The Blessing of Pain

  by Soli Deo Gloria

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

Everyone pefers to deal with someone with a vision. We can comfortably deal with people when we believe they know where they are going. Many successful people  stand on the passage "Where there is no vision the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18) And this is perfectly correct when the vision belongs to you. What do you do when God has a vision for his people, and has chossen you as the vessel by which the vision will be fullfilled?

Sometimes God comforts [1] with the blessing of pain to ignite a desire in us to fullfill the vision he has for his people. God knows that without motivation, many of us would never fulfill the purposes for which God created us. Sometimes this comforting come in the form of hurt so deeply that the only thing we can do is seek God. But then the pain gets worst rather than better and our natural man thinks it Ok to throw up our hands in defeat, but the Spirit of God in us causes us to seek God all the more, until every fiber of our being desires God, and we press harder into Him.

In our sinful state ( natural man) we come to God hoping He would take away our pain,  we cry out to God “Fix this person in my life, my finances, my health, my relationship with  my wife or husband” However,  the suffering does not stop, the emotional, psychological and even physical pain seems to grow more intense even more than we can bear. We seek advice from our family, friends and even clergy, but though they all mean well, we find that they don't have a perscription for our pain. No since we have been coming to thse doctors our pain has only gotten worst. (Mark 5:25-26)

Then one day clarity comes, not concerning our problem, but about ourselves and our relationship with God, and we began to understand things about ourselves and about God that we would never have discovered had there been no pain.  Gradually, our heart changes the motivation for seeking God from deliverance from the pain, to loving obedience. We realize that the way we have been living though we thought it was good just wasn't good enough for God. We feel the santifiyng work of Holy Spirit causing us to dispise our past actions; slowly God is making us holy (2Thess2:13[2]), making us more like Christ (Phil 2:5[3]).  No longer do we seek God for deliverance from the pain; but with a contrite and repentent heart we seek God because He is God. We do those thing which are righteous not to obey any law, but because our love for God causes us to make a conscience effort to consecrated ourselves to God.
Now with a renewed mind we see the destiny and calling for our lives.  God often separates us from the old life by this or a similar painful process (Exodus 31:13[4]). Consider how Joseph must have felt, the pain of his individual crises, being sold into slavery by his own brothers because of jealousy. While he was suffering through slavery, and imprisonment. Wasn't he a man that was right before God? Even in his darkest hour he remained Faithful;  What had he done that would justify so many years of pain?  Joseph could not see it but God had a vision, and it required Joseph to be blessed by the pain so that Joseph could fullfill God's divine purpose.

So often when we have pain, we want to bypass the suffering, we want to get around the hurt. However, God does not want us to get around the pain, He wants to comfort us through the pain. God could have made it so that Neberkenezzar was not able to put his wrath on Shadrach Meshach and Abednego, but insted God comforted these three wise Jewish boys the mist of the furnance (Daniel 3:13-28). God  could have never let Peter get thrown in jail but instead He sent his Angel to open the doors to the prision (Acts 12:5-11). God could have made it so that we would not have to go through our suffering and pain but instead he desire to make is Himself known to us so that He can personally give us His vision.

When we are going through some things, we have to press hard into God, (Mark 5:27) so God can move us from a place of pain to a place of destiny.  Where we can come to the place where we realize the vision that God has. There are some wonderful things God has reserved for us as a result of our suffering, but we will never relize them unless we press harder in our pain. Knowing full well that there will come a time when we can look back on our pain and just like the three jewish boys, and Peter, and Joseph we can with confidence say to the enemy, to the tormentor to the origin of our pain  “What you meant for evil, God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20)



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Your Brother in Christ
Soli Deo Gloria

Reference

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[1] The word comfort and comforting are used in the biblical understanding; which is to motivate to do someting that you would not otherwise have done.
[2] 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV) But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

