Tag: mourning

Studies

Christ, a Man of Many Sorrows

Peter

Enduring our Cross 

Peter and Rohnel, servants of the Most High, to the scattered pilgrims who share our precious faith in the Living Christ, peace and grace to you in the name of the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May these words, in their appointed time, bring comfort to those who are afflicted and suffering many sorrows in life.

The life of Jesus Christ in a clay vessel is a life of enduring many sorrows. Our Lord Jesus Christ and we as His chosen ones, Christ’s Christ, willingly endure the sorrows the Father appoints us to for our love of the Father that is put into our hearts.   We go and do as our heavenly Father directs us, knowing full well the journey comes with many tribulations and sorrows. Christ’s death was no surprise to Him, and our death to the old life and our sufferings is no surprise either.  Christ teaches this to His disciples continually to enable us to endure the sufferings and sorrows.

Mar 8:31  And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

We ask for relief when desired, but put all things in subjection to the will of God.

Luk 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 

We, as Christ in the world, follow the Lord and also endure much sorrow in the process of being remade in the hands of the Potter.  These sorrows and afflictions are humbling us and making us poor in spirit [of our flesh].

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 

The Scriptures, speaking of Christ, speak not only of our Lord’s coming in the body of flesh, but also His coming into our bodies of flesh. We are His Holy Temple in which He comes to dwell. We are raised as Christ in the world for His purposes to be His witnesses and perform the greater works. Through the Living Word of the Father that dwells in our hearts and minds, we are no longer of this world, yet are sent into the world in the same manner as the Lord was sent. We continue to grow in understanding the scope and magnitude of this heavenly appointment as the chosen of God.

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. 

Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world

The carnal world judges us in the flesh like they did Christ back then, seeing Him only as Joseph’s son, a mere carpenter. Thus, our report of the Gospel and the revealing of the mysteries of God are not believed. Our preaching is rejected, and understanding is given only to a precious few who make up the little flock, the remnant being saved in this generation. The Gospel remains hidden from the eyes that do not see us as Christ.

Isa 53:1  Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 

Those who believe and those to whom Christ is revealed are those given to suffer many sorrows from the arm of the Lord.  When our troubles and sorrows begin in our day of the Lord, those outside the faith see it and want nothing to do with us. The great gulf continues to widen as we walk in the Spirit, preach, and obey the Gospel. To the carnal world, what we believe and do is foolishness. Our life is defined by increasing sorrows and much grief that only adds to the rejection of our life focus, actions, and the words of truth we speak. Christ is not esteemed and rather despised.

Isa 53:2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 

The Lord’s Christ in every generation bears the griefs and carries the sorrows for the whole of the Lord’s church. The carnally minded see those smitten and afflicted of God, but do not understand the purposes of the afflictions and sorrows, until the Lord opens our eyes to the Gospel.

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 

Our sufferings are both physical and spiritual, and come in many shapes and forms, as the Scriptures describe. The Lord uses everything at His disposal [all things] to bring trials, including those of health, money, spiritual and physical family, property, worldly relationships, and many more, to bring the necessary sorrows to crush our fleshly spirit. The Lord even uses the tribulations of others whom we love dearly to bring us sorrow. Jesus wept over Lazarus and the sorrow of the disciples, and we also weep over the sorrows of those we love. The Body of Christ is one spirit and body with Christ, and we all partake of the same bread that is the Commandments.  We have all things in common including our sorrows.

Rom 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 

Our tribulations separate us for the Lord’s purposes and humble us by continually trying and proving our faith. This time is known as a day of trouble, and it is our day of the Lord when we are being perfected from our sin. The yoke, our bondage to the whims of our flesh, is being destroyed so we serve only Christ. It is known as the great tribulation in the New Testament and by many other names and phrases, including Jacob’s trouble.

Jer 30:7  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 

Jer 30:8  For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 

Jer 30:9  But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. 

Those suffering afflictions are often reproached and scornfully treated by the carnally minded world, who look down upon those who suffer and are weak in the flesh. Some are born with physical afflictions that bring great hardship and sorrow, and some carry these burdens for many years. The stories and examples of God-given physical afflictions in the Scriptures apply both spiritually and outwardly. The Lord is working all things and is the father of all spirits, even those that cause sorrowful and painful infirmities. Here is a sampling of those biblical stories.

