The Well Of Joy: Finding Joy In The Lord Whenever Everything Else Runs Dry

Isaiah 12:2-4 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” 3 Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.”

Introduction: An Old Water-Well

When I was growing up, we had an onsite water-well that supplied water to our house. Five under-ground springs fed the well. The water supply to that well was so ample that water would commonly overflow the main shaft which contained the well-pump. I can scarcely remember a time when the water was not overflowing. Whenever the dry summers would come, even though our neighbors' wells would run dry - our well never ran out of water. That well was consistent. The water supply was virtually unaffected by prevailing weather conditions.

Defining Joy

Whenever I think of joy in Jesus, I think of that old well. We could define joy as "abiding, constant confidence in God despite the circumstances". Wells were common imagery used by God in describing the joy found in Him. Isaiah utilized the imagery of a well in the opening passage of today's post. The reality of finding one's joy in God is more prized whenever joy is sapped out of the things of life. 

Joy in God in the dry times

In the Middle East, finding water was tantamount to finding oil. Isaac, the son of promise born to Abraham and Sarah became a well-driller - a water well-driller that is. In Genesis 26:18-25 we find Isaac re-digging wells formerly dug by his father. Several had been filled-full of dirt and stones by the Philistines of Abraham and Isaac's day. Isaac would from one well to another in search of water. When opposition met Isaac at every stopped-up well, he kept digging until he found water. Isaac saw God's goodness in the circumstances and expressed joy in Genesis 26:22 

"He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, “At last the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.” 

It wasn't long after Isaac made his statement about the well that we find God "showing-up" in Genesis 26:23-25 

"Then he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 The Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham;
Do not fear, for I am with you.
I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, For the sake of My servant Abraham." 25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well."

Now remember, there was a famine in Isaac's day. He had been in search of water. He found a well that he could finally call his own. He saw that well as a sign that God's favor was with Him. In recognizing the goodness of God, Isaac had demonstrated the capacity for greater illumination from the Lord. 

How joy in the Lord can provide what is needed for life in this world

Perhaps you reading this post today are experiencing "dried-up" wells. The joy of life's areas or "wells" have been drained. Maybe a relationship has went sour. Perhaps finances are dried up. A painful hurt has resurfaced and you're not sure how you will get over it. 

Oftentimes disappointments, worries, fears or troubles of all kinds can assail the Christian's faith. Joy in the things of life and in relationships are all from God (see James 1:17). But now, what happens whenever such joys diminish? What occurs whenever nothing else brings joy like it once did? This is where we must turn to the source of every joy - the One that is the essence of joy - God.

The wellspring of joy in God can never run dry. Jesus states in John 7:37-39

"Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

The Christian has an "inner-well" that never runs dry. The source of joy is in Jesus Himself. We flee to His word to find our joy. We flee to Him in prayer to be in His presence. Jesus meets us in the Word and prayer and quenches the driest of souls. I say these words not from the standpoint of sentiment. This truth is rubber-meets-the-road reality. 

God wants the Christian to discover joy in Him

What God is desiring to do in the life of the believer that has dried-up joys is to find joy in Him. The psalmist writes in Psalm 63:1-5

"O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips."

Those who have the most joy in God are those that have learned to find joy in Him whenever all other wells run dry. This doesn't mean that the trials will go away or that the pressures of life will evaporate. Instead, God will give His "abiding, constant confidence" to push through and rest in Him despite the circumstances. Joy must be distinguished from happiness. Happiness is a fleeting bliss dependent upon circumstances. Joy is that inner, abiding confidence. True joy is the well provided by God in the dry seasons. In time, the joy of the Lord can provide what is needed to other areas of life. When we have Jesus, we have the joy we need - even when it may seem that joy is not to be found. 

What it means to have the fruit of joy

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Introduction:
What does it mean to have the fruit of joy in the Christian life? In past posts, we looked at the fruit of the Spirit that is described in Galatians 5:22-23, with specific focus upon the first of such fruit: "love" (see the link to that post here: http://www.growingchristianresources.com/2016/08/understanding-fruit-of-spirit-love.html). We labored in that post to grasp how the Holy Spirit connects the Christian to the love of God and its varied expressions that we find throughout scripture. We also noted that in so far as the fruit include love and the other eight virtues supplied by the Spirit, the responsibility of the Christian is to exercise these virtues by obedience and service to others. The Holman Christian Standard Commentary on Galatians 5:22 notes the following about the fruit of the Spirit: "This fruit the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a faithful Christian. In other passages of Scripture, we are commanded to fulfill the individual characteristics. The answer to this seeming paradox, I believe, is that only the Holy Spirit can produce the fruit; but he will not do so unless we are striving to the best of our ability for them in faithful obedience."

