Joy – Does God himself give joy to us?
The joy I have, in Jesus my Master, is a gift from God. I don’t screw my courage and become …
Tag Archives: Joy
“You are the light of the world.” ~Jesus
Jesus makes a declaration about His followers in the Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5 – 7). We are the light of …
Joy — What is the biblical background to the use of the word?
Background on Joy Joy (שִׂמְחָה, simchah; χαρά, chara). Closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state …
“You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.” ~Jesus
Jesus is the true source of everything I am or have. Jesus is the real vine. My role is to …
Joy – Is it because of the believers’ partnership in the good news?
Am I offering prayers filled with joy? Am I a partner in the joy of the good news? Am I …
I kind of grew up in the church …
I kind of grew up in the church, so to speak. It was a VERY Baptist church. Southern Baptist in …
Joy – What is it a hallmark of?
What a treasure we have in the joy that Jesus brings into our lives. God has a country. Jesus is …
“If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.” ~Jesus
Faith is not something I conjure up on my own, nor is it something I am born with. Faith is …
Joy – Do God’s people find their joy in Jesus?
Jesus wants me to glad, joyful and happy. Jesus paid the price for my missing God’s goal (aka sin). I …
“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ~Jesus
Jesus is now at the core issue as He lays out His manifesto (Matthew 5 – 7). God has a …
Joy – Why does the Holy Spirit’s fruit include joy?
We love to eat fruit. We love the fruit and the juice. It gives us nourishment and refreshes us. May …
“For to me, to live is the Messiah as He is my source of joy, my reason to live and to die is gain for I will be with Him in eternity.” ~Apostle Paul
My hope is in Jesus. That is the main thing about the main thing. Is your hope in Jesus? If not, …
Joy – What role does it play for the believers’ faith and obedience?
There is great joy when our brothers and sisters walk in the truth of the Master Jesus. I want to …
Joy — How can I experience joy in my discipleship life?
Joy is something we all long for but that often seems difficult to grab hold of. Experiencing joy should be …
“Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus shows me how to love and be kind. Jesus commands me to love. God wants me to be kind, …
Joy – Is it promised to me from Jesus the Messiah?
We have a great promise from Jesus the Messiah. It is joy and happiness. Jesus wants me to have joy. …
Joy — What is it? Why is it important?
It is easy to forget about joy. It is essential in the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes (aka The Jesus …
“And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of the beauty of God (glory).” ~Apostle Peter
Peter knows about Jesus and goes over the top in love for him. Jesus stood by him after Peter abandoned …
“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” ~Jesus
In some circles, the end game is to be saved. Now that is important but it is not the end …
Joy — Does the appearance of Jesus on the scene bring us joy?
The disciples of Jesus are to rejoice in the salvation brought about by the Messiah’s faithful life and death, and …
“Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; He directs it to whatever ends He chooses.” ~King Solomon
God is God. God is in control. I don’t get that some days. What about that jerk that is …
Peace — Is it through the ministry of Jesus?
We are born at war. At birth, my sinful nature has already declared war on God and His truth. My …
Second Coming – What does Jesus the Messiah say about it?
I think many followers of Jesus avoid discussing the second coming of Jesus and the rapture. I know I have …
Joy – Is it because of the believers’ love and concern?
Joy is something that I must work at. It is a fruit, needs cultivation, water, fertilizer and more. Neglect can …
Materialism — Will possessions and riches make it difficult to enter God’s country?
I have to be careful. Materialistic seduction can happen. I live in America and that is clear. If materialism was …
New Covenant — What are the superior blessings of the new covenant?
Under the New Covenant (or New Agreement), I am given the opportunity to receive salvation as a free gift. “For by grace …
Immaturity — Is that the cause of backsliding?
I started out strong. I imagine you did too. And then … Something happened. Or several things. We went off …
Speech — Can it bring ruin or joy to the speaker?
What my tongue produces has eternal implications, for it reveals what is in my heart. Jesus said that “the good …
Victory — Is it complete in Jesus as He defeated Sin?
Jesus the Messiah triumphs over and disarms all the powers of evil arrayed against him. Believers are able to share …
Joy – Is it evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work? Does it prompt believers to rejoice?
When the Holy Spirit moves, it is a stunning thing to behold. It makes me want to glorify God. I …
Good News (Gospel) — What does it mean?
I love it that God sent His Son Jesus to bring us good news. God is in a good mood …
“Jesus the Messiah might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example.” ~Apostle Paul
God is very, very patient with me. Jesus the Messiah is perfectly patient. I am so thankful for that. Where …
Happiness — Who is it for?
