A Message of Love, Peace and Hope

Sermon: Life is a challenge today for the heart and soul in the life of the believers. How dose one maintain a sense of love, hope and joy in a world filled with evil, hate and violence?

Society is risk for a number of reasons. The average family is fighting for jobs, food, and housing. This recession has been long and deep. People have lost hope and faith in our systems of government and banks. Jesus is the reason that there is a strong force of hope, love and joy to the world.

Jesus was born to save the world from sin. Greed at the highest levels has caused hardship. Jesus could take a few fish and a little bread a feed thousands of people. We too must take what little we have a make the most of it. When we share what we have it makes the world a better place.

Jesus died on the cross for our sins. This is a reason for hope, love and joy to the world. God raised Jesus from the grave. God promised if we believe in Jesus, we too will have hope, love and joy forever. Jesus will return with all power, honor and glory.

Scripture:John 3:16 (New International Version)

16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Prayer: We pray for hope, peace, and love in the name of Jesus. A-Men.

Blessed is The Names of The Lord Jesus Christ

Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
The glories of my God and king!
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Refrain:
Blessed be the Name, blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Blessed be the Name, blessed be the Name,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Jesus! the Name that charms our fears,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
His blood can make the foulest clean,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
I never shall forget that day,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
When Jesus washed my sins away,
Blessed be the Name of the Lord

Bible Study with The Joy of Jesus

Becoming a Child of God
Galatians 3:26-27 (KJV) says, "For you are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." All of us want to be children of God, but it is our faith in Christ that leads us to become children of God. This verse also tells us how our faith leads us to be children of God. It says, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." The word for as used in this scripture is a preposition, which means for the purpose of or in order to be. Therefore, we are baptized for the purpose of or in order to be God's children.

To be a child of God and part of His family, we must be born into His family. Our Lord said in John 3:3, "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven." Then He tells us how being born again takes place in John 3:5, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." When one is "born again" by being baptized into Christ he becomes a child of God. The blood of Christ will only forgive the sins of those who are "born of water and the Spirit" when they are baptized for that reason.

We might ask the question, "If I had to prove that I was a child of God in order to get into Heaven, could I do it?" Only those who are God's children will inherit Heaven. In 1 Peter 1:4 we read "To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you." Are you eligible for that inheritance? Have you become a child of God by being baptized into Christ? If you haven't then you have no inheritance in Heaven. You will inherit eternal punishment. Why would anyone in their right mind not want to be a child of God?

Has your faith led you to be baptized, so that you can become a child of God? If not then you are not a child of God; you belong to Satan. To be a child of God, our faith must be a faith that will accept and do all that the Lord tells us to do. It must be an obedient faith, because God says in James 2:17,20 & 24, "Thus also faith, by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." "But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." We are not saved by the salvation-robbing doctrine of "faith only". If our faith is not one of action, it is a dead faith. A dead faith will do you no good on the Day of Judgment. This is the only place in the Bible that speaks of "faith only" and here the false doctrine of "faith only" is condemned. It also refers to one who believes in "faith only" as "O foolish man" because he will lose his soul in eternity.

Are you a child of God? Have you been baptized into Christ so you can be a child of God? As Hebrews 2:3 says, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" We know there is no escape. Please don't neglect your salvation.


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Questions Lesson 16

Becoming A Child Of God
(click on the button of the answer of your choice)

1) (Galatians 3:26-27)) How does faith in Christ lead us to become Children of God?
By being baptized into Christ.

All people are already children of God.

Faith only.


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2) We are baptized in order to be a child of God.


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3) (James 2:17, 20, &24) One who believes in faith only is

A wise man.

A foolish man.

Going to be saved.


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4) We are justified by faith only.


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5) (James 2:17) Faith that has no works is

A dead faith.

A living faith.

A saving faith.


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6) To be a child of God our faith must cause us to accept and do all the Lord commands.


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7) (1Peter 1:4) Who will inherit a home in heaven?

All People.

All sincere religious people.

Only God's children.


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8) Heaven is reserved only for God's children.




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9) (Hebrews 2:3) If we neglect our great salvation

We will be given another chance in purgatory to go to Heaven.

There will be no escape.

We will still be able to escape.




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10) We will still go to Heaven if we neglect our great salvation.

The Joy of Jesus & Saving The Environment

The oil leak in The Gulf of Mexico is the biggest environmental challenge of the millennium. The solution to this problem is strategic in nature. Green Technology is the best line of thinking in order to address this problem. The Joy of Jesus Church on line's Green Technology Simplex has a wealth of information that can better inform the public regarding green tech. issues.

The future is at hand, this disaster is a wake-up call to go green and fast. Jobs and education must be re-structured to meet the demand. The Joy of Jesus is praying that the oil leak will be fixed before it ruins the environment. Wee also, understand that it will take a new innovation in green technology to restore our planet to full health.