  • Jacob wrestles with God and injures his hip, taking away the strength of his flesh [no thigh] – Gen 32:25
  • Job loses everything but his life and is afflicted with boils over his body to humble him – Job chapters 1-2
  • Issac and Jacob lose their eyesight later in life, so they walk only by faith – Gen 27 and Gen 48
  • Man crippled 38 years before Christ healed him at the pool – Joh 5:5
  • Woman bowed over for 18 years healed by Christ – Luke 13:11-16
  • Paul’s thorn in the flesh to keep him humble – 2Co 12:7-9
  • Man born blind from birth healed – Joh 9:1-3
  • Woman with menstrual blood for 12 years – Mat 9:20-22

Let us also remember our Lord and the suffering and anguish Jesus Christ endured, a Roman crucifixion, in losing his physical life.   The Lord knows how to comfort us in our suffering as He has endured more than we ever are asked to endure. Our chastening with both physical and spiritual afflictions is all for the purpose of being perfected as our heavenly Father is perfect.

Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

The Lord wastes nothing, and all of our sorrow is used for good and transforms us into the likeness and image of Christ, being made a son of God. We are not suffering for suffering’s sake but for righteousness’ sake. We come to see and understand this principle and thus lay down our lives for the sake of the Body that is the church. Having received the Gospel, the Living Word, we see and know all of our suffering as a righteous servant is bearing the inequities of all.

Isa 53:10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him [us, the elect, His righteous servants]; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Isa 53:11  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

It pleases the Lord to bruise His Christ in this world. Not that the Lord enjoys our suffering, but because He knows the way of learning righteousness, the very reason He comes, is found through suffering and loss.

Heb 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 

Our chastening by these afflictions is not always meant to correct us for a sin or wrongdoing. To those given much, much is expected, and the Lord afflicts those He raises as shepherds of His sheep to keep them/us from being exalted. Paul shared his testimony with us.

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 

Solomon, the king, preacher, and wisest man on earth, learned as we do of the direct relationship between wisdom and knowledge of God and the resulting sorrow.

Ecc 1:18  For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. 

Solomon’s words bear powerful witness to the Lord’s use of sorrow and mourning to remake us in His image and likeness. The sadder our fleshly hearts are made, the despairing of life in this world, the closer we are coming to the kingdom of God.

Ecc 7:2  It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. 

Ecc 7:3  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. 

Sicknesses, diseases, and pain, known as spirits of infirmity, are under the control of the Father of all Spirits [Heb 12:9], who is the Lord. They are part of all things being worked for the counsel of His will. Many suffer for long periods, and it is all used for the glory of God in due time.

Besides the Lord’s death on the cross, the most comprehensive suffering and loss may be foretold in the Book of Job. All things must be fulfilled, including our Job experience.  The Lord sent satan to try Job and take everything from him: his house, his livelihood, his family, his servants, as written in Job 1:14-19.  Even still, the Lord added physical pain and affliction to Job’s sorrow and suffering.

Job 2:7  So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 

All of these afflictions, called evil by the Scriptures, are used for good to humble us as they did for Job and thereby drain our fleshly spirit.

Ecc 1:18 CLV I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens:it is an experience of evil Elohim has given to the sons of humanity to humble them by it. 

The Lord blessed the latter end of Job much more than in the beginning, and so it shall be with all of us suffering sorrow today.

Job 42:10  And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 

Job 42:11  Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. 

Job 42:12  So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 

The disciples taught us to rejoice in our sufferings, knowing they serve a purpose for the sake of the entire body of Christ. Suffering is the calling for all who Christ brings through the door in this age, who become living sacrifices and ministers of the Gospel.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 
Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 

Following our Lord’s example, we lay down our lives for the brethren, embracing the suffering and reproach that come with our heavenly calling.

1Jn 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Our treasure is Christ in us, the Promise, the Living Commandments, that is the Holy Spirit now dwelling in us. We learn to stand on our hope and faith in the promises of God, trusting that the work He began is being finished.

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 

2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 

2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

Only a faithful few continue to walk, bear their cross, and pay the costs all the way to the end. The Lord makes a way for us to endure to the end, even through periods of despair of life.

