The joy of the Lord is my strength

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH

Sometimes, we in the church are accused of glossing over the fact that life can be hard.

We sometimes tend to give the impression that all you need to do is give your heart to Jesus and all of your problems will be solved, all your bills will be paid, you will have a success and prosperity, and everything you touch will turn to gold. If you are a Christian, you will have a continual smile on your face and always be happy. We make all our baskets, we sink all our putts, we close all our deals.

Does that sound like your testimony? I know it doesn’t sound like mine!

I think the problem is that we’ve confused joy with happiness.

Happiness is dependent on happenings. Circumstances in your life dictate whether or not you are happy.

Joy, on the other hand is a gift from God, a fruit of the Spirit that transcends whatever is happening in your life. Joy allows you to rise, even soar, above difficult circumstances, challenges, and heartaches.

Joy comes from knowing Who is in control and that He has a plan to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

We do not draw our strength from the great feelings we get when things go right; if we did, we would be powerless when hard times and adversity hit, and we would all be easy pickings for the devil.

No, it is the joy of the Lord that is your strength!

Jesus wasn’t happy about going to the cross. He prayed the night before “If there is any other way, let this cup pass from me...” But He did have joy in obedience.

The writer to the Hebrews put it this way: “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross...” 

There was joy for the Lord Jesus even in the pain and the agony of the cross because He knew the end result of His obedience and sacrifice would be the offer of salvation for you and me. Jesus chooses to go through hell for us rather than to go to heaven without us.

In the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul talks about joy over and over again (Phil. 4:4). Yet he wrote that letter to the church at Philippi while he was imprisoned in horrible conditions.

How could he write about joy while imprisoned in a dark, cold, rat-infested Roman cell? It’s because joy is not dependent on circumstances!

When you and I face tough times, we can draw on great reserves of joy that are rooted in our knowledge of the faithfulness of God. That’s how Job was able to say in the midst of tragedy, heartache and great loss, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15).

He knew God and He trusted God. That is how he could have “joy in unrelenting pain” (Job 6:10, NIV).

Brethren, faint not in the day of your adversity because it is the joy of the Lord that is your strength – Prov. 24:10; Nehemiah 8:10.

Kingdom Gospel: “TO FINISH FIRST YOU MUST FIRST FINISH”.

Kingdom Gospel: “TO FINISH FIRST YOU MUST FIRST FINISH”.: “TO FINISH FIRST YOU MUST FIRST FINISH”.   The race is not always won by the fastest, but rather by the one who keeps on keep...

“TO FINISH FIRST YOU MUST FIRST FINISH”.

“TO FINISH FIRST YOU MUST FIRST FINISH”.

 

The race is not always won by the fastest, but rather by the one who keeps on keeping on, who refuses to give up.

This is not the time to buckle under or down. Also, this is not the moment for you to neither throw in the Towel nor give in to the words of the critics, give up to the opposition, and give way to the obstacles. Now is the time to buckle up despite mounting criticism, intense opposition and overwhelming obstacles. 

However, with perseverance and your determined resolved you will certainly and surely succeed. “Great power is embodied in persistence”. And remember the word of Race Car Driver – Rick Mears that says; “To finish first you must first finish”. It is always too soon to quit. One of the most powerful and destructive tools that Satan has in his arsenal is DISCOURAGEMENT, the subtle but dangerous compulsion to GIVE UP, TO QUIT, saying, “ WHAT IS THE USE?”

When you are tempted to quit: RESIST! We must endure in the battle until the evil day is over. 

We must press on in the face of the temptation to quit.

·         Until the war is over, we must fight to the end.

·         Until the race is finished, we must keep running.

·         Until the wall is built, we must keep stacking bricks.

NEVER GIVE UP. Never! 

The promises of God are always at the end. Conclusively, remember Revelation 2:26-28 that says;

“Here’s the reward I have for every conqueror, everyone who keeps at it, refusing to give up: You’ll rule the nations, your Shepherd-King rule as firm as an iron staff, their resistance fragile as clay pots. This was the gift my Father gave me; I pass it along to you—and with it, the Morning Star!”

-          Revelation 2:26-28{MSG}

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SANCTIFICATION, WHAT IS IT?

SANCTIFICATION, WHAT IS IT?

Memory Verse:          “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate”.