The Joy of Jesus offers Green Technology, jobs, education and health services information and resources to help make the cultural adjustments for the future. Join our campaign for hope and opportunity today. Visit http://thejoyofjesuschurchonline.blogspot.com/ to save the world and the environment with us.

Let us Rejoice in The Lord The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee

Sermon: To rejoice in The Lord is What we must do. The Goodness of God is worthy of our praise. We thank God and Praise God for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. There are many problems we face today that are too overwhelming for man to resolve. God gave us Jesus to save us from sin. Jesus died on the cross, and was raised from the grave so that we who believe in Him shall have everlasting life. This is the reason for our joy. Let us rejoice in The Lord of our salvation. We Praise God today for all of the joy that is found in Christ Jesus we pray. A-men...

Scripture:
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)

Bless The Lord Today and be Blessed

Psalm 103
1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

7He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

8The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

16For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

18To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

19The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

21Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

22Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.


King James Version (KJV)
Public Domain

Bible Study with The Joy of Jesus for Life

The Cleansing Blood of Christ
Hebrews 9:22 says, "Without shedding of blood there is no remission." I John 1:7 tells us that "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin." God, in choosing the cleansing agent for our sins, chose the very best that He had, the blood of His own Son. It is by the precious blood of our Lord, that we are cleansed from all of our sins. Revelation 1:5 says, "To Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." Yes, it is only by the blood of our Lord, that we get our sins washed away. John 19:34 says, "But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out." Jesus shed His blood for us, in His death, when He died on the cruel cross of Calvary.

How do we come into contact with that cleansing blood, which our Lord shed in his death, in order to have our sins washed away? Romans 6:3 tells us how. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" Since Christ shed His blood in His death, when a person is baptized into our Lord's death, it is there that he spiritually comes into contact with the blood of Christ and his sins are then washed away. Baptism is the only means of reaching His death by being "baptized into His death", where His blood was shed, so we can have forgiveness of our sins. So, when Ananias told Paul in Acts 22:16, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins," it was the blood of Christ that washed away Paul's sins when he was baptized.

There are many differing humanly devised plans of salvation with their flowery theological phrases. One of these says all you have to do is "accept Jesus as your personal saviour" and then "say the sinner's prayer" to be saved. Others say you must be sprinkled, or touch the radio, or speak in an unknown tongue in order to be saved. There is not a verse in the Bible that teaches any of this. All of these are false and become a mockery of God and what He says in the Bible. But as we are told in Galatians 1:7, "But there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." These perverted humanly invented plans of salvation will result in many good people being lost. If people would only read the Bible for themselves to see what God requires to be saved so they can go to Heaven.

Salvation does not originate with men but with God. The Lord's salvation is offered on His terms, not ours. To refuse the Lord's terms of salvation and pardon is to forfeit eternal life in Heaven.

Have you been baptized to have your sins washed away by the blood of Christ? If you haven't, then you still have every sin that you have ever committed. Your sins have separated you from God. With your sins you can't go to Heaven to be with God when you die, but you will have to go to the eternal punishment of Hell where there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth forever and ever. You may have been baptized into a denominational church, but not for remission of your sins so you can be saved. If you have not been baptized for the remission of your sins, so that you can be saved, then the blood of Christ will be of no benefit to you, and Christ’s death for you was in vain. But please take advantage of Christ having died for you. Only you can do this for yourself.


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Questions Lesson 15

The Cleansing Blood Of Christ
(click on the button of the answer of your choice)
1) (1 John 1:7 & Revelation 1:5) What cleanses us from all sin?
We have no sin to be cleansed.

Nothing can.

The blood of Christ.


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2) We are cleansed from our sins when we are washed in the blood of Christ.


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3) (John 19:34) Where did Christ shed His blood for us.

In His death on the cross.

When He cut His finger.

He never shed any blood.


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4) Our sins are washed away when we come into contact with the cleansing blood of Christ.


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5) (Romans 6:3) How do we get into Christ's death to spiritually come into contact with His blood?
When we die physically.

When we are baptized into His death.

We can't spiritually come into contact with His blood.


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6) We come into contact with the saving blood of Christ when we are baptized into His death.

The Key to Grace in The Joy of Jesus

Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ;
you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are [c] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.


Footnotes:
a.Psalm 51:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
b.Psalm 51:6 Or you desired?; / you taught
c.Psalm 51:17 Or My sacrifice, O God, is

Fear not with The Joy of Jesus

The Psalms
37

The Insecurity of the Wicked
A Psalm of David.


1 Fret not thyself because of evildoers,
neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.


2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
and wither as the green herb.


3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.