Today we want to consider the second "fruit of the Spirit" mention in Galatians 5:22-23, "joy". As we already mentioned, we want to grasp what it means to have the fruit of joy. What is it that the Holy Spirit does in connecting us to such joy in the Christian life? What does such joy look like when I am regularly walking in it? Such questions are practically important, since there are times even in my life when joy seems to elude me. If we understand joy to be more to do with an internal condition of the heart regulated by the Spirit, then perhaps one's experience of joy has more to do with how aware one is of the work of joy the Spirit is operating within them. Hence, perhaps it is not so much the fruit of joy that eludes me as it is my day-to-day partaking of His work or being more distracted by the things around me. At any rate, let's note the following headings:

1. Joy in God
When we talk about "joy" in the spiritual Christian walk, we must begin with the fountain head "joy of all joys" - namely joy in God Himself. Pastor John Piper has defined the idea of Christian joy as follows: "Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world" (see link: http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-do-you-define-joy ).

When we do word studies on "joy" in the original languages of the Bible, ideas emerge such as "delight", "shouts of praise", "thrilling exuberance" and "delightful contentment". God Himself is the only being that can bring cause for joy apart from whatever benefits He may be able to do for us. In other words, the source of joy for the Christian is found in God Himself. If God were never to do one other thing for us, we would find just as much joy in Him as when He does the countless things of goodness towards us. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, begins her prayer by saying in 1 Samuel 2:1: "My heart exults in the Lord...". In the New Testament, we find Mary beginning her "Magnificat" in Luke 1:46 "My soul exalts in the Lord". The Apostle Paul urges us in Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice".  

God is worthy of rejoicing. God is the source of joy due to the fact that He possess great-making properties such as omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, all-goodness and beauty. It requires the Person of the Holy Spirit to convince us and make clear to us that this is so. Once the Holy Spirit comes to us in conversion, the grace He brings includes this component of rejoicing in the Lord. Jesus notes in John 7:37-39 "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." As Jesus was asserting this truth, He undoubtedly was referring back to Old Testament promises and predictions such as Isaiah 12:2-3 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” 3 Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation." The Holy Spirit connects us to God, which brings us joy in God. Thus to have the fruit of joy means we have the ability and desire to rejoice in God, which supplies the believer with strength for daily living (Nehemiah 8:10). 

2. Joy in salvation
As we rejoice in God, we find scripture urging us to rejoice in His works. We could talk about His work in creation, which can indeed be cause for joy due to how creation demonstrates His power, glory and honor (Psalm 10:1-6; 104:1-4). We could also talk about the victories He grants as cause for joy (1 Samuel 19:5; Isaiah 41:16). God's works are often appealed to by the Biblical authors to encourage further joy in God (Psalm 66:3-5). The particular work which seems to elicit the greatest cause for joy is God's work of salvation. In 1 Samuel 2:1, we find Hannah rejoicing in God and in the salvation He brings. Psalm 40:16 states - "Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The Lord be magnified!”  In Luke 10:21, Jesus Himself rejoices in His Father and the unfolding purposes of salvation He is revealing through Him: At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight."

So many more passages could be cited, but the point is well made with respect to rejoicing in God's salvation. Joy marks the converted heart (Romans 5:1-5) and is delivered to us by the Holy Spirit. He is the One who delivers such joy not only in conversion but in the Christian's growth in sanctification. Paul writes in Philippians 3:3 "for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh." So we see that having the fruit of joy entails joy in God, His salvation and thirdly...

3. Joy in His Word.
The scriptures are ever needed when it comes to converting the human soul (Psalm 19:7; James 1:18) and sanctifying the Christian (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But what about our joy? Do the scriptures deliver to us the joy of the Lord or joy in the Lord? We find the following verses that assert the link between the Christian's joy and the scriptures:

Job 23:12 “I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food."

Psalm 112:1 "Praise the Lord!
How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments."

Psalm 119:14 "I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches."

Psalm 119:111 "I have inherited Your testimonies forever, For they are the joy of my heart."

Psalm 119:162 "I rejoice at Your word, As one who finds great spoil."

Jeremiah 15:16 "Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts."

Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

Acts 2:41,47 (41) "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (47) "praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Closing thoughts
Today we considered that second virtue that is listed by Paul in his presentation of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, namely "joy". We first of all considered that such joy, as delivered by the Holy Spirit, connects us to joy in God. Since the Holy Spirit is a member of the blessed Trinity, as well as being Himself truly and fully God, then it follows that He could directly connect us to joy in God. Second, we saw that the fruit of joy also leads to joy in our salvation. Then lastly, we noted how the scriptures, and our rejoicing in them, feeds and cultivates our joy. 

