The Joy OF the Lord Is Our Strength
Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
The faith and joy of the Lord are intricately linked. To those truly few called out and separated for salvation, the Lord promises our sorrows that come from our travails will be turned into rejoicing and joy. To those on the other side of the veil, those few given faith unto salvation looks like they have fallen into perdition. Yet the same events to those brought through the fiery trials and persecution is a manifest token and sign that the Lord has come for us.
Php 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
And that is exactly what has been fulfilled as the Lord’s promises are true. When the Lord appears to us the second time for salvation, imparting faith that converts us from being carnally minded and abiding in death, we become One with the Lord and His Father having been given understanding of the ways of the Lord.
Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
Where the King’s commandments are sent, the Lord’s commandments arise within us and one is converted, becoming a true Jew and a possessor of the light, gladness, joy, and honor.
Est 8:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
Est 8:17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.
The fear of the true Jews is the fear of the Lord that is our beginning of Godly wisdom and one being converted into a spiritual Jew. Many claim the name of the Lord but extremely few are given to know Him in spirit and in truth with those few being worked on by the Potter and Spiritual Physician.
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
The joy of salvation is knowing we are saved by our faith and none of our own works. We first lose this joy as a consequence of our adultery [disobedience] and murders [hating our brethren], all exemplified in the sin of David [Bathshiba]; that is caused of the Lord and then we are restored of the Lord when we are granted repentance and believe the Gospel.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit.
It is HIS Joy not ours
It is the Lord’s joy that is put within the escaped remnant being saved in every age. Said another way, it is not YOUR or MY joy, but HIS joy that is to be our strength as the precious few walks out this gospel of grace in faith. It is like faith, even that is not our own faith but is a gift of His Faith. The same with the joy of the Lord!
Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you
It is through our believing [our faith in action]; that we are filled with joy and the fruits of the Spirit manifest having us resting in His peace and the power that now does the work in us.
Rom 15:13 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.
Trusting in the Lord is faith in action and that brings great joy as we know the Lord is wasting nothing and all things being worked in our life are for the greater good of our salvation. That is peace to stand and abide in the place of faith that has with it great joy that is the Lord’s joy growing in us. Being made ready by His Hands and brought to His marriage and wedding feast manifests gladness and rejoicing in our hearts. It makes all the pain and suffering and travails with our fellow man pale in comparison.
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him [by our obedience]: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Being given faith gives us the garments and what is needed to be clothed and married to the Lord. To receive faith we have to hear the Gospel and experience many sorrows as we carry our cross and lose our life. When faith has come, this yoke becomes easy as it is for His joy we are made able to endure the cross and despise the shame and persecution by our own people.
Heb 12:2 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.
The Lord loses none of His little ones chosen from the foundation of the world. When He comes His joy begins to be fulfilled in us. The implanted Word that is Spirit and life [Joh 6:63] henceforth leads us into the way of peace and righteousness
Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
Joh 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
The Lord’s joy is our joy if we belong to Him and stand firmly in the Gospel guarding our gates with all vigilance. This was the theme of Philippians 3 and Paul giving all things, counting them as dung, to be found “resting in Christ” [Heb 4] being clothed with the Lord’s garments and not our own.
Php 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
It is our time in Babylon, where the truth and lies are mixed together, no one is converted and where men seek after their own way of righteousness still being bound by the law of their carnal mind. This is spiritual speak for making their own food and own garments. These actions and this work in the Lord’s name is not of faith and is the bondage we all are appointed to endure first.
Isa 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
We are warned not to let any man come take this crown and steal the Lord’s joy from us [Rev 3:11]. Those still bound to the world and its merchandizing ways [the carnal mind reasoning] go about seeking their own way instead of coming to Christ. That is the snare of Babylon and that mindset will hate us and speak evil of us casting Christ away. This is every man’s evil experience to endure until His joy comes when the morning star is revealed in them.
Psa 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Those escaped from Babylon that “come out of her” and those that are still bound to the law of their carnal reasonings, “the circumcision” are those given to build the true temple of God holding the joy of the Lord. That was the spiritual lesson here in Nehemiah, speaking of those that escaped from Babylon who are sent to build the wall of faith in Spiritual Jerusalem. It is here we find the famous verse about the joy of the Lord.
Neh 8:9 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.
Neh 8:10 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 day we come out and make a stand for Christ, despising the shame, is the day of the Lord and when His joy begins to rule our lives.
Act 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Act 8:8 And there was great joy in that city.
The deception about “the Jews” is far greater than just the outward physical Jews [physical Israel today] versus the Spiritual Jews. The outward appeal and righteousness of the law is compelling to all flesh and blinds one to the work of faith. We all first persecute the disciples of Christ and expel them. Yet when we ourselves bear these marks for the Lord for our standing up for true righteousness and the Gospel, then great joy will soon come upon us.