                                                                                                    – Hebrews 13:12

Text:   John 17:13-23, 1Thessalonians 4:1-7

Introduction:

The basic meaning of sanctification is separation from evil {2Chronicles 29:5, 15-18} and separation into God {Leviticus 27:16}. The generic meaning of sanctification is “the state of proper functioning.” To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. A pen is “sanctified” when used to write. Eyeglasses are “sanctified” when used to improve sight. Within this context, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God’s design and purpose.

The Greek word translated “sanctification” (hagiasmos [“aJgiasmov”]) means “holiness.” To sanctify, therefore, means “to make holy.” In one sense only God is holy (Isaiah6:3). God is separate, distinct, and other. There is one God. Yet scripture speaks about holy things. Moreover, God calls human being to be holy as holy as He is holy (Lev. 11:44; Matthew5:48; 1Peter1:15-16). Another word for a holy person is “saint” (hagios), meaning a sanctified one. The opposite of sanctified is “profane” (Lev. 10:10).

The subject of holiness and sanctification is so important that it is mentioned 1, 066 times in the Bible. Human beings, made in God’s image, were the pinnacle and focus of His creation. The sanctification of human beings, therefore, is the highest goal of God’s work in the universe. God explicitly declared it to be His WILL (1Thessalonians 4:3), in other words, it is the express will of God that every believer should be sanctified. He proposed that human beings be “like Him” in a way no other created thing is.  Until we have been sanctified we are of every little use to God. We cannot really become a “Vessel unto honour” until we have been sanctified (2Timothy 2:21).

Why must a believer be sanctified?

When Adam sinned, he and his race forfeited that which made it possible for them to function as designed by God Himself. Human beings “fall short of God’s glory” (Romans3:23) because they lack God’s presence, it is the presence of God that produces glory. “Glory” is always the manifestation of the attributes of God resulting from the presence of God. God’s presence was the essential missing factor in Adam and Eve’s post-fall state. However, a true believe is a follower of Christ. He wants to be like Christ in all ways and in all things. Now Jesus Christ was sanctified. By whom? By His Father (John10:36) and by Himself (John 17:19).

Now if Jesus needed to be sanctified, then how much more do His followers need to be sanctified? Secondly, a man cannot live a holy life unless he is sanctified. And if you don’t live holy, then you shall not see the King on His return (Hebrews12:14).   

By whom can I be sanctified? 

·         God the Father sanctifies                    -           1Thessalonians5:23-24           

·         God the Son sanctifies &                    -           Ephesians 5:26

·         God the Holy Spirit sanctifies            -           2Thessalonians 2:13

The Trinity is involved in the work of sanctification. Sanctification is so crucial to a believer that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit all have a part to play in bringing it to pass. Sanctification, therefore, is exclusively the work of God in grace (Lev. 21:8; Ezekiel 20:12; Hebrews 2:11; Jude 1). Human beings are “made holy” through Christ’s work. The blood of Jesus Christ sanctifies (Hebrews13:12) because His substitutionary atonement reversed all of the dysfunctional as well as legal (i.e. guilt), effects of sin. Human beings are progressively sanctified now through faith in Christ and by the indwelling Spirit (2Corinthians3:18). The trinity is willing to sanctify you, but are you willing to be sanctified?  

How can I be sanctified?

There are various ways by which a believer can be sanctified;

1.      You can be sanctified by the Word of God. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth”. - John 17:17. In other words, to be sanctified, you need to spend much time on the Word. The Word of God will reveal to you every known sin. When you know your enemies i.e. sins, you will know how to avoid them.

2.      Sanctification is also to be obtained by the blood of Jesus. “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate”. – Hebrews 13:12. The Word of God reveals the sin; the blood of Jesus cleanses it away.

3.         Finally, we also have a part to play - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2Cor. 7:1) God never forces His Will on any man. It is those who voluntarily yield their hearts unto Him, their stony hearts who can obtain hearts of flesh in exchange.

What are the results of sanctification?

