“Joyless In a Joyful Season?”
Philippians
4
Robert
Jason Bryant
Tis the season once
more Beloved, the season of smiles, children laughing, and excitement
of family and gifts! The annual celebration of the First Advent of
the Prince of Peace, our Emmanuel, and the King of kings born in the
lowliest of circumstances is upon us once more. Songs abound of Joy
to the World, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, and
Unspeakable Joy. The visible image of
the Invisible God is come among men, and what was lost in the Garden
of Eden when man chose to
sin, God hath restored the chance for
man to choose the Joy of His presence once again!
I must needs be
realistic among you today Beloved, for there are those of us, saved,
yet in a joyless season of our lives. Life circumstances, choices,
people, and even the enemy can come so hard...so fast...so
relentless, that is tries to steal the very joy that is ours.
Seasons change, deaths occur, families shatter, and loneliness
strikes even the child of God.
“The
United States is a deeply unhappy place. We are a nation that
is absolutely consumed by fear, stress, anger and depression.
It isn't just our economy that is falling apart - the very fabric of
society is starting to come apart at the seams and it is because of
what is happening to us on the inside. The facts and statistics
that I am going to share with you in this article are quite
startling. They are clear evidence that America is a nation
that is an advanced state of decline. We are overwhelmed by
fear, stress and anxiety, and much of the time the ways that we
choose to deal with those emotions lead to some very self-destructive
behaviors. Americans have experienced a standard of living far
beyond the wildest dreams of most societies throughout human history,
and yet we are an absolutely miserable people. Why is this?
Why is America #1 in so many negative categories? Why are we
constantly looking for ways to escape the pain of our own lives?
Why are our families falling apart? There is vast material
wealth all around us. So why can't we be happy? Just look
around you. Are most of the people around you teeming with
happiness and joy? Sadly, the truth is that most Americans are
terribly stressed out. Yeah, many of them may be able to manage
to come up with a smile when they greet you, but most of the time
they are consumed by internal struggles that are eating away at them
like cancer.
So
why is this happening? Is modern life structured in a way that
is fundamentally unhealthy?” By
Michael Snyder, on April 22nd, 2013
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/america-1-in-fear-stress-anger-divorce-obesity-anti-depressants-etc
Why are Americans,
which includes many of us true Believers afraid? Why are we joyless?
Where has our strength gone? Let us take a “look see” at the
“why” things are so, and the “how” to let God guide us into
the JOY that is already ours, already been bought and paid for in the
sacrifice of Jesus.
These circumstances
and situations are REAL, THEY ARE IN OUR
FACES, AND I DARE NOT MAKE LIGHT OF IT; however,
they are temporary circumstances and seasons Beloved, and our joy is
NOT! So let us, ME, and you listen to God speak through His Apostle
Paul, imprisoned, soon to be martyred, nonetheless joyful letter and
inspired instruction on joy when the season and circumstances scream
just the opposite!
FRUIT OF HE, THE
HOLY SPIRIT: Love,
Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness Gentleness, Faithfulness,
and Self Control. These are ours by the sealing of the Holy Spirit,
yet we must pray, live, and walk in the Spirit for these to be
manifested in our lives. How do we do that? We do it by denying
self, flesh, and worldly desires, and submitting willfully to Jesus
and His Word. Nothing will steal our joy faster than the lust of the
flesh!
Rotten Fruits of the Flesh:
“16 This
I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of
the flesh.
17 For
the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye
cannot do the things that ye would.
19 Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
21 Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I
tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Beloved,
in the above passage of chapter five penned by Paul, to the
church at Galatia, do you see any similarities with the secular
article mentioned before? This is the Biblical Truth to what the
article was asking “why” about to his readers. Amazing how
God has already given man the answer, Christians the answer and
we so quickly forget that which is ours!
Jesus
is our strength and victory over anxiety
I.
The
Exhortation to Unity and Joy
4 Therefore, my brethren
dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the
Lord, my dearly beloved.
2 I beseech Euodias, and
beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 And I intreat thee also,
true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the
gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose
names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord
always: and again I say, Rejoice.
II. Our
Secret of the Peace of God
5 Let your moderation be
known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing;
but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
III. The
Presence of the God of Peace
8 Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye
have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and
the God of peace shall be with you.
IV.
The Victory Over Worry
10 But I rejoiced in the
Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished
again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in
respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be
abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am
instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to
suffer need.
13 I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me.
14 Notwithstanding ye have
well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know
also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from
Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and
receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in
Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a
gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and
abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which
were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice
acceptable, well pleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply
all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our
Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Salute every saint in
Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. (Philippians
4:1-21 KJV)
In conclusion, we
asked in the beginning title “Joyless in a Joyful Season?” can it
be this way for the Saint? Yes, sadly it can. Does it have to be
Saint? No it doesn't! Right here, we have the Great Physician's
cure and prescription to joyless life of worry! Share this with
someone this Advent season, if need be hold it dear to your own
heart. I am!
Love in Christ,
Jason
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