[3] Philippians 2:5 (KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

[4] Exodus 31:13 (KJV) Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

Remembering Christ This Christmas

“Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal[1]?” Jeremiah 23: 27(Amplified)

Do not forget the Name of Christ this Christmas

Today I googled  searched a question “What do you think of when you hear the word Christmas?” and I was not even vaguely shocked when I found that only one of the sites even mentioned Christ  or Jesus  even once! (Sites listed at the end of this post)

However I did notice that there are three four basic thoughts when the name Christmas is spoken, they are;

1. False Gods;  those that associate Christmas with teaching of Santa Clause or other traditions that have nothing to do with Christ.
2.  Atheism; those that are instigated to hate anger and anti-Christian communications
3.  Pride; those that associate Christmas with memories solitude, or reading a Nancy Drew novel in front of fireplace, eggnog and snow capped hills.
4. Greed; those people that see the Christmas season as another opportunity to capitalize on others. 

So what cause these thoughts?  Simply, the traditions of men, inspired by Satan to take Christ out of the mouths of God’s people. If we think about it we all have to admit that for so long we have failed to teach our children who Christ is. While at the same time we continually introduce them to false gods of this world.Small children know who Santa clause is  before Jesus Christ. They know Santa Lives in the North Pole but have no clue where Christ is. Nor do their parents. We teach them to believe in elves, and ignore angels. Tell them about the gifts of Santa, but not the gift of God. In our teaching of this microwave satisfaction, we guarantee their eternal destruction.Because we forgot the Christ in Christmas.

Train Up Your Child

How much do your 10 year old know about Christmas? Could your son or daughter answer these very basic questions?  

1).What city was Jesus born? 2).What is a manager? 3).Who were his earthly parents? 4).Name three of the disciples. 5).How did Jesus die? 6).Who was Judas?  7).What happen after he was buried?

Don’t be fooled Christmas as we celebrate it today is the work of Satan, he wants us to know nothing about Christ, so that he can destroy us, that is why Satan has built a new god that we are teaching our children to worship called Santa clause.

The solution is to teach your children the truth, there are a number of resources available, but the most effective is time spent with our children teaching them about God  check out this posting on my blog the  lower case i  called  Train Up Your Child don’t let him be fooled.

One of the ways that the evil one tries to cause God’s People to forget His Name is by the teaching the name of false or worthless gods like santa clause, the tooth fairy, and the easter bunny, are all worldly replacement personalities for Yehowah and Yehoshua (Jehovah and Jesus).  But the enemy wants us to believe that these are simply fun things given to children having no real value or harm. But it is these fairytales, and dreams which they tell to their children, even other people children, causing them to forget[2] (or never be taught) the Name of God. did that sound like the verse from Jeremiah?

 God Will Not Share His Glory

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Isaiah 42:8  

When we replace Jesus Christ with Santa Clause we give God’s glory to a false image.  Children cheer Santa and the Easter bunny, and they praise them and can’t wait to be visited by them in much the same way we praise God on Sunday seeking the presence of the Holy Spirit in our service.  

When we allow our children to praise these worthless and fairytales we teach our children to create idols with their mind a direct violation of the second commandment, thou shall make no graven image (not with your hand or with your mind)

However the very worst part of this is that Christ becomes an afterthought even during Christmas. Making the name of Jesus powerless speaking it in vain[3] (violation of the third commandment) What ? You say I’m taking this way too far, it’s just fun? Well some things God just don’t joke about, read the following passage in the context of this posting.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37

I am not asking you to stop celebrating Christmas, I just saying if you claim to have Christ first in your life. than at lease make Him first in the season that bare His name. for your sake and your children’s sake, for all our sake.

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With love your brother in Christ
T. Charves FireSpeaks

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[1]  supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites (False Gods)

^[2] Sad as it is we live in a society where Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny is more popular than Jesus. What’s worse is that these imaginary personas can be spoken of in the walls of school and the courts of our justice system but Christ cannot. We have made idolaters of our children, teaching them to love the gifts greater than the giver, and  have hidden the Name of God and Christ from their ears.  The dilemma is not about the enemy as much as it is our lust which has turn us form God.

