As you can imagine, in Hawaii people flock to the beaches to find some happiness in that past time. There is much beauty to be found in these islands, and that in itself also brings pleasure and happiness to many.
"....for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10 b
Pastor Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel Churches, says in the following sermon audio video, what many others have also said: "Happiness is variable, it depends on your circumstances; joy is the experience in Spirit which is independent of your circumstances. " Especially is this true concerning "the joy of the Lord" (Nehemiah 8:10). Please listen to Pastor Chuck's excellent 38 minute sermon:
Most of you are familiar with Galatians 5:22-23 which tells of the "Fruit of the Spirit" among which is "joy".
Did you realize that we are commanded to rejoice in the Lord ?
"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." - Philippians 4:4
"And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee." - Deuteronomy 12:7
Following is a partial quote by commentator Alexander MacLaren on Nehemiah 8:10:
"You may say with truth, 'my emotions of joy and sorrow are not under my control. I cannot help being glad and sad as circumstances dictate.' But yet here it lies, a commandment. It is a duty, a thing that the apostle enjoins; in which, of course is implied, that somehow or other it is to a large extent within one's own power, and that even the indulgence in this emotion, and the degree to which life shall be a cheerful life, is dependent in a large measure on our own volitions, and stands on the same footing as our obedience to God's other commandments. .... But I will tell you what you can do or refrain from doing - you can either go and stand in the Light, or you can stand in the shadow. You can either fix your attention upon and make the predominate subject of your religious contemplations a truth which shall make you glad and strong, or a half-truth, which shall make you sorrowful. and therefore weak. Your meditations may either center mainly upon your own selves, your faults and failings, and the like; or they may center mainly upon God, and His Christ and His grace, the Holy Spirit and His communion. You may either fill your soul with joyful thoughts, or though a true Christian, a real devout, God-accepted believer, you may be so misapprehending the nature of the gospel, and your relation to it, its promises and precepts, its duties and predictions, as that the prevalent tinge and cast of your religion shall be solemn and almost gloomy, and not lighted up and irradiated with the felt sense of God's presence - with the strong, healthy consciousness that you are a forgiven and justified man, and that you are going to be a glorified one."
Alexander MacLaren, in the above quote, and in his entire commentary on Nehemiah 8:10, is excellent to read for it is full of wisdom and spiritual gems which we all need to ponder. It is quite lengthy, but worth your while to read his entire commentary found on the Web.
One more quote by MacLaren: "Joy in the Lord is the natural result of Christian faith. ... The joy that is in Christ is deep and abiding. Faith in Him naturally works gladness."
[Rainbow Shower Tree]
Isaiah 61:10 tells us: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be be joyful in my God, for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."
"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have now received the atonement." - Romans 5:11
"And ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice and your joy no man taketh away from you." - Jesus at John 16:22
The above words by Jesus are very special! All of His words are special of course, but the above at John 16:22 ring loud and clear to believers now in this chaotic world we find ourselves living in - the last moments of the end of this dispensation; the end of the age of Grace; the last days. Jesus was speaking here to His disciples concerning mainly His soon death and resurrection and eventual return. However, His words are a comfort to us in this modern world as well. Note in the above verse that He told us "your heart shall rejoice and your joy NO man taketh from you!" Put your hope and trust in the good Lord, and not in this evil world and its philosophies.
"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." - Romans 15:13
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7
Are you hurting? Have you seen much sorrow and heartbreak and hard times? Consider the following quote by A. W. Tozer:
"It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply."
Remember, afflictions should, hopefully, result in us turning to God in remorse, and looking to Him for guidance and relief. We are "pruned" by Him in our afflictions.
"I was delivered from the burden that had so heavily suppressed me. The spirit of mourning was taken from me, and I knew what it was to truly rejoice in God, my Savior." - George Whitefield
"The Lord gives His people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to Him." - Dwight L. Moody
"The only lasting and fully satisfying joys for any man lie on the other side of a cross." - Walter J. Chantry
"It is His joy that remains in us that makes us joyful." - A.B. Simpson
"Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God." - Sam Storms
"Happiness is untested delight. Joy is delight tested." - Jack Hyles
[Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]
Much more may be written on rejoicing in the Lord, and many additional Scriptures could be shared here. It would be beneficial for you to search the scriptures for yourself, and thereby grow in your faith and closeness to the good Lord. As mentioned frequently on this blog, God wants to fellowship with us. We do that by much Bible reading and studying, and also by frequent daily prayer. You cannot get to really know a person unless you communicate frequently with them. The same is true, of course, when it comes to communicating with the heavenly Father. You need to develop a close, intimate, personal, loving and abiding relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Savior.
For those who are not born again, have not put their trust in Jesus and belief in Him as the Savior, please read the following Scriptures. You need to repent and ask for forgiveness and turn to the Lord while there is still time! This world is dying! Heaven is alive and glorious!
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36
"Jesus saith unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?" John 11:25-26
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - John 14:6
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!
