The Joy of the Lord by Pastor Caspar McCloud

Papa God we thank you this day and want to rejoice in it. The devil did not make this day; this is the day that you have made so we want to rejoice and be glad in it.

We thank you for eternal life and ask that you help us keep our eternal perspective at all times as we are in these last days. We are in awe of you and all that you do for us, that you even made us in your image and likeness. To You who created all the planets, and universes. We are so grateful and thankful and privileged that you allow us to partner with you like this and that we can be joint heirs with Christ, covered by his precious blood. Thank you that our sins are blotted out and you choose to throw them in the sea of forgetfulness; that you choose to see us as saints and as your adopted children through our faith in Christ.

In your Word are all the answers and we ask that you help us know the truth that will make us free that will heal us and restore us in your sight. Help us today to study and learn what you want us to know. Help us to understand and accept we do not have to know everything there is to know, that we can simply trust you and not have to lean on our own understanding. So Your Holy peace can overtake us that peace beyond understanding. That we can simply obey you and know you are taking care of us and every detail of our lives. Because you love us and we are your people and we love you.

Thank you Lord that we can come boldly anytime of day into your throne room and make our request known to you. You are full of mercy grace and love. That signs and wonders will follow us as we follow after you.

We can watch and pray always that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and we can stand before you Lord before the Son of Man.

We invite you Holy Spirit to come now and teach us and take us over. We invite you Lord to have your way with us now.

I ask Lord you meet us here just where we are now, and that you bring your almighty healing hand to touch each person where their need is. We ask that blessings overtake us and chase us down in Jesus of Nazareth’s name. Amen.

Over the years from my personal observations as a pastor I have come to realize that some people seem like they really don’t want to really get free. The enemy of their souls has got them so confused and so programmed in toxic thinking they have a hard time sorting out which path to follow to find freedom.

They don’t seem to want to discipline themselves to make right choices; they are so programmed that they fall easily into the devils traps, so they stay in their rebellion and keep fellowshipping with devils. Not fully understanding that God won’t share you with devils.

1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

So some people just give excuses trying to validate and justify why they are depressed and living in such a state. Living defeated not understanding why their prayers go unanswered. Allowing the enemy of their soul to torment them because they often can’t see they are entertaining the spirit of self-pity and that they are fellowshipping with devils.

Jeremiah 5:25Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

Psalm 6618If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Isaiah 59:1Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

The things that come out of your heart and speak through your mouth can greatly hinder your life and prayers.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Now you must understand you can’t really change people, you can encourage them, but you can’t change them.

You can speak Faith filled words over them and pray for them and bless them. But at the end of the day you can not make them do what is right. When you don’t do what is right you end up doing what is wrong by default. Which is still a form of Rebellion.

You can’t make anyone choose blessings.

Many people suffer because they are stuck in some secret sin, but it’s not a secret to God who loves you and wants to help you if you will just call on Him. God sees everything.

Most people sin in a private moment not understanding its all being recorded and watched in heaven. That we are tested here on earth will we obey the Lord or not.

Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.

As you get into the Word of God it changes you forever. It takes you away from ungodly thinking and wrong behaviours like addictions and foul language and will replace that by tearing down the strongholds the enemy has built up in your mind. By washing you clean from the filth of toxic thinking and renewing your mind to promises of God which will change you and bring you into a place of righteousness and peace before the Lord.

How many people get married to someone thinking they can change them and find out too late that does not really work? That only God can change someone.

You must understand that even though we are called to help bare each other burdens and I say this with all due respect. We are not responsible for someone else’s happiness. We are responsible for our own happiness. The Bible tells us that we are to learn to be content in all things.

Philippians 4:11Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

So then truthfully Satan can not come easily steal your joy since it is a spiritual perception and gift from the Lord. If you lost your joy somewhere it is most likely that you somehow gave it away by allowing the enemy of your soul to take it from you.

However, if you will keep your joy and learn to be content no matter what state things happen to be in your life at any particular time, Satan will not be able to steal, kill and destroy and as you stay in Faith before the Lord your God you will be released to enter into blessings and His supernatural peace.

The Bible says we as believers are sitting in Heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

So you are going to at lest try then to keep a heavenly perspective and a Godly attitude each day.

If you don’t want to be happy that is between the Lord and you, but I tell you that I know who I am in the Lord and therefore you are not going to steal my joy and keep me from being happy in the Lord.

