1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Always be joyful.”
Pastor Herk continues: The Apostle Peter also wrote about the joy of the Christian. In 1 Peter 1:6-9 he writes, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” In the season that you find yourself living in today, is the joy of the Lord in your heart and your strength? The Lord Jesus said in John 10:27-29 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” No one can steal your joy.
Romans 8:16-17 states, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
The Christian Believer is an heir to a priceless inheritance kept in Heaven for you; pure and beyond the reach of any decay in God’s kingdom. We keep this godly joy in all seasons by keeping our focus where it belongs ... on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Following the Lord, forget about the peripheral, secondary things that are going on around us; glancing and keeping track of it to know what is going on in the world, not get tripped and defend the faith. But, do not be distracted or tempted; keep your eyes and focus centered on Jesus and His paths of righteousness where it belongs. Faith overcomes and gets the joyous victory. Life is a dangerous profession and difficult seasons come down the turnpike, but praise God, our joy in the Lord is our strength. Life Paul and Silas in Acts 5:42, “daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 “since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Anyone can experience seasons of joylessness as we go through some terrible conditions, circumstances and situations. King David expressed this in Psalm 55:6-8 when he said, “o I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed, I would wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.” We are going to get distracted, having anxieties, worries and cares, because disappointments happen in every life of this fallen world, or the devil’s ploy affecting our natural human nature, but re-center focus on Christ, our rock-solid, foundational constant source of joy and peace. We do not deny our feeling or suppress our emotions, but we obediently submit our circumstances to God in prayer. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Be honest and pour your heart out to the Lord.
Philippians 4:4-9 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Know that All-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful and ever-present God is with you in every season of your life. Walk by faith and joyfully pray, worship, praise and focus on the things of God in spirit and in truth, where the fruit of the spirit are produced in abundance and fill the soul. The prophet says in Jeremiah 31:13 “The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.” If we have steadfast faith in the Lord, then it is going to be seen in the way that we face the trials and seasons that take place in our lives and how we treat others. People should see Jesus in us by our lives lived out in committed and unswerving faith, obedience to God and His holy Word, by our intolerance of sin, by our industrious commitment to honest work, our hospitality and neighborly care, by our love of family and community, and by our joy of life.
James 1:2-4 “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
When we persevere through trials, we gain experience, grow in knowledge, increase in maturity and our mental depth, endurance and spiritual faith strengthens and we feel joy in our lives. Trials lead to transformation. Through God’s grace, we can experience joy in all seasons and any circumstance. Weigh your worries, calculate your trials and put them into perspective. The main priority in our lives is not our personal pleasure or comfort. The main priority in our lives should be the purposes of God, outlined in His Holy Word, the Bible. The Christian life should display the reality of a life centered and focused on Christ and the Gospel truth, empowered buy the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In Christ, Brian
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