The Joy Set Before Us

Joy[1]
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost (Rom 14:17) As Christians our joy should be “full.” We should have “joy unspeakable”. So why are so many Christians living short of that promise? Many of us look for that joy sometime in the distant future when we leave this earth by either rapture or death. We think our lot in life is to suffer and live in misery waiting on the promise. Some believers substitute the true joy of the Lord with self-righteousness or false humility, getting a fake joy out of their performances. Even this doesn’t last; they soon can’t keep the performance up and fall into shame and guilt. Others give up completely and turn to the world and fulfill lusts that bring only temporary happiness and never joy. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus found joy in what was “set before him”, joy that allowed him to suffer on the cross. What was that joy? I believe it was the salvation of the world- saving of lost souls, the reconciling of all back to the Father. Only one thing could have kept him from receiving that joy, and that would have been giving in to his flesh. Satan tempted Jesus to do just that, a way contrary to God’s plan, but Jesus refused. We too have to crucify our flesh. We talk about how the Jews, the Centurions, Rome and even ourselves, killed Jesus. All are true. However, Jesus performed the TRUE Crucifixion (of his flesh) in the Garden… before a soldier ever touched a spike. He cried out to the Father in his hour of flesh sweating blood in his battle! In the end, HE crucified his flesh by saying, “not my will, Father, but yours.” Jesus received his joy! He chose to receive it! We do the crucifying, with God’s strength and help, and God gives us the joy! That joy is in conquering sin in our lives and leading others to Jesus. If Jesus’ joy was in the saving of souls, shouldn’t ours be too? Time is winding down. Can’t you feel how it is flying by! Are you crucifying your flesh, ridding your life of sin? Are you feeding your spirit with The Word? Are you building yourself up with your heavenly language? When the “shaking” begins, will you be able to stand? Are you “planting, watering and harvesting” souls? True revival is a heart hot on fire, in love, with God. But it is also the burning desire to see others come to the Father. Revival won’t happen without both. Where is your heart today?
Heb 12:1-27 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.”

4 thoughts on “The Joy Set Before Us

  1. Amen, right on sister. Great revelation. Until we the “body of Christ” individually and corporately lay all our lives down at the alter of Jesus Christ (the cross) we will never truly experience the pure joy of the Lord you have talked about. Why? Because true happiness and joy of the Lord is not found outside of Jesus Christ, I know this from experience. It wasn’t until I laid everything down @ the cross of Jesus Christ, where I received true life in Christ. I’ve tasted and saw how good the Lord is. But some where along the line, I walked outside His will and became miserable, until the Lord lead me back into the path of righteousness for His name sake, and continue to walk in that path by the help, mercy and grace of God Almighty our Father through His Only Begotten Son Lord Jesus, by the help of His Holy Spirit. How many more us today in the body of Christ are experiencing the same thing? Therefore we have to examine ourselves, are we truly abiding in Christ or not? In Christ true happiness, joy and peace are found (John 15).

    Misery or the lack of this joy, happiness and peace is the tall-tell sign that we are not abiding in Christ. We want the salvation and the blessings of God by our own means, terms and conditions. But it cannot work this way. It’s either Jesus Christ by His means, term and conditions or it’s not at all. In this last day and hour we cannot have one foot in and one foot out. It’s all or nothing at all. Misery, unhappiness, and lack of Biblical joy comes from resisting the Holy Spirit, fighting against The will of God, and kicking against the goad of His Word.

    The Glorified Christ of the Book of Revelation is about to appear in the clouds to take His church before the tribulation period begins, are we ready? Are we the Glorious bride of Christ that He expects us to be according to His biblical definitions? Great post sister again. May you and your family always go from faith to faith, glory to glory in the Lord with all wisdom and understanding that only comes from our God. And may the Lord continue to teach you His ways and keep you in the palm of His right hand all the days of your lives in Lord Jesus name …Amen! [:D}

    • jodiwoody says:

      Thank you Brother Steve. I often ponder on the Bride of Christ. Is she sick and anorexic? Is she self-centered and full of pride? Jesus is coming for a pure and spotless bride. We have a long way to go, in a short amount of time. Thank God, that he looks on his bride with eyes of love…

  2. […] The Joy Set Before Us (authorjodiwoody.com) Some believers substitute the true joy of the Lord with self-righteousness or false humility, getting a fake joy out of their performances. Even this doesn’t last; they soon can’t keep the performance up and fall into shame and guilt. Others give up completely and turn to the world and fulfill lusts that bring only temporary happiness and never joy. […]

Leave a Reply