THE PRISONER OF THE LORD

Have you ever prayed "Lord make me more like Jesus?" Have you ever thought of the significance and ramification of such a prayer? Are you ready to take the journey that the answer to such a prayer will take you on?

THE PRISONER OF THE LORD: PAUL

Paul wrote the letters to the Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians, and Philippians from prison. It is interesting to note that Paul generally referred to himself as the prisoner of the Lord rather than of Rome!

Ephesians 3:1 KJV For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

Ephesians 4:1 KJV I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Ephesians 6:20 KJV For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Philippians 1:12-14 KJV 12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.  

Philemon 1:1 KJV Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

Philemon 1:9 KJV Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Philemon 1:23 KJV There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

  

Colossians 4:10 KJV Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

Colossians 4:18 KJV The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.   

He also wrote 2 Timothy after he was imprisoned the second time shortly before being beheaded for his faith:  

2 Timothy 1:8 KJV Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

2 Timothy 1:16-17 KJV  The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:  17   But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

  

It is interesting to note what the Lord told Ananias about Paul at the beginning:

Acts 9:15-16 KJV But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:  16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Paul was destined to suffer for the Lord’s sake.  

We begin to understand when Paul addresses the Corinthian church and we see what Paul is glorying in:

2 Corinthians 11:30 KJV If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

2 Corinthians 12:5 KJV Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

We need to be able to distinguish between satanic bondage and a Godly lockup!

Prison breaks you and fashions you into another being. Lessons are learned in prison that should never be forgotten. Many times we can only learn the lessons God wants us to learn when He locks us up. When in lockup we become useless to society, ineffective and unable to make a contribution if we ever actually did so before. However God is remolding and refashioning us into something different. We are being brought into a new level of awareness and while the rest of the world looks on in amazement and perplexity at our condition we need to be aware that God is doing a work in us that will bring glory to Him as long as we let Him perfect that work in us. New lessons are learned, new attitudes are being developed. We are beginning to get a hazy glimpse of what God is doing in us and through us as the heat and pressure is brought to bear on us.

A FEW THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT A PRISONER

Restricted freedom of movement

Restricted freedom of speech

Restricted freedom in relationships

Restricted freedom in influence

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6

God does not give up. He does not throw up His hands in despair and defeat. He will bring us back to the same test under different circumstances maybe, but the goal is the same...to refine and purify us, to bring us forth as a finely tempered weapon useful to Him, bringing glory to Him. This does not mean that he will make us physically whole but rather spiritually enhanced and mature for we have passed through the fire, we have been placed in His crucible of refining. He will keep at it until we have learned the lesson. 

It would be a horrible tragedy if after we have gone through the trials God subjected us to, the end result is a broken bitter disappointed wreck bereft of the goodness and character of the Christ...simply because we failed to understand and yield to His workings in our life.

When God starts something you can rest assured He'll finish it!

THE PRISONER OF THE LORD: JOSEPH

Genesis 37:2 KJV These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Genesis 41:46 KJV And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

Between Joseph's dream and his becoming ruler in Egypt was a time span of approximately 13 years. In that time he was tossed into a pit by his brothers, sold into slavery by the same brothers, lied upon by a scheming lustful woman, tossed into prison on false charges then forgotten by the butler.

We may call the butler ungrateful but Yahweh was not ready to release Joseph until the appointed time. A premature freedom may have probably release him to obscurity.  It is a thing of wonder in looking back to see how God brought him to the point where he actually saw his dream fulfilled a little more than 7 years after he had become ruler in Egypt. It was the most unexpected path for a teenager to travel, down the trail of hate and betrayal, abandonment and desolation, becoming lost in an Egyptian prison with no seeming hope in the world except for that one little statement "the LORD was with Joseph".

Yet in all the despair, toils sorrow betrayal, pain, desolation Yahweh was arranging circumstances to bring his chosen to the point of fulfillment.

In the Psalms Joseph is identified as a person tried (refined) by the Word of Yahweh until he was ready for the role he was identified for:

Psalms 105:17-22 KJV He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:  18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:  19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.  20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.  21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:  22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

In considering the process it is not what any one of us would have done to our child but Yahweh is not man. He is the All Wise, All Powerful, Eternal fount of wisdom and He knows what needs to be done to bring out the gold He sees in us.

We have a tendency to try steering our loved ones away from the pain and shield them from hurt. We may think that is the godlike thing to do but when we look at the way God dealt with his choice men and women we see a striking difference in His dealings with them. We see God giving them a powerful promise and anointing then leaving them in a wilderness experience that perplexes and bewilders in its desolation and intensity. The oldest book in the Bible deals with one such person...a man whose uprightness and integrity God extolled before the enemy then immediately left him exposed to the enemy's onslaught. 