I am happy. Jesus promises me that I will be. A state of pleasure or joy experienced both by people …
“Celebrate God. Sing together—everyone! All you honest hearts, raise the roof!” ~King David
I serve an amazing God. I celebrate His goodness, righteousness and holiness. God is good. God is good all the …
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants me to love. Jesus wants me to do good. Jesus wants me to not expect anything in return …
Friends — Will I find unity in the love and fear of the Master Jesus?
The Master Jesus the Messiah gave us the definition of a true friend: “Greater love has no one than this, …
“For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Master of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.” ~Isaiah
Without faithfulness to God there can be no discipleship life. Following Jesus is based first on faith that God is, …
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~Apostle Paul
Joy and happiness is essential in the Kingdom of God. The Beatitudes (aka The Jesus Manifesto) traditionally use the word “blessed”. …
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Master Jesus the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
Can I do good? I want to but there is this evil nature that can get in the way. God shows …
Did some religious elite appoint me as a spokesperson for Jesus?
I am astounded at how many companions in faith I have. Due to the power of the world wide web, …
“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” ~Apostle Paul
The joy of deliverance is amazing. When God sets me free, rejoicing is in order. I was tied up missing God’s …
Toleration — It should be exercised for the benefit of those whose faith is weak
How toleration of other believers should I be? Even when disputing/dialoguing over prominent doctrines, a disciple of Jesus should exercise …
“Happy are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad!” ~Jesus
How did Jesus expect me to react under persecution? Rejoice and be glad! That is right. I’m jump up and down for …
“I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” ~Apostle Paul
Self-control is an issue of my heart. I must not be wishy-washy in my resolve. I must excerpt control of my …
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.” ~Jesus
It starts with faith. I need to get clear with my faith in Jesus. When peace leaves me, I need to …
Church — Disciples are sent out by Jesus the Messiah
Yikes! Many people today understand the church as a building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church. Period. …
Wealth — John the Baptist on Fruits Worthy of Repentance
This is pretty stunning. Of course, John the Baptist is a prophet and is determined to speak the truth of …
“What do you make of this?” ~Jesus
Jesus wants to know. Jesus has a question. What do I make of this? Do I understand? Am I listening? …
Achievement — Is faith required?
Where does faith come from? Faith is not something I conjure up on my own, nor is it something I am …
All the great Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes — A comprehensive list
In honor of a great man and prophet of God, let us all hold our dreams up for the world to …
Heaven — Is it a Real Destination after Death?
What is the deal with heaven? It seems to be a somewhat complicated biblical concept with lots of opinions on …
Tenderness — A Mark of a Disciple’s Behavior
Jesus shows me how to love and be kind. Jesus commands me to love. God wants me to be kind, …
It is time to shout out in great joy! Try this every day or even several times a day. Seriously … it will make a difference.
This is a stunning story in Luke 19. Here is the challenge after you read this scripture. Try this with …
“Then there’s only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ~Jesus
Where is my treasure? What is important to me? Is Jesus my Master? Jesus told us to “store up for …
Ecstasy — It can be in Response to Jesus the Messiah
We seem a little reluctant to talk about the ecstatic experience. Is that for mystics and weirdo’s? Maybe it’s not …
Discipleship – Joy is a Benefit and Results from Being a Disciple
Joy is closely related to gladness and happiness, although joy is more a state of being than an emotion; a …
“Jesus came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near.” ~Apostle Paul
Prophecies of peace are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus the Messiah. Peace is real. Jesus wants me to experience peace. …
“Keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” ~Apostle Peter
The Holy Spirit brings joy to believers, giving us an inner contentment and happiness which is not dependent upon external …
Goodness — Good Works will be Rewarded
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit”. “Fruit,” here, means “beneficial results,” the good things that come …
“We don’t want the crowds up in arms” ~Religious Leaders
The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus. They would. The religious elites just didn’t want people to be upset about …
“When you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’ ”
I am a slave of Jesus. Jesus is my Master (aka Lord). Jesus owns me. I have to be clear about …
Faithfulness — It is Seen to God as Marital Fidelity
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people; seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects God’s own …
“Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit!” ~Luke
Jesus rejoiced. Jesus is exuberant in the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to usher in the Kingdom of God in the …
Victory — It is Complete in Jesus as He defeated Temptation
Jesus the Messiah triumphs over and disarms all the powers of evil arrayed against him. Jesus has won the victory. …
Obedience — It is Demanded of God’s People
I know. Obeying runs against the grain of what I want to do. Jesus demands that I am an obedient …
“A slave of the Messiah Jesus …” ~Apostle Paul
How did Paul see himself? Paul saw himself as a slave of Jesus. This is not a fluke. Paul also …
Joy — Deliverance sets it off
I want the joy of the Lord. I want to be more than happy. I want to celebrate God’s victory …
“A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” ~Jesus
Jesus is beginning to wrap up His manifesto. Jesus changed his brief metaphor from sheep and wolves to trees and …
Peace — We Find it in the Teachings of Jesus the Messiah
The Apostle Paul alerts me that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, …
“You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants to know. Am I impressed with what man can build? Really? That impresses me? As he walked away …
Goodness – Good Works are a Characteristic of God
Goodness and good works are acts designed specifically to benefit others, which are characteristic of God. I can be good …
Love — It Comes from the Holy Spirit. It is a Gift and it is a Fruit.