Enjoyment of Jesus Christ - Reflections upon John 3:22-36

John 3:22-24 "After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison."

Introduction:

I thought today we would break away momentarily from our study on the spiritual gifts to consider the chief end for which they are given: namely enjoyment of Jesus Christ. We can scarcely miss the significance of Jesus' miracles, teachings and conversations that stretch from John 1:19-3:21. In today's post we want to consider the importance of John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus and Jesus further remarks following John's testimony in John 3:22-36. Specifically, we want to consider the joy we can find in Jesus Christ as the treasure of our soul. The appearance of the "bridegroom" theme in this text prompts us to focus in on how Jesus causes joy in John the Baptist's life. John the Baptist is recorded saying in John 3:29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full." These remarks are as a pebble thrown into a pond, with the ripples extending from center to circumference. Each verse in John 3:22-36 is affected somehow by the presence of Jesus and the joy He brings. 

Furthermore, the additional remarks Jesus makes at the end of John 3 propels the reader to further consider why it is a joyful enterprise in relating to Jesus Christ on a Personal level. In my own life, the need for enjoyment of Jesus Christ must be met as I face what can be, at times, not-so-joyful trials. Such trials drive me to him. To see Jesus in His Person as the true source of my joy requires further illumination from the Holy Spirit as I attend to the scriptures, prayer and daily reliance upon Him. John the Baptist's words in John 3:30 echo this particular point, wherein he says: "He must increase, but I must decrease." 

As we consider this stretch of scripture, we can note the following of what is entailed in the joy of Jesus Christ...

1. Sovereignly given joy. John 3:24-27
The sequence of John 3:24-36 opens with the disciples of John discussing matters of ritual purification. To have one's conscience purified was, and still is, a matter of utmost importance. How one can obtain peace of mind and heart is pursued very much by every religion, philosophy and effort of people. How could human beings ever hope to experience the joy that comes with all accounts being settled in the courts and chambers of the deepest innermost being? John the Baptist responds to his disciples by explaining the only way such joy can be obtained in John 3:27. We read in John 3:27 "John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven."

The joy of peace in the heart is a Sovereignly given reality. True joy is a "top-down" working of God by the Person of the Holy Spirit. In other contexts we discover that the reality spoken of here begins with the New Birth (see John 3:3,6; Titus 3:5-6; James 1:17-18; 1 Peter 1:23). Further thoughts carry us to consider how other spiritual realities such as the strength to live for God in spiritual maturity or "sanctification" is credited to God working in proportion to our cooperation (see Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13). John Gill in his commentary notes on this point: 

"Yea, this is true of every man, who has nothing of his own; and whatever he has in nature, providence and grace, is a gift to him; and all he enjoys is in a way of receiving: nor can he receive it,
except it be given him from heaven; from God who dwells there...who is the author and donor of every gift, temporal, spiritual, and eternal; particularly he cannot perceive, and discern spiritual things, nor receive Gospel truths; as it appeared to John his disciples could not, unless spiritual light is given from above."

So the enjoyment of Jesus Christ, as with any spiritual grace, must first be Sovereignly given by God to be placed in my otherwise empty hand. Let's notice a second truth about the enjoyment of Jesus Christ, namely...

2. Source of such joy is Jesus Himself. John 3:28-30
As John the Baptist expounds further on this joy that is Sovereignly given by God, we discover that the joy given is not some ethereal, abstract quanity we call "joy". Instead, the joy given is none other than in whatever is connected to the Person of Christ Himself. John the Baptist likens his particular ministry to that of being the "friend of the bridegroom". 

In the days of the first century, the "friend of the bridegroom" was responsible for helping to set the arrangements for the wedding and the events that would bring together the groom and bride-to-be. He was usually the closest friend of the groom, hand-picked as one who could be trusted to make the union of the groom and his bride to go forth without a hitch. The Holman New Testament Commentary remarks: 

"So the bride and bridegroom imagery is well established in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. As the friend of the bridegroom, John emphasized his delight and joy rather than jealousy over Jesus’ arrival and instant popularity. It is said of the pioneer missionary, William Carey, that when he was close to death he turned to a friend and said, “When I am gone, don’t talk about William Carey; talk about William Carey’s Savior. I desire that Christ alone might be magnified.”

The question before us is this: do we enjoy Jesus for the perceived benefits He can bring, or is the joy we have in Jesus Himself? Is Jesus enough? Is He truly my joy? Is the joy of the Lord really our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10)? The Apostle Peter states it best in 1 Peter 1:8 "and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory." Is it no wonder then why John the Baptist was prompted in decrease, so that Jesus might increase. Jesus was His source of joy. 

