JOYFUL ABIDING BLOG
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THE JOY OF OBEDIENCE
Let me ask you… Where is this great joy today? Now I grant that most people during the Christmas season have a little more joy than they have the rest of the year. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that something good happened to all of us about that time of year 1,900 years ago. Or perhaps we are joyful because we are all feeling better when we think about giving, rather than receiving. But yet, we all know that the joy the angel is talking about here, on that first Christmas day, was not intended to be a seasonal joy. We know God has more for us than just “holiday joy.”
The first joy that is ours to experience because of Jesus is the JOY OF CONVERSION, the joy of sins forgiven, the joy of having our name written in the book of life and of being born of the Spirit; the conversion joy is the joy of us coming home from a far country of sin and selfishness to meet our Father as in the story of the prodigal son.
If we shall keep His commandments and His word as Jesus kept His Father’s commandments, then we shall abide in Him and then HIS joy shall remain in us.
Dear friend, do you have the JOY OF JESUS, which is the JOY OF OBEDIENCE? This joy of obedience, of doing the Father’s will, is greater, by far greater, than the joy of conversion. It is a tragedy, a disgrace, that most-Christians never have that joy. It is a tragedy and a disgrace that most Christians only live off the memories of the joy of conversion they had experienced 10, 15, 20, 30 years ago.
Friend, obey God. Obey God! Do His will from morning till night, and that is what it really means to believe in Him. For “he that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (Jn. 7:38). Oh, how our new converts need to be fed by those rivers of living water flowing through the hearts of obedient, seasoned saints.
PRAISE
First of all, praise makes us feel better. True, we are not to walk by feeling, but it certainly gives us a lift to feel good especially when that feeling comes out of obedience to God. Further, praise drives away anxiety and the fear of man. Praise rejects sadness, brings gladness and ends madness.
Praise starves the carnal man and feeds the spiritual man. Praise multiplies mercy and submission; it chokes stubbornness and condemnation; it builds up the good and tears down the evil; it purifies, restores and sustains our vision. Praise places God’s armor upon us and shines it. It ushers in the cross and removes the dross.
Praise increases our burden for the lost, the unsanctified and the needy. Praise destroys our confidence in the flesh and helps us to believe God’s promises. Praise prevents us from polluting, diluting, amending or misinterpreting God’s revelations. Praise sharpens our discernment, brightens our hope and aids us in understanding the Scriptures. Praise brings us to brokenness, yieldedness, poverty of spirit and meekness of heart. It builds a defense against temptations. Praise is the breath of victorious living and milk for new converts to get fat on. Oh, that men would praise the Lord!
VICTORY IN JESUS
Jesus essentially exchanged His crown in heaven for an apron on earth. In my humble opinion, this is when and where Christianity started. This big decision was made UP THERE, to then be executed DOWN HERE.
And so, for us there is no other starting point other than that we will humble ourselves in repentance and will do as our Master, seeking His will forever. Again, it is only as a man comes to poverty of spirit and is done with himself; then all of the other beatitudes can be realized in his life. And it is only through poverty of spirit that his actions will reflect that he is truly born of God. Go for humility.
Notice that it is those who are clothed in humility who have the favor God, the power of God and the blessing of God. They are the only ones who have strength to do what needs to be done. The hands of the humble are indeed the hands of God. Clothe yourself with humility, for humility is the way to all that God has prepared for you before the foundation of the world. Humility will never fail; it does not know how to lose. It can be kicked around, knocked out, abused, slandered, shot at, falsely accused, spat upon, pressed, pierced through, crucified and buried. All that, but humility will never die—it is indestructible. Each time, it will rise up to resume its journey where it has left off. Though humility does not fight any battles, it wins all wars. Humility seeks nothing for itself, yet it has everything. Humility rests at the foot of the cross, yet it touches all of the universe, causing angels to wonder and God to smile. Yes, humility is not only the garment of excellence, but it is also an ornament of grace.