If you want to participate with a spirit of heaviness and self-pity that is your decision but I am not planning to ever join you there. I am going to enjoy my life and worship and praise my Lord for it. Amen.

Sometimes we just have to love certain people from a safe distance because it just not safe to get too close to them and risk your own spiritual health. Just as it not safe to feed on the negative news broadcast and articles and most television and movies that assaults our sense with perversions and flith.

You might have family members and friends or business associates who are rather difficult to be around and to be with because they are so negative about so many things. Maybe they have a critical spirit and say inappropriate things in front of you. Things you know are not pleasing to God. They may even criticize people you think highly of right front you. Which is a can be a painful experience to suffer.

So as a believer how to do you deal with someone like that? You still show them respect and agape love them in Christ but you are going to need to protect yourself and not be around them too much at any given time. You still need to be kind towards them you still need to be respectful around them but you really need to guard your hearts when you get around people that tend to participate with toxic thinking. Because toxic thinking in a way produces a Toxic person and that is dangerous to your own spiritual health. There is that old saying that a rotten apple spoils the barrel.

Meaning a Toxic person influences everyone he or she comes into contact with, making them somewhat toxic too. Because a bad apple not only ends up spreading bacteria and fungus to the rest of the batch, but a person with a rotten attitude can send a lot of good people astray and misdirect them. Like the rotten apple that spoils the barrel in your office. Everyone sees that person repeatedly come in late to work and take extended long coffee breaks, and then they may start listening to the lying devil by thinking? “Why can’t I do the same thing I mean they get away with that all the time and nothing bad happens to them?” Yes but it will eventually catch them up because of the law of sowing and reaping. Grace is a measure of time to get right with God.

Ecclesiastes 8:11Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

In other words rebellion, all sin and crime will not pay off.

Because negative people will often bring out the worst in you, those people who try and pick a fight and want to argue with you. You might just recognize they have an unclean spirit and unless they are truly asking for help it seems the less you are around them the better off you will be.

Now I realize sometimes you might not have a choice, you may have to work with someone like that in an office or job or live even with them.

You may live with someone who seems to just go out of their way to aggravate you ever chance they get consciously or unconsciously.

Maybe they are so demonized they act like it is their calling in life to try and make you miserable. Like a Jezebel spirit that wants to control everything.

If that is the case then its time to change your approach in how you respond to them and come from a heavenly perspective by changing your approach when you deal with them. Otherwise you are just helping to empower the unclean spirits that are influencing them and often times manifesting in them. Because if they can upset you they must know inside and understand at some level they have some control over you and your emotions. That they can control and manipulate you and that is the sin of witchcraft according the Bible.

And that is what the devil really wants to control you and the world and he starts with messing with your emotions to alter your perceptions.

But just as you can not hold back the oceans waves reaching the shore or hold back the tide of the sea you can’t keep a child of God from being happy and filled with the joy of the Lord. Jesus said in John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

In other words agape love people even when they are unlovable.

I suggest the next time they do something that upsets you don’t give in and play that blame game anymore.

It has not worked out so well for you so far and it won’t if you continually lose your peace. You must hold on and keep your peace.

If they act mean and are rude to you just keeping smiling anyway. Keep your joy in the Lord.

It might make them wonder what you have that they don’t have, they may start to see Christ in you and that may make them not want to be on the outside anymore looking in. Maybe they will then be motivated to get truly converted and saved.

If they accidentally on purpose leave you out of something important or have a meeting that excludes you.

Don’t go calling your friends to murmur and complain about them.

You will need to rise above this as a child of God and not feed into such toxic thinking. Just talk to your Heavenly Father instead.

You might say, Lord you just saw what they did but help me now that I know to respond the way that will be pleasing to you. You must learn to keep your joy and be content in all things.

That way you take away the power of the enemy working through them, by disabling the buttons they used to be able to push to get a negative reaction out of you. So they can’t pull your strings like you were a puppet.

As long as they know that they can push certain buttons to upset you they are going to keep trying to do that. If the buttons no longer work and the strings are cut they will soon realize it is pointless to try and keep pressing them.

