JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY
By Mike
Taylor
Do you have joy in
your life? Do you
have a joy
unspeakable and full
of glory? I look
around me and see
church members who
are depressed about
the situation in our
world, here at home
and abroad.
We in the
church are concerned
about our country
and the path that
our leaders have
taken us and know
judgment could be
just over the
horizon.
But I’m
reminded of the good
boy scout and their
motto, "be
prepared". Natural
disaster can result
in the near future,
either natural or
man-made. A good boy
scout or more
importantly, an
awake Christian
prepares for the
unexpected, the
natural disaster, or
yes, a terrorist
attack. But should
we be anxious,
looking over our
shoulders for the
notion of impending
disaster, wringing
our hands in
worrisome fretting
over the end of all
things? Should we be
obsessed with the
“end of the world”?
I think not.
I have held onto the
promises of Psalm 91
since I was a boy.
Whenever danger was
about, I read and
claimed the promises
in this inspiring
passage that King
David wrote so long
ago. In this passage
of Psalms for the
protection of
Almighty God,
there’s a catch per
se. You have to stay
right up close to be
assured of
protection in the
everyday living
obstacles that come
our way as
Christians. We can’t
be haphazardly
trying to serve our
Lord. If we are
diligently serving
Him and being ever
watchful, then with
these kind
of promises what
have we to fear?
Nothing, because our
God is in charge and
He is watching over
each one of us that
are diligently
trying to serve Him
in faith and are
watchful of that
Blessed Hope of the
soon return of our
Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
Folks, I get
excited about the
signs of the times
that are all around
us as I know being
children of the day
and not being
blinded by being in
darkness, that the
Rapture could be
close, right at the
door. So I fear not,
and neither should
you. We should be
longing for the
blessed promises
that God made for
His children. God
has made more
promises that should
make a person shout!
I turn to the
writings of Paul in
Romans. I just love
Paul’s words in this
passage given by the
Holy Spirit.
Starting in the 8th
chapter, Paul
writes:
“v16- the Spirit
itself beareth
witness with our
spirit, that we are
the children of God
v17- And if
children, then
heirs; and
joint-heirs with
Christ; if so be
that we suffer with
him, that we may be
also glorified
together
v:18- For I reckon
that the sufferings
of this present time
are not worthy to be
compared with the
glory which shall be
revealed in us.”
Yes, we have aches,
pains, financial
problems, loved ones
that die earlier
than we expected,
and sometimes the
cares of this life
weigh us down. But
we are given a
glorious promise as
we read on in this
passage:
v:19 For
the earnest
expectation of the
creature waiteth for
the manifestation of
the sons of God.v:20 For
the creature was
made subject to
vanity, not
willingly, but by
reason of him who
hath subjected the
same in hope,v:21 Because
the creature itself
also shall be
delivered from the
bondage of
corruption into the
glorious liberty of
the children of God.v:22 For
we know that the
whole creation
groaneth and
travaileth in pain
together until now.v:23 And
not only they, but
ourselves also,
which have the
firstfruits of the
Spirit, even we
ourselves groan
within ourselves,
waiting for the
adoption, to wit,
the redemption of
our body.v:24 For
we are saved by
hope: but hope that
is seen is not hope:
for what a man
seeth, why doth he
yet hope for?v:25 But
if we hope for that
we see not, then do
we with patience
wait for it.
Notice how he lays
the foundation by
turning our
attention to our
hope. He reminds us
that God
purposefully made
life subject to
futility. Futility
is a frustrating
quality that wears
away at one’s
confidence. It can
produce a sense of
hopelessness that
leads to us to think
that nothing will
work out. Sometimes
our pilgrimage seems
so long and arduous
that we take our
eyes from our Savior
and hopelessness
builds. However,
Paul reminds us that
God does everything
in love and wisdom
and for our good. He
uses this futility
we perceive and
allows it to point
us to him as the
source of our
strength and build
our faith, in spite
of the circumstances
we face. Reading
on:
v26 Likewise
the Spirit also
helpeth our
infirmities: for we
know not what we
should pray for as
we ought: but the
Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us
with groanings which
cannot be uttered.v27 And
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.v28 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.v29 For
whom he did
foreknow, he also
did predestinate to
be conformed to the
image of his Son,
that he might be the
firstborn among many
brethren.
Folks, we have been
called, we have been
chosen to be
conformed to the
image of our great
God and
Savior, Jesus Christ
our Lord, through
the will of the
Father. Again,
All things work
together for good to
them who love God
and are called
according His
purpose…Repeat
that when troubles
come your way and it
will increase your
faith.
Now let’s
contemplate just for
a moment the
implication of a
verse we quoted. “We
are heirs and joint
heirs with Jesus
Christ” in verse 17.
WHAT A GLORIOUS
PROMISE!! What He is
and what is His,
will be ours as
well. We will be
like Him, in Spirit,
in relationships to
family fortunes, to
whatever belongs to
the Son, we will be
given a portion of
that inheritance.
That is MIND
BOGGLING. To be
Kings and priest, to
rule portions of
this universe or
whatever pleases the
Father and will have
unlimited access to
His throne room and
audience with our
HIM and our Savior
Jesus Christ. To be
in the same family,
adopted sons and
daughters of the
ruler of the entire
universe, To live
forever, even as
They live. Now that
should get anyone
excited.
