The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. – 1 John 2:4-6
and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. – 1 Thessalonians 4:6
Count it all joy. Keeping our word. This might seem like strange scripture to use in regards to counting it all joy. However, I believe it is appropriate for us today. There are going to be times in our lives when we come face to face with people who say one thing, but do something entirely different. There are going to be people that say they love God, yet do not keep his ways and scripture says no matter what they say, the truth is not in them and they are a liar. I did not call them that, the word of God does.
It is also a warning that there will be those that say they care about you and support you, but in truth they are lying and in fact are transgressing (sinning against you or wronging you, as well as against God). They are in fact lying to others about you and causing harm to your name.
Well today I say to you, we still can count it all joy. We can keep our words even if others refuse to do the same. We can read this scripture and know that regardless of others we can abide in Christ and be worthy of what he has called us to do. We can take the warnings and do no harm with our words against others. That means because you lie on me, I do not have to lie on you. I can decide to speak truth at all times and in all situations. I can count even the betrayals joy because what is done in darkness in due season will come to light. I had something happen to me before where someone was lying on me and God told me to trust him. When I did, he revealed ALL the lies to every person that it was told to and he restored my name.
So today I say, let us count it all joy…our troubles, our success, our wounds, our healings, our dry places and our places of running springs. Whatever we find ourselves in, let us find joy because of who is with us. So when you go to worship this weekend, go with a thankful spirit that God can take even the times of sorrow and turn them into a song. Sing unto the Lord!!
Jewel D. Williams
It is in His word that we find life!
Showing posts with label Count it all Joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Count it all Joy. Show all posts
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Words of Encouragement
Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved." All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words, which had been made known to them. – Nehemiah 8:10-12
Count it all joy. This Day is Holy. The people were gathered together to hear the word of the Lord. It was read before the people and made plain, so that they could understand it. When the people heard the words and understood, they weep. They were instructed, however not to weep because this day was holy unto the Lord.
The people were told to go and to eat and to send to those that had nothing prepared. They were told to stop their weeping and to stop grieving, because the joy of the Lord was their strength. It would seem strange for them to be told not to weep or to be sorry for realizing their sinfulness and that they were not keeping the laws of God.
However, I believe that what the instruction is telling the people is not so much to make them look lightly at their sins, but to rejoice in the fact that God is going to strengthen them so that they can follow him. This is a good understand that we should have. When someone recognizes their sinfulness at that point they will be sorry and weep at their disobedience to God. But as quickly as we are broken from the realization of our sinful condition, God’s Spirit then encourages us that we are no longer condemned when we repent (forgiveness is granted immediately at the time we seek it). When we accept Jesus as our savior, scripture says there is now no more condemnation for those that are in Christ. So like the children of Israel, we can begin to find strengthen in God because he is now our joy, which we find true pleasure in. The day we come to the Lord and accept him, listen to him, learn of him is a Holy Day and we can rejoice in our fellowship with him.
I pray for us today that we would recognize that everyday should be holy unto God. Let us find the strength of God, even when we recognize our lack of obedience to God’s word. When we receive understanding, let us repent, and turn quickly to following after that which we now know. Then let the joy of the Lord strengthen you to carry out that which he instructs.
Count it all joy. This Day is Holy. The people were gathered together to hear the word of the Lord. It was read before the people and made plain, so that they could understand it. When the people heard the words and understood, they weep. They were instructed, however not to weep because this day was holy unto the Lord.
The people were told to go and to eat and to send to those that had nothing prepared. They were told to stop their weeping and to stop grieving, because the joy of the Lord was their strength. It would seem strange for them to be told not to weep or to be sorry for realizing their sinfulness and that they were not keeping the laws of God.
However, I believe that what the instruction is telling the people is not so much to make them look lightly at their sins, but to rejoice in the fact that God is going to strengthen them so that they can follow him. This is a good understand that we should have. When someone recognizes their sinfulness at that point they will be sorry and weep at their disobedience to God. But as quickly as we are broken from the realization of our sinful condition, God’s Spirit then encourages us that we are no longer condemned when we repent (forgiveness is granted immediately at the time we seek it). When we accept Jesus as our savior, scripture says there is now no more condemnation for those that are in Christ. So like the children of Israel, we can begin to find strengthen in God because he is now our joy, which we find true pleasure in. The day we come to the Lord and accept him, listen to him, learn of him is a Holy Day and we can rejoice in our fellowship with him.
I pray for us today that we would recognize that everyday should be holy unto God. Let us find the strength of God, even when we recognize our lack of obedience to God’s word. When we receive understanding, let us repent, and turn quickly to following after that which we now know. Then let the joy of the Lord strengthen you to carry out that which he instructs.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Words of Encouragement
And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles, and laud him all ye people. And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Now the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. – Romans 14:10-13
Count it all joy. Gift of Salvation. Paul admonishes the Gentiles to rejoice in the great gift they have been given. Paul speaks the words that the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said there would be a root of Jesse that would rise and reign over the Gentiles. Jesse was king David’s father and this is the lineage of the savior. The savior came for the people of God, the Jews, but salvation was made available to everyone. Those that would accept Christ as savior would be grafted into the family of God to become the people of God.
Because of this opening up of salvation to all mankind, we can now have the joy that comes only from God. I like what the scripture says the “God of Hope”. The God of expectation, the God of trust, the God of looking forward are all titles that come from this understanding of the God of hope. We now have an expected end that we can joyfully look forward to. We can trust in God’s word and his promises because he is trustworthy. We can look forward to this new life he has given and what it entails. That which was behind, the sin and disobedience has been forgiven and now we can be filled with the joy and peace of the Lord.