If they can say something to cause you to start to feel like it ruined your day the enemy gains a victory. The Bible tells us to give no place to the enemy. Everyday is a good day God has made if your not having a good day work to make it one anyway. Humble yourself before the Lord and it will be a good day as you help serve others and bring some Heaven to earth.

Cruel people are just hurt people and hurt people hurt other people. Realize they need prayer because they are hurting inside.

Don’t tell me I just can’t help it pastor, you don’t know how mean and upsetting they can be to me.

Yes you can indeed help it God has given you tools and gifts to use for this purpose. The Lord Jesus gave us the example to follow- Forgive them Father they no not what they do!

That is a choice you make to forgive or hold on to toxic thinking by not forgiving them or yourself.

Can I give you a Scripture;

Psalm 94:13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

Papa God has given us the supernatural power to stay in peace even in difficult times of adversity. God tells us He will deal with them and if He deals with them it will be much more effective then anything you could think to do to deal with them.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

What you feed is going to grow, so you need to stop feeding those toxic thoughts and emotions and feed on the Word of God instead. Remember what you sow will grow and then you will have to reap from that eventually.

The words you are speaking today will be what your are creating for your future.

For example the next time you get stuck in traffic don’t allow yourself to get upset, don’t feed that hungry unclean spirit of fear which is behind it. Thank the Lord that He is orchestrating all things for good in your life.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The next time someone at your work says something upsetting to you don’t feed that unloving spirit of hurt and revenge. Just let it go. Don’t keep that record of wrongs practice forgiveness and do what is pleasing unto the Lord.

The next time someone is rude to you don’t allow it to ruin your whole day or longer.

If you will quite feeding those ungodly toxic negative feelings they will grow weaker and weaker and eventually lose their grip on you so at some point they will not even really affect you anymore.

When we go around dwelling on the wrong thoughts and not mediating on the Word of God we are headed for big trouble.

Because Toxic thoughts left lose running about your mind replaying over and over hurt feelings and emotions releases toxic chemicals into your blood stream and will cause harm eventually as any toxic waste will do.

It is going to colour your attitude and perceptions and basically affect and taint everything in your life. It will release an over secretion of cortisol which will bust up your T-cells and compromise your immune system. As it sends confusion as it were releasing a number of hormones.

When there is over secretion of hormones in the adrenal glands for example which produces several hormones, including aldosterone, cortisol, DHEA, adrenaline, and noradrenaline, all of which have very distinct actions to perform in your body. So the outcome of adrenal hormone excess depends on the hormones that are excessively secreted. Which again all ties into to your thought life.

When you start to dwell on the Gospel truth instead of the devils lies all those toxic thoughts grow weaker and weaker.

As God designed you those amazing glia cells which are designed to prune off those toxic thoughts off your neurons when you stop dwelling on them.

All those toxic neurons cells which became part of your thinking process and tainted your perceptions will begin to die off as you stop thinking about them. Stop giving them power. Stop being so impressed with the symptoms the devil has brought you.

So then you can replace those toxic thoughts by applying the life affirming Word of God and then you will begin growing healthy new thoughts that grow stronger and stronger which replace the old toxic thought so you will live and prosper. The Word of God will heal you and proper you by dwelling in it.

When Joan I got married many years ago we probably did little things that irritated each other at times. Certainly not on purpose we love each other we just have different ways of doing and seeing things.

As you can guess God wired men and women with some differences in the way they perceive and process information and this is a good thing.

If you let the little things go they grow and turn into big things. As some people like to squeeze the toothpaste from the middle and some from the end, maybe it’s better to have his and hers toothpaste and squeeze as you like if you let things like that upset you.

The Bibles says: The little foxes spoil the vine

Song of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

There seem many places throughout the Bible where the Lord tells us the importance of little things. For example the act of eating a little forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. How small was the deed that brought in such tremendous consequences.

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Joan and I had to learn quickly to adept and make adjustments to continue walking in peace with each other.

She agreed to not move objects I was using in some paintings in my studio just to dust them off. I had to learn all sorts of new things.

For example I like to leave early to get somewhere especially when I am about God’s business. On the other hand Joan has a tendency to try and accomplish too many things before we leave for somewhere and so we often would end up leaving late. But God in His mercy and love always seems to get us there in time anyway. Then sometimes I did not allow enough time and tried to do to many things at the last minute.

I can look in the refrigerator and not find something then Joan can look in there and find what I could not find straightway.

