The Joy we need

The need for Joy is overwhelming. Our scripture is all about Joy. We need to understand that our faith in Christ Jesus is the source of all Joy. Meditate on these words. They will indeed enrich your Joy in Jesus. Do share this with 10 friends for a true and wonderful blessing.

Let Love Rule in your Heart and Soul with Grace of our Lord and Savior.

The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee
Pastor of The Joy of Jesus





Peter 1 (New International Version)

1 Peter 1
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Praise to God for a Living Hope
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though 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, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."[a]
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.[b] 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever."[c] And this is the word that was preached to you.


Footnotes:
a.1 Peter 1:16 Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7
b.1 Peter 1:22 Some early manuscripts from a pure heart
c.1 Peter 1:25 Isaiah 40:6-8
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica

Let us Pray

Scripture 2 Thessalonians 3
Request for Prayer
1Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

Sermon: Our message today is one of prayer. The two major components of life as a person of faith is Prayer and The Word of God. We are faced with interesting challenges around the world and at home as well. The pressures to do what is right, just and fair is an open question.

What should we be doing during these days of concern? Our scripture is clear. We are to pray for the Word of God to run swiftly and be glorified. We are to look out for evil.God is faithful. He will protect you. God will direct your heart in the patience of Christ Jesus.

Let us pray for all people. Let us pray for all in need around the world. Let us pray for The Word of God in Christ Jesus. Let us pray thank God will direct our hearts. The question as to why is in order?

Jesus was born to save the world. He was beaten, shed his blood, and died on the cross for all who believe. Jesus was raised from the grave and sits in heaven with God the Father. Jesus will return with all: Power, Glory and Honor. We Thank God and Praise God for all in Christ Jesus. Let us pray. A-men

Prayer for Haiti

Lord, we continue to Trust in Thee, and Pray of The People of Haiti. We ask in Jesus name for more prayer and more love to move Thy people to do what is in their hearts.

Do You Need Power?

Scripture: Acts 7:55-60 (New International Version)
55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.

59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Creator of The Universe and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit, we humble ourselves unto Thy will. In the name of Jesus.

Sermon: The Power of God. This is what is most needed today. As the new decade takes form, people are looking for hope, peace and love. Yet, these are in short supply as in everything else in the world. Our message today is to bring the issue of power front and center in the life of the believer through the word of God.

Our text addresses the Apostle Stephen. After Jesus was betrayed by Judas, arrested, crucified in the cross and resurrected by God: The disciples selected a replacement . Stephen was a person full of faith, hope, peace and love. In other words, The Holy Spirit was in his life. The Bible states that Stephen performed miracles and great wonders for the people. He had the face of an angel.


Stephen could be anyone who has faith. We must take on the role of Stephen today. If you need power and we all do. We too, must increase our faith in Christ Jesus. Stephen knew the word of God. We too, must know the word.

Stephen was stoned to death for devotion to The Christ. As the people murdered Stephen, the window of Heaven opened and he say The Glory of God and on His right hand Jesus Christ. Before Stephen died we forgave his killers. His face was like an angel.

If we need power my friend, we can find it in the word of God. Jesus died in the cross so that we may live. Peace, love and hope in the faith are so important today. We too can see the full power of God in His word. We can do miracles and wonderful acts through our faith in Christ Jesus.

Do you need more power to weather the storms of life? Call on Jesus. God can fix the broken heart, give you a job, and save your home. Yet, we must stay close to the most powerful thing in the universe: The Word of God.

Prayer: Lord we pray for power for our people to live each day in Thee. Help all people in need as we go through this red sea. We pray for peace, love and hope. We thank Thee and Praise Thee for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.A-men.

Prayer for World Peace

God the Father
Creator of the Heavenly Kingdom
We petition the Court of Heaven
And humbly pray for mercy and divine intervention.

Send forth blessings of spiritual deliverance—
Free nations from the strife of war—
Release cultures from the shackles of poverty—
Instill stability and prosperity—
Healing earth of suffering—
With saving grace for humanity—

We implore Heaven for miraculous signs
By altering the destiny of humankind
Into a glorious era of peace and harmony
Through divine love and prayerful unanimity—

Almighty Father we graciously thank thee
In granting our prayers through the name and power
Of your divine Son, Jesus.
Amen

Note: We must pray for peace. The power of prayer is beyound all comprehension. Let us grow closer to God through Christ Jesus. Hope, Peace, and Love rule in our hearts.