Oh what a glorious future we have! We can continue to abound in hope, joy and peace through the working of the Holy Spirit within our lives. Today I pray for us to continue forward with the God that takes us forward. God does not take us backwards, so we should stop trying to go back into that which we have been delivered from. Stop trying to go back in to “Egypt” because the wilderness seems too hard and we have forgotten just how difficult our bondage was. Stop trying to turn back to what you had and like Lot’s wife turn into a pillar of salt. We surely can get “salty” when we think about what we have to let go of at times. So instead today Lord we ask you to help us look forward and count all things joy because we have been given a new chance, a new life and a new start.
Count it all joy. Gift of Salvation. Paul admonishes the Gentiles to rejoice in the great gift they have been given. Paul speaks the words that the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said there would be a root of Jesse that would rise and reign over the Gentiles. Jesse was king David’s father and this is the lineage of the savior. The savior came for the people of God, the Jews, but salvation was made available to everyone. Those that would accept Christ as savior would be grafted into the family of God to become the people of God.
Because of this opening up of salvation to all mankind, we can now have the joy that comes only from God. I like what the scripture says the “God of Hope”. The God of expectation, the God of trust, the God of looking forward are all titles that come from this understanding of the God of hope. We now have an expected end that we can joyfully look forward to. We can trust in God’s word and his promises because he is trustworthy. We can look forward to this new life he has given and what it entails. That which was behind, the sin and disobedience has been forgiven and now we can be filled with the joy and peace of the Lord.
Oh what a glorious future we have! We can continue to abound in hope, joy and peace through the working of the Holy Spirit within our lives. Today I pray for us to continue forward with the God that takes us forward. God does not take us backwards, so we should stop trying to go back into that which we have been delivered from. Stop trying to go back in to “Egypt” because the wilderness seems too hard and we have forgotten just how difficult our bondage was. Stop trying to turn back to what you had and like Lot’s wife turn into a pillar of salt. We surely can get “salty” when we think about what we have to let go of at times. So instead today Lord we ask you to help us look forward and count all things joy because we have been given a new chance, a new life and a new start.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Words of Encouragement
When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; wherefore we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. – Psalm 126
Count it all joy. When you receive God’s forgiveness. The children of Israel through scripture have shown us what the patience and mercy of God really looks like. He forgives them and again they would turn to sin. In this scripture the psalmist talks about receiving the forgiveness of God.
When God releases them from the captivity caused by their sins the people have much to rejoice about. Where there was once no dream, now there is a dream to be had. When their mouths were once filled with weeping, now laughter and singing is found. Even the unsaved marveled at the good things that God did for his people. Those that were in tears receive joy for those tears. God has exchanged those seeds of bitterness for a crop of plenty. No more weeping but rejoicing.
There is something important to notice about this scripture and that is we don’t hear complaining about the punishment of the sin, but the rejoicing of forgiveness. It is important that we understand that we sometimes find ourselves in captivity or bondage because of our disobedience to God. When we do, we have to seek God’s mercy but we also have to understand we very well may have to go through the process of coming from that bondage. And when we come out of that thing, we should count it all joy because God in his mercy did not allow us to stay in the bondage but released us. We cannot be angry because our actions have causes us to be in difficult situations. I’ve heard people say when faced with financial diffi culty, marital difficulty or issues with the law, “why has God allowed this to happen to me?” It is not always that God has allowed it, but that we refused to move in his direction and therefore we brought the bondage upon ourselves. Whatever the case, we should count it all joy because of the relationship we have with God. His love for us is so great that he willingly comes to get us and restore us, even if we got where we were out of our own disobedience.
I pray for us today that we rejoice in the grace extended to us. Let us be thankful for God’s forgiveness that he freely offers to us. Let us also rejoice in knowing that whatever situation we find ourselves in (our doing or not) God will not leave us there alone. He will take those tears and turn them into rejoicing. He will take the wounds and bind them up. Count it all joy; you have received the forgiveness of God.
Count it all joy. When you receive God’s forgiveness. The children of Israel through scripture have shown us what the patience and mercy of God really looks like. He forgives them and again they would turn to sin. In this scripture the psalmist talks about receiving the forgiveness of God.
When God releases them from the captivity caused by their sins the people have much to rejoice about. Where there was once no dream, now there is a dream to be had. When their mouths were once filled with weeping, now laughter and singing is found. Even the unsaved marveled at the good things that God did for his people. Those that were in tears receive joy for those tears. God has exchanged those seeds of bitterness for a crop of plenty. No more weeping but rejoicing.
There is something important to notice about this scripture and that is we don’t hear complaining about the punishment of the sin, but the rejoicing of forgiveness. It is important that we understand that we sometimes find ourselves in captivity or bondage because of our disobedience to God. When we do, we have to seek God’s mercy but we also have to understand we very well may have to go through the process of coming from that bondage. And when we come out of that thing, we should count it all joy because God in his mercy did not allow us to stay in the bondage but released us. We cannot be angry because our actions have causes us to be in difficult situations. I’ve heard people say when faced with financial diffi culty, marital difficulty or issues with the law, “why has God allowed this to happen to me?” It is not always that God has allowed it, but that we refused to move in his direction and therefore we brought the bondage upon ourselves. Whatever the case, we should count it all joy because of the relationship we have with God. His love for us is so great that he willingly comes to get us and restore us, even if we got where we were out of our own disobedience.
I pray for us today that we rejoice in the grace extended to us. Let us be thankful for God’s forgiveness that he freely offers to us. Let us also rejoice in knowing that whatever situation we find ourselves in (our doing or not) God will not leave us there alone. He will take those tears and turn them into rejoicing. He will take the wounds and bind them up. Count it all joy; you have received the forgiveness of God.
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