So enjoyment of Jesus Christ is Sovereignly given, sourced in Jesus Himself and then finally...

Seals us to enjoy Jesus ever more. John 3:31-36
We read in John 3:33 "He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true." What does it mean to have the "sealing of God" on one's life as a Christian? A seal in this sense represents an impression one would had found on wax sealing a document or perhaps an impression or words signifying a building constructed in the name of some dignitary. 2 Timothy 2:19 speaks of such a seal upon the Christian - "Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” Other texts such as Ephesians 1:13-14 reveal to us how such a seal protects us from totally defecting from the faith in the face of sore trials that will most definitely occur prior to our departure from this world. Such a sealing speaks not only of one's position before Christ, but the power to live out and to persevere. Included in our sealing is the fact of the worthiness of Jesus Christ as above all others and things (John 3:31-33); the words of Christ to sustain us (John 3:34-35, also see John 6:67-70) and warnings to those who have not yet trusted in Jesus Christ (John 3:36). 

The joy of Jesus Christ confronts unbelievers who are finding their joy in the flesh or the things of this world. The joy of the Lord Jesus Christ also causes believers to audit their own hearts to see whatever distractions or worries are attempting to quench the flame of love. 

Closing remarks
Today we considered what it means to enjoy Jesus Christ. We noted three important truths about the joy of Jesus Christ as derived from our time in John 3:22-36..

1. Sovereignly given joy. John 3:24-27

2. Source of such joy is Jesus Himself. John 3:28-30

3. Seals us to enjoy Jesus evermore. John 3:31-36

May we be those who enjoy Jesus every day.  

Spiritual Warfare A,B,C - Approaching Spiritual Warfare

Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might."

Introduction:

The subject of spiritual warfare is of perennial interest among Christians. Understanding Christian spiritual warfare is vital in breaking Christian people out of a civilian mindset and into the clear reality of needing to be soldiers of the cross. Spiritual warfare also eases somewhat the disillusionment the we feel between living for God in this world and the opposition from the world.  We realize it is not abnormal to experience opposition for being a Christian. I would like to attempt a brief summary of this vast subject of spiritual warfare from the standpoint of Ephesians 6:10-13 for the purpose of spelling out what I call the "A,B,C's of spiritual warfare". Today's post will deal with the first of these, namely the approach to spiritual warfare.

The approach to spiritual warfare - Spirit and the Word

Ephesians 6:10 gives us two and only two ways in which one can approach spiritual warfare in the Christian life. The first is what we looked at in detail yesterday, namely the Spirit-filled life. The second approach is closely related to being filled with the Holy Spirit, namely being filled with the scriptures or maintaining one's exposure to the Word of God.

Ephesians 6:10a states - "Finally, be strong in the Lord...". The underlined words indicate an imperative command that is coined in the passive sense of dependency upon someone. To "be strong in the Lord" refers to depending upon the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. With the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, we cannot understand and discern, which are marks of the strength needed when fighting the good fight of faith. (Ephesians 1:17) Ephesians 3:16 proves that the source of such strength comes from the Spirit: "that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man." 

This strengthening of the Spirit comes to the degree we are filled with or influenced by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Moreover, the Spirit's strength is enjoyed and experienced as we position ourselves in a posture of prayer (Ephesians 6:18). 

But now we notice the second phrase of Ephesians 6:10 - namely: "and in the strength of His might." This second phrase identifies the second  closely related approach to spiritual warfare, the Word of God. 

So how do we know that "the strength of his might" is most likely referencing the scriptures? First, the word of God itself is the offensive weapon of the otherwise defensive armaments in the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6:14-18. Second, Hebrews 4:12 ties together this concept of God's might and spiritual warfare - "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Then thirdly, 2 Corinthians 6:7 alludes to carrying forth spiritual weaponry in the right hand and the left, which in context includes the word of God.  

This then is the two-fold approach to spiritual warfare: namely being filled with the Holy Spirit and being in His Word. 

More tomorrow....

Keys to Fulfilled Christianity - Spirit filled and Bible filled

Ephesians 5:18-19 - "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord."

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

Introduction & Review:

Unless you and I are finding our fulfillment in Jesus Christ, we won't experience nor retain fulfillment. With that said, Colossians 3:15-17 gives us the specific keys to fulfilled Christianity. Another epistle written at the same time as Colossians, Ephesians, as similar statements in Ephesians 5:18-21 that we find here in Colossians 3:15-17, therefore we will include Paul's remarks from that epistle in this post.  In yesterday's post we looked at the first key: Christ's Lordship. Whenever you and I are yielded to His Lordship, there will be peace. Frankly this is the only way in which we can fulfill the command of Colossians 3:15 - "Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart".

