“MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU!”

 

John 15:11                 (ESV)

“These things I have spoken to you, that “MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU”, and that your joy may be full.”

Depression is a VERY REAL thing with survivors of a Brain Hemorrhage.  When I was dismissed from the Rehabilitation Hospital, I was placed on prescription antidepressants.  I thought that “didn’t need” that, so I quit taking them.  About six weeks later a dear friend was killed and I telephoned my doctor begging for a new prescription!!  I quickly found a natural solution and was able to cease the new prescription, but the lesson learned was VERY VALUABLE!!!

Since that VERY DARK time in my life, my mental health is extremely important to me. I don’t have to take daily mood medications.  I usually can RECOGNIZE when I “might be in need” of assistance!!  

Understanding that “MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU” is kind of uplifting when you absorb what is TRULY being said!  The JOY that THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES possesses abides within me, regardless of what trial I may experience.  “MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU” is saying that whether I realize it or not, JESUS walks with me down the PATH HE has PLANNED for my life!!!

Don’t permit “the enemy” to rob you of THE JOY that JESUS LIVED AND DIED to give you!!!  HE explicitly says in the verse above “MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU”, not “could be” in you!!!  Focusing on your problems instead of “MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU” is precisely what the enemy wants happening in our lives!!!  DON’T ALLOW the interference from “the enemy” to rob you of your JOY!!!

“WHEN YOU SEE”, “MUST FLEE”!!

 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭               (HCSB‬‬)

““So “WHEN YOU SEE” the ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION abominatio, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place” (let the reader understand ), “then THOSE IN JUDEA “MUST FLEE” TO THE MOUNTAINS!”

THE WORD (John 1:1) didn’t just know what was written in Scripture, HE IS THE WORD!  HE is recorded in the Scriptures above saying  “WHEN YOU SEE” the turmoil and destruction of the “end times”, you “MUST FLEE” TO THE MOUNTAINS!!!

There will not be an immense amount of study about the writings of Daniel today, but I do want to say that “WHEN YOU SEE”, you “MUST FLEE” TO THE MOUNTAINS, away from the busyness of “this world”!!  

“BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD” (Psalms 46:10) might be easier to understand and accomplish IN THE MOUNTAINS???  We need to have our EYES OPENED to be willing to “WHEN YOU SEE”, you “MUST FLEE” TO THE MOUNTAINS!!!

 

“COVENANT-KEEPING DEITY!”

Psalm 135:5-6                 (ESV)

    “[5] For I know that the LORD is great,

        and that our LORD is above all gods. 

    [6] WHATEVER THE LORD PLEASES, HE DOES,

        in heaven and on earth,

        in the seas and all deeps.”

Isaiah 60:22                 (ESV)

    “[22] The least one shall become a clan,

        and the smallest one a mighty nation;

    I AM THE LORD;

        in its time I will hasten it.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭135‬:‭5-6‬ ‭.               (HCSB‬‬)

“For I know that YAHWEH is great; our LORD is greater than all gods.  YAHWEH does whatever HE pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the depths.”

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From wwwdotbiblehubdotcom

“YAHWEH is the personal name of GOD as revealed in the Hebrew Scriptures, particularly in the Old Testament. It is the most sacred, distinctive, and incommunicable name of GOD, often rendered as "LORD" in English translations of the Bible. The name YAHWEH is derived from the Hebrew consonants YHWH, known as the Tetragrammaton. This name is CENTRAL to the identity of GOD as the “COVENANT-KEEPING DEITY” of Israel.”

This “COVENANT-KEEPING DEITY” is UNIQUE to WHO GOD IS and the best way, that is the closest way, that mankind can describe HIM.  Because of THE FALL of mankind, humanity is inherently UNCLEAN, filled with unholiness.  We mortals are incapable of living a life of HOLINESS because of our sinful nature, and HIS PLAN to redeem us!  The sacrificial LIFE lived by JESUS is THE ONLY POSSIBLE WAY we can enjoy HIS GIFT for ALL ETERNITY!!!

Understanding precisely what GOD’s PLAN was trying to accomplish is far too deep and involved for this humble servant to understand!  BUT HIS “COVENANT-KEEPING DEITY” traits is part of WHO HE IS that I humbly acknowledge and respect for ALL ETERNITY!!!  HIS PLAN is far more POWERFUL and COMPLEX on HIS END, but very simple to accept on our behalf!!!  HE is the “COVENANT-KEEPING DEITY”!!!

“WAIT ON THE LORD!”

 

Psalms 27:14                 (KJV)

“”WAIT ON THE LORD”: be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen thine heart: WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD.”

The speed that “this world” operates seems to move faster and faster every minute of every day!  I just saw an old newspaper article from 1963 after the President was assassinated.  I was three years old at the time, so it didn’t make much of an impact in my life.  My grandfather was 53 years old, but the assassination probably didn’t impact him as much as things weren’t moving as quickly as they currently move!  

HOW LONG , then, should we “WAIT ON THE LORD”?  An abrupt answer to this question SHOULD be “as long as it takes”!  Regardless of how we perceive ourselves, we are NOT strong enough, nor smart enough, to move ANYWHERE without the GOD OF CREATION leading us!  

This devotional will be brief this morning!!  We MUST “WAIT ON THE LORD” because moving without HIS LEADERSHIP is not only sinful, but it really is SCARY!  When we “WAIT ON THE LORD”, we have PEACE!!  When we attempt to “do it on our own”, turmoil and strife usually isn’t far behind!!