4 Delight thyself also in the LORD;
and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.


5 Commit thy way unto the LORD;
trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.


6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light,
and thy judgment as the noonday.


7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:
fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way,
because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.


8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:
fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.


9 For evildoers shall be cut off:
but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.


10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be:
yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.


11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; Mt. 5.5
and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.


12 The wicked plotteth against the just,
and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.


13 The Lord shall laugh at him:
for he seeth that his day is coming.


14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow,
to cast down the poor and needy,
and to slay such as be of upright conversation.


15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.


16 A little that a righteous man hath
is better than the riches of many wicked.


17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken:
but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.


18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright:
and their inheritance shall be for ever.


19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time:
and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.


20 But the wicked shall perish,
and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs:
they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.


21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again:
but the righteous showeth mercy, and giveth.


22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth;
and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.


23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD:
and he delighteth in his way.


24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.


25 I have been young, and now am old;
yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,
nor his seed begging bread.


26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth;
and his seed is blessed.


27 Depart from evil, and do good;
and dwell for evermore.


28 For the LORD loveth judgment,
and forsaketh not his saints;
they are preserved for ever:
but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.


29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
and dwell therein for ever.


30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom,
and his tongue talketh of judgment.


31 The law of his God is in his heart;
none of his steps shall slide.


32 The wicked watcheth the righteous,
and seeketh to slay him.


33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand,
nor condemn him when he is judged.


34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way,
and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land:
when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.


35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
and spreading himself like a green bay tree.


36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not:
yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.


37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright:
for the end of that man is peace.


38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together:
the end of the wicked shall be cut off.


39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD:
he is their strength in the time of trouble.


40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them:
he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them,
because they trust in him.




Published by The American Bible Society

The Joy of Jesus is Believing

Believe in God and in Christ
Jesus says in John 8:24, "For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." In order to do the will of the Father, we must believe in God and in Christ, otherwise we will die in our sins and be lost. If we don't believe in God and in Christ, we will certainly not do what They tell us we must do. If God is to be believed at all, He must be believed fully. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." We must diligently seek to know all that God wants us to do and then gladly do it.

Do you believe in God and Christ with all your heart? Do you believe in Them to the point that you have all the confidence in the world in Them and you will do anything and everything They tell you to do? Not what we choose to do, but what God tells us to do. If we will not, then we are no different than those people that we read about in John 12:42-43, "Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." These people believed Jesus, but they were not saved, because they would not confess and obey Him.

Many people falsely believe that redemptive faith is merely a willing disposition to trust in Christ as their personal savior, independent of any further acts of obedience. This notion is completely alien from the truth found in the Bible. A belief that will not accept and do all God tells us to do is not enough. If this is the case, then we are no better than the devils in James 2:19, "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the devils believe and tremble!" The devils believe in God and they tremble, but this does not save them. So "faith only" does not save anyone, or otherwise the devils would also be saved. God's word says, "You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only" (James 2:24). Man's doctrine of "faith only" is foreign to the Bible.

Our belief is a work of God that God requires of us. John 6:29, "Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent." Our belief must be an obedient belief in all the things that God tells us to do. When our faith in God and in Christ has caused us to do what they tell us only then can we be saved. We do not earn our salvation but we qualify for it only when we have done what God has told us we must do.

Satan is trying to tell people today they do not have to do anything to qualify for God's gift of eternal life. Satan is successful with many people. We cannot have selective obedience and be pleasing to God. Our obedience is how we show our love to God and Christ. Jesus says in John 14:21, "He that has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved of My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." If we love Christ we will abandon all we do religiously that is not found in the Bible and then do all things that Christ wants us to do.

Just before Jesus ascended back into Heaven, He commanded His apostles in Matthew 28:19-20 to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." Our faith in Him must lead us to observe all things the Lord has commanded us to do in order to be pleasing to Him. We cannot select just certain commands of God to obey. We cannot ignore or rationalize away any of His commands we don’t like and expect to be saved. To believe in Him is to obey Him fully.

In speaking of Christ, Hebrews 5:9 says, "And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." If Christ is to be the author of our eternal salvation, He must be obeyed with an obedient faith. Respect for Jesus as our Lord means doing all He says and for the reason He says. In Luke 6:46 Jesus says, "But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?" Jesus is not our Lord if we do not do what He says. Are you willing for Jesus to be your Lord?





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Questions Lesson 10

Believing In God And Christ
(click on the button of the answer of your choice)
1) (John 8:24) If we do not believe in Christ
We will still be saved.

We will die in our sins and be lost.

Our sins will still be forgiven.


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2) If we die in our sins we will still be saved.


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3) (Hebrews 11:6) Without faith in God

It is impossible to please Him.

We can still please Him.

We can still go to Heaven.


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4) If we don't believe in God and Christ we will still do what they tell us to do.


