Wake up to a brand new day: Awaken to the Joy of the Lord – Part 5

The Bible says, “…And do not be worried, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and your stronghold.” Read Nehemiah 8:10 (AMP). Notice what it says, “The joy of the Lord.” Not the joy of money, career or reaching attainable heights. Let me add this caveat, I am not against money or career, not at all, however, we should not let these things determine our joy in life. These earthly and material things will surely bring happiness, but that is not the sum total of where your joy comes from. Watch this beloved, we find refuge in the joy of the Lord. When joy arises, the enemy is paralysed, hence the Bible says, “With praises from children and from tiny infants, you have built a fortress. It makes your enemies silent, and all who turn against you are left speechless..” Read Psalm 81:2 (KJV). Can you see what I am showing you? Praise builds a fortress around you; this is an amazing truth.

Question I want to find answers to like you would; what is the joy of the Lord, and where does it come from? Now let us do some exegesis, the joy of the Lord I believe is clear to us when you read Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) saying, “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. Watch this, you and I are the joy that was set before Him. Selah (pause and calmly think).

My friend and mentor says, “I am going to be radical.” The joy of the Lord came about because Jesus knew Gods redemptive restorative and saving grace was going to forever reconcile people back to God, hence the Bible says, “That thus there shall be joy in heaven for one repenting sinner, [more] than for ninety and nine righteous who have no need of repentance. Read Luke 15:7 (DARBY), and my Bible tells me, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Read Ephesians 2:6 (KJV). Think with me for a minute, every time someone without Christ acknowledges His Lordship, there is rejoicing in Heaven before of this.

Thinking about where joy comes from became a point of study for me. So, let us look at the scriptures again to gain concept of where Jesus joy comes from. Listen to what the Bible says, “Ezra was up on the high platform, where he could be seen by everyone, and when he opened the book, they all stood up. ⁶ Ezra praised the great Lord God, and the people shouted, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped the Lord. ^7-8 After this, the Levites Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah went among the people, explaining the meaning of what Ezra had read. Read Nehemiah 8:5-12 (CEV). Oh, I love the word of God! Anyway, my point is, joy comes from the word of God which you understand. Selah (pause and calmly think).

The Bible tells us, Ezra read the word, and the Levites helped to explain the meaning of words to the people. Can you see this from the verse of scripture? Beloved, having an understanding of Gods word is critically important, and as we have just read,  your main source of joy is in His word. Consequently, I found out in my study, that Satan tries absolutely very hard to make sure you lack an understanding of Gods word, hence the Bible says, “And when they hear, immediately Satan comes and takes away the word having been sown into them.”Read Mark 4:15 (DLNT). Have you wondered why he comes immediately? Simple, because once you understand Gods word, and are enlightened, then those words become the “joy and rejoicing of your heart.” My Bible calls it “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Hallelujah, Glory to God

Let me give you a simple formula, JOY = STRENGTH. NO WORD = NO JOY, NO JOY = NO STRENGTH, but I refuse to be without strength because my Bible says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Read Proverbs 4:7 (KJV).

We write. You read. Be encouraged.