JC Blog

Recently at work we’ve undergone major changes, over the past year we have lost a lot of people due to babies, moves, new jobs or layoffs. Only empty chairs occupy the desks where people I worked with for years, used to sit. Each person leaving has caused extreme sadness and a little heartache. But as the old adage says, “life goes on”... so the question becomes how we continue through life without letting these things affect us long term? In other words, how do we survive the heartaches and trials of this life?

Did you know that we have a promise of peace? In a world that functions on drama, we have promises in God’s word assuring us peace, His peace. Paul said in Philippians, “The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” ( Philippians 4:7 nasb ). This promise is unlocked in the previous verses. The key, is to rejoice in all and every circumstance of life. Although it seems to be an arduous task at first thought when going through trials, the payoff, by far, outweighs the effort.

The Amplified Bible explains this magnificently, “And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 4:7 Amp ). God’s peace is what shields both mind and heart at all times. There is no turmoil in Him, only peace. And he has promised it to us simply because He loves us.

Our world operates in chaos, but through Christ, we are not of the world. If we do not experience this soul peace it is because we haven’t used the Biblical key to release it in our lives. In the previous verses, Paul starts out with instructions on how to experience the peace that transcends all understanding, His strategy is to Rejoice. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 4:4-7 nasb ). Rejoicing overcomes worry and anxiety and releases God’s peace into your life.

The Bible gives us a great outline for rejoicing. First we are to rejoice in the Lord. Rejoicing can be defined as being glad, being well, thriving and joyful. We’ve all experience rejoicing in life, but Paul is describing a state of mind that can be manifested in our lives. Something that continually happens, not just situationally.

For this to happen we need to focus on the source of our joy, which is the Lord. The early church rejoiced in everything, if you search through scripture you will see they rejoiced in hearing the gospel, and witnessing it’s power ( Luke 10:20, Luke 19:6, Acts 13:48 ). They rejoiced when Jesus returned to the Father ( John 14:28 ). They rejoiced when they were beaten, publicly humiliated or killed ( Matthew 5:12, Luke 6:23, Acts 5:41, II Corinthians 6:10; 13:9, Philippians 2:17, Colossians 1:24, I Peter 4:13 ). They rejoiced in each other or when they heard good reports of other believers ( I Corinthians 16:17, Philippians 2:28; 4:10, Romans 12:15, II Corinthians 7:13; 16 ). The list goes on and on. So if the Greek word for rejoice is used for all of these circumstances, especially persecution, suffering, affliction, trials, there should be no excuse why we are not rejoicing in the Lord in any and every circumstance life throws our way! Paul even went so far as to say it again, so we would understand it’s importance...REJOICE!

Switching focus in the midst of situations gets our attention where it belongs, on the Lord and His kingdom. It allows His peace to operate in our lives and His voice to be heard in our hearts. The trials caused by living in this world have no hold on us when we experience the peace that God has promised us through rejoicing. Even though we still experience a little heartache now and again we are well equipped with the key to overcoming, so again I will say REJOICE!

Paul's directive to be joyful, patient and faithful in the midst of daily struggles seems like a hard pill to swallow. However, this charge comes directly on the heels of instruction to serve the Lord continually out of spiritual fervor and passion for Him. When we are walking after the Spirit and living out of our relationship to Him then these things will naturally occur in our lives because each one of these is a fruit of the spirit. These fruits are His characteristics and traits, so these characteristics in our lives are a byproduct of our relationship to Christ. As we become more and more like him we start resembling His character on a daily basis.

We are to be joyful in hope. When our hope is placed Jesus then being joyful in all things is easy because we know the hope to which we were called. I Peter says "In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade" ( I Peter 1:3-4 ). As born again believers, we know the hope that we have through Christ. Our future in heaven is secure in him by evidence of his resurrection. "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls" ( I Peter 1:8-9 ). Just knowing that one day we will be reunited with Christ is reason enough to be joyful in all things. This inexpressible and glorious joy should be evident to everyone around because of the hope we have in Christ.

Secondly we are to be patient in affliction. Being patient is a wonderful characteristic to have. It is a quality of suffering with fortitude while enduring wrongs and trials at the hands of the world. James tells us that we are to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" ( James 1:2-4 ). The King James Bible says it this way, "the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" ( James 1:3-4 KJV ). The work of patience in our lives produces maturity and completion in our faith. This is why we can be patient in affliction, because we know the result of the trial will not destroy us but rather help us grow and mature in the Lord.

