Xerf
04-30-2003, 02:07 PM
Okay, so I’m a cut-up, a joker, a nonsense propagator, a nuisance, and perhaps a few other aptly named things! But one thing I do know is that one of the missing doctrines among us is – JOY! The power of joy cannot be over emphasized! I am not speaking of pumping up one’s self with false chanting but of a true spiritual gift.
I hear, and read, about Greek genders, and debates that range from Ability to Zeus and seldom do we hear that attitude determines altitude. All doctrinal studies and teachings are vital and necessary, however, for them to become truly Christian energized they must be utilized through a Christian attitude. This covers everything from holiness to outreach. We seem to have many that possess far more doctrine than they possess the essence of the fruit of the Spirit.
How do we sing life’s song? When a composer writes a piece of music there are various musical markings composers use to tell conductors and performers how they want their music played and sung. For example, "adagio" means slow; "allegro" means "fast/cheerful." Then there is "con brio." That means, "with vivacity/spirited."
Can you imagine someone with a perpetually long face trying to tell someone the “Good News?”
“What’s so good about it? The prospect of being as cheerful and excited as you? No thanks!”
Joy can be defined as: "Inner happiness, which is not dependent on outward circumstances." The O.T. word "simchah" means "gladness of heart," the NT word, "chara" means "inner delight."
LIFE HAS A WAY OF STEALING OUR JOY!
I am told the average baby is born with his hands opened and outstretched, at death the average adult has his hands closed in a fist? Why? What has happened in life that man closes his hands in a fist?
A recent study shows that the average child laughs over 400 times a day out loud. The study suggest, starting at 12, there is a decline in how many times one laughs a day. By adulthood the average American laughs on the average of 15 times a day? I ponder, WHY? Why do we lose our laugh? What happens from 400 to 15? Does a person quit laughing because they get old? Or does a person get old because they quit laughing?
Show me what makes you laugh or cry, and I will be able to tell you something about your character.
Strict rules and excessive punishment will not make better homes. Happy laughter and happy voices will do.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, AND THE MINISTRY, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, peace ... Gal. 5:22. We hear so much today about the Gifts of the Spirit, but the priority should be put on the fruit of the Spirit. Love is the first, but JOY follows a close second.
No ministry, no family can exist on a "DO I HAVE TO ... MENTALITY!" Love and JOY must be our motivation. Psa. 100:2 Serve the Lord with GLADNESS: come before His Presence with singing. Our approach to the Throne of God will be limited until we quit letting our emotions play games with our JOY and laughter.
Ne 8:10 Then 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.
One of the saddest things in the body of Christ today is the anemic spiritual lives of many of Gods people. We find in the scriptures that the joy of the Lord is our strength. And yet we find so many within the church who are living anemic lives, (There is no joy in their lives. They have no song, no spring in their step, no enthusiasm, no anticipation of better things. ( Can you be saved from sin and yet have no Joy?)
Psalms 89:15 – 17, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name do they rejoice all the day; And in thy righteousness are they exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength; And in thy favor our horn shall be exalted”
Do you know the “joyful sound?”
:)
I hear, and read, about Greek genders, and debates that range from Ability to Zeus and seldom do we hear that attitude determines altitude. All doctrinal studies and teachings are vital and necessary, however, for them to become truly Christian energized they must be utilized through a Christian attitude. This covers everything from holiness to outreach. We seem to have many that possess far more doctrine than they possess the essence of the fruit of the Spirit.
How do we sing life’s song? When a composer writes a piece of music there are various musical markings composers use to tell conductors and performers how they want their music played and sung. For example, "adagio" means slow; "allegro" means "fast/cheerful." Then there is "con brio." That means, "with vivacity/spirited."
Can you imagine someone with a perpetually long face trying to tell someone the “Good News?”
“What’s so good about it? The prospect of being as cheerful and excited as you? No thanks!”
Joy can be defined as: "Inner happiness, which is not dependent on outward circumstances." The O.T. word "simchah" means "gladness of heart," the NT word, "chara" means "inner delight."
LIFE HAS A WAY OF STEALING OUR JOY!
I am told the average baby is born with his hands opened and outstretched, at death the average adult has his hands closed in a fist? Why? What has happened in life that man closes his hands in a fist?
A recent study shows that the average child laughs over 400 times a day out loud. The study suggest, starting at 12, there is a decline in how many times one laughs a day. By adulthood the average American laughs on the average of 15 times a day? I ponder, WHY? Why do we lose our laugh? What happens from 400 to 15? Does a person quit laughing because they get old? Or does a person get old because they quit laughing?
Show me what makes you laugh or cry, and I will be able to tell you something about your character.
Strict rules and excessive punishment will not make better homes. Happy laughter and happy voices will do.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY, AND THE MINISTRY, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God. The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, peace ... Gal. 5:22. We hear so much today about the Gifts of the Spirit, but the priority should be put on the fruit of the Spirit. Love is the first, but JOY follows a close second.
No ministry, no family can exist on a "DO I HAVE TO ... MENTALITY!" Love and JOY must be our motivation. Psa. 100:2 Serve the Lord with GLADNESS: come before His Presence with singing. Our approach to the Throne of God will be limited until we quit letting our emotions play games with our JOY and laughter.
Ne 8:10 Then 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.
One of the saddest things in the body of Christ today is the anemic spiritual lives of many of Gods people. We find in the scriptures that the joy of the Lord is our strength. And yet we find so many within the church who are living anemic lives, (There is no joy in their lives. They have no song, no spring in their step, no enthusiasm, no anticipation of better things. ( Can you be saved from sin and yet have no Joy?)
Psalms 89:15 – 17, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name do they rejoice all the day; And in thy righteousness are they exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength; And in thy favor our horn shall be exalted”
Do you know the “joyful sound?”
:)