell in me. Thank You for the privilege of coming to You with all my worries and cares and casting them on You. Thank You for the fruit of Your Spirit growing in my life as I focus on You and Your Word. Fill my life with continuous rejoicing as I grow in righteousness, peace and joy through meditation on Your promises!
Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.”