2Co 1:8  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 

2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 

Our fleshly spirit, the carnal mind and its lusts that is our old man, is decreased for Christ in us to be revealed. When our fleshly spirit is crushed and made poor, we are the most blessed people on the earth. Those who mourn through their sorrow are likewise blessed and comforted by God. The crushing of our old spirit is making us meek, causing us to stop striving with our Maker and thus to inherit the earth. The result is overcoming our sin and having dominion over our earth, ruling and reigning with Christ.

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Mat 5:4  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

Mat 5:5  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

Being crucified with Christ, we reach the point of giving up our spirit, which is submitting ourselves fully unto the Lord. The same is losing our life to save it. New life comes by way of the death of the old.

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

The sacrifices that are acceptable to God are those of a crushed or broken spirit who looks to God alone for their sufficiency.

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 

Sorrows break our fleshly spirit and are thus integral to preparing us for use in the Master’s kingdom.

Pro 15:13  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 

Psa 107:39  Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. 

We are being humbled [made meek], before the Lord raises us back up in the power of His resurrection. The NT version says it in these words from James.

Jas 4:9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

Godly sorrow brings salvation, and the sorrow of the world brings forth death, meaning sin. The former has us forsaking all to obey God; worldly sorrow is feigned humility designed to keep the spirit of flesh alive.

2Co 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death [sin].

The Lord knows what we can take and what is needed to perfect us and prepare us for His use in bringing forth judgment to the Gentiles. While the Lord bruises us, He does not break us or completely destroy us. It is through these many tribulations that is our day of judgment, that we are brought forth into the Truth.

Isa 42:1  Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 

Isa 42:3  A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 

Knowing these truths, we often remind ourselves of the suffering, the trials, the sorrow that is necessary to enter into the kingdom of God and be perfected in our day of the Lord. It was prophesied long ago, and the Lord changes not in His ways.

Gen 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

Christ often spoke to His disciples about his impending death and suffering on the cross. Yet they brushed it off and did not understand what was being said until they lived it. Later, they did remember, and it helped them, as it helps all of us to endure our suffering and sorrows as we follow the Lord’s example. We understand it when we fulfill times of great sorrows in our appointed seasons and fulfill the Scriptures.

Luk 18:31  Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 

Luk 18:32  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 

Luk 18:33  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 

Luk 18:34  And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. 

Carnal minds tell us this cannot possibly be true, yet the Lord rebuked Peter for his unbelief.

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 
Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

All who come through the door of the Living Christ, the Commandments [Joh 10:20], are Christ in the world and have become a shepherd of the sheep. Shepherds of the sheep give their lives for the sheep. As Christ in the world, we are giving our lives as the Lord did His.

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 

Our many sorrows are not pleasant in the moment, but they yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness in the end. Our suffering is for a short season as the Lord makes a quick work on the earth. For the elect’s sake, He promises to shorten the days. Our hope in the promises of God not yet revealed sustains us through.

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Our sorrow is turned into joy right on time, as was written in our book from the very beginning. Joy comes in the morning when Christ arises in us.

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. 

Our time of sorrows has a beginning and an end. It is in the last days, once we have heard the Gospel, that our day of the Lord begins, which is also the beginning of our sorrows. The chastening grace of God tries us with the Commandments, and the Lord brings various afflictions and the resulting loss and suffering. Once the Gospel has been preached, the time of the end is at hand, the conflicts in our life begin, as such is the beginning of our sorrows.

Mat 24:6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 

Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 

Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows. 

The redeemed of the Lord are learning to walk on the highway to holiness. On this narrow highway, nothing can harm us, and we obtain joy and gladness, and all our sorrows flee away.

Isa 35:8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 

Isa 35:9  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 

Isa 35:10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 

When the work of God is done, there is no more sorrow and no more tears. All things have been made new. We are free from death, sorrow, and all pain and suffering. This promise is our hope and what helps us to endure just a little longer. Our hope is in the Lord, not in our current state of suffering.

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. 

Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 

We are entering into the true holy city, of Zion, that is heavenly Jerusalem, where there is no longer any sorrow or mourning.

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. 

