TOPIC: YOUR REST AND YOUR JOY
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15: 15. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.
Beloved, I welcome you to another Moment of Daily Encounter! Yesterday we established that your joy is a function of the Holy Spirit, it does not depend on any material thing.
Hence a child of God can maintain a joyful atmosphere no matter what he/she is going through. If you loose anything but you have not lost your joy, then you have not lost anything.
If however you have lost the joy of your salvation, kindly reach out to me! It is risky to live the Christian life without joy. It is the number one mark of a saved soul.
We also said your joy sponsors your rest. Today we shall see how joy brings rest.
How does joy bring rest?
1. Joy brings heaven down to your soul. Anywhere heaven arrives, sorrow is not permitted there, that’s why If you are born of God, then you are not permitted to be sorrowful:
1 John 4: 4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
This implies that God is resident in you now and His kingdom is also resident in you;
Luke 17: 21. Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
So, in heaven there is no sorrow or sadness, it is joy all the way:
Psalm 16: 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Therefore, an atmosphere of joy brings heaven to your soul and that guarantee rest.
It also brings heaven to your situation like the case of Paul and Silas. They were in chains but their joy was not chained! They were locked up for no just cause but refused to allow their voices to be locked up. The Bible said:
Acts 16: 25. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
The response from heaven brought rest to their situation!
Beloved, have you permitted problem or challenges of life to close your mouth?
You that used to sing praises to God at midnight, you have suddenly grown cold! Why did you stop your meeting with the Holy Spirit at the time agreed?
Do you know He is still waiting at the meeting time?
How could you allow what you are going through to close your mouth?
It is time to arise, shake yourself and return to the place of prayer and praises. God will come in there and bless you. God is set to turn your story around, so return in seeking the Lord.
2. It brings into your life the spirit of obedience:
From our anchor scripture (2Chro.15v15), we discovered that Judah was joyful and that joy made them delighted to obey the vows/oath of the covenant. She promised to obey, seek God with all her heart and for sure, they did! The resultant effect was rest round about.
Beloved, do you desire rest round about? Then let nothing tamper with your joy. The joy in you is the reason why the spirit of delightsome obedience that guarantees rest can be poured out.
Many of us have missed it because the spirit of prompt obedience is not there! There are those who are supposed to be in their financial rest by now but disobedience to the leading of the spirit closed the door.
But I pray for someone today in any way you have closed your door due to disobedience or delayed obedience, may mercy reopen the door once again in the name of Jesus.
Remember this; Heaven is real and hell is real! The decision of where to spend eternity is best made now. Make hay while the sun shines!
Prayer points;
– Father thank you for your word to me today.
– Lord, I receive grace to maintain joy for delightsome obedience in the name of Jesus.
Prophetic Declaration:
– I prophesy that closed doors be open now in the name of Jesus.
– Receive the spirit of delightsome obedience to do as commanded in the name of Jesus.
From your brother Alex
God bless you.