[3] Vain means worthless have no value, with not thought, having no power, meaninglessly

Site 1, site 2, site 3, site 4

Peculiar People

Peculiar People

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth Deuteronomy 14:2 (KJV)

The way we interact with people can often determine whether we rightly represent Christ in our everyday life or if we are just blending in as one of the multitudes.  Laughing at off-color jokes, or saying nothing during gossip, or in an immoral situation giving permission to the person telling the joke, or gossiping  that it is OK to continue in your presence.

If we fail to laugh, we discourage this behavior. Asking before they start “Is this a clean joke?”, or are you about to gossip? Develops future boundaries, that will be soon spread throughout the area as to the type of communication is acceptable in your presence.  

However, removing yourselves from that behavior is not enough. The bible teaches that we should be willing to teach others about why the behavior is not acceptable^[1] not force our thoughts on them, but as Paul’s says reason with them for the benefit of their salvation. Remember this can be an open chance to witness to them. (Even Christians occasionally need to be witnesses to)

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Eph 4:29).
 

Moreover, when we give a platform for off-color jokes or behavior we become accountable for that sin. God sees it as if we had had spoken the raciest or sexual explicit joke, or if we had been the gossiper, and He holds us accountable for our part in their sin. 2 John 1:11(NIV) says “Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.” 


Defining ourselves as the peculiar people^[2] we are called to be puts us under constant surveillance by all whom we meet. But this is not bad, in this our actions give testimony of God and our light can so shine that men will see it and glorify God.

We are called to love our brothers not just those in our presence but also those afar, Therefore we must be responsible not for just what comes out of our mouths, but also those that we give a platform to. What may be seen as a completely disparate situation can have an enormous impact on whether we will be able to bring a person to Christ or not.  When we are seen blameless before men by faith in Christ Jesus we become a complete witness in words and in deeds.

"LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman" (Psalm 15:1-3). 

Your brother in Christ

T. Charves FireSpeaks

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[1] We must remember that the law is used when communicating with sinners, even Christians that have fallen into sin.

[2] (Deuteronomy 14:2) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth

Strength

HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY — As reported by Fox 43 News

Five people, including four children four-years-old and younger, are killed after a fast moving fire tears apart their Harrisburg rowhome. The flames so intense, by the time firefighters could get inside, they were unable to rescue the five victims. (see actual news broadcast) 


Strength in a time of weakness

As I stood outside the Pinnacle Health Center in Harrisburg watching my mother-in-law console her granddaughter, who had just lost both her mother and her daughter to this fire,  I thought “how strong is this women, having just recently lost a daughter to cancer yet still able to console” It seemed so unfair that she would have to go through another death after she had already gone through so much, and to not just one but five family members die in a fire was a lot more than unfair.

But like a mother eagle protects her chicks from the devastating winds, she pulled her granddaughters both of them, under her wings into her bosom, and began to minister her love in this time of tragedy. While the tears rolled down my stony cheeks, I realized that she was not just a grandmother that was consoling her granddaughters because of the children they lost in this fire. She was also a mother that lost her daughter to the very same tragedy. 

Please help in whatever way your heart leads you
Every gift is appreciated.

To help with the Funeral Cost of the 5 victims of 625 Forrest St

Please make donations to;

 

Franklin Family

Wallace Funeral Home

106 Agnes Street

Harrisburg PA 17104

Your Brother in Christ
Troy "FireSpeaks" Pearsall

Though He Slay Me

The attributes of God’s character are Love, Mercy, Kindness, Goodness, Holiness, Justice and many more, From the attributes we have come to know God. His Love for us was so Great, that in order to provide a perfect sacrifice for our sins, he took the form of man, humbled Himself and in obedience  was put to death by nailing  on the cross.  So the Love of God is not questioned by anyone that believes. However, there are times when tragedy finds its way into our lives. It hits us quickly, intensely, and painfully, and in most cases senselessly, or without explanation or evening warning. Like a coward who attacks when your back is turned tragedy hits you with the full intensity of it's force. Unprepared and unable to  brace yourself and prepare of the coming blow, it hits you with such forcefulness that it knocks you to your knees.