THE PRISONER OF THE LORD: DAVID

David was 30 years old when he began reigning as king. He was probably anointed by Samuel when he was maybe in his late teens:

2 Samuel 5:4-5 KJV David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.  5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

1 Samuel 17:42 KJV And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

   

Between the time of his anointing and becoming king David went through some of the most trying times of his life. He was constantly on the run for his life from a jealous king, had to live in caution among the enemy, face up to threats from his own men at Ziklag...a life of constant looking over his shoulder, hiding and pretense in order to live. Surely tending sheep must have look ideal to him in those long wear, days and nights with almost every man's hand against him! 

When we read the Psalms we have an idea of the mind of David during those years but God was molding and making him into the leader that he wanted not what man desired! David was in the crucible and the press, but God was making a diamond out of him. 

        

Remember that when Job was placed into prison by God he had no Bible like we have to give insight into what we know.

Hear Jobs words:

Job 23:3-10 KJV Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!  4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.  5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.  6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.  7   There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.  8   Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:  9   On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:  10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job had great influence before his calamity as he himself declares:

Job 29:1-25 KJV  Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,  2  Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;  3  When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;  4  As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;  5  When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;  6  When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;  7   When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!  8   The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.  9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.  10   The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.  11   When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:  12   Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.  13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.  14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.  15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.  16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.  17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.  18   Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.  19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.  20   My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.  21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.  22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.  23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.  24   If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.  25   I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

Psalms 66:10-12 KJV   For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.  11   Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.  12  Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

Psalms 69:33 KJV   For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

Malachi 3:2-4 KJV   But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:  3  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.  4   Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

Revelation 3:18 KJV   I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Remember therefore to Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:5-15 KJV 

SURVIVING THE BATTERING STORMS

Mark 4:35-41 KJV And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.   36   And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.  37   And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  38   And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?  39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  40   And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?  41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

It is important to note that among the people caught in the middle of this unexpected storm were to be found some experienced, seasoned seamen.

It is also to be noted that the Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, was also with them!

Storms come! They will come! 

Storms come in all sizes and degrees of intensities. 

In the natural world there are some mini storms that we ignore and others which are a bit of a nuisance then yet others that are violently destructive. 

A Christian’s life is not devoid of storms. 

Not because you serve Jesus should you believe that your life will be storm free!

Storms in our lives can be labeled as follows: emotional storms, physical storms, marital storms, financial storms, spiritual storms. 

We will find our life’s boat being rocked severely by these storms. 

We may be seasoned sailors close to the Master but yet storms will come. 

Jesus said in this world you will have tribulations!(pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.) How does He say we should deal with them? John 16:33 KJV   These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Paul said that we will encounter tribulations on our way into the kingdom of God! Acts 14:22 KJV Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

A little boy was leading his sister up a mountain path. She complained, “This is not a path at all. It is all rocky and bumpy.” “Sure, it is,” he said. “The bumps are what you climb on.”

The most astonishing question in this passage is "Master, carest not thou that we perish?"  

Jesus’ response, How is it that ye have no faith? brings us to an important question: How does faith come? Paul makes this declaration So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 KJV  

The difference between defeat and victory depends on our attention and obedience to the Word of God!

In Matthew 7, Jesus had just come to the end of the declaration of His Kingdom Precepts and was now giving His closing remarks: Matthew 7:24-27 KJV Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

James makes it clear that without faith we are just wavering and when we are wavering, we are driven by the storms of life back and forth.

James 1:5-6 KJV If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

The reason for the ministry gifts is given by Paul: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  12   For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  13   Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  14   That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:11-16 KJV 

 Here we see that when we pay heed to what we have been taught we are not likely to be tossed back and forth by every wind that blows

2 Timothy 3:12-17 KJV Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.  13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  14   But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;  15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  16   All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

  

We need to know the Scriptures for it is profitable to us in bringing us to perfection and to be thoroughly furnished (fully loaded)

James advises us on the way to handle tribulation   James 1:2-4 KJV   My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 Peter said not to think it strange but reminds us to rejoice! 1 Peter 4:12-13 KJV   Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  13   But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

We are exhorted to be patient in tribulation Romans 12:12 KJV Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

We are comforted by Christ in our tribulation 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV   3   Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4   Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Remember: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.  1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 

Look to the Way!

 A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her.  She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up.  She was tired of fighting and struggling.  It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen.  She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.  Soon the pots came to boil.  In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.  She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

 In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.

She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.  Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.

She did and noted that they were soft.  The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it.

After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.  Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee.  The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.  The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

 Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity ...  boiling water.  Each reacted differently.  The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting.  However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.  The egg had been fragile.  Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however.  After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

 "Which are you?" she asked her daughter.  "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond?

Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?  Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?  Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?  Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?  Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

 Or am I like the coffee bean?  The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain.  When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.  If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.  When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?  How do you handle adversity?  Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Hear Paul's reasons for glorying!

2 Corinthians 11:23-31 KJV  23  Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  24  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.  25  Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;  26  In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;  27  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.  28  Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.  29  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  30  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.  31  The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV  7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

LEARNING TO LAUGH...ALL OVER AGAIN!!!.

