Joy Chapter 1

. . .  be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the LORD is your strength and stronghold                   (Nehemiah 8:10 AMP)

The LORD's joy stems from His mercy and grace upon humanity. When we receive victory over our enemies, God's joy abounds (read 2 Chronicles 20:27).

      From the beginning, the Hebrew children had to learn to gain strength from God’s joy. During their exile from Egypt, Moses sent ten spies into the land of Canaan (the land God had promised them as an inheritance). Eight spies returned with defeatists’ attitudes. Joshua and Caleb gave positive feedback. They had witnessed what the other spies had—giants, mighty warriors, and an abundance of weapons. The difference rested on Joshua and Caleb’s focus and trust in God’s promises. God said the land belonged to them, and they weren’t about to permit mere circumstances to stand between them and the possession of their inheritance (Number 13:1-14:9).

During the forty years of wondering, Joshua never lost hope of God’s promise to deliver the land to his people. At the appointed time, God reassured Joshua that no man would overpower him because of the presence of the LORD (Joshua 1:5). Three times God commanded his servant, "don't be afraid, be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:6, 7, & 9).

God, also, instructed Joshua to obey carefully ALL of the law, to concentrate on it night and day. In so doing, God promised prosperity and success.

God's concerns and thoughts toward prosperity and success differ from ours. In our society, we think of success in terms of the size of our estate, being debt free or at least capable of paying our bills on time. Prosperity, for the most part, includes good health as well as wealth. However, in God's economy, the mark of true success and prosperity is faithfulness to the kingdom, obedience to His laws, and submission to His authority.

      Exemplifying a life lived in submission to God's authority, Paul understood the truth of the LORD's joy, and gathering strength from it, claimed victory through Jesus Christ. The apostle willingly surrendered his political and social status to live a life of poverty. He was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and suffered from physical infirmities. Yet, no one would call Paul a failure or even imply that he was unsuccessful in fulfilling his purpose in life.

What were Paul's keys to rejoicing in suffering?

Ø  His relationship with Christ—I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Ø  His partnership with other believers—I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; (Philippians 1:3-5).

Ø  His willingness to serve—But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Ø  His prayerful attitude—We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4).

Ø  His trust and faith In God’s word—All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16)

Paul's sole concern was the furtherance of the gospel. He found peace, hope, and joy bundled together and wrapped securely in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Paul grasped the promise of the inheritance we have as children of God and refused to allow any earthly circumstance to deter him from receiving the reward. He prayed with confidence that God would, not only carry him through, but also would complete the work in every believer.

                  If we grasp this truth—God will complete the work He has begun in us through Jesus Christ—our strength will increase as His joy abounds in us. Realizing joy comes from God releases us from the burden of seeking happiness that derives from circumstances. There Is nothing we can do in or of ourselves. The work belongs to God. He has set us in our circumstances, not to reap happiness, but to shape us into the image of His Son, thereby imputing His joy within our soul. Meanwhile, it becomes our privilege to spread the gospel as God enables us and strengthens us to do so.

Our own experiences build confidence in our Heavenly Father. When we need more confidence, other believers’ testimonies satisfy our deficiency. If still more confidence is needed, history portrays the fulfillment of God’s promises through and for nations as well as individuals, thus providing us with evidence of our faith.

Like Paul, we can rejoice in the day because the LORD has helped us through worse times than these. Well maybe not. But He has helped other believers through tougher times. So take heart, look up, and rejoice. What He has done for others, He will do for us.

                  Imagine how much more abundant God’s joy becomes when we, through Jesus Christ, claim victory over our mortal enemy!