We both will pick up and discern different things in our day to day experiences and together we are able to complement for each others strengths and weaknesses. Because God put us together to be one flesh.

Joan really did not enjoy coming along when I was playing concerts over the years, it was long hours and loud and lots of people to deal with. Especially afterwards because people always want to talk to you a while just like they do after preaching a message. Back when I was first on staff with a church many years ago I use to unknowingly stress my wife and young family out because I would patently listen to everyone who tried to talk with me or wanted me to pray for them after a service.

Back then I played at 3 worship services and my family was ready to go eat lunch and I still be ministering to people.

So we came to understanding and started taking our individual transports to church. Joan and the kids drove in her car and I rode my horse. Just joking.

But the solution was taking separate cars so I could stay late and my family could get on with the rest of the day without having to wait such a long time for me.

So what I am saying is what I am asking you to do and that is learn to pray and find a solution rather than let things upset you and steal your joy.

I use to get upset inside listen to that spirit of fear when I felt like my family was causing me to be late for an appointment. But then one day the Lord showed me to just change my approach. If I wanted to be somewhere at a particular time I just explained we had to be there a half hour earlier then we actually needed to be there and then we be right on time when we arrived. I simply learned to take into account my family needed extra time to leave for somewhere and that is just the way it is.

It works so much better when instead of trying to change someone which only God can do you work on changing yourself instead.

Now Joan will start rounding us up just like those back stage hands that use to knock on my dressing room door telling me in increasing increments 15 minutes sir, then 5 minutes to show time sir.

You just learn over time that God supernaturally is working all things together for your good, so why get upset?

I have had times I recall I rushed to get somewhere and then on arriving find the people I am suppose to meet with are not even there yet.

Romans 8: 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

I recall I was the guest musician/speaker at some big church some years ago and as I was driving up the street to the church building it was going up this little hill.

At the traffic light I could not help but notice how in several cars in front of me all the women in the passenger seats were still putting on their make up.

The couple in the car directly in next to me looked like they were arguing and occasionally yelling at their 3 small children in the back seat. The husband looked like he had a moment here and there of road rage as travel in thick traffic up that hill.

All the while the wife was still applying her eye liner.

When I pulled into the crowded church parking lot there was a spot up close to the church and I was thinking thank you Lord now I won’t have to carry my guitar and equipment very fair.

But just then this particular couple I was telling you about ended up cutting me off in traffic almost causing a collusion to grab that spot and gave me a very angry look as they did rather then admit they were turning the wrong way and being exceedingly rude. I just waved them on as politely as I could as they took the parking space I was about to park in.

I admit had a moment where I thought I wanted to say something confrontational to them about their rude actions but then I remembered that I am called of the Lord to be a minister and I can’t really do that sort of thing without getting in trouble with the Lord. I made a conscious decision right then that they could have my parking space but they could not have my joy in my Lord.

You should have seen the surprise look on their faces when I was introduced at the beginning of the service and came forward and ministered in their church. I just smiled and waved at them again as if we were old friends.

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

What if I had let their lack of driving etiquette and rude driving habit spoils my day how could I go forward and minister for the Lord?

How would the Lord honour that? What if I had walked out there and said I am really upset those people right there in the 5th row are the rudest drivers I have ever seen. You people should be ashamed of yourself.

As you know we are all ambassadors of Christ. How will we let people know we are Christians by our love if we don’t love everyone as Christ loves us? That means extending grace to everyone.

All the more reason we need to be careful how we react and respond in any given situation.

Which means we need to always be very careful in our thought life. By taking charge of those thoughts that try to upset us before they can by bringing them before the Lord each time!

Identify those places where you been allowing the enemy to have a place with you and make a decision that you are going to change the way you approach it. That you approach it in a way as is pleasing to the Lord.

For example if you get stuck in traffic jam getting stressed out is not going to help move the traffic along any faster will it? Maybe thank the Lord you have some extra time to pray or listen to some worship music. Or pray the Lord will part the traffic like the Red Sea and get you where you need to be on time.

If some one says something rude and uncalled for saying something rude back is not going to help the situation improve any is it?

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27Neither give place to the devil.

If something does not go the way you planned is it worth getting upset? How is that helping resolve anything? Realizing that God promises to take care of us and direct our steps certainly be a better place to focus your attention. Knowing that this might be a blessing in disguise be a more godly approach to take?