Dazed and gasping for air, you are assaulted again while still on the ground, unable to recover form this unsult you began to wonder "How can a loving God allow this to happen? God why would You take my love one from me, what did my mother,(sister, brother, cousin, best friend, child, husband or wife)  ever do to deserve this horrific death?" Then God doesn’t answer, and you began to survey the agonizing pain in your heart and hopelessness in your spirit and that picture of a loving merciful and just God becomes more and more myopic to your grieving soul.

You  say things like “I have nothing to live for” or “Why God”, trying to make sense of the circumstance, trying to introspectively explain  the senseless pain. Yet try as you may, you just can't  piece together the puzzle of God's reason for allowing this to happen.. Then God says;  [1] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

But God haven't I tried to be faithful? I know that I have slipped, but God I haven't I loved You with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind? Yet You allowed this God, You allowed the enemy to bring me to this  lonely dry and desolate place.

Then God says  [2] “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 

 
Then you realize that the depth of the intensity of our pain is emblematical of the goodness of change that God has for you. The tragedy does not just cause change in your habits, but change in your whole life. You see different circumstances differently now, you deal with people differently, even your hopes and desires and expectations have change because of the very thing you fought against.

God has allowed you to sink into that desolate place so that the pain you went through would  prepare you for the circumstance You will face in the future. Now better equipped to deal with what God has in store for you, His plan for who you will meet, where you will go what you will do to bring Him Glory.  You were taken to that desolate place so that the tragedy would reveal your faith to yourselves.  Would you “Curse God and Die” or  say as Job said  “ Though he slays me yet will I trust in him” You went through those dark places so that your latter Glory for God will be greater than the former goodness you thought you were giving Him.

While  in the midst of tragedy and pain and suffering we can’t see any reason or rhyme for our loss, our struggles or pains. But there will be a time when hindsight being 20-20, and if it be by the mercy of God that He reveals His wisdom to us, and our confidence in God’s word that all things work for the good of them that love Him.[3] We will see why. And hope in the perfecting that is to come. 

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


Your Brother in Christ
T. Charves FireSpeaks

 

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[1] Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV) 

[2] 1 Corinthians 2:9

[3] Romans 8:28 (KJV) 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.

[4] James 1:2-4 (KJV)   

What so wrong with the prosperity gospel?

The Blessing of a half a grand.
And what's wrong with a Prosperity Gospel

For a seed offering of only $500, God will bless you out of your financial need!  This offering is for those that need to “Jump-start” blessing from God.  

As I heard these words emanating from the pulpit a lump formed in my throat. Whatever it was they were feeding me was just too hard to swallow, too hard to digest.  I could not believe these words were coming from this man of God. Had God changed gears on me?  Could I now squeeze the arm of God like a tube of toothpaste to get every last drop of blessings he had for me? Or has God now become a respecter of men that he would bless the have's and ignore the have nots? It could not be that God was justifying my blessing by my works, that would mean God had changed the rules to salvation without ever telling me [1]? 

Maybe the preacher needed the money and God is broke, so He now needs my money to help bless this preacher? Isn’t this the same God that framed heaven and earth with His hands? Who formed man from dust, blew His breath in him, and made him a living soul? Wasn't it God which fixed the Sun into nothingness and separated night and day? God never confided with me about any of these great things, but now He needs me to help jump-start Him into blessing again?