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5) (John 12:42-43) Many people who believe in Christ are ashamed to confess Him
Because they love Christ.

Because they do not want to embarrass Christ.

Because they love the praise of men more than the praise of God.


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6) It is good to love the praise of men more than the praise of God.


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7) (James 2:19) If we believe there is one God, we do well,

The demons also believe and tremble.

The demons do not believe in God.

And this alone will get us to heaven.


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8) The demons do not believe there is one God.


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9) (John 6:29) Believing in Christ whom God sent
Is not a work of God.

Is not required by God.

Is a work of God.


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10) The work of God is not to believe in Christ.


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11) (John 14:21) We show our love for Christ

When we say we love Him but don't do what He says.

When we have His commandments and keep them.

When we only observe some of His commandments.


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12) Our obedience shows our love for God and Christ.


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13) (Matthew 28:19-20) We are to observe how many of the commandments of Christ?
Some.

Those we choose.

All.


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14) We need to only observe some of the commands of Christ.


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15) (Hebrews 5:9) Christ is the author of eternal salvation to

Everyone.

No one.

All who obey Christ.


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Help in Times of Trouble/The Joy of Jesus

What Is the Armor Of God?
As the disciple Paul looked at the Roman soldier assigned to guard him, he reminded us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but is a spiritual battle! He then used the armor of the Roman soldier to illustrate a spiritual truth: that God has given us “spiritual armor” to protect ourselves and to war successfully…

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the Full Armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the Full Armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,…”
(The Bible, Ephesians 6:10–18)



POWER UP
Six ways to fight and win your spiritual battles

Spiritual Warfare Is A Reality
We are surrounded by a world that operates on hard facts. The spiritual side of life seems so unreal in this age of megabytes and cellular phones, yet its existence is very much a reality.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian church warning them about the enemy of their faith, a foe that must be fought on a spiritual battlefield. Paul uses the term “powers of this dark world” to aptly describe Satan's forces. To Paul, this battle was not a mini–series or best selling novel. It was a real struggle grounded in truth.

Fear was not an issue to the Apostle, but deception was. His instruction to the Ephesian church was to be aware of the “devil’s schemes” – to stand strong against the one who desired to destroy their life example which was familiar to his audience…the Roman army and its armor. (See above, Ephesians 6:10–18)

Introduction
Paul did not indicate a direct application for most of the armor pieces he mentioned in Ephesians chapter 6. Bible interpreters have suggested various applications, but most would agree that Paul believed in the reality of our enemy Satan, and in the need to use spiritual armor to do battle with him.

Because of his familiarity with his audience, he probably had little need to explain something that would have been very clear to them. We feel that the interpretation of the “armor” section Paul intended can be found within the context of the Ephesian letter itself.

Ephesians is written to a group of believers who have not fully realized the power and protection they have in Christ. In this letter, Paul is lifting Jesus up as their only provision and singular source of power to live victorious lives. We see Jesus’ grace (*1:2, 6–7, 2:7), His glory (1:12,14), His purpose (1:9,11), His inheritance (1:18), His power (1:19), His love (2:4), His workmanship (2:10), His Spirit (3:6), His gifts (4:11), His sacrifice (5:2), His strength (6:10), and His armor (6:11-18).

Based on the context of the Ephesian letter as a whole, we can assume that Paul was trying to relate each piece of armor to some aspect of Jesus, His power and provision. Without armor, a soldier was as good as dead in the heat of a battle. Paul in a similar way, was challenging Christians to fight this battle covered with Jesus or expect ineffective service and defeated lives. Clearly, Paul's intention was to give us a method for victory!

How To Use This Booklet
The armor of God is activated in our lives through prayer, The historically accurate illustrations will help you picture the armor. Using the prayer guide on the last page (How To Pray On the Armor), “pray on” each piece of the armor during your daily devotional time and apply its truth to your specific situation. In addition, use the armor to activate God’s power all day long as you encounter the battles of life.

The Belt Of Truth
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” Ephesians 6:14
Roman soldiers wore a linen undergarment next to the skin, covered by a woolen one–piece tunic that came down to the knees. It was shaped like a “T” with a hole at the top for the head. It was sewn on two sides and generally had half sleeves. At times they were dyed, but most often they were the natural color of wool. The colored tunic was usually reserved for army commanders, the wealthy or those of the government status.

Over the tunic they placed a breastplate. At the bottom of the breastplate they wore a heavy belt made of connected bronze plates and leather with a buckle very similar to what we use today. This belt had one function. It served as the foundation on which the sword, dagger and metal apron were attached.