Praise the Lord for everything means everything.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

The Lord has a great plan for your life and staying in faith will unfold that great plan so you can enter into blessings.

Some people don’t seem to understand and they lose their joy over every little thing that does not go the way they thought it should have gone.

Maybe they could not find their car keys and or misplaced their cel phone. They lost their joy instead of just asking the Lord where they are. God knows everything and He can tell you were you left something you misplaced it.

If you heard someone say something unkind about you and you allowed that comment to upset you instead of letting the Lord deal with it your just asking for the enemy to come mess with you.

If you are a friend of Jesus, the Lord does not take kindly to someone speaking unkindly about one of His friends. Let God handle it instead. Amen.

Every moment is a gift from the Lord, this life goes by too quickly to let anything take your joy away. James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

The Bible tells us to stay in peace and be content in all things. Hebrews 13:5[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

We live in a fallen world and we need to learn how to deal with it and keep our joy at the same time.

It’s a choice we make I can be happy if I want to be everyday. Joy can simply mean we are at peace. Then our bodies will stay in homeostasis.

Quit letting the enemy mess with you, quite being upset with your spouse or co workers, family, friends and acquaintances. Give them some mercy, grace and love instead.

When I did not get that parking space up close to the church it caused me to park pretty far way near someone I met on the way out after the service who needed some ministry and prayer. And that later turned into a blessing for me as I was invited to minister in another church because of making that connection with them.

So again I thought how awesome is the Lord who arranges and orchestrates our every moment.

What if I had gotten out of my car and got in an argument with that rude couple I would not have been where the Lord needed me to be after the service. The Lord’s plan is always better then anything we can come up with.

I found several places Bible tells us keeping our joy.

Ezra 6:22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Nehemiah 8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

10Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

When you compare Ezra with Nehemiah, Ezra the priest rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem with tears, and it was a drawn out process. Nehemiah the prophet rebuilt those walls with Joy and because of that he received supernatural strength to complete it quickly.

Psalm 21:1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

If you have ever planted a garden you know that within a short time if left unattended it will be overrun by weeds which will hinder the plants you are trying to grow. The weeds will not only strangle some of the plants it will also steal some of the needed nutrients to grow healthy plants. So it is when we don’t attend to God Holy Word continually and separate and pull out lies by their roots so the truth can grow healthy in our hearts.

The joy of the Lord is my strength speaks of how we need to delight in God above all else. The way we glorify God is by delighting in Him, and this delighting gives us strength to make it through each day. God has called us to be joyful, happy, delighted in Him for His glory.

In John 16: 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

The world may cause us to grieve whilst they rejoice in worldly things but eventually our sorrow will be transformed because of the Joy in Christ in us.

Because the Lord gives us a joy which is supernatural it’s a joy which keeps us pressing on in spite of hard times and fiery trials in this world. It’s that supernatural joy which the world can not quite understand, nor can they take it away from the saints of God, for we have the same Holy Spirit power inside us that raised Jesus from the grave which is something to be eternally joyful about.

It’s that joy that the 1st century loin hearted Christians who were martyrs died with smiles on their faces with. Perplexing the Romans oppressors in the coliseum.

And the simply the fact is that in Christ we have a new life.

When someone asks you why you laugh and smile so much, why you sing and worship the Lord with such joy, you can tell them, I have a new life in Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I sing because I am saved from my sins and sanctified in the blood of Jesus, I am one grateful joyful Holy Spirit filled believer and I am going to live with Christ forever how about you?

The Bible says in Habakkuk 3:18 “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation”.

Psalm 35:9 “And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation”.

Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Psalm 33:1Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. 2Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. 3Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

My friend Phil Keaggy showed me that verse in my late teens and the Lord used it to save me.

Psalm 51: 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Psalm 51: 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Psalm 105:43And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise, I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad!

We read Acts 13:52And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. What about us today are we filled with Joy and the Holy Ghost?

In Acts 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

One of the Greek word for joy euphrosyne, means a joy or gladness that causes you to be rejoicing.

Like King David dancing before the Lord. It is exuberant joy! Joy like that produces strength, and in Christ strength, we can do all things and we can face anything that happens!