Even though this came from high up in the church, I knew in the very core of my spirit that this was not of God. Jesus Christ taught many things to His disciples but I think I’m confident in saying that nowhere did he teach a prosperity gospel. In Mark 6:8  Jesus teaches His disciple that they should take nothing for their journey not script, not bread, not even money for their purse, and though I might be pushing it I think He meant it! 

If we use Jesus Christ as an example, and we are told as Christians we should, we find in scripture nowhere is the pursuit of money taught or practice by our Lord and savior. In fact, scripture teaches us the very opposite, rather Jesus Himself would go without even a place to sleep over desiring the things of this world

The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.  Matthew 8:20.

 In Luke 12:15  he tells His disciples that life is more important than the things we possess.

So what wrong with asking for a seed offering to “ Jump-start Your faith”? Paul warns that this teaching (preaching) is not of Christ and we should stay away from these men  1 Timothy 6:3-5  in verses 9 through 11  of chapter 6  Paul warns Timothy that their (those that preach a Prosperity Gospel) foolish and hurtful lust for money is evil and that we should flee from them; 1 Timothy 6:9-11.  We can't be so mesmerized by the eloquence of speech of our Charismatic preachers that we become numb to sound doctrine, and with itchy ears get swept away by the needs of this world, desiring the Hand of God greater than the Face of God. 

We come to Christ because of our fear of the wrath of God. knowing full well that we by our own righteousness will never be able to attain salvation. So by the righteousness of Christ, we are justified, and our sins are forgiven, not that we are not guilty but our punishment has been paid by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  

It is so easy to get confused with the dynamics of a preacher of spiritual leaders, but we have to remember that it is Christ Jesus, not the leaders that we are following.  Colossians 2:8  warns us "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ"  

So the next time someone asks “ What’s wrong with the prosperity Gospel” tell them not by works but by faith in Christ Jesus. 

May the Lord add a Blessing to this word
Your Brother In Christ

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[1] Any blessing justified by works is not a blessing but a payment.  This erred mindset removes the concept of gift to the acknowledgement of payment. Now God has a requirement to bless me. ( wow)

In the Presence of light Walking in Darkness

The modern Doctrine of once saved always saved has been the focal point of many heated debates, not just within the denominations but even within the same house. Husband and wife, sister and brother have all taken sides in this discussion, each defending his interpretation of the scriptures.

What I believe is at the center of this debate is in fact the lack of agreement in what “being saved” is.  The devil has deceived the modern ecclesiast into believing the message of “Jesus Loves You” will bring a man to Christ, that it somehow has power to convert his sinful heart to righteous. I can’t stress how wrong and biblically incorrect the practice of reciting a sinner’s prayer is, for salvation. Not even once is the sinner’s prayer taught in the bible, neither by Jesus nor any of the apostles, and for us to teach that after saying this mystical prayer, that a sinner is saved is akin to making salvation not a gift, but an act of works.

However Psalm 19:7 ^[a]tells us that “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;”   and 2Corinthians 7:10 tell us that Godly sorrow brings forth repentance that then brings forth salvation. Ezekiel 36:26 tells us that God, not ourselves will take away or stony heart and give us a heart of flesh^[d].  So it is clear to see that without Godly sorrow there can be no salvation^[g]

So what is Godly Sorrow?
When a man comes into the realization that his actions are antagonistic to God’s Law; that he has spiritually injured God with his iniquity; that his sins has made him an enemy of God; It is that realization, (Godly Sorrow) not the fear of getting caught, or remorse once he was caught, but the desire to get right with God that brings about repentance. When King David recognized this through his confrontation with Nathan the prophet he said “I have sinned against the Lord” ^[b] he accepted his guilt, and wanted to be right with God.

With Godly sorrow there is an accepted accountability of the transgression, and the sinner than realizes that his sin when measured against God’s law has become exceedingly^[f] sinful (abounded in his spirit), that his sin has separated him from God^[f] and now the sinner desires to fix whatever he can to become right with God 

(repentance) when this happens the Grace of God can much more abounds^[e] and salvation is given to the sinner.