Where does love come from? Love comes from the Holy Spirit. It is a gift. It is fruit that grows …
25 Mother Teresa Quotes about Living a Life of Purpose
A Nobel peace laureate, Mother Teresa (1910–1997) was an Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary. For much of her life, Mother …
Faithfulness — The Proper Response to God by His Covenant People
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people. It is seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects …
“Blessed be God — He heard me praying.” ~King David
I need to see how much God cares. It is just who He is. I don’t need to look around. …
Self-control — It Affects the Whole Person Including Physical Self-control
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, particularly in situations of intense provocation or temptation. It …
God’s Goal — To Live with His People
God has goals in mind. He will accomplish them. When I miss God’s goal, that is known as sin. I …
Kindness — God shows it to His people
I want the quality of compassion and generosity in my life. I need to learn how God loves the weak …
“A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.” ~King Solomon
I have seen it way too often. Something that starts simple escalates. It turns into all out war. My drive …
Peace — These Prophecies of Peace are Fulfilled in the Coming of Jesus the Messiah
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there …
Joy — Disciples Have it Even in the Face of Opposition
Do disciples have joy even in the face of opposition? Absolutely we do. Jesus is kind and thoughtful. I know …
“The Master is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?” ~King David
I have a number of things I am afraid of. God is God and Jesus is working with me to …
Joy — The Holy Spirit gives Joy to Jesus the Messiah and to Those who were Anticipating His Birth
The Holy Spirit brings joy to believers, giving them an inner contentment and happiness which is not dependent upon external …
Jesus didn’t call me to be Christian. He called me to be a disciple.
Jesus didn’t call me to be a Christian. He called me to be a disciple. Jesus is my Master teacher. …
“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.” ~Jesus
I am thinking this part of the Jesus Manifesto has been ripped out of most Evangelical and Protestant bibles. I …
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” ~Jesus
Did God abandon Jesus? It is a stunning question. From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around midafternoon …
Goodness — God is pleased with the good works of his people
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer it …
Faithfulness — Is seen as steadfast commitment to God in unwavering devotion
Faithfulness is the proper response to God by his covenant people; seen in a steadfast commitment which reflects God’s own …
Self-control — The mark of a wise person and aspect of a disciples character
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. It is physical and emotional self-mastery, particularly in situations of intense provocation or temptation. …
Kindness — God shows kindness to all, evil and good.
In Galatians 5:22 we learn that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 …
Peace — Through the Father’s provision for the believer
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there …
Gentleness — In showing consideration to all
Gentleness is an expression of compassion, seen in God’s dealings with the frail and weak, and expected of believers in …
“What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this?” ~Jesus
Jesus sounds upset. The day before he went through an amazing experience. We call it the transfiguration. “While He was praying, the …
Joy — Can it become real in our relationships?
Joy is experienced naturally in many circumstances of my life in Jesus and most importantly in relationships I have with …
Miracles of Jesus — Raising the dead!
There are a number of examples of this stunning miracle in the Bible. Notably, 3 are attributed to Jesus. This …
God is good — God demonstrates His goodness in His actions!
God not only is good but more importantly, God does good. God acts on His goodness and demonstrates it to …
“And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” ~Luke
Am I happy? Do you see my joy? Or am I just a grumpy old man most days? In …
Goodness — God’s people are called on to do good works
How am I doing with being selfless on behalf of others? It is a pretty telling question if I answer …
Faithfulness — Encouragement to be trustworthy
I am called to be faithful and trustworthy. I am challenged by this some days. When I think about it …
“The one who listens to you, listens to me. The one who rejects you, rejects me. And rejecting me is the same as rejecting God, who sent me.” ~Jesus
What am I to do? It all starts with listening. From there, as a follower of Jesus, I am to …