Application: Jesus Is The Truth
This belt was foundational for battle. In short, it supported the weapons that allowed the soldier to fight. The belt is a reminder that Jesus is the foundation for spiritual battle. He is the truth that stands against the lies and deception of Satan. “Jesus is the way and the truth” – the very basis for life. To win our spiritual battles our fight must be anchored to the truth found in Jesus alone.

Click here to learn more about using this in everyday life, and discover another interpretation of this passage based upon the King James Version phrase “having your loins girt about with truth”, supported by I Peter 1:13–16.

The Breastplate Of Righteousness
“…with the breastplate of righteousness in place…” Ephesians 6:14
The typical breastplate used by the Roman legions fell into four categories. Some were made out of leather and some out of small interwoven brass rings. High ranking officers sometimes had breastplates produced from a single piece of molded bronze.

The design pictured here uses overlapping Bronze scales. The bronze scale armor was in two pieces and was sewn to a short leather vest. The two halves were tied together with short strips of leather in the back and in the front. Bronze, although not the strongest metal known in the first century, had the advantage of being lightweight.

In this era, when hand–to–hand combat was almost always necessary, soldiers had to balance protection with ease of movement. The discomfort of the breastplate around the neck was usually softened by a woolen scarf.

Application: Jesus Is Our Righteousness
The function of the breastplate was simple – to protect the soldier’s vital organs. In close hand–to–hand combat the breastplate was essential for survival. No trained Roman soldier would venture into battle without it. If we start to believe that our own righteousness, effort, or good works can make us worthy of God’s protection, the advantage quickly changes to benefit our enemy. Our righteousness is worthless in the battle. We need to get our eyes off of ourselves and back on the provision of the cross and the righteousness that is found in a relationship with Jesus.

The Shoes Of Readiness and Peace
“…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15
The shoes worn by the Roman warrior generally came in the “sandal” variety. They had thick leather soles that were studded with small nails to provide stability in hand–to–hand combat. The sandals came up above the ankle and were held securely to the foot by extensive leather straps.

To survive cold weather climates, soldiers would fill the sandal with heavy wool or fur before lacing up. In some cases, Roman commanders would wear an early version of a boot. It had a thick leather sole and was either split down the front or on each side to allow entry. Straps were sewn to the back and wrapped up the leg to hold the boot securely.

Application: Jesus Is Our Preparation and Peace
Without his sandals, a soldier would not be prepared to fight and could be easily defeated. Paul tells us that our preparation for battle is the gospel (good news) of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. The work of Jesus here on earth brought us peace with God. This reconciliation through Jesus allows us to fight with boldness, confidence, perseverance, and peace.

The Shield Of Faith
“In Addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16
The Roman army used small round shields and large rectangular ones. The large curved shield which Paul refers to in the Ephesian letter was about four feet tall and two feet wide. It was made of layers of laminated wood covered by linen and leather. A brass or bronze rim covered every edge as protection against sword attack. It was generally painted with traditional Roman symbols such as eagles wings and lighting bolts.

Shields were primarily used as individual protection, but could be overlapped to form a large wall of protection. As a walled city was being attacked by the Romans, archers along the walls would rain down flaming arrows. The Roman soldiers with overlapping shields could continue advancing toward the gates of the city despite the arrows.

Application: Jesus Is The Focus Of Our Faith
The only protection against the flaming arrows that rained down from the sky in ancient warfare was the shield. If used correctly, it was a trustworthy piece of equipment. If dropped, it became useless and the soldier’s fate rested with himself. We trust in Jesus alone as our shield. We cannot rely on our own abilities in this battle.

The Helmet Of Salvation
“Take the helmet of salvation…” Ephesians 6:17
The Roman army helmet was usually made of bronze, although iron and leather were also used on occasion. To protect the sides of the face, “cheek–pieces”, hinged to each side, hung down and were secured with leather straps under the chin. A “shelf” on the back of the helmet protected the neck and shoulders from arrows that fell from above.

At some point in the first century a “bill” was added to the front of the helmet along with bronze coverings above the ears. Occasionally, depending on the particular Roman army unit or rank of the soldier, the helmet might have been adorned with a colored horse hair crest. Typically, these crests were ceremonial and were usually not worn into battle. A leather liner on the inside made the heavy helmet a little more bearable.

Application: Jesus Is Our Righteousness
The helmet was essential for the survival of a soldier in battle. Paul in using the word “salvation” indicates that the helmet is a source of total deliverance. In Jesus, we can find deliverance in every situation, spiritual, emotional, and physical. He has to be our source, our guide, our “way out”. We cannot deliver ourselves.

The Sword Of The Spirit
“…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:14
The Roman soldier carried a small dagger and a large double–edged sword used for thrusting. The sword was usually about 24 inches long, and 2 inches wide with parallel sides. This particular weapon was developed after the Romans observed the effectiveness of the short sword in the hands of the battle–hardened Spanish mercenaries.