Next we are to be faithful in prayer. James tells us that "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" ( James 5:16 ). Through Christ Jesus we are completely righteous which means when we pray, it is powerful and effective. This is why Paul tells us to be faithful in prayer because we know that we are releasing God's power on this earth when we pray.  Jesus told the disciples "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" ( Mark 11:24 ). When we pray in accordance with God's will then we can rest assured that the answer is yes to whatever we ask. Paul gave us an encouraging word in Romans 8 concerning this and praying in agreement to God's will, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" ( Romans 8:28 ). Since we are called to His purpose we can pray knowing that it is effective and will work out for our good.

Joy, patience and faithfulness are all fruit of the Spirit. We can operate in all of these things because they are characteristics of God and have been deposited into our born again spirits. We can let them flow through us simply by living by His spirit and renewing our minds to the truth of His word. May this word bless you and may your fruit look like His characteristics today, amen.

Paul was incredibly practical and gave great instruction. He knew that all of us were accountable to God and every person was at a different level of understanding. Because of this he gave instruction that lead toward mutual edification and building up of the body instead of tearing down by focusing on these divisions. Much of his instruction in Romans 14 is about eating and drinking and what is acceptable, and the underlying principal is just as true today as it was then. The principle of what Paul is saying is that we are to live for God, what we do and don't do should come out of a heart conviction and not because of rules and regulations given by others. What God has revealed to us as acceptable before him, we should be confident in.

Paul also reminded us that we should be patient and loving with others in their walk without causing them confusion and putting stumbling stones in their way ( Romans 14:15 ). But in the same way we should not allow others to condemn us for the freedom that Christ has revealed to us. Perhaps that is accomplished by not giving them opportunity to criticize us. We can do this by abiding in our freedom without flaunting or making a big deal about it.

The bottom line is that the kingdom of God which we have been called into is not about these physical things and mental debates. We should settle in our hearts and walk in the truth we know, but the kingdom is about righteousness, peace and joy. Righteousness is the state which makes a person acceptable to God. Through Jesus we are righteous before God as we have been given His righteousness through faith ( II Corinthians 5:21 ). Next comes peace and joy, this should continually be the state of our heart. We should walk in supernatural peace and joy because these are the fruit of the Spirit that was given to us at salvation ( Galatians 5:22-23 ). Paul said in the next sentence, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" ( Galatians 5:25 ). These things are the true things that we should consider important and which we should see operating in our lives.

When we understand that the kingdom isn't about the natural but is about the amazing things Jesus did and provided for us we can toss aside all of these minor details, habits and hang-ups that hold us back. Verse 18 says that "anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men" ( Romans 14:18 ). If we live this way in righteousness, peace and joy, then God has accepted and approved our behavior and we will win favor among mankind as well.  Today, I pray that you understand this amazing truth and disregard the non-essentials that hinder you and I pray that you fully pursue God's kingdom today!

Do you overflow with hope? Is hope bubbling up, spilling over and infecting everyone around you? Hope can be described as happy anticipation of good which is coming for the believer. This comes from knowing God because he is the author of hope so the more we walk with him the more this hope will overflow in our lives and others around us will take notice.

Jesus told the woman at the well an amazing truth concerning this when he offered her living water, he told her, "whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." ( John 4:14 ). Eternal life is something you possess right now if you are born again ( John 3:36, I John 5:13 ). It is not something we wait for but something we currently have through faith in Christ. Jesus defined eternal life in John 17, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" ( John 17:3 ). It is not only a future in heaven, but it is knowing God the Father and God the Son in such a way that living water (hope) overflows into your life and bubbles up, spills over and cannot be contained.

Paul writes to the Romans "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him". Trust is something that is learned and experienced. The further we walk in fellowship with the Lord the more we know him and understand his will and desires concerning us. He fills us with joy and peace in His presence. Joy is the source of happiness; it is more than a feeling. It is the ability to be content and joyful in every circumstance. Hebrews says that Jesus was anointed with the oil of joy ( Hebrews 1:9, Psalm 45:7 ). Meaning; there has never been anyone more full of joy than Jesus. As his children it makes sense that we are also anointed and filled full of joy for this life. Peace is harmony in our relationships, but beyond that it can also be understood as a treaty or agreement to cease hostilities. As God fills you with his peace, you will understand that you are at peace with Him. He is not angry at you for sin, he does not look at you as a filthy sinner, instead he sees you as he sees Jesus ( Ephesians 4:24, 1 John 4:17 ). These things are necessary for this life. The author of hope is able to fill you to overflowing with these things as you learn to trust him and experience Him by faith.

