Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: JOY (10/28/21)
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TITLE: An Unspeakable, Everlasting Joy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Lakella Davenport
11/04/21 -
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The Joy of the Lord is truly my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). I feel such happiness when I am in the presence of our God. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life, in thy presence is the fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forever more (Psalms 16:11). It is in those quiet, alone moments with God that bring me such peace and an unspeakable joy (1 Peter 1:8). Joy is one of the key characteristics of the Kingdom of God. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost,” (Romans 14:17). Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit. True Christians are steadfastly bearing the fruit of God’s joy in their lives and they transfer that joy into the lives of others. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such is no law,” (Galatians 5: 22-23).
As a Christian, I aim everyday to bear as much spiritual fruit as I can bear. As a homemaker, the bible tells me in 1 Peter chapter 3 it is by my quiet spirit that I can win over the soul of my husband for Christ (1 Peter 3: 1-2). A meek and quiet spirit is also a joyful spirit. Having a quiet spirit is of great price to God according to 1 Peter chapter 3 verse 4. Bearing the fruit of Joy is also a sign of Godly wisdom in an individual. James chapter 3 verse 17, states that “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” Godly wisdom is full of good fruits of the Holy Spirit such as joy and goodness. God promises to give us a spirit of joy. The Christians at the day of Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2 were filled with a spirit of gladness and joy upon receiving the word of God. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls,” (Acts 2:41). “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” (Acts 2:46). The oil of gladness or the oil of joy is a promise and a gift given to us by God when we commit our lives to serving him through faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Second Chronicles chapter 30 verses 21-26 describe a time under King Hezekiah’s rule in which God healed and forgave the peoples of Israel and filled their hearts with a spirit of praise and great Joy. “And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord,” ( 2 Chronicles 30:21). “So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David King of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem,” (2 Chronicles 30: 26).
God promises to give us beauty for our ashes and joy for our former shame. “To appoint unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of Joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness …,” (Isaiah 61:3). “For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them,” (Isaiah 61:7). The bible promises that the redeemed of the Lord shall have joy. “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head; they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away,” (Isaiah 51:11). Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 9 tells us that God will give joy to those who follow after righteousness. As Christians, we must graciously accept God’s gift of everlasting joy that no one can take away from us. As born again Christians, we inherit both eternal life and eternal joy. “So be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart,” (Psalms 32:11).
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