Formerly, the Roman army used a much bigger “slashing” sword. This new shorter and more pointed “piercing” sword proved to be much more effective in close–quarter combat. In an era when almost any wound could be fatal, this short sword was the power behind the Roman army machine. The sword was always carried on the right side in a decorated wooden scabbard. The sword and scabbard were usually attached to either the belt or to a leather strap worn over the shoulder.

Application: Jesus Is The Word Of God
When used at close range by a skilled soldier, the sword was a deadly weapon. Paul tells us that the sword represents the Word of God, the written picture of Jesus. He is the living version of everything God wanted to say to mankind. God’s Word is a powerful weapon against our enemy when it's used under the spirit's power and direction.

Further Study On Spiritual Warfare
The following Bible references have more information on Spiritual Warfare:

•Satan’s Defeat
Genesis 3:15, Luke 4:1–13, John 12:30–31, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, Hebrews 2:14, 1 John 3:8, Revelation 12:9


•Satan’s Power
Job 1:2, 2 Corinthians 4:34, 2 Corinthians 2:9


•Satan’s Works
Genesis 3:4–5, Job 1:9–10, Zechariah 3:1, Matthew 4:1–11; 13:38, John 8:44; 13:2


•Battle Examples
Matthew 4:1–11; 8:28–34; 15:21–28, Luke 9:37–45, Acts 5:12–16; 16:16–40


•Spiritual Weapons
Isaiah 59:17, 1 Samuel 17:45, 2 Corinthians 6:7; 10:1–6, Romans 13:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Hebrews 4:12, 1 Peter 5:8


•Satan’s Forces
Matthew 12:45, Mark 1:26; 5:9; 7:30; 9:17, Acts 8:7; 19:13


•Protection In The Battle
Genesis 35:5, Exodus 14:14, 20; 23:27, 2 Kings 6:17, 2 Chronicles 16:9; 20:29, Ezra 8:31, Daniel 6:12, Psalm 34:7; 91:4
How To Pray On The Armor
The following scriptures can be used as examples of how to “pray on” the Armor Of God:

1.The Belt Of Truth
Around my waist I put the belt of truth. Father, I commit myself to Jesus as the foundation of my life today. With your strength Lord, I will resist the temptation to stand on any worldly foundation. Jesus, you alone are my foundation for any situation that will arise today. (John 14:6)


2.The Breastplate Of Righteousness
On my heart I put the breastplate of righteousness. I can fight any battle today because of the righteousness of Jesus, not my own! Jesus I declare that you are my righteousness and that though the victory of the cross I can stand victorious against temptation, sin and the attacks of our enemy. (2 Corinthians 5:12)


3.The Shoes Of Readiness and Peace
On my feet, I put the shoes of the gospel. Father, prepare me by helping me know Jesus in a deeper way. Let your word become the guiding light for every step I take today and let the knowledge of the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection be my source of peace. (Romans 5:1)


4.The Shield Of Faith
In my hand I take up the shield of faith. Father, by faith, connect me to the power of Jesus. My desire is to trust in you and your strength alone. Protect me from the arrows of the enemy today as I rely on your power. Give me faith so I may go forward doing your will. (Hebrews 11:33–34)


5.The Helmet Of Salvation
On my head, I receive the helmet of salvation. Jesus, you are my salvation. You are my deliverance. Deliver me from all sins and weaknesses – spiritual, physical, and emotional. Cover me with strength, peace and anointing and bring me to complete wholeness in you. (1 Thessalonians 5:8–9)


6.The Sword Of The Spirit
In my hand I take up the sword of the Spirit, the powerful word of God. Jesus, you are the living version of God’s Word. May God’s Word give me wisdom to apply the Word to life’s situations and today’s troubles. (Hebrews 4:12)


Did You Know That We’re At War?
It’s not your traditional war and in fact most people don’t believe in this kind of battle at all. It is not fought with laser guided missiles or high tech aerospace engineering. It is a spiritual war. It is not fought with weapons you can see. But it is a reality just the same. It was real to Jesus and the Bible is filled with examples of His spiritual battles. It was also real to the Apostle Paul and in the Biblical book of Ephesians, he shows us how to fight our spiritual battles and have victory over our unseen enemy.

The Joy of Jesus is The Christ

Ephesians 2
Made Alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
One in Christ

Faith in The Joy of Jesus Today!

Faith is more than a theoretical belief in Christ; it is a principle of action. To have faith in Christ is to be willing to act on your belief in Him.

Faith in Christ leads you to want to change your life for the better. As your faith increases, you will desire to repent of your sins. In other words, you will want to change those thoughts and actions that are not in harmony with the teachings that Heavenly Father has revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As you obey Heavenly Father, He blesses you. He gives you inner strength and determination to meet life's challenges and helps you change the desires of your heart. Through your faith in Jesus Christ, you can be healed, both physically and spiritually.