Point of Application: So what are the keys to fulfilled Christianity? To answer that question we will spell it out in the point of application for today's post: The keys to fulfilled Christianity are Christ's Lordship, the Holy Spirit, the scriptures and thankfulness. We looked at the first key: Christ's Lordship and in today's post I want us to consider two more keys: The Spirit filled life and the Bible-filled life.

Key #2 to the fulfilled Christian life - Spirit filled
You may have noticed in the opening verses of today's post that both Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:18-19 are worded very similarly. Why is that? Because both were composed at roughly the same time and location (Paul's Roman imprisonment, under house arrest). The Holy Spirit of course comes to indwell the believer at salvation as promised by Jesus in passages such as John 14:17, 15:26 and 16:12-15. Further study reveals that the Holy Spirit indwells Christians individually (1 Corinthians 3:16) and corporately as His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:22) The indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit entails Him shedding light upon the scriptures (1 Corinthians 2:10-13; 1 John 2:20,27), an act which is also called "illumination". Included in the Spirit's indwelling work is that of reminding the believer of their adoption as a son or daughter of God. (Romans 8:16).  To say that the Holy Spirit indwells me means I enjoy the permanency of salvation is promised by Jesus, rooted in the Father's choosing and affirmed to me by the Spirit Himself in the scriptures.

Indwelling is a one time act that occurs at salvation. As a Christian, I will get all of the Holy Spirit I am ever going to get. He is after all infinite by His shared Deity with the Father and Son, and you cannot add nor subtract from Someone who is by nature infinite. However, when we speak of the Spirit-filled life, the issue becomes "how much of me does the Holy Spirit have"? The Spirit-filled life entails being controlled by the Spirit, rather than the sinful flesh. (Galatians 5:16-18). This battle between the will of one's flesh or sinful, ungoverned desires and the Spirit must be fought by every believer, everyday. (Romans 8:1-5). Either we are going to be full of the Spirit or full of ourselves, resulting in confusion and inability to find fulfillment in Jesus Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 3:1-4). To be filled by the Holy Spirit means to be under His influence and thus is a repeated, commanded experience every Christian must undergo if they are to achieve fulfillment. 

Whenever we heed the command of Paul to be "filled with the Holy Spirit", we will be able to have that music of the soul, that song of salvation that accompanies vibrant Christianity. The Holy Spirit does not desire merely to be a guest in town, but the Sherriff of our hearts. When you read the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23, you understand why the fulfilled Christian life requires the filling of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." So we have seen that the Spirit-filled life is required for fulfillment in the Christian life, however let us consider one more key for today, namely...

Key #3 to the fulfilled Christian life - Bible filled
Colossians 3:16 states "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Now as we noted already, this verse and the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit are worded very similarly. Consequently we can say further that to the degree we fill ourselves with the Word will determine how much we are able to be Spirit-filled. 

There is no doubt that the number one way to fill yourself with the Word is to commit it to memory. Joshua 1:8 commands us to "meditate on the Book of the Law" day and night. Psalm 119:11 urges the reader to "hide the Word" in their heart that sin may not result. Whenever the Word of God is dwelling in me richly, it is because I have taken in the words of God as residents of my soul. To take in the scriptures yields the same results as being Spirit-filled, which is why both go hand in hand.

Perhaps an illustration is in order. This past year my wife purchased for me a bag of my favorite coffee: Jamaican Blue. Now this is no ordinary coffee. As the story goes, it grows on one side of a mountain in Jamaica that is only accessible by donkey. Its price is only exceeded by its taste. Whenever we brew a pot of that coffee, the scent wafts its way throughout the house.  That scent carries with it influence, flavor and the potential for an eye-opening experience in a cup. Now by this point what would be the logical step be for me after that coffee pot has concluded its brewing of that luxurious black gold? To take it in of course. 

See, the scent and the process of ingesting the physical coffee go hand in hand. To not drink the coffee would be unthinkable, and yet we do that to our Bibles all the time. We claim we want God's mind, and yet we fail to open up the very book which is the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). 

Closing thoughts:
For today I would like to close with a quote from Charles Stanley's Book "The Wonderful Spirit-filled Life". In that book, Dr. Stanley ties together the necessity of the Spirit-filled life and spending time in the scripture as keys to a fulfilled Christianity: "If you can read this book and are not reading your Bible, you will never experience the Spirit-filled life with any consistency. Your Christian experience will for the most part be a subjective search for truth within the limited realm of your thoughts. Your conscience will never be a totally reliable guide since you are not renewing it to the truth of the Holy Spirit. And the peace of God will elude you. The Bible is the Holy Spirit's most objective way of communicating with His people." Dr. Stanley then closes with this thought: "If you want to know what the Holy Spirit thinks about something, read the Bible." 