When we feel helpless and overcome with sorrow and suffering that we cannot bear any longer, we need to remind ourselves of the Lord’s promises. The Scriptures bring comfort and hope of better times ahead. In times of need, we go to the throne of mercy and grace, the Living Commandments, the Holy Spirit, and seek wisdom from above.

Rev 7:17  For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. 

The examples of Jesus Christ and the OT types of Christ, such as King David, give us instruction. Seek the Lord and fervently pray and bring praises to His name, that is His Commandments. Only the Lord can lead us out of the pit of sorrow and suffering.

Psa 18:2  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 

Psa 18:3  I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 

Psa 18:4  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 

Psa 18:5  The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 

Psa 18:6  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. 

Christ commands us not to fall asleep in our sorrow as did the unconverted disciples before Christ was taken and crucified. Stay alert, sober, and focused on the Commandments. Our times of weakness become the devil’s opportune times to tempt us. Prayer is seeking God, and we are to do this without ceasing.

Luk 22:45  And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 

Luk 22:46  And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. 

The more we suffer, the more we grow from babes in Christ onward to maturity. With greater knowledge and understanding of His grace, we become willing and able to lay down our lives as a living sacrifice as commanded. We endure our cross as the joy of the Lord is our strength.

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. 

We are unworthy servants of the Most High God who have been redeemed from the earth. In this, we can rejoice even in the midst of great sorrows and suffering. We have been prepared for the marriage of the Lamb through many sufferings. Let us be glad and rejoice in the day.

Letters

The Joy of the Lord Is Our Strength

Peter

Anointed with the Oil of Gladness

Peter and Rohnel, called to be the ministers of Christ through the will of God, to all the scattered saints who call upon Jesus Christ; grace and peace unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This letter is written to the saints to remind us to rejoice in the Lord always and to seek the fullness of His joy in our lives. Embracing the Gospel, pressing into the Kingdom of God with all our heart, mind, and soul, brings greater joy as the Lord rewards those who seek Him. May we be filled with the joy of the Lord as we strive to stay in the faith by obedience.  The joy of the Lord is planted and kept in us by the preaching and obeying of the Gospel of the Living Commandments.

Joh 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 

Joh 15:11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 

By the mercy of God, the hidden mystery of His Gospel has been revealed. This Gospel is the knowledge of God that brings us many blessings, including the grace that manifests peace, obedience, and the fruits of the Spirit. We are being saved from our sins, and the Lord’s joy has now become our joy.

Mat 12:18  Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit [His Joy] upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 

God is love, and the love of God is that we obey His Commandments. The joy of the Lord is the love that is the Father dwelling in Him. The Father did not send Christ alone; the Father, who is the Holy Commandments, is alive with Christ as they are one Spirit. The Father is the joy of the Lord, and Christ always seeks to obey the Father so that He may please God.

Joh 8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 

As the Father sent Christ, so He sends us as His Christ. Thus, the joy of the Lord, the Commandments that are the Spirit of God, the wisdom of Christ, and the understanding of the Father become our strength when the Promise comes in the appointed day.

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Our joy is not our own, nor is it joy in the Lord.  The joy we receive as a gift is the Lord’s joy of the Holy Commandments that are the Father.  Sons of God always do what the Father does, which is to do the Commandments. We follow Christ’s example.

Joh 5:19  Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 

Joh 5:20  For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 

The love of God is His Spirit that brings the desire to obey God’s Commandments. The Lord had a full measure of this Spirit and thus, to bring joy to the Father, Christ endured the cross and despised the shame that comes from the carnal world.

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. 

Christ came into this world to save the world, and that is accomplished through the preaching of the Gospel to those given to receive it. The joy of the Lord is thus fulfilled in due time in those who hear Christ and His Christ.

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.

Christ’s prayer above is answered, and thus we follow the Lord’s example and, for the joy of the Lord set before us, pay the costs to become His disciples. Our hope, that is also our faith of Christ, is rewarded in due time, and the joy of the Lord, that is the love of God, is poured into our hearts by the Spirit.

Rom 5:5  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 

Having the Lord’s joy abiding in us is having the love of God in our hearts that witnesses that we are the children of God.

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 

Before Christ comes with His joy to dwell in us, a time of preparation is needed to build the walls and the temple in the Holy City. We are the Temple of God, and this is our day of preparation and the baptism of John. As the chosen of God, we begin singing a new song, the song of salvation.