Heavenly Father promises that when you repent and change your life, He will forgive your sins and bless you. Faith in Jesus Christ and repentance lead to baptism in His Church.

Convocation: The Joy of Jesus is Faith

Is your faith ever been in question? There are so many issues today that the average person must stop and ask what will happen next? We go from one situation ti another without any real solutions. War and poverty, crime, corruption, and schools firing much needed teachers are all on the table. What dose faith have to do with anything?

Jesus was a person of tremendous faith. He died on the cross for the sins of the world. We as believers must trust that this is the case in spite of the riggers of life as we know it. God raised Jesus from the dead as an act of faith. We too must hold on to our faith until the end.

Our faith is in the Christ and Hid love. We too must continue to love and keep our faith centered on God's Love in Christ Jesus. We pray that our faith will remain strong even under the most trying circumstances. We praise God and Thank God for you in Christ Jesus. Our prayer is that The Joy of Jesus is Faith; God's Grace will do all that we need to live in peace with God forever in heaven. In Jesus name we pray. A-men..

Bible Study with The Joy of Jesus

Our Eternal Salvation
Are you really sure of your eternal salvation? This is a very important question, and one that will have lasting eternal consequences. If you were to die today, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven? This is a question about which we cannot afford to be wrong, because eternity is very permanent. One day each of us will know the true answer to this question, "For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ", Romans 14:10. Every one of us have two appointments that have already been made for us and that we will definitely keep, whether we want to or not. They are, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment", Hebrews 9:27. These two appointments, death and the judgment, cannot be cancelled.

The tragedy of what happened in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001 shows the uncertainty and brevity of life. God tells us in James 4:14, "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even as a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

We must not make an error concerning our salvation in following what "seems right" to us, or that we "feel in our heart that we are saved". The Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death". Our feelings are not a safe guide, but only the Bible is.

What prior assumptions have we already made about our salvation? Many of these assumptions, that people make, contradict what God says in his word to us. All we have to do is to look around at all of the many differing doctrines that are being taught, and then compare them to what God says in the Bible, and we can see a great difference. Our Lord says in Mark 7:7, "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men". Our worship is vain if it comes from the doctrines of men and not from God. Can we say that all these many differing doctrines have come from God? I think not. I Corinthians 14:33 says that, "God is not the author of confusion." Or are they from men? Where else could they have come from, if they did not come from God? This becomes a very serious question. Our worship becomes vain and useless, if our doctrines come from men when they meet in their conventions and conferences to decide what they are to believe and do.

As the apostle Peter told the Jewish council in Acts 5:29, "We ought to obey God rather than men". Do not believe anything that I tell you, because we are not going to be judged by what I say. Do not believe anything any other person tells you, because we are not going to be judged by what some other person says. In fact, we are not going to be judged by what we personally believe. On the Day of Judgment we are going to be judged only by what the Lord says in the Bible. That is going to be the only standard for judgment, for our Lord says in John 12:48, "The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day". So, if I or any other person cannot point to it in the Word of God, then please do not believe it, because there is too much at stake – your soul!

Our soul is worth more than the whole world and everything in it. Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Our soul is the part of us that is going to continue to live on forever throughout all eternity. We cannot afford to lose our soul and be eternally punished.


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Questions Lesson 1

Our Eternal Salvation
(click on the button of the answer of your choice)

1) (Romans 14:10) Who will appear before the judgment seat of Christ?

Only the lost.

Only the saved.

All people.


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2) If we are wrong about our salvation we will be lost.


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3) (Proverbs 14:12) The way that seems right unto man leads to

Eternal life.
Spiritual death.

Success.


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4) Our feelings are a safe guide when it comes to our eternal salvation.


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5) (Mark 7:7) If we follow the doctrines of men

It is vain.
It doesn’t matter.

God is still well pleased.


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6) It is pleasing to God if we follow the doctrines of men in our worship.


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7) (John 12:48) What will be the standard of judgment on judgment day?

What we think.
The words of Christ.

What my preacher says.


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8) Just because we feel in our heart we are saved does not mean we are saved.


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9) (Hebrews 9:27) What two appointments have already been made for us?

Doctor.
Dental.

Death and Judgment


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10) We can cancel our appointments with death and judgment.

The Joy of Jesus is all about Hope, Faith & Love

Corinthians 13 >>
New Living Translation

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Love Is the Greatest

1If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;a but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

8Prophecy and speaking in unknown languagesb and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

11When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.c All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.