“WAIT, I SAY, ON THE LORD”!!!

“LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED!”

 

John 14:1-7                 (ESV)

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

[1] “”LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED”. Believe in GOD; believe also in ME. [2] In my FATHER’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to MYSELF, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to HIM, “LORD, we do not know where YOU are going. How can we know the way?” [6] JESUS said to him, “I am THE WAY, and THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. [7] If you had known ME, you would have known MY FATHER also. From now on you DO know HIM and have seen HIM.”

I BELIEVE that EVERY WORD spoken by THE WORD (John 1:1) was spoken for HIM to be GLORIFIED!  In the first verse of the captioned passage, JESUS is quoted as saying “LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED”.  We also know that only a few verses earlier that JESUS told Judas “What you are going to do, do quickly.”  We now know what it was that Judas would do, and JESUS knew it as well!!!  JESUS KNEW that Judas WAS going to betray HIM.  HE even told Judas to DO IT QUICKLY!  Yet HE proceeded with things without fear or trepidation.  

“LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED” is followed very closely with “Believe in GOD; believe also in ME”.  Could GOD IN THE FLESH have been telling this uneducated fool that SINCE HE and the HOLY SPIRIT lives inside of me, that I should just TOTALLY rely on HIM???

JESUS said in John 10:30 “I and the FATHER are ONE.”  In John 14:16-17 JESUS says that HE WILL SEND the HOLY SPIRIT to be with us.  HE does this in Acts 2.  So we have THE TRINITY abiding with us, WHAT SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED WITH???  Most modern day people don’t familiarize ourselves with THE TRUTH enough to understand precisely what we HAVE, nor the PRICE that was PAID by our REDEEMER …….on our behalf!!!

My FAITH is far greater than it was, but I am remorseful that I can’t SEE that HE IS IN CONTROL……OF EVERYTHING……especially when I am not able to physically SEE evidence of HIM!!!  “LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED” isn’t for the SPIRITUALLY weak or timid!  It is for the SPIRITUALLY MATURE!

“A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE!”

 

Acts 9:10-19                 (ESV)

“[10] Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The LORD said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, LORD.” [11] And the LORD said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, [12] and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him SO THAT HE MIGHT REGAIN HIS SIGHT.” [13] But Ananias answered, “LORD, I HAVE HEARD from many about this man, how much evil he has done to YOUR saints at Jerusalem. [14] And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on YOUR NAME.” [15] But THE LORD said to him, “Go, for he is “A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE” to carry MY NAME before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. [16] For I WILL SHOW HIM HOW MUCH HE MUST SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF MY NAME.” [17] So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the LORD JESUS WHO appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT” [18] And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; [19] and taking food, he was strengthened.”

Saul (later renamed Paul) was VERY ZEALOUS about his goal, to strengthen “the so-called church” of the Jewish people.  Acts 9:1 that we went “breathing threats and murder AGAINST the disciples of the LORD”!  BUT JESUS knew (before the foundation of the world) that Saul was “A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE” to perform a task that ONLY JESUS could do through Saul…..after a brief “cooling off” period!!!

ALMIGHTY GOD has done something very similar in my life!  I too was VERY BUSY doing whatever I felt that I was being led to do, but I was moving so quickly that I never made sure of what was leading me!  At least for me, I have found that the HOLY SPIRIT gets through my thick skull when I ‘LET GO’ and permit myself to be LED , AND NOT attempt to run things myself!!!  LETTING GO and permitting GOD to LEAD, GUIDE and DIRECT my actions is something that I MUST become more proficient at if I want to SEE HIS BLESSINGS!!!

On July 09, 2007 I HAD TO be put into a drug-induced coma BEFORE I was able to LET GO and GOD was able to “miraculously” heal me!!  HE wasn’t through with me yet, but HE had to alter my position to show me WHO WAS IN CONTROL!!  WHAT will it take NOW for me to GET MY HANDS OFF OF HIS WORK???  HE used the coma to “get me out of HIS way”, so THAT HE COULD DO WHATEVER HE NEEDED TO DO TO GET ME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH HIS WILL!?!

There were NO surprises in THE PLAN for ANYTHING that happened, from CREATION to current day happenings.  JESUS KNEW when HE was speaking to Ananias that the “murderous” Saul had been rendered useless and was patiently waiting for Ananias to visit him.  How could that information be available at this time?  JESUS KNEW that Saul was “A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE”because GOD IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING, and GOD WORKS ALL THINGS FOR HIS GLORY (Romans 8:28!). 

GOD HAS A PLAN!!!  HE responds to whatever HIS subjects do with HIS PRE-PLANNED response.  HE KNOWS PRECISELY how HE will respond to our actions…. or our inactions!  This is coming from someone who USED TO THINK that this humble servant could be used to make changes FOR HIS GLORY???  HE exquisitely displayed to me that HE is capable of doing ANYTHING - without any assistance from HIS CREATION - simply because HE IS GOD!!!

The FACT that HE uses AN INSTRUMENT OF MINE (Exodus 7:3-4; Hebrews 11:29) doesn’t make us any more acceptable to HIM, but being “A CHOSEN INSTRUMENT OF MINE” (Acts 9:15) certainly does!!!