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Joy!

By Bobbie Jean Merck    

The life of Nehemiah was a shining example before the king. His joy was noble and notable. Nehemiah 2:1 says, “…Now I had not been before time sad in his presence.” The king accurately perceived Nehemiah’s sadness was not for himself, but “nothing else but sandess of heart.” Fear resulted from this encounter when King Artaxeres perceived such sorrow of heart.

 What is the principle? God is speaking to us to maintain the joy of the Lord so we can remain strong in these days. You can only do that when you focus on God and His promises. Also as precious Sister Danita of Lima, Ohio prophesied to me in September 2004, “Be patient and God will restore everything.” Her words of prophecy were burned into my heart and soul and became an anchor as I miraculously recovered from a death-blow stroke.

 Yesterday a beloved sister in the Lord said, “Wait patiently for God.” She spoke many things (as did Sister Danita), but those words were the key. Why? Because they were from the Lord, but also because God did work miraculously and I am stronger physically today than ever. I knew that God would “perfect all that concerns” me now regarding A Great Love and its finances. Wanda had asked about this and I said, “Yes. Along with many others we are fighting the good fight of faith.” Be patient and as Nehemiah experienced, so will you and we at A Great Love. God will prosper us. We are His servants. We do seek His kingdom first.

 We are in the time of harvest. My heart exults with joy as I minister in churches and am told, and see, the salvation of the Lord reaching out to multitudes. What joy to see the glory upon former drug dealers, drug users, pimps, prostitutes, and all manner of people. The time to reap is here! But any farmer will tell you that harvest is a hard time. Effort and work must be put forth. Focus is on the harvest. All else takes second place. Harvest must be the priority.

 I love Isaiah 9:3. The various translations in The Bible from 26 Translations are powerful! “Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased their joy-”; “Thou hast increased the exultation, thou hast made great the joy - ”; “You have made them exuberant with rejoicing and filled their hears with joy”; “they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil”.

 Therefore, we must appear before the King of kings with “joy unspeakable and full of glory” 24/7 if we are to reap “all” in this magnificent time of harvest.

As we “do” the will, plan, purpose, and call of God for our lives, joy unspeakable floods our being. That is a sure way of knowing that you are in the center of His will. History records saints joyfully giving their lives for His cause. Passion for His call upon your life gives you joy. “…The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7). Such zeal is defined as jealous love and dedication to the purpose of fulfilling that love. Zeal for the Lord’s kingdom purposes is required to live in unspeakable joy. And joy is the motivator.

 Maintain your joy! As Jerry Savelle says, “If Satan can’t steal your joy, he can’t steal your goods.” After all, the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost!

 Joy is a sure indication that you trust God, and “all is well”, and “all will work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.” Joy is the bucket God has given us to draw water from the wells of salvation. “ Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3). The Moffatt translation says, “Joyfully then shall you draw upon the fountains of deliverance.”

 We want salvation and deliverance. Then let’s have joy. Let us stop wavering, complaining, grumbling, and murmuring. Let us leave the pity party and go to the Holy Ghost party. James 1:2 instructs us, “ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations….” That is an idiom which means “throw a party”. As someone said to me many years ago, “How do you have such a party?” I responded, “I don’t know, but the Holy Ghost does.” I do know people who hoave had such a party and they had miracles happen. They celebrated Jesus and not the problem.

 “You must find the greatest joy whenever you find yourselves surrounded by various temptations” (The Bible from 26 Translations).

 Have you noticed that joy is a developed fruit of the Spirit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). And it is number two! This again alerts us to the force of joy. We have the Holy Spirit within our spirits to produce the fruit of Christ in our lives.

 It is amazing to read John 16 and see how Jesus connected the Holy Spirit and joy many times! “…your sorrow shall be turned into joy. …your joy no man taketh from you. …your joy may be full” (vv.20, 22, 24).

 “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:52).

 “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost…” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

 The Holy Spirit is the vital key to joy.

 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

 Joy! Strength! Endurance!

 Dr. E. Stanley Jones had insight to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and especially at such a time as this. In his book The Way To Poise and Power he said, “The coming of the Holy Spirit within the framework of human nature was the turning of the tide from being a victim to being a victor. …the Holy Spirit in early Christianity was not a puzzle but a power – the heartbeat of their faith. The Holy Spirit has been lost in large measure from modern Christianity – a demand without a dynamic. …our faith is faint and anemic. It lacks the red blood of the Spirit’s life within our pulses. For the Holy Spirit is God in action. He is God where it counts – within us. The Holy Spirit is the cutting edge of redemption; He works within where life is decided. I have believed in the Holy Spirit as doctrine – now as life.” He prayed, “…I want to be held from within, for there the issues of life are being decided….”

 As the NEB says, “Guard your heart more than any treasure, for it is the source of all life” (Proverbs 4:23)!

 May we be secure in knowing that God has given joy to us for a powerful weapon of warfare! Our joy is not conditional upon circumstances. Joy is on the inside of you. Our dependence is not upon a human being, or something or place, but we depend upon the Holy Spirit and joy.

 His prophetic word to us now is “JOY”! Let your joy be overflowing! Let your joy be complete!

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