More tomorrow.... 

Philippians 2 - Christian Joy's Thought-life

Philippians 2:1-5 "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is anyfellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus."

Introduction and Review

In yesterday's post we considered the Book of Philippians as the "Book of Joy", citing Philippians 3:1 as the key verse.  We looked specifically at chapter 1 and considered how it is Christian joy supplies confidence in three areas:

1. Living 1:1-6

2. Suffering 1:18-19

3. The Gospel 1:12,127-30

In today's post we get to the heart of the Epistle, being that Paul portrays one of the most significant texts in the entire New Testament on the Person and work of Jesus Christ. As we study Philippians 2 today, we will discover that Christian joy's thought-life is cultivated in the following ways:

1. Formed by Christ's humility 2:1-5

2. Flourishes under Christ centered doctrine 2:6-11

3. Functions to live for Christ 2:12-18

Formed by Christ's humility 2:1-5

The theological significance of Christ's incarnation is brought to bear on the thought-life and attitudes of the Christian as being governed by humility. John MacArthur has said that we are never more Christ-like than when we are humble. In wedding humility to our thought lives, we are exhibiting what the Bible calls the "mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). 

Certainly surrendering our thought-lives to the scriptures is how we begin and maintain Christian joy in the thought-life. Whatever we think will inevitably lead to the decisions we make and the actions we perform. Far beyond a profound theological lesson on how God the Son came to be a man, Philippians 2 seeks to show us how we can cultivate the Christian though-life through the joy found in Christ-like humility. 

Whenever our thought-life is being formed by Christ-like humility, we experience a "sameness" and "soundness" not only individually, but when we are with other Christians.  Notice where we see the idea of "sameness" in Philippians 2:1-5: "same mind" (2:2); "same love" (2:2); "united in spirit" (2:2); "one purpose" (2:2) and then in eseence, having "this attitude (or mindset" in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus. Quite literally, we can exhibit the soundness and sameness that Christ had in full measure in His life. Joy will be the natural by-product of all this, since it is after-all a fruit borne by the Spirit of God. (Galatians 5:22) Notice how else Christian joy's thought-life is cultivated, namely it.....

Flourishes under Christ centered doctrine. 2:6-11

This section of scripture, perhaps like no other, gives us the summary of Christ's entire life from eternity, to earth, back up to eternity. Meditating on the key points is like exposing the mind to the warm sun of Christ's presence and the soft gentle rains of His grace:

1. Pre-existence. 2:6a

Jesus as the Son, sharing in full Deity with the Father and Spirit, reminds us of how lofty of heights He came. Compare John 1:13, 8:58, 17:5; Colossians 1:16-17; Ephesians 1:13-15. 

2. Incarnation. 2:6b

Jesus as the Son, the Word, has planned already to come to earth to take upon Himself a human nature - literally becoming God in human flesh. Compare John 1:1-18

3. Humiliation. 2:7-8a

The descent of Christ from heaven to earth is what theologians call His "humiliation". Remarkably humility is not a trait the Son began having once taking upon Himself human flesh, but a trait He possessed along with the Father and Spirit from all eternity. 

4. Passion. 2:8b

Christ's passion speaks of His sufferings.  How low would Holy Christ go to accomplish the Father's plan.  The cross represents all at once the low point and high point of eternity and history. The penduluum of redemption swung to the cross and from thence on would swing up from the resurrection to His ascension.

5. Resurrection, Ascension, Exaltation. 2:9

These three events function as the mirror opposites of His incarnation, humiliation and passion. The cross is at the center of the passage, and it is there where the joy of the Christian mind finds its source and end.

6. His session (current activity as Prophet, Priest and King)

What happened after Jesus dissappeared into the sky in Acts 1:9-11. Numerous scriptures tell us that He went into Heaven to sit down at the Father's right hand.  It is from there He began to reign over His church as King. From His thrown as King He speaks to His church through the scriptures - thus in the role as Prophet. (Hebrews 1:1-4) It is there He intercedes as our Eternal High Priest. (Hebrews 7:24-25). All three offices are occupied by Jesus Christ as he presides, sits in session, over His church, awating the time to return to earth in His second coming. 

Just meditating on the awesomeness of Jesus Christ ought to set your mind at ease and the joy of knowing Him.  Humbling ourselves under such doctrinal truths gains us access to a limitless fountain of joy.  Doctrine's function is not just to fill our heads with knowledge, but also our hearts with joy in being known by this Jesus of Whom it points. So Christian joy's thought-life is formed by Christ's humility and flourishes on Christ-centered doctrine but notice lastly....

