Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Joy of the Lord...

And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

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As Christians we have a legacy that we cannot allow Satan to bankrupt: Our spiritual legacy. We must decide to not let him destroy our joy and peace. Make the determination stated in Isaiah 61:10, “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels”

We have to stay on top of our situations/circumstances. We need to remind our hearts of what Jesus said in John 16:33, “In the world re shall have tribulation: be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. Since He has overcome the world for us, we shouldn’t permit the world to overcome us. When tribulation comes, why give up our peace when our peace is in Him and He is our peace? For He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).Why should we be victimized by the works of the devil when the Son of God, our Savior, Jesus Christ has already destroyed his works? For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8). Armed with this truth/knowledge, we should be invincible. The father who loves us will not let us be defeated. He already made provision for our defeats (the blood of Christ). Praise the Lord.

Friend, our joy can be challenged but it cannot be taken away. A simple prayerful reading of the book of Nehemiah would help us realize the possibility of victory in any kind of situation. Nehemiah was troubled/burdened with the situation of the broken wall of the city, he prayed and God granted Nehemiah’s request. From the very beginning of the project to rebuild the wall to the Holy City, he met with opposition of every type. There were conspiracy and threats. People from his own camp became discouraged. Nehemiah kept on praying and working and the wall was finished. Glory!

One of my favorite preachers had this recommendation about joy:

“Maintain the glow, the world needs to see radiant Christians. Let your light shine. Be an exhibit of the fruit of the Spirit JOY. It has transforming power. The fragrance of joyful Christians is a wonderful therapy for a sick world for the joy of the Lord is our strength”.

Praise the Lord!