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Friday, October 14, 2005
"The Greatest Source of Joy"
"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10:20).
What fills your heart with joy? A new purchase, a vacation trip, a wonderful family moment, the fulfillment of making a spiritual impact upon another, a special day in your life. All of these bring me some measure of joy and I feel these can be God's gifts to brighten an otherwise ordinary day.
But today I want to focus on a source of joy that is constant and unchanging. On the authority of the Word and Jesus I can present this promise to every child of God regardless of where you live. All who have placed their faith in Christ and have an assurance that their names are "recorded in heaven" should have this joy regardless of visible circumstances.
In the daily Scripture portion the disciples had returned from a mission trip "with joy" and exuberantly reported their victories and the authority of Christ's Name. I have had ministry experiences that bring similar emotions of joy. I especially recall a touching moment during a mission trip to Colombia, South America.
Jesus responded to their joy with affirmation and a powerful lesson on how we reckon our blessings. Although it was truly wonderful (the events that had taken place on their mission trip) He reminded them that the primary source of their rejoicing should be, "that your names are recorded in heaven." May we always rejoice in that wonderful constant reality!
The issue is fixed spiritual reality versus transient material appearance. Ultimately all that we see around us is transient. "The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:17). Our tendency is to focus on the material because that's what we see and that's what loudly clamors for our attention.
Today, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2) and let us rejoice that our name is recorded in heaven!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
"This is the day the Lord has made." Today is my 18,629th
Note from Brooksyne: The message today reminds me of our first church service when we planted a church almost thirty years ago. We had 24 in attendance and we thought "This is not going to be nearly as difficult as we thought." Following the service that evening we walked for several miles because we were so excited about what we had experienced. Of course we, in our youth and naïve thinking, were not prepared that night to realize that we'd only have 4 or 5 the next week and then it would take many years to build a strong foundation of believers. Beyond the lesson of seeing God do a special work was learning to endure the ups and downs of the work He had called us to do.
Brooksyne's prayer – "Jesus, we place our hope in You knowing that You direct our paths this day. There is much on our hearts that we are praying about and believing that You will answer. But our faith and joy do not depend only upon Your answering our prayers, but rather the marvelous work that You have done and are doing in our lives. You've forgiven us our sins and You've place our names in the Lamb's book of life. May we be joyful in You and the ongoing work You are doing in the spiritual realm, invisible to the eyes of others, but very much alive in our spirit. As we allow You to do Your inner work the fruit in our lives will reveal the changes You make within us. We thank You in Jesus' name, Amen."
Listen to this
message Donate
to this ministry
Friday, October 14, 2005
"The Greatest Source of Joy"
"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10:20).
What fills your heart with joy? A new purchase, a vacation trip, a wonderful family moment, the fulfillment of making a spiritual impact upon another, a special day in your life. All of these bring me some measure of joy and I feel these can be God's gifts to brighten an otherwise ordinary day.
But today I want to focus on a source of joy that is constant and unchanging. On the authority of the Word and Jesus I can present this promise to every child of God regardless of where you live. All who have placed their faith in Christ and have an assurance that their names are "recorded in heaven" should have this joy regardless of visible circumstances.
In the daily Scripture portion the disciples had returned from a mission trip "with joy" and exuberantly reported their victories and the authority of Christ's Name. I have had ministry experiences that bring similar emotions of joy. I especially recall a touching moment during a mission trip to Colombia, South America.
Jesus responded to their joy with affirmation and a powerful lesson on how we reckon our blessings. Although it was truly wonderful (the events that had taken place on their mission trip) He reminded them that the primary source of their rejoicing should be, "that your names are recorded in heaven." May we always rejoice in that wonderful constant reality!
The issue is fixed spiritual reality versus transient material appearance. Ultimately all that we see around us is transient. "The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:17). Our tendency is to focus on the material because that's what we see and that's what loudly clamors for our attention.
Today, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2) and let us rejoice that our name is recorded in heaven!
Be encouraged today,
Stephen C. Weber
"This is the day the Lord has made." Today is my 18,629th
Note from Brooksyne: The message today reminds me of our first church service when we planted a church almost thirty years ago. We had 24 in attendance and we thought "This is not going to be nearly as difficult as we thought." Following the service that evening we walked for several miles because we were so excited about what we had experienced. Of course we, in our youth and naïve thinking, were not prepared that night to realize that we'd only have 4 or 5 the next week and then it would take many years to build a strong foundation of believers. Beyond the lesson of seeing God do a special work was learning to endure the ups and downs of the work He had called us to do.
Brooksyne's prayer – "Jesus, we place our hope in You knowing that You direct our paths this day. There is much on our hearts that we are praying about and believing that You will answer. But our faith and joy do not depend only upon Your answering our prayers, but rather the marvelous work that You have done and are doing in our lives. You've forgiven us our sins and You've place our names in the Lamb's book of life. May we be joyful in You and the ongoing work You are doing in the spiritual realm, invisible to the eyes of others, but very much alive in our spirit. As we allow You to do Your inner work the fruit in our lives will reveal the changes You make within us. We thank You in Jesus' name, Amen."
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
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