Part 2
Have you noticed in the last few years especially, that your cell phone needs to be charged more and that it is using more power to work at maximum capacity for consistent peak performance? You had better not forget your charger, huh? Computers seem to be the same way if they are portable, they need to be continually recharged so they won’t slow down or shut off. But in a perfect world, ideally, it is nice if they are always plugged in, so that the power is consistently stable. I remember traveling with Ken Petty into Nepal a couple of years ago and staying in a hotel where it was almost expected that daily, we would have power outages and of course guess what? A number of times we lost power!
Could it be that for us too we feel we have lost the power and strength to function at peak capacity? That the burdens, worries, and cares deplete our “batteries” more quickly? I know in a recent conversation with someone, we joked about tech issues, and they said, “if it has a problem, just turn it off and on again.” You know what that causes the device to do? Reset and refresh!!
I assume that is the beauty of sleep, in that we can kind of shut off for a few hours and then get up refreshed. However, sleep is not enough. We must be energized and refreshed with more, and guess what? God has provided a wonderfully simple solution. JOY!!
FULLNESS OF JOY: RESTING IN GOD’S PRESENCE (Ken Petty)
“In the midst of the sadness and depressiveness of life in our modern societies, most people yearn for happiness. Yet so few ever find the happiness they seek. The word “happiness” is derived from the root “hap,” meaning “chance or luck.” The word “happen” also comes from this root. Happiness comes because circumstances happen to become favorable.
For instance, many believe that if they get lucky and win the lottery, they will find the happiness they have been searching for. The greatest problem we face in our quest to be happy is the changeableness of circumstances. Everything can look so good one day, and the next day an unexpected financial expense, a medical emergency or an argument with a friend or family member can leave us worried, disappointed, negative, sad, or even depressed. Happiness is fickle. However, joy is not. Joy comes from God, and it is not dependent upon the ever-changing circumstances of life.
When the Judeans had returned from the Babylonian captivity and rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah declared to them, “neither be ye sorry [grieved]; for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
The joy of the Lord is what sustains us. Let’s read the context of this verse.
Nehemiah 8:1-10 KJV
8 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
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.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.
When the law was read on the first day of the seventh month, New Year’s Day for the Hebrews, also known as the Day of Trumpets, the people realized the dire consequences their nation had suffered because of their disobedience. They were grieved and wept loudly. Their leaders, however, told them not to weep or be grieved, but to have joy. The people then went their way “to make great mirth. The word “mirth” denotes being glad or joyful with the whole disposition as indicated by its association with the heart, the soul, and with the lighting up of the eyes…most frequently the word is used for joy in the Lord on holy days, sacred occasions of many sorts.
It many times signified a spontaneous and vocal expression of joy rather than a restrained frame of mind and to lift up one’s voice and singing praise. It often serves as part of a festive celebration that entails eating and drinking and the playing of various instruments. There could be dancing, clapping the hands, frolicking, and stamping the feet.
The root of this word serves as the polar opposite for mourning and gloom. In this instance, this great joy was expressed on the Day of Trumpets.
Just understanding the Scriptures caused such an expression of joy for these people. Consider that they had the books of the law and not the great revelation contained in the Church Epistles that we have today. Shouldn’t we have great joy when God opens to us the magnificent truths from His written Word, whether in reading it by ourselves or receiving instruction from someone else?” [end Ken’s quote}
This record has such a great application that I believe is applicable in today’s world and a great vision to capture so that we may continue to be recharged and refreshed to move forward and press on with conviction and determination in our service for and with God. If we don’t have joy in the journey, don’t worry there is hope!!
For all of us, that becomes the continual daily challenge, to keep Jesus and the amazing work he did before us, so that we too may come from a place of rest and joy. JOY is an amazing energizing force that enables us to endure beyond our human limitations, and that IS what we want right? To not look to ourselves and our strength as the source of accomplishment but to press onward in partnership with God towards the finish line, to walk in the steps of our Lord and to see the realities of what he did on our behalf as living and real in our day by day lives!
Philippians 4:4-7 Amplified Bible
4Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. 7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”
― Corrie Ten Boom
Chosen Gems 