FWD: Morning Manna (Nov. 18); BP: Jn. 15:1-11; RBTTY: Heb. 13; Ez. 8-10

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:34:48 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Nov. 18); BP: Jn. 15:1-11; RBTTY: Heb. 13; Ez. 8-10
 
November 18                                                                                                            "Overflowing Joy"  
"These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full."
                                                                                                                                                  John 15:11
      When His desires become ours and service is freely given, we truly will experience "joy unspeakable and full of glory" (I Pet. 1:8b).
     One of the things the world’s looking for today is happiness. No one likes being around a down-in-the-dumps, always-singing-the-blues person. Oh, we may empathize and even seek to console them for a while. But, soon their incessant whining and "poor me," broken-record song will begin to grate on our nerves like someone scratching a chalk board with their fingernails.
     Yes, everyone’s looking for happiness. But, the problem is they’re looking for it in the wrongs places. Some are looking for it in fame and fortune, while others are looking for it in one-night stands. . .drink and drugs. . .power and possessions, etc.
     That’s why we, who know the Lord Jesus Christ as "the most Precious Treasure in earthen vessels" (II Cor. 4:7), MUST do all we can to tell them what the song says: "Only Jesus can satisfy your soul—and only He can change your heart and make you whole. He’ll give you peace you’ve never known, Sweet joy and love and Heaven too—for only Jesus can satisfy your soul." Amen and amen.
     Now, we should notice the joy Jesus is talking about is not something we come up with on our own. Instead, He said "that MY joy (Grk. ‘chara’—‘calm delight, cheerfulness, gladness of heart, inner well-being, tranquility of soul, etc.’) might remain in you." Once again, we see the importance of "abiding in Him and He and His words abiding in us"—for these are required before His joy will become a permanent faith-fixture in our daily lives.
     Just as "grace is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9), so are the "fruits of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22-23) gifts from God. That’s why Paul said "I am crucified WITH Christ; nevertheless, I live—yet, not I, BUT CHRIST Who lives in me. And, the life I now live in the flesh, I live by THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD Who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).
     Do you see it, Pilgrim? Did you see what we receive in Christ?
     His faith. Not some fleshly, fickle, fair-weathered faith. The same faith that enabled Jesus to heal the sick. . .make the lame walk. . .enable the blind to see. . .and the dead to live again. And, isn’t that why He said "I give you the power to do even greater works than I do because I go to the Father" (Jn. 14:12)? Hallelujah!!
     Thus, we should not be surprised when He said "When MY joy has taken up housekeeping in your heart, your joy’s going to be full (Grk. ‘pleroo’—‘level up, filled to overflowing, to cram full, fulfilled, etc.’)"—i.e., spilling over like a volcano. Maybe we should call it "The Lord’s Lava Flow of Love." Glory!! Are you there yet??