Exo 15:2  The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation 

Psa 132:13  For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 

Psa 132:14  This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it

The walls that guard the Temple are the Commandments, and when they are being raised, our day of the Lord has come, meaning we have heard and received the Gospel. This is a holy day, as we are being made holy and perfected, and now have the same joy our Lord has living in us. The joy of the Lord that has been given to us is our strength.

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 shadows of the OT confirm our understanding of the Lord’s ways. While Nehemiah built the walls, Ezra built the new Temple itself, and its construction and dedication brought great joy to the children of Israel.

Ezr 6:16  And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy

The joy of the Lord is another symbol of the hidden mystery of the Gospel, the Promise of God now being revealed unto the saints. The Living Commandments of the Father is our strength, the power that saves us and builds and protects the Temple in which we rejoice and are exceedingly glad.  Through this joy, we are triumphing over our sins. Judgment has come upon the house of God, and a new creature is being made.

Isa 33:5  The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness. 

Psa 97:8  Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD. 

As we mature in the faith, we rejoice more and more at the trials and afflictions that come in the Lord’s day as we enter into the King’s palace.

Psa 118:24  This is the day which the LORD hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psa 45:15  With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king’s palace. 

We are comforted in our mourning and loss of many things.  Singing, shouting and making noise for the Lord is our obedience to the Commandments in which we rejoice. We are comforted, and all the waste places within us are being transformed. Joy, gladness, and thanksgiving are in our hearts as we sing to the Lord in obedience.

Isa 51:3  For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody. 

Act 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 

The Lord is well pleased in us, and we are glad when we come before Him singing praises by our obedience and trust in His ways.

Psa 100:1  A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 

Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence [the Commandments] with singing. 

Psa 149:1  Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. 

Psa 149:2  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

Only the redeemed of the Lord, to whom His joy has come, can learn and sing the new song of salvation.

Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 

The Joy of the Lord is mighty in bringing the overcoming of our sins that we have strived to attain all of our lives. Those to whom the joy of the Lord has come are the blessed sons of God, His kings and priests on the earth.

Psa 21:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 

Psa 21:6  For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.

Zep 3:17  The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 

Becoming one with Christ is marrying Christ, and in this, we rejoice, having been made ready by the works of God to wash us with the Commandments and clothe us in His righteousness.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

Psa 132:16  I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 

When we have joy in the Father’s Commandments, we cannot help but produce the fruits of His Spirit. Pursuing more knowledge outside of the Commandments is no longer a strong desire as we seek first the kingdom of God and obedience to the Commandments, in which we now rest in joy.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith …

Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit

In time, our sorrow over the many trials and afflictions turns to unspeakable joy. It is through these trials of our obedience to the faith that we overcome and begin to be filled with the Lord’s glory as salvation begins to manifest.

1Pe 1:8  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: 

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

 All that the Lord is doing is for the greater good of our salvation. Nothing is wasted, and we learn to rejoice in trials and the Commandments as we see Christ appearing more in our lives.

Hab 3:18  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 

Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations

The words for joy and gladness in the Scriptures are interchangeable, as various translations and Bible concordances confirm. The Lord raises us and brings us forth with both joy and gladness and gives us the Promised Land to inherit as we learn to obey the Lord.

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; 

Psa 105:45  That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD. 

The anointing of the Holy Spirit, known as the Promise, is the joy of the Lord and is also called the oil of gladness. The elect chosen of God who become His angels and ministers of flame are given the anointing which causes us to become trees of righteousness and manifest the glory of the Lord, that is, our obedience to the Commandments.

Heb 1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness [joy] above thy fellows. 

Isa 61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy [gladness] for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 

Where the King’s Commandments are sent, there arises light, gladness, joy, and honour.

Est 8:16  The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour. 

Our joy is said to be an everlasting joy as it is the Commandments, the Living Word that abides forever and never passes away.

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

When the joy comes inside, we are now being taught by God.  The Spirit of the Commandments, the anointing of the joy of the Lord, teaches all men and makes known God’s ways.

Act 2:28  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 

Jer 15:16  Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 

The day we hear the Gospel preached with God-given ears begins the blessing of God, bringing us the joy of the Holy Ghost into our hearts. Many lies are cast out, and we begin to be healed of our lameness and many other spiritual diseases.  Great joy comes into us, the city of God.