Functions to live for Christ. 2:12-30

Truly if humility and joy are ever to be brought home to roost in our hearts, we need examples.  Paul first of all states in summary what a thought-life, cultivated in Christian joy, ought to look-like by commanding us to it in 2:12-18. Philippians 2:12-14 states for instance - "12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing."

Next Paul offers up two examples of men living out the reality of Christ-like humility in a joyful mindset: Timothy (2:19-24) and Epaphroditus (2:25-30). Both men represent the full spectrum of the Christian life - with Timothy being the young upstart and Epaphroditus being the seasoned saint.  Both exhibit joy, both have Christ-like humility and both are being put forward by Paul as proof that what He is challenging this church and us to be - i.e Christ-like - is not some abstract ideal, but a true reality. 

Closing thoughts

Christian joy's thought-life finds its joy in Jesus Christ. We discovered that Christian joy's thought-life is cultivated in the following ways:

1. Formed by Christ's humility 2:1-5

2. Flourishes under Christ centered doctrine 2:6-11

3. Functions to live for Christ 2:12-18

Some marks of God's church

Acts 2:40-42 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Introduction:
Today's post will feature the very first church service ever recorded in the New Testament. The day was the Day of Pentecost. It was a day that the Jews celebrated to mark off the gathering in of the Wheat harvest and to commemorate the giving of the Torah or Law on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19-20. However there was an event that forever eclipsed those two events that occurred in Acts 2, the coming of the Promised Holy Spirit per Jesus' statements in John 14,15,16. 

When the Holy Spirit came, the church was born and the New Covenant Age was inaugurated. In Acts 2:37-47 we see the beginnings of the early Christians coming together.  What they did characterizes some of the chief marks for the church to follow throughout the remainder of the New Testament.  Furthermore, we could say that what we see here in these verses are indeed some mark's of God's church.  In short order we will list some of these marks of God's church and discover what is to be an ongoing, ever intensifying pattern of church life in God's church.  Note some of the following mark's of God's church:

1. Missions.  Acts 2:37-39
As Peter's audience was "pierced to the heart" (NASB) or as it states in the original language "shocked deeply in the heart" in Acts 2:37, we see them ask the question: "Brethren, what shall we do?"  Peter then urges them to respond to the Gospel.  Peter's first sermon here in the Book of Acts aimed at explaining the events surrounding the coming of the Holy Spirit so that He could then evangelize His audience. Missions is not only the first purpose or mark of the church mentioned here, but it is also referred to again in Acts 2:47 



2. Preaching. Acts 2:40 
Acts 2:40 states - And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” It was to be by the vehicle of Apostolic preaching that the Lord would strengthen believers and convert sinners. 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 reminds us - "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."






3. Making Disciples. Acts 2:41
In Acts 2:41 the Holy Ghost says - "So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls." Notice how the early church began fulfilling Jesus' Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.  Such a commission is not just an apostolic commission, but also the Great Commission to His church.  We see: reception of the Word by faith (compare Ephesians 2:8-9), followed by the converts getting baptized.  Thirdly we see some measure of church membership, being that the rolls were kept and "3,000 souls were added". Every ministry in the local church needs to be about making disciples not only in the church, but also in preaching and doing missions to make disciples of all the nations. 




4. Ordinances. Acts 2:41,42,47
What do I mean when I write that term "ordinance"? An ordinance is a pattern commanded by Christ directly to His church in the Gospels, preached upon and practiced in Acts and explained in the Epistles. In the New Testament Church we have two such rites that qualify under that description: water baptism and the Lord's supper. Wherever God's people are gathered together to hear the preaching of the Word, practice the ordinances and are about the Father's business of doing missions, that dear friend marks the existence of the local church. More could be said but we will move on to two more marks of God's church here in Acts 2.




5. Loving fellowship. Acts 2:43-46
When you walk through Acts 2:43-46, you discover just how joyful and loving the early church must have been. These people were "feeling a sense of awe" (2:43); "who had believed were together and had all things in common" (2:44); "were sharing" (2:45); "one mind" (2:46); "taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart" (2:46). Pastor Rick Warren has noted that the Biblical mandate for the church's fellowship is two-fold: "temple courts" or large group worship and "house to house" or small group fellowship. Thus the local church must needs have both preaching services whereby God's people can worship in song and word as well as have occasion to come together in small groups, whether in Sunday School on Sunday Mornings, some time of small groups in homes or small group Bible studies. Both patterns engender loving fellowship in God's church. 






