By Pastor/Evangelist Barbara Lynch {As posted in this weeks bulletin July 23, 2023 through July 29, 2023}

The Joy Of The Lord

Luke 2:  8 – 12 (RSV) 8 And in that region, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of {a great joy} which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Nehemiah 8:  10 (RSV) 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the {joy} of the LORD is your strength.”

This verse is often interpreted to mean that when we are filled with {joy in God}, we are strengthened by Him. It reminds us that our strength comes from God and that we can find {joy} in Him even during difficult times. You cannot be with a strong God without getting strength yourself, for God is always a transforming God; when we regard and look upon Him, our likeness changes till we become in our measure like our God. Spiritual joy is gained by communion with God

John 15:  11 (RSV) 11 These things I have spoken to you, that {My joy} may be in you, and that {your joy} may be full.

Galatians 5:  22 – 24 (RSV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, {joy,} peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Nehemiah 12:  43 (RSV) 43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

My children {True Joy} comes from above. This earthly realm does not know true joy. Their makeshift joy profits them nothing, but My Joy fulfills every desire of the heart.  When you have Heavenly Joy, you have Joy Unspeakable And Full Of Glory.  Do not take Heavenly Joy for granted. It is a precious gift from My Son Jesus. When they announced His birth, they proclaimed Great Joy had come upon the earth.  Stay in this great joy and step up for the battle, for My word tells you “Joy Unspeakable And Full Of Glory”, and it is My Glory that I am bringing upon the earth to subdue the wicked evil one and bring in the great harvest of souls.  They will go forth with joy.

Isaiah 55:  12 “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”

Joy unspeakable and full of glory” is a phrase from the King James Version of the Bible. It is found in 1 Peter 1:8 which reads “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.”