The world pays people to make it laugh. Stand up comedians are paid to make people laugh. Books, movies and pictures abound that has one purpose…to make people laugh! The laughter lasts for a moment and then ceases.

The child of God however has within him rivers of living water flowing, a well springing up into everlasting life, yes, life and that more abundantly! As we allow the spontaneous movement of this life within us we are able to experience a joy unspeakable and full of glory.

WE ARE COMMANDED BY THE WORD OF  GOD TO REJOICE!     

We are commanded to Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  Philippians 4:4 KJV

Psalms 132:9 KJV Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

Psalms 35:27-28 KJV Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.  28   And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

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

It is the inherent right of the Christian to rejoice for the Word says: But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.  Psalms 5:11 KJV  So do we trust Him? Do we love His Name? Then we need to begin rejoicing!

The Bible says  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:... Proverbs 17:22 KJV It is medicine that should be taken regularly without fail! 

When the Saviour was born some shepherds had a heavenly visitor who brought joyful news, then was joined by a heavenly host that put on a joyous dazzling display for the shepherds because the Beloved Son had come down to man!

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  Luke 2:10 KJV

Luke 2:13-14 KJV  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

WHAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO REJOICE AND HAVE JOY?

As a citizen of the kingdom of God, we are partakers of not only righteousness and peace but Joy, For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17 KJV 

When we dwell in the presence of the Lord we experience fullness of joy! The Word says: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.  Psalms 16:11 KJV

When we ask and receive from the Lord we experience fullness of Joy! Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24 KJV

The Bible says Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.  16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.  17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalms 89:15-17 KJV

Nehemiah 8:8-10 KJV So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.  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.  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.

The joy of the Lord does not just strengthen; the joy itself is our strength. This joy helps us to stand and look the enemy full in his eye and laugh when he threatens. It helps us to sing praises during our sufferings and to think little or nothing of the shame connected to serving Him. We are able to praise Him in the storm because we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28 KJV

Remember 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?  Romans 8:32 KJV

THE ENEMY IS ALLOWED ACCESS WHEN WE FAIL TO SERVE GOD WITH JOY

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 KJV 47  Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;  48  Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

When we serve God without joy we make God a liar and underline our unbelief in His promises. We are in effect saying that I will serve you God for what it is worth but I do not have to be happy about it. We are saying that serving you is no picnic. I also see that while I am burdened with complying with your Word my unsaved friends are having a fun time yet nothing bad seems to happen to them. The tragedy is that we have not allowed God access to our whole life, so He constantly stands outside the door shut out from intimate personal relationship with us. Can you hear Him knocking? 

Remember the time you first came to a saving knowledge of Christ. Remember the joy? The sense of newness, the joy, and the praise that filled your heart and flowed from your spirit finding expression through the songs on your lips tone deaf though you may have been. It was the beautiful relationship with the Lord 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: 1 Peter 1:8 KJV

What happened to us since then?  How we need to get back to that relationship in Christ! The Word says: Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.  16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.  17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalms 89:15-17 KJV 

SIN WILL EFFECTIVELY STEAL OUR JOY AND RENDER US INEFFECTIVE

That’s why David prayed: Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.  9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalms 51:8-13 KJV 

JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE SPOKE TO THEM FOR A REASON…A JOYOUS REASON!

Delighting in His Word results in Joy!

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.  John 15:11 KJV

 John 17:13 KJV  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.  Psalms 119:111 KJV

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.  Jeremiah 15:16 KJV

Nehemiah 8:8-10 KJV So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.  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.  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.

Psalms 1:1-2 KJV Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Laughter in our lives is more than just an outward audible expression. It is a definite attitude of the spirit that should be an integral part of the child of God. Your outward expression is an manifestation of your inner influence. Does this influence come from a carnal soulish realm or does it come from a regenerated spirit?

A merry heart does not come naturally... it takes conscious effort to keep it merry. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit which needs to be cultivated. Galatians 5:22-23 KJV   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23   Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Fruit bearing requires patience, perseverance and persistence.

  

WE ARE ADVISED ON WHAT TO REJOICE ABOUT

Matthew 5:11-12 KJV Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.   12   Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Luke 6:22-23 KJV  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.  23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Luke 10:19-20 KJV Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

John 14:28 KJV Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

James 1:2-4 KJV My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

JESUS KNEW HOW TO REJOICE! HE HAD A REASON TO!

Hebrews 12:1-3 KJV   Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

THE EARLY CHURCH KNEW HOW TO REJOICE

2 Corinthians 8:1-2 KJV 1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

Romans 15:13-14 KJV 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.  14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Acts 5:40-42 KJV And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 16:25-26 KJV And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

As we deliberately develop an attitude of praise and rejoicing in the LORD, the waters of life that flow in us begins to stir and swell and build up into a torrent, a veritable tsunami of joy that hits the enemy with an effectiveness that reverberates throughout the spirit world bringing the hosts of heaven right down into the prison that holds you and suddenly…we are free!

Isaiah 51:11 KJV Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.