We see in Isaiah 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

In the Hebrew that word for joy is, samha, which means a celebration of joy and delight keeping a merry heart which is also a good medicine. You release all those healing chemicals into your body when you start being joyful in the Lord.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels”. This verse has been fulfilled by the blood of Jesus and His resurrection. Salvation can simply means deliverance. We have been delivered out of the Kingdom of darkness into the Glorious light of Christ and that is something to be exceedingly joyful about.

Jesus said in John 15: 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Jesus said in John 16: 22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

23And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Why is joy so important? Because the “joy of the Lord is your strength!” Joy produces strength. And strength is needed to fight the good fight of faith in this fallen world.

You are called to “fight the good fight of faith” 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

It seems to me that too many Christians are tired of fighting the good fight of faith. They are perishing from lack of knowledge. They are struggling day to day to keep on keeping on because they have lost their joy.

Maybe because they have not realized the full manifestation of their healing yet or they have grown weary in well doing. Perhaps some are tired of fighting to save their marriage or to find someone to marry.

Maybe their just sick and tired of being sick and tired. Maybe you’ve been suffering with financial debts or a sickness or disease for such a long that you don’t quite remember what it’s like to be healthy anymore and have all your bills paid off. So your listening to spirits of doubt and unbelief and starting to think What’s the use in praying its not working, I might as well give up and just accept this how things are going to stay and learn to live with it. Because I’m never going to get well or never going to debt free.

Well that is just a lie from the pit of hell. Why entertain a lying spirit when you have the Holy Spirit to tell you the truth.

Philippians 4:4 says, Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. So how often are you to rejoice? Always! Joy can only give you strength only when you possess it.

If you had some joy yesterday, that joy will not give you strength today. Joy can only give you strength today, if you have it today. So you need the supernatural continual joy in the Lord so you can rejoice always.

Yeah but “I don’t really feel like rejoicing right now as I got some many problems.” Excuse me but Papa God didn’t say, “Rejoice, only if you feel like it.” He said quite clearly, “Rejoice always.” Obviously, God already knows that you don’t always feel like rejoicing always. Yet you need to learn to rejoice always because if you don’t then you lose your strength to keep fighting the good fight of Faith.

Romans 14: 17For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

James 1:2 says, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

We get the word happiness from the word happen. Happiness happens if something good is happening, then you are happy. The word Joy in the Bible is defined as a passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of something good;

So Joy is not exactly the same as happiness. God says that joy as a believer should still be present even in the middle of some fiery trail we must go through. All of us go through times like that when the world ways would be to get stressed out because something has appeared to go wrong. Like losing your job, your car breaks down, sickness strikes, your spouse is grumpy and the list seems endless.

The Lord is telling us in James to count it all joy whenever we face trials whenever you are struggling through some various temptations.

Because the joy of the Lord knowing who you are in Christ and knowing the hope that is in you gives you supernatural strength to fight through every fiery trial you face, and if you’ll keep fighting the good fight of faith you will be an overcomer. That the trying of your faith worketh patience. Trails or test prove your faith is genuine Test work patience and patience works to help you come into perfection as a true born again believer that you be mature and complete, not lacking anything. In other words by rejoicing, you overcome your trials.

The devil wants to steal your joy so he can destroy your life and body. When you keep your joy the demons will cry and you can take your God given authority over them to cast them out in Jesus name. The go into the lifeless dry place and you remain in the joy of the Lord your strength.

The joy of the Lord is yours for the asking.

Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Let us pray.

Papa God we come boldly now in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and we thank you for giving us supernatural Holy Joy that we are able to keep our joy at all times because of the hope you have placed in us.

So we make a proclamation and speak the Gospel truth so both invisible Kingdoms hear us now.

That I shall not die but I shall live and proclaim the Gospel!

I shall not suffer with any sickness and diseases, lack or poverty, because You my God shall supply all my needs according to Christ’s riches and glory in Jesus name. That I shall prosper and be in health even as my soul prospers

“Lord all things are possible with You, and no purpose of Yours can ever be defeated.

The devil and his demons may fuss and roar like a loin, the world may not agree with us as Believers.

The devil may bring symptoms and try to orchestra evil events in my life to kill, steal and destroy me,

But You Lord will have Your way and Your plans and purpose will be accomplished and fulfilled,

For greater is the Holy Spirit that is in me than any lie of the enemy.

Hallelujah

Amen