Turning Water into Wine

Why did Jesus turn water to wine?

Jesus turned water into wine to prove that He's the source of life. Changing the water to wine offered a symbol of the new spiritual life Jesus brings from the old mortal in conversion. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" Many people make a mistake here; they want to improve themselves into being worthy of God before they accept Christ. In reality, it's in accepting Jesus as Savior that God counts us worthy of entering his presence (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus turned water into wine because changing one element into another symbolized marriage. It brings new life out of old; first, as the distinctive relationship between two adults; then, eventually in the children who are at once like, yet different from the parents. The miracle particularly represented Israel's relationship with God. He betrothed her to Himself in Egypt, married her to Himself at Sinai and repeatedly called her to be a faithful spiritual spouse. When she proved endlessly faithless, He called her a spiritual harlot. Finally, God divorced His corrupt bride by sending her into exile. Ezekiel's brilliant allegory is but one of many references to that relationship 16:1-63.

Jesus turned water into wine to prove that the old covenant lacked the resources to meet Israel's spiritual needs. Jesus didn't have to reference the stone pots to perform the miracle. Since they were used for ceremonial washing of people and utensils, Jesus had them filled to prove that He fulfilled and overfilled ceremonial cleansing; then had the servants draw water turned into wine from the well to illustrate that God's new life came from a different source - Christ Himself. Wherever the Old Covenant failed to meet the spiritual needs of God's people, Christ's resources flourished energetically, dynamically, and satisfyingly.

Jesus turned water into wine to illustrate the inimitable nature of God's revelation through Christ. Everything God had said through Law, Prophets, and Psalmists proved magnificent. And all who studied regaled themselves with stories of God at Sinai and before Jericho and outside Jerusalem slaying Babylonian soldiers. But God saved the best for Israel till the last revelation of himself in Christ. Indeed, no one before or since Christ bettered Him in any way.

Jesus turned water into wine to prove His real nature to the disciples. The ultimate purpose of the miracle was to reveal His Glory, with the result being faith in Him.

It's interesting that Jesus had no interest in recruiting faith in the members of the wedding party, or the steward of the feast. Even though the servants knew the provenance of the wine, Jesus didn't perform the miracle to convince them. His only interest was to reveal his true, inner being to six men-a glory that would be uncovered completely only one time in His ministry - at His transfiguration. The sign achieved its purpose, for His disciples believed in Him.

Jesus distinguished between His Glory and His hour or time (John 2:4, Matthew 26:18). The glory His disciples saw wasn't the same as the hour His mother wanted Him to reveal. His glory was His inner being revealed in miracles, teachings, claims, and example. His hour or time was His death on Calvary, though it's true that in His hour at Calvary, He revealed His true glory as God in the flesh. Paul delineated that in Colossians 2:15.

No one but He knew what His hour was, but His disciples, and all who came to believe in Him while He preached, understood that glory meant in Christ God had become a mortal. In Christ God put on a human face - a reality His appearance to John in Revelation 1:12-18 verified. The eternal, invisible God will be visible to all the redeemed in the glorified God/Man Jesus Christ. In essence then, this miracle proved more about the Someone He was than the something He did.
Note: Jesus is the Lord of All. Our faith in Jesus can make all things happen for the good. Pray with us for all the people of the world for: Peace, Love and Joy with our hope in the Power of God in Christ Jesus.

Sermon: Blessed is The Name of The Lord

Scripture: Psalm 100 (New International Version)

Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving thanks.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his [a] ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Sermon: The questions surrounding a new decade are so open that the excitement is overwhelming. New plans and great opportunities are endless. We pray for you and thank God for all that you do. The real question today is what do we do first?

Sure money is important, but is that first?

Career? How does that fit into ones plan? I wonder? The Bible says seek the Lord first and all these things will be added unto to you.

Yes my friend. Seek God first. We bless His name, be thankful and praise God while it is day. Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for all sin, on the third day God lifted Him up to His full Glory and He shall return for His own.

The streets of gold, the pearly gates the diamonds for ever, the flowing waters are all beyond our comprehension. No tears, no pain: Just Peace, Love and Joy of the Lord. There are mansions for us all. When we all get to Heaven, what a glorious day this will be; when we all see Jesus, we will jump and shout for victory.

We pray for all people this new year, 2010 in Jesus name. A-men.