The results of sanctification are many;

1. First and foremost, once you are sanctified, it becomes easy to live a holy life. 
2. Secondly, you now become a vessel unto honour fit for the Master’s use. This is as consequence of your holiness which follows  once you are sanctified.
3. Thirdly, as soon as you become a vessel unto honour, you will start to bear fruits – “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” – Romans6:22, (Galatian5:22-23). 
4.  Fourthly, once you start to bear fruits, you will get more and more perfect, so that day by day you approach the perfection of Christ Jesus (John15:2; Hebrews 10:14).
   “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit”. 
   “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified”.
5. Finally, you have a guarantee of an inheritance beyond the grave – Acts26:18 says; “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me”.  In other words, there is inheritance in heaven, reserved for only those who are sanctified. In fact all the glories of heaven are reserved for only the sanctified since the unsanctified will never get to heaven. For heaven is holy and no unclean thing will be allowed in to defile its beauty.  

Are you sanctified? Do you wish to be? Are you willing to part with sin and uncleanness? Then the Trinity is willing to sanctify you wholly. Why not talk to Jesus about it now?

Ref:  Psalm 4:3; Exodus 40:9-11; Leviticus 27:14-16; Number 8:17; Romans6:19; 1Corinthians 6:11, Phil. 3:12-14; 1Peter 3:15.

How the Apostles died

How the Apostles died.

This may interest our Christian brothers and sisters. Please spare just few minutes to read and ponder over this. Thanks.

"For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake". - Philippians 1:29

1 Matthew
Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, Killed by a sword wound.

2 Mark
Died in Alexandria, Egypt , after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.
3 Luke
Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous Preaching to the lost.

4 John
Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome . However, he was miraculously delivered From death.
John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos ..
He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve As Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey . He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.

5 Peter
He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.
According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.

6 James
The leader of the church in Jerusalem , was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club.
* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.

7 James the Great
Son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer Walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and Knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.

8 Bartholomew
Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.

9 Andrew
Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors For two days until he expired.

10 Thomas
Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.

11 Jude
Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.

12 Matthias
The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.

13 Paul
Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67.
Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire.
These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.
Perhaps this is a reminder to us That our sufferings here Are indeed minor compared To the intense persecution
And cold cruelty faced by the apostles And disciples during their times For the sake of the Faith. And ye shall be hated Of all men for my name's sake: But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew
Faith is not believing that God can, It is knowing that God WILL!"
Jesus' Death
The Death of Jesus

For the next 60 seconds, set aside whatever
You're doing and take this opportunity! Let's see if Satan
Can stop this.

THE (SCIENTIFIC) DEATH OF JESUS
At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to death . At the time
Crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst
Criminals were condemned to be crucified. Yet it was Even
more dreadful for Jesus, unlike Other criminals condemned
to death by Crucifixion Jesus was to be nailed to the
Cross by His hands and feet.
Each nail Was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails Were driven into
His wrist. Not Into His palms as is commonly Portrayed.
There's a tendon in the wrist that Extends to the shoulder.
The Roman guards knew That when the nails were being
hammered into the Wrist that tendon would tear and
Break, forcing Jesus to use His back Muscles to support
himself so that He could Breath.
Both of His feet Were nailed together. Thus He was forced to
Support Himself on the single nail that Impaled His feet to the
cross. Jesus could Not support himself with His legs
because of the pain So He was forced to alternate between
arching His Back then using his legs just to continue to
Breath. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the Suffering, the courage.
Jesus endured this Reality for over 3 hours. Yes, Over 3 hours!
Can you imagine this kind of Suffering? A few minutes before
He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water
From his wounds. From common images We see wounds to
His hands and feet and even the spear wound To His side...
But do we realize His wounds Were actually made in his body.
A hammer Driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped And an even large nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But Before the nails and the spear Jesus was whipped and Beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the Flesh from His body. The beating so horrific that His Face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The Crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp. Most men Would not have survived this torture. " He had no more blood To bleed out, only water poured from His Wounds. The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood. Jesus poured all 3.5 Liters of his blood;
He had three nails hammered into His Members; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond That, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His Chest..
All these without Mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own Cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his Face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, Only for its higher part, where His hands were Nailed). Jesus had To endure this experience, to open theGates of Heaven, So that you can have free Access to God. So that your sins
Could be "washed" away. All of them, with no exception!
Don't ignore this situation.

1. Simply Pray for the person who sent this message to You:
2.Then, send this Message to people.. The more the better.
3. People will Pray for you and you will make that many people pray to God For other people.
4. Take a Moment to appreciate the power of God in your life, for
Doing what pleases Him.
He said (Matthew 10:32 & 33): "Everyone therefore Who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven; but whosoever denies Me before others, I also will deny before My Father in heaven".