Now it gets ugly, there are many people that are church members, that have never come to a biblical place of repentance, and even though they never miss a Sunday, are at all bible studies and prayer meetings, even though they love to fellowship with the saints they have not been saved.

The goal of this blog is not to identify them to show that they do exist, with that in mind let’s return to the bible.

In 2timothy 4, Paul writes to Timothy that Demas, someone Paul held in high regard as a Christian had been swayed by his desires of the things of the world. Demas was disciple of Paul, alone with Timothy, Mark and Luke, and Demas had been with Paul during his imprisonment in Rome. But even though Demas carried himself like a believer he was still able to be swayed by the things of this world. Forsaking Paul was bad, but the horror of Demas’ life was when he made himself a friend of this world his desires made him an enemy of God of this world ^[j] 

Now let us consider Judas who betrayed our Lord. This false convert traveled for years with Jesus, he seen the miracles, he heard the wisdom. He could recognize Jesus as the Son of God, but because a biblical place of repentance he was not saved. We know this to be true because Jesus says of Judas while speaking to the disciples’ one of you is a devil^[k].

To betray the Son of God is a horrific thing, but I believe that God is such a forgiving God that even the betrayal of His Son He would have forgiven. However Judas rather than falling on his knees to ask God for forgiveness for his actions, committed suicide^[k]. Now don’t get me wrong he felt remorse, that is why he threw the money into the temple, but because there was no godly sorrow there could be no repentance and he died in his sins

In the same way many people are in church doing all that they can do look like disciples but having never come to a biblical place of repentance they still don’t see themselves as having a need for a savior. They don’t take accountability for their transgressions, blaming others or diminishing the crimes as just little sins, and they don’t see their sins as making a separation between them and God; many of them depend on God’s Grace for their salvation not knowing or maybe not caring about their requirement for their own salvation. These converts are in the presence of light but they are still walking in darkness. And Just like Demas and Judas if they don’t come to a place of godly repentance they will die in their sins.

T. Charves FireSpeaks

References

a).Psalm 19:7  b).2 Samuel 12:13 c).Isaiah 59:2 d).Ezekiel 36:26 e).Romans 5:20  f).Romans 7:13 

g).2 Corinthians 7:10  h).2Timothy 4:9-10    j).James 4:4    k).John 6:70  l).Matthews 27:5 

Though the fig tree does not blossom

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (KJV)

One way the enemy seeks to destroy us is to magnify our troubled experiences.  Circumstances may cause us to walk a mile, but it’s the enemy that put splinters in our feet alone that journey. Satan does not care how he weakens us, be it small or large, physical, emotional, or financial, as long as he can infect us with the disease of wrong thinking, as long as he can affect our experiences in such a way that it causes us to question God’s love for us, as long as he can take our joy which is our strength, Satan is happy in our suffering. 

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy

His (Satan's) intent is to destroy not just our physical and spiritual but also our emotional happiness as well. But happiness comes from what happens in our life, when we perceive it is good we are happy, and when we perceive something is bad we are unhappy.  Therefore grasping  hold of happiness is like trying to hold smoke signal in a metal bird cage. The bars just can't contain it. So we need to grasp hold of something more stable, more solid, more rigid more dependable,something that will not blow away or evaporate at the slightest breeze. And that something we need to hold on to is called Joy.


However Joy, comes from the Lord, and Joy is expressed not only when things go well, but also when tribulations and extreme tragedies come into our life. in 2 Corinthians 7:4  the Apostle says he is overflowing with joy in his afflictions. The very thing we have got to realize is when the devils tries to kill our joy, steal our happiness, and destroy or faith with trials and tribulations what he really is doing is perfecting our character and a perfected character bring about a stronger faith in an almighty God Romans 5:3-4 is ther any wonder James said count it all joy when you encounter all sorts of trials? James 1:2-4 

But...when we allow Satan to invade our minds with doubt and hopelessness and depression, we become like a beaten prize fighter in the 10th round of a championship fight, wondering if they can make it through the last two rounds of our spiritual battle or even if we should just throw in the towel and quit. . 