Act 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
Act 13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet [carnal works and reasonings] against them, and came unto Iconium.
Act 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
The precious few the Lord is saving all come out of Spiritual Babylon [Rev 18:4]. It is a necessary step to first come out of the world, which Babylon is just a religious rendering of the same world and its reasonings under the law. Remember both Jews and Gentiles have the same law written on their fleshly hearts before faith is come.
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Rom 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
When the Lord comes to save us, we are translated into heaven on the third day and then everything changes not in minor ways but in major ways. Our sorrows and pain and doubts are vaporized when the Lord grants us understanding of His plan and work in us. All tears and sorrow vanish.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Looking behind ourselves we see many things we did wrong that were worldly and of the flesh. This includes our lusting after riches and chasing knowledge all the while being oppressed and in bondage to the law. The focus is henceforth on the things ordained for the Spirit.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink [gaining knowledge focus on learning]; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
All that matters is love which is our obedience and waiting on the Lord to perform that work in us. These verses speaking of love [Agape in Greek also translated as charity] mean so much more when we are brought back to the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ and His commandments. All the other stuff and seeking of riches and tongues will cease when the Lord matures in faith.
1Co 13:8 Charity [OBEDIENCE] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
In the third day, when the Lord is come, we have all the knowledge we need. Circumcision and more reasonings about the Scriptures will profit us no longer. What we lacked in Babylon [which is the carnal gathering of Jews under the oppression of the Assyrians – the world]; was faith and trust in the Lord and having no confidence in ourselves. That was the punchline of the parable of the righteous man who followed the law but lacked ONE IMPORTANT THING. He could not follow the Lord as he was very rich and still trusted in his own riches and reasonings of what was right and wrong. That was one of the main topics in a recent article called “Who Has Believed Our Report”
This carnal trust, is the buying and selling, the reasoning of what is right and wrong based on the law for the lawless and it stops when faith is come. We forsake all to buy the treasure and therein we now rest in Him.
Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Now being seated in heaven with Christ, we can worship in spirit and in truth and stay in the Holy City and in His Temple with great joy and fervent praise for all the things the Lord is working in us and through us.
Luk 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
Luk 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Luk 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
The Lord returns for us in our appointed time. He does not and did not leave us captive in Babylon. Our captivity has now been taken captive and we are entering into His Joy. This is the plan of prosperity the Lord has for every man in the appointed day and hour.
Jer 29:10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jer 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
This is the same as the fulfillment of the parable of the Talents. When we prove faithful in a few things, He promotes us into greater things and gives salvation and we enter into His Joy.
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The power we had over evil spirits when still unconverted is surpassed by our understanding what the Lord meant when speaking to us much earlier in our walk.
Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
There is great joy in our heaven and all those seated with Christ when one person repents of His self-righteousness under the law [our inequity] and believes the gospel.
Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Trusting only in the Lord, having escaped the bondage and oppression of Babylon and the Scribes and Sadducees that deny the power of the Resurrection, the wall is now built by those few with gladness and joy.
Psa 105:42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
Psa 105:43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
Psa 105:44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
We have to endure a little season where we will feel forsaken as our Lord experienced [Mat 27:46]. Being persecuted and crucified by your own people and waiting on the Lord to raise us up is this season. We will weep and lament as our entire existence as we knew it and our faith is shaken to the core by this trying experience of the cross and be rejected by our own people. This is how the sons of God are made manifest and come forth through much travail that is then quickly turned to joy.
Joh 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Joh 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
The power of the Gospel unto salvation is come upon those who have borne these sorrows. But we see our Lord again and in a new and much more powerful way when we walk in true faith believing upon Him being filled with His Joy. Now in faith, we can ask the Lord ANYTHING according to His name and He WILL [not maybe] will do it.
Joh 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
There it is, the promise of faith given to the few who believe and walk according to the Gospel of Grace. When we receive the gospel and the power upon high our afflictions no longer bring sorrow as we have the joy of the Holy Spirit working in us.
1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
1Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
Now being married to Christ in Spirit, we are One with Him and are joined in Spirit with all the saints that walk in faith [Joh 14:20]. The flesh and old ways have passed away. The comforter is come to His people and they are redeemed of the Lord.
Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Isa 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
It is an honor and blessing to be given to stand up for righteousness sakes and be persecuted and stoned by those that claim they are Jews but are not. Those precious few given to repent and believe the Gospel in every age are the Lord’s redeemed who will be full of joy and exceedingly glad for all the things the Lord is working.
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
The exceeding and great reward is having the mind of Christ, being seated with Him in our heaven. Now is salvation come when Satan and his carnal reasonings has been cast out of our mind and way of thinking [Rev 12:7-10].
Isa 51:11 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.
Isa 51:12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
Amen. Grace and peace be with the Lord’s people.
