JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY

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.