Weary from well doing, we no longer desire, to fight to keep our marriage;  we've lost hope in our loved ones being saved;  we've given up on our financial condition;  we’re no longer believing God for a healing of  that chronic sickness.  

If we allow Satan to invade our minds with doubt and hopelessness and depression,we become drained by the troubles of our family and friends, and to make matters worse, the church elders, those that should be counseling us out of our mess are telling us for some forsaken reason we are not living up to the expectations God has for our lives. And before we realize it, the enemy has dealt a devastating body blow. With broken ribs and broken spirit, we are still in the ring but no longer in the fight, our spiritual Joy has be stolen just like our breath;   or in truth we've given our joy away.

However, Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice” this is not by accident that this verse is written as it is.  this is not a suggestion but an spiritual antidote to a broken spirit. God wants us to rejoice! 

Even in those times when we just don’t feel like rejoicing, because He knows that our rejoicing in Him is strength. This is why James 1:2 says “…count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” God knows that it is the joy in Him that strengthens us and draws us into a deeper relationship with Him. the prophet Habakkuk teaches us that even in the most desperate time we must contend for the Joy we have in Christ Jesus. He prays; 

 
Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation Habakkuk 3:17-18(Amp) 

Even though Judah was going through starvation and drought, injustice and wickedness, Habakkuk had no intentions of being defeated. They were poor and did not have the resources for success, the rich just got richer and the poor just got poorer but Habakkuk did not succumb to the circumstances. He didn't lose his Joy , the Devil couldn't steal his joy, God had already spoken let the righteous live by faith.. God   already had a plan, just because Habakkuk did not see  God's plan did not mean it wasn't so. Wait for God I say praise God. my mother says He's and on time God!

Often we say we have a victory in God but we walk around looking defeated, but just because we can’t figure a way out, just because everything is going wrong, and sometimes everything will go wrong! We cannot be defeated we must put our confidence not on the circumstances, but in God. It may mean we have to endure a little trouble, but God is saying to you Wait for it! it will surely come

Habakkuk refused to be defeated he had read the story of Job and was OK with troubles knowing that God is a rewarder. He read the psalms and knew that if God be for him who could be against him. The confidence in God expressed by Habakkuk would be the precursor to Nehemiah’s statement that the Joy of the Lord is our Strength. Habakkuk knew full well the power that comes from having God as your joy. Now when we go to verse 19 we see why Habakkuk was sent to encourage the remnants of Judah, he professes;

Habakkuk 3:19 (Amp) The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!

Habakkuk had an attitude of victory, he wasn't going to be defeated, the odds against him was not important, his lack of resources wasn't important, his hunger pains wasn't even important, but his confidence in the renewed strength he would attain through the praising of God was the only thing that made a difference. Habakkuk had real Joy in the lord, and it was that Joy that gave him strength. If he was here today, he would say,

“I’m flat broke and been jobless for over a year, no money in my pocket, no food on my table, and I don’t know how these bill will get paid. I spend all day long at the free clinic, but the pain is only getting worst; my children are on drugs, gay, strung out and my spouse doesn’t seem to give a crap what I’m going through.
Yet will I rejoice, even though I’m going through all this, I will rejoice in the Lord, no matter what my circumstance are I will be joyful in God my Savior, regardless of what’s going on in my life.

So often we get stuck in our depression we mope, sulk and feel sorry for ourselves, but God wants us to rejoice in Him, to praise Him, worship Him, not in thought, but in action. God wants us to sing, dance, and give testimony of His great works, publicly, that His Joy may strengthen us. We must see rejoicing in God as action, a thing that can be seen, not an emotion that is felt. Therefore saints, Rejoice in the lord always, and again I say, Rejoice!

Soli Deo Gloria

l