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Footnotes:
a 13:3 Some manuscripts read sacrificed my body to be

Happy Earth Day from The Joy of Jesus

Genesis 1
The Beginning
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

9 And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.


Footnotes:
a.Genesis 1:2 Or possibly became
b.Genesis 1:26 Hebrew; Syriac all the wild animals

The Joy of Jesus is to Wait on The Lord

Wait on the LORD

Wait on the Lord. This idea consists of three things:
1. We are to WAIT
2. He is LORD
3. He forms, builds, causes, works, does, teaches, leads.

Psalms 25:3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

(Those who do not wait are transgressing without cause. We run out of patience, and therefore lose trust in Him. Anything that is not of faith is sin.)


Psalms 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

(Our waiting starts when we arise and ends when we go to sleep. We are waiting to be lead and taught. Instruction means correction. When we encounter attributes in others that we do not like, it is to show us what we are like. Not waiting results in not seeing.)


Psalms 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

(Integrity is a "united heart," a heart with one Lord.)


Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

(Wherever we are in the process of our salvation, waiting is our task. He will not fail to teach us.)


Psalms 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

If ones we know seem to prosper in their own way, do not be concerned. The end of each matter takes time. The fool is "prosperous." Prosperity does not refer merely to money, but to "happiness," an elusive thing which is lost when sought. We do not "try Jesus" to be happy. Jesus is our Lord, not our hobby. He changes us radically. Radical change does not make one "happy." Radical change causes you to reject YOUR OWN WAY.

We must cease performing and start RESTING. Resting and waiting go together. If we are not resting, we can not wait. The Lord provided a remedy for the sins of man BEFORE he created man. This should make us to rest in Him. He provides before the need exists.


Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Psalms 52:9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psalms 69:3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Psalms 104:27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

Psalms 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

Psalms 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Psalms 130:6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Isaiah 8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

Isaiah 25:9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Isaiah 26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Isaiah 33:2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 59:9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

Jeremiah 14:22 Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

Lamentations 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Hosea 12:6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

Micah 7:7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

Zechariah 11:11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Romans 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Those that are busy never truly KNOW God.



By the way, the LORD picked this very chapter to say BE STILL and KNOW that HE is GOD.

In the King James Bible, the 46th word from the top of chapter 46 is shake and the 46th word from the bottom of the 46th chapter is spear . Now in 1611, Shakespeare was 46 years old.

He truly IS God and therefore we ought to wait on Him.


How is a Man Saved?




Jesus-is-the-Way John 14:6

"I am the way, the truth, and the life" - Jesus Christ

The Joy of The Lord is The Joy of Jesus Today

THE JOY OF THE LORD
Neh 8:10b For the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Ps 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in You rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because You
defend them: let them also that love Your Name be joyful in You.
Ps 16:11 You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fulness of joy; at Your right hand there
are pleasures for evermore.
Ps 22:3 But You are holy, 0 You that inhabits the praises of Israel.
Ps 30:5 Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Ps 34:1,2 I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall
make her boast in the Lord:the humble shall hear and be glad.
Ps 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation.
Ps 40:16 Let all those that seek You rejoice and be glad in You: let such as love Your salvation say
continually, The Lord be magnified.
Ps 86:12 I will praise You, 0 Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Your name
forevermore.
Ps 89:15,16,17,18 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, 0 Lord, in the light of Your
countenance. In Your name shall they rejoice all the day: and in Your righteousness shall they
be exalted. For You are the glory of their strength: and in Your favour our horn shall be
exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.
Ecc 9:7 Go your way, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God now
accepts your works.
Is 12:2,3 Behold God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength
and my song; He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of
the wells of salvation.
:5,6 Sing to the Lord; for He has done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and
shout, you inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of you.
Is 55:12 For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall
break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Is 61:3 To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for
mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness: that they might be called trees of
righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.
Is 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me
with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a
bridegroom decks Himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels.
Jer 15:16 Your words were found, and I did eat them; and Your word was unto me the joy and rejoicing
of my heart: for I am called by Your name, 0 Lord God of Hosts.
Hab 3:17,18 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive
shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there
shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my
salvation.
2
Zeph 3:14,15 Sing, 0 daughter of Zion; shout, 0 Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, 0 daughter

The Joy of Jesus is at the End

Everyone wants to know the end game. People can not wait to learn when the end will happen. The real question is what should one dot be ready for the end?

Jesus said that no one knows the end but God. However, we need to know what we should be doing as time moves on to that particular time?

Jesus told His disciples to watch, pray and be ready. That advise is as good as one could ever receive. We pray that God's will be done.

The Joy of Jesus is our salvation. We pray for the Lords, righteousness, truth, peace, faithfulness and word of God in Christ Jesus. We love the Lord. We pray for the day of His return.

Jesus gave His life and shed His blood so that we may live forever. Jesus and His full joy is to return and set all things right. The power of God raised Him from the dead and will return Jesus with all power, honor and glory.