6. Worship. Acts 2:47
Here we see the mark of worship. Worship is ascribing "worthship" to God by way of singing and preaching. Worship is rooted in grace and is aimed towards giving glory to God. Where is it that worship aims? Worship is vertical in its heavenward focus on the Triune God and it is outward focused in energizing people to share Jesus in missions. Amazing isn't it? The Holy Spirit here in Acts ends this chapter with missions and reminds us that from beginning to end, the church should be all about missions. These then are some of the marks of God's church.

How to not fall apart

Colossians 1:17 "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” 

I'm reminded of a statement I read years ago: "that when your Bible is falling apart, only then will you have a life that is holding together." Wearing out our Bibles - the Written Word - indicates that we have made it our business to daily and perhaps moment by moment meet the Living Word in the midst of circumstances. Why does enjoyment of the Living WORD Jesus Christ and the Written Word, the Bible, reinforce a biblical view of the creation and life?

Creation consists by the Living Word Colossians 1:17

Paul states that Christ Pre-existed from all eternity.  He, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit, had enjoyed one another in the shared fellowship as One Eternal Triune God.  Again we see this echoed in John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God and the Word was with God.” 

Then we see how all things “consist” or as the NASB renders it: “holds together”.  In the original text of this passage we could literally translate: “all things stand together in association with Him.”  In other words, apart from the Pre-existing Living Word, nothing would stand.  All other things rely on Him for their being.  No created thing has the property of self-existence.  If the Living Word had not been in Eternity with the Father, creation would had been forever locked in the mind of God.  It was by the Son that the Father's plans became reality.  As the Son moderated the infinite thoughts of the Father to Him, the Spirit, being co-equal with the Father and Son, took what was inanimate and put it into motion and breathed life into it.   

In fact, to say all things consists or holds together by Jesus Christ is tantamount to saying Christ has the one quality the universe does not have – Life and existence apart from creation.  It is the Son through whom the universe came was a result of His sharing in the same nature with God the Father.  Likewise, it is through the Son that all things hold together, as He along with the life giving Spirit has given life to all living things and orchestrates history itself to be a gift to God the Father. (1 Corinthians 15:28)

Knowing Christ holds all things together brings me joy, since I know He is the one who holds my life together

All of life and the universe is being preserved and held together by Jesus Christ.  This should be cause for Christian joy, since we can literally say that there is not one thing in life that is not directly nor indirectly excluded from the domain of Christ’s control.  In the KJV we read these words of Jesus from John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  That word translated “good cheer” speaks of God strengthening and encouraging the believer. 

The confidence to strive for Christ in this world derives from the fact He is Sovereign, and that He hold all things together.  Only a life centered around the Living Word as revealed through the Written word can rejoice that they will not ultimately fall apart. 

May you and I abide in the joy of knowing that Christ and His Word alone can hold us together.

Worship is Pleasureable Enjoyment of God

Jude 25 - "to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Excitement and joy over God

This focus on the Living Word, in the written Word, has caused Jude to break out in what theologians call – “a doxology”.  The word "doxology" is composed by two Greek words: "doxa" meaning "to think, to deem" and "logos" meaning "a word, matter or thing".  Thus in a "doxology" my praise of God flows from the highest thoughts of Him in my mind and the sweetest desire for Him in my heart.   It is when after writing about God that the author suddenly erupts in praise.  He cannot contain himself.  This future activity of God has broken into the present.  The Kingdom that is coming is also the Kingdom here.  It is now invisible, but will soon be made visible. 

All theology must lead to worship, or doxology

All theology, all doctrine, must lead to worship.  Think of this in terms of an ever-increasing cycle: theology leads to doxology which produces theology leading to even more doxology.  The pleasure of my joy derives from who God is, and is expressed in the three-fold description of God given in this text:

a. Before all time – My Creator

b. and now – My Redeemer
c. and Forever – My Soon coming King.

The Living Word Jesus Christ is revealed in this same fashion in Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

The Written Word, the Bible, can be summed up as being Beginning, creation – Genesis 1-2; Middle – all about redemption from sin – Genesis 3-Jude; and end – Revelation. 

The focus upon the Living Word causes great worship in Heaven both now (Isaiah 6) and forever (Revelation 4-5; 21-22).  The fulfillment of the written word cause joyful worship (Revelation 5).  Is it no wonder that Jude writes these words.  Even in his book, after writing about the grief caused by so many walking away from the faith, we see that for those who persevere and who plug into the Living Word through the Written Word, there will be ceaseless joy before His throne. 

Concluding thoughts

Thus we have considered Jude 24-25, considering how we as Christians can increase our joy from consideration of prophetic scripture.  We have note the following thoughts from Jude 24-25:

1. Power Source of your joy – The Word Jude 24a

2. Perseverance unto joy – The Word Jude 24b
2. Pleasure of joy: Worship – because of the Word. Jude 25

To God be the Glory both now and forever.  Amen!