To end this chapter,
He gives us another
promise that cannot
be broken:
v30 Moreover
whom he did
predestinate, them
he also called: and
whom he called, them
he also justified:
and whom he
justified, them he
also glorified.v:31 What
shall we then say to
these things? If God
be for us, who can
be against us?v32 He
that spared not his
own Son, but
delivered him up for
us all, how shall he
not with him also
freely give us all
things?v33 Who
shall lay any thing
to the charge of
God's elect? It is
God that justifieth.v34 Who
is he that
condemneth? It is
Christ that died,
yea rather, that is
risen again, who is
even at the right
hand of God, who
also maketh
intercession for us.v35 Who
shall separate us
from the love of
Christ? shall
tribulation, or
distress, or
persecution, or
famine, or
nakedness, or peril,
or sword?v36 As
it is written, For
thy sake we are
killed all the day
long; we are
accounted as sheep
for the slaughter.v37 Nay,
in all these things
we are more than
conquerors through
him that loved us.v38 For
I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor
life, nor angels,
nor principalities,
nor powers, nor
things present, nor
things to come,v39 Nor
height, nor depth,
nor any other
creature, shall be
able to separate us
from the love of
God, which is in
Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Nothing can come
between us and our
eternal home.
Nothing in this
life. Nothing in
this mixed up world
that we see self
destructing can take
away that promise.
All He ask for is
your love and
unwavering faith in
Him. Being obedient,
diligent to put Him
first, ahead of
everything else. He
gave us a way….the
only way.
Now let us turn to
John the 14th
chapter, starting in
verse one.
v1 Let
not your heart be
troubled: ye believe
in God, believe also
in me.v2 In
my Father's house
are many mansions:
if it were not so, I
would have told you.
I go to prepare a
place for you.v3 And
if I go and prepare
a place for you, I
will come again, and
receive you unto
myself; that where I
am, there ye may be
also.v4 And
whither I go ye
know, and the way ye
know.v5 Thomas
saith unto him,
Lord, we know not
whither thou goest;
and how can we know
the way?v6 Jesus
saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth,
and the life: no man
cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
Even as we speak,
Jesus, our savior
and soon coming
King, is preparing a
place for us…where?
In His Father’s
house. Right now.
His Father’s house
is somewhere out
there. Some call it
heaven, but it’s
where the Father and
Son are right now.
What will that mean
and
how will it
be accomplished? I
have believed in the
Rapture all my life
and still do. The
timing is what gets
people all in an
uproar. But from
scripture we know
that He is close,
very close, right at
the door.
When it comes
right down to it,
Brethren, it doesn’t
matter the timing,
even though I
believe in a pretrib
Rapture, just
that we got there.
And how did we get
there? Jesus gave us
the answer in John 6th
chapter 28-29: “Then
said they unto him,
What shall we do,
that we might work
the works of God?
Jesus answered and
said unto them, This
is the work of God,
that ye believe on
him whom he hath
sent.”
We get there by
believing in faith
and following the
commands of the One
God sent to
die for our
sins.
1st Peter
chapter 1:
v3 Blessed
be the God and
Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which
according to his
abundant mercy hath
begotten us again
unto a lively hope
by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from
the dead,
v4 To an
inheritance
incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that
fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven
for you,v:5 Who
are kept by the
power of God through
faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed
in the last time.v6 Wherein
ye greatly rejoice,
though now for a
season, if need be,
ye are in heaviness
through manifold
temptations:v7 That
the trial of your
faith, being much
more precious than
of gold that
perisheth, though it
be tried with fire,
might be found unto
praise and honour
and glory at the
appearing of Jesus
Christ.
v8. Whom
having not seen, ye
love; in whom,
though now ye see
him not, yet
believing, ye
rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full
of glory:
v9 Receiving
the end of your
faith, even the
salvation of your
souls.
That is our destiny,
that is our goal.
That is why we were
born. That is why we
struggle with daily
living and that is
why, as Christians,
we will win, to the
glory of the Father.
In these times of
uncertainty, we
should be in
glorious
expectation, waiting
for the blessed
hope, that hope that
is in Jesus Christ
our Lord. Being
prepared, good
stewards of the
talents He has given
us, using
His Word to
reach others,
and doing
the will of the
Father through
striving to become
the image of His
Son. Putting on the
whole armor of God
as Ephesians 6:13-17
admonishes us to do
“6:13 Wherefore
take unto you the
whole armour of God,
that ye may be able
to withstand in the
evil day, and having
done all, to stand.
v14 Stand
therefore, having
your loins girt
about with truth,
and having on the
breastplate of
righteousness;
v:15 And
your feet shod with
the preparation of
the gospel of peace;
v:16 Above
all, taking the
shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall
be able to quench
all the fiery darts
of the wicked.
v:17 And
take the helmet of
salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of
God:
Question is. Do you
know this Jesus? Are
you expecting His
soon return? Have
you made that the
most important part
of your life? Have
you asked Him to
come into your heart
and cleanse you from
all unrighteousness.
He said “I am the
way, the truth and
the life. No man
cometh unto the
Father, but by Me”
(John 14:6)..” Do
you believe Him? Is
the Holy Spirit
calling you right
now?
Pray these
simple words with
heart felt
conviction. “Lord, I
ask you to come into
my heart. Cleanse me
from my sins. I
believe that you
lived
and died on a
cruel cross for my
sins. I believe you
rose from the dead
on the third day
after your were
buried and live and
sit now at the right
hand of God the
Father . Soon
you will come
back and I want to
go with you onto
glory. In Jesus
name, I confess my
wish to be saved.
Amen.
Bless you and God
keep you. Remember
Paul said in
Phillipians 4:13 “ I
can do all things
through Christ which
strengtheneth me. “
Let us go on with
Joy unspeakable and
full of glory.
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