Setbacks. Failures. Stark Raving Mad.
Those words can describe circumstance, or emotions these Last Days; which is just what the enemy wants: create an environment in the world for folk to become lunatics and take out their anger, and frustration on each other. Just look at the news in the world today. Peaceful demonstrations are counteracted with acts of violence. But like Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:9 There is nothing new under the sun.
That which has been [is] what will be, That which [is] done is what will be done, And [there is] nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9
Look back in History at the peaceful singing, walking arm in arm demonstrations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They were simply walking down a road. Yet, they were met with water hoses, dogs, and tear gas.
THE DEVIL DOES NOT KNOW PEACE.
Therefore, if and/or when we engage in his behavior, We ACT JUST LIKE HIM. Children of God are not bound to this world, and therefore know that Jesus left us His peace, not the kind the world gives.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Remember, God’s definition and the worlds definition, or definitions you may have been taught in the worlds school system, are not the same. Make sure you have a bible dictionary for proper understanding. Jesus knows what he means when says… Do you?
∞ Let me digress to share a bit of revelatory knowledge when Jesus was on the cross and he said, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.”
- Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
After the most horrific brutality and suffering our human body and mind cannot imagine, He never displayed hatred toward, or prayed revenge upon them.
WHY? Because God is Love. Jesus is Love.
Those who love the world are enemies of God. The love of the Father is not in them.
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1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
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James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
If God is Love, then lovers of the world/self, know not LOVE. They only know Satan, who is the opposite of Love. HATE.
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John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
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1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Nehemiah 5:9 Then I said, “What you are doing [is] not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations, our enemies?
OH IF WE ONLY KNEW JUST HOW POWERFUL LOVE: OUR GOD AND THE NAME OF JESUS, REALLY IS!
Love Covers a Multitude of Sins
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1 Peter 4:8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
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Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.
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1 John 4:7, 12 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. … 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
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Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment.
∞
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, [wrote these words] to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways. James 1:1-8
| JOY | Hebrew H8057 | Greek G5479 |
| I.joy, mirth, gladness
A. mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure B. joy (of God) C. glad result, happy issue |
I.joy, gladness
A. the joy received from you B. the cause or occasion of joy i.of persons who are one’s joy χαρά chará, khar-ah’; from G5463; cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight:—gladness, × greatly, (X be exceeding) joy(-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous). |
| Temptations | I.an experiment, attempt, trial, proving
A. trial, proving: the trial made of you by my bodily condition, since condition served as to test the love of the Galatians toward Paul (Gal. 4:14) B. the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy i.an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or from the outward circumstances ii.an internal temptation to sin a. of the temptation by which the devil sought to divert Jesus the Messiah from his divine errand iii.of the condition of things, or a mental state, by which we are enticed to sin, or to a lapse from the faith and holiness iv.adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one’s character, faith, holiness C. temptation (i.e. trial) of God by men i. rebellion against God, by which his power and justice are, as it were, put to the proof and challenged to show themselves |
Who in the world reacts joyously when various kinds of trials come upon them? “If it ain’t one thing. It’s another;” is the worldly cliché I often heard. And the tone of voice when said was certainly not joyous. Precisely. No one in the world reacts joyously when various kinds of trials come upon them.
Usually, various temptations occur in order to get the world out of the person and develop the Christ like fruits of the Spirit written in Galatians 5:22-25. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Look at against such there is no law. If a man slap you on the cheek. He is guilty. You shall remain innocent UNTIL you slap him back. Then the law of Assault is brought against you both, and a Judge must weigh the matter to determine Who was at fault. This is why Jesus also said in Matthew 5:39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
And James wrote in chapter 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Well, how do you resist the devil, by not acting like he does, or retaliate. Yet defend yourself by wearing the whole Armour of God.
[Ephesians 6:11-18] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
The Lord audibly told me years ago, “Refrain from your emotions. He [satan] does not know how you are going to react.”
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan [was sent] to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The opposite of strength is weakness. The Joy of the Lord is my Strength. Let the Lord see us acting Like HIM.
I repeat:
OH IF WE ONLY KNEW JUST HOW POWERFUL LOVE: OUR GOD AND THE NAME OF JESUS, REALLY IS!
- Psalm 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.
- Isaiah 29:19 The meek also shall increase [their] joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
- Nehemiah 8:9-12 And Nehemiah, which [is] the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day [is] holy; neither be ye grieved. 12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
- With all thy getting get understanding.
- Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH TO GET THROUGH WORLD EVENTS