An amazing truth is that this all happens on a supernatural level by the power of the Holy Spirit living inside you as a believer. This hope that Paul is describing is supernatural, it is not based on feelings. This means how you feel cannot dictate whether or not you experience this hope. The hope is given by God and you have it. When we walk with the Lord, the anticipation of future things builds and builds until it overflows in your life. Remember God is the author of hope and he has given you eternal life, which is knowing him in a personal and intimate way. We experience this life by faith and the more we practice it the more this joy, peace and hope will spill out into the natural realm of our lives.

Today, I pray that you renew your mind to this wonderful truth from God's word. Like Paul, my prayer for you is that you are filled to overflowing with the hope that is yours in Christ Jesus. May you experience his power, his joy and his peace today as you walk in fellowship with Him, amen.

A few years back, I was sitting in a Good Friday Service. We were singing a sad song and the mood was quiet and still. Everyone reverent, reminding themselves of what took place on a night like that so long ago. They were remembering Jesus' suffering at the hands of mankind. How he was beaten, mocked and led away to die for the sins of world. Everyone around me wore an expression of sadness, but in my heart I couldn't join in with their grief and sorrow at thinking of Jesus being crucified. My heart rejoiced knowing that my savior had died in my stead.

It seemed almost wrong to feel this way looking around at the congregation that had come together to remember this monumental occasion. The heavy cloak of sadness surrounded the group, but I felt differently and wondered why they were sad and remorseful? Wasn't the cross a victory? Without the sacrifice Jesus provided, wouldn't we all still be condemned by sin? Was it selfish for me to feel this way, to rejoice at his suffering and celebrate his death instead of mourning it?

The Lord spoke something into my spirit that night that I will forever remember. He told me to celebrate his death and not be sorry and grieve. It was the price He was willing to pay so that we could be reconciled with the Father. He reminded me of a verse in Hebrews, something he spoke to reassure us that His victory on the cross was the reason he came in human form, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" ( Hebrews 12:2 ). I wasn't alone in rejoicing in this event. Jesus also rejoiced knowing what was accomplished and done. While on earth, Jesus considered the joy of the cross before him. He ignored the shame of dying a criminal's death and set out to defeat sin and death once for all so we could stand before Him completely righteous. The pure bliss of knowing that he would rescue us, bringing us into relationship with the Father was far greater than the pain and agony he was about to suffer that night. What a marvelous thing to rejoice in.

During an intimate moment with His disciples before he was betrayed and led away to die, He shared the Passover supper with them. What a privilege it is to have their accounts of this wonderful experience. As they were reclining at the table Jesus told them that He desired to eat Passover with them because he would not eat it again until it's fulfillment in the kingdom of God.

He was the Passover Lamb and everything that the Old Testament described and looked forward to, was going to be accomplished on that night. The lamb was given to be a sin substitute for the people. It was a sacrifice for a covering of sin, but until Jesus laid down His perfect life, sin still separated us from God. When Jesus took the bread, He broke it and said, "This is my body given for you". He took our sin on himself and suffered for us so that we could we could be made righteous ( II Corinthians 5:21 ). His body was broken so that ours could be made whole.

In the same way, he took the cup and announced that this cup symbolized the New Covenant, ratified in blood, poured out for the forgiveness of sins once for all. His blood poured on the mercy seat in heaven would satisfy God's wrath forever. He knew he would enter the more perfect tabernacle in Heaven and offer his unblemished blood before God securing our eternal redemption ( Hebrews 9:11-12 ). The blood would be the guarantee of the New Covenant that he was ushering in with His death. He encouraged His disciples to partake in the cup knowing that it would be fulfilled that night in the Kingdom. For the agony he was about to undergo, it was nothing compared to the joy of saving us.

As I think back on that Good Friday, I will never been the same. I rejoice in the marvelous work that Jesus did over two thousand years ago. I praise Him that is was perfect and complete and there is nothing I can do to add or subtract from it. He is seated in heaven right now because this work is done. I am thankful that all I needed to do is accept this gift and believe in Him to save me. I will take communion tonight reflecting on what was accomplished that wonderful night so long ago. Instead of sorrow, may you celebrate his death today rejoicing that the price has been paid for you to fellowship in the kingdom of God now and forever, amen!