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. 

It is an unparalleled honour and blessing to have the opportunity to make a stand for Christ, the Commandments, and be persecuted for His name’s sake. 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 5:11  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. 

Our sorrows, afflictions, and doubts vanish as the Lord grants us understanding and gives us the overcoming. We are thus filled not only with His joy but also with His glory. 

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

When the Gospel is preached, and we begin to be washed by the Commandments, we tarry for the Lord to come with the living joy of the Promise. We advance in our preparations the more we are caused to forsake all our worldly thoughts and interests and for the joy of the Lord buy the hidden treasure being now being revealed.

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. 

Waiting for the Lord is a test of our faith. Will we be found faithful when the Lord returns in our day of visitation? When we prove faithful in a few things, He promotes us into greater things and gives salvation, and we enter further into His Joy as shown in the Parable of the Talents.

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. 

We earnestly seek and tarry for the blessing of God and this joy to come through the gift of His Faith that is also the Holy Spirit.

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 Spirit

The joy we receive when we hear the Gospel and begin to cast our devils is far surpassed when the Lord returns the second time as the Promise and brings His Joy into our hearts to dwell.

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. 

The spiritual body of Christ is connected being of one mind and one Spirit. Thus, there is great joy in our heavens and all those seated with Christ when even one person is granted repentance and turns their heart to 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.

To declare the whole counsel of God regarding His Joy, we also need to speak of the negative, which is losing the joy and the voice of gladness. When there is no joy in our hearts, we examine ourselves and see how we are doing versus the Commandments. If we continue to wilfully sin after coming to knowledge of the truth [the Gospel], the Lord forsakes us for a little season to turn our hearts back to the Commandments in repentance. Like David, we seek the Lord, repent, and seek the restoration of the joy of our salvation.

Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 

Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 

As our Lord experienced for our sakes on the cross, we likewise endure a little season in which we feel forsaken and thus have no joy. We await the death of our flesh so we can be freed from our sins. If we call upon the Lord, He hears us and restores the joy of our salvation.

Knowing the truth that is the Commandments and not doing them when Christ goes away for a little while brings much sorrow, and we can feel unworthy, and our faith is shaken.  There is no joy to be found when we are being disobedient to the Truth we have walked with for many years. Giving birth is painful, and for the Sons of God to come forth, travail and sorrow are promised before it is all turned into joy. The Lord speaks of our journey of sorrow before He returns, when the new man is born in us, when the Promise comes.

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. 

We await the Promise and the power to pull us out of the miry clay that is the pit flesh and stands us on the Commandments. He will come; He will not tarry. Be patient.

Psa 40:1  I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 

Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 

Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 

When the Lord returns to us the second time, we have received the blessing of God and the Power to overcome sin and endure to the end. The joy of the Lord now lives in our hearts; it is our strength, and we can ask Him anything according to His will, and it shall be done. No man can take away our joy, the Spirit of God, the Promise now living inside of us.

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. 

The joy of the Lord is not the same as the joy of our flesh. The flesh profits itself nothing from Christ’s Commandments, only destruction. The Lord takes away the joy and gladness we had in satisfying our lusts, as we now belong to Him, and all things are being made new. The meat and joy we once had is cut off from our hearts and minds, and it is a blessing of God.

Joe 1:15  Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. 

Joe 1:16  Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? 

Jas 4:9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

When the joy comes, our day of the Lord is now at hand, and we are blessed in the Lord as we are being drawn to the Commandments. The joy we had in our rebellion to the Commandments turns to gloom as the Gospel brings mourning, lamentation, and woe into our lives. What is sweet to our hearing becomes bitter to our flesh and the old way of life.

Rev 10:9  And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 

Rev 10:10  And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 

Our complaining and moaning about the costs of losing our lives gives way to great joy when the Comforter comes to us, and the joy of the Lord remains with us. We no longer weep over our trials and rejoice in the Lord always.

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. 

The saints are the blessed of God, given to receive and be filled with the joy of the Lord. Receive the blessing of the Gospel and rejoice in the Lord always. We say it again, rejoice because the Lord of all joy is at hand. Receive ye the Gospel of Jesus Christ.