The Joy of Jesus is a New Year

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended [1] it not.

Commentary: The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument. Without him was not any thing made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.

The Joy of Jesus is from The Heart

New International Version (©1984)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
New Living Translation (©2007)
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
May the words from my mouth and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my defender.

King James Bible
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.



Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 31:5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
Psalm 104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.
Isaiah 47:4 Our Redeemer--the LORD Almighty is his name--is the Holy One of Israel.
New International Version ©1984 by Biblica

Acceptable Chief David Heart Meditation Mouth Musician O Pleasing Psalm Redeemer Rock Salvation Sayings Sight Strength Thoughts

The Joy of Jesus is about a New Life

There is a bond uniting the saints which is closer than any natural tie: "so we, being many are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Rom. 12:5), and therefore "those members should have the same care one for another" (1 Cor. 12:25). So vital and intimate is that mystical union that if "one member suffer, all the members suffer with it" (v. 25). If one member of your physical body is affected, there is a reaction throughout your whole system: so it is in the mystical Body. The health or sickness of your soul exerts a very real influence, either for good or for evil, upon your brethren and sisters. For their sake then, it is most desirable that if in a spiritual decline you should be restored. If you are not, your example will be a stumblingblock to them, and if they have much association with you their zeal will be dampened and their spirits chilled. Surely it is not a matter of little concern whether you are a help or hindrance to your fellow-saints. "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matthew 18:6).
Contemplate your case in connection with your unsaved relatives and friends. Do you not know that one of the main obstacles in the way of many from giving a serious consideration to the gospel, is the inconsistent lives of so many who profess to believe it? Years ago we read of one who was concerned about the soul of his son, and on the eve of his departure for a foreign land, sought to press upon him the claims and excellency of Christ. He received this reply: "Father, I am sorry, but I cannot hear what you say for seeing what you do"! Is that the unuttered sentiment of your child? You may reply, I do not believe that anything in my conduct can have any influence on the eternal destiny of any soul. Then you are woefully ignorant. "Wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the Word, they also may without the Word be won by the conversation [behavior] of the wives" (1 Peter 3:1). In saving sinners God uses a variety of means, as in prejudicing sinners Satan employs many agents; is God or Satan most likely to use you? Most certainly the latter, if you are in a backslidden state.

The Joy of Jesus is Joy itself

We profit from the Word when we perceive that joy is a duty. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). The Holy Spirit here speaks of rejoicing as a personal, present and permanent duty for the people of God to carry out. The Lord has not left it to our option whether we should be glad or sad, but has made happiness an obligation. Not to rejoice is a sin of omission. Next time you meet with a radiant Christian, do not chide him, ye dwellers in Doubting Castle, but chide yourselves; instead of being ready to call into question the Divine spring of his mirth, judge yourself for your doleful state.
It is not a carnal joy which we are here urging, by which we mean a joy which comes from carnal sources. It is useless to seek joy in earthly riches, for frequently they take to themselves wings and fly away. Some seek their joy in the family circle, but that remains entire for only a few years at most. No, if we are to "rejoice evermore" it must be in an object that lasts for evermore. Nor is it a fanatical joy we have reference to. There are some with an excitable nature who are happy only when they are half out of their minds; but terrible is the reaction. No, it is an intelligent, steady, heart delight in God Himself. Every attribute of God, when contemplated by faith, will make the heart sing. Every doctrine of the Gospel, when truly apprehended, will call forth gladness and praise.

The Joy of Jesus is The Holy Spirit of God

Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version, ©2010)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Commentary:
Freedom by the Spirit

The attempt of the Galatian believers to attain spiritual perfection by keeping the law had ended in failure. Their churches were torn apart by conflict: they were "biting and devouring each other" (v. 15). Obviously their devotion to the law had not enabled them to be devoted to each other in love. And since they did not love each other, they were breaking the law. Where could they find the motivation and power to resolve their conflicts and renew their love for each other? Many Christians are asking the same question today. They are members of Bible-teaching churches torn apart by conflict. What went wrong? How can they be so devoted and yet so divided? How can they be empowered to really love each other?

Paul's answer is the Spirit of God. So I say, live by the Spirit (v. 16). The command live by the Spirit is the central concept in Paul's ethical appeal. Since the Christian life begins with the Spirit (3:3; 4:6, 29), the only way to continue the Christian life is by the power of the Spirit. The Spirit is not only the source of Christian life but also the only power to sustain Christian life. Actually, "walk by the Spirit" would be a more literal translation of Paul's command in verse 16. The command to walk in a certain way speaks of choosing a way of life--or we might say a "lifestyle," as long as we realize that what Paul has in mind is more than a matter of outward style. His command speaks of a way of living in which all aspects of life are directed and transformed by the Spirit.

The Galatian believers began their Christian life by receiving the Spirit (3:2-3), but they soon turned to the law to direct their lives. They probably felt that observance of the law was the way of life that would establish their identity and guide their behavior as the people of God. By turning to observance of law as their way of life, however, they were denying the Spirit's sufficiency to identify them as the people of God and to direct their conduct. Paul's references to the Spirit in chapters 3 and 4 assure his readers that their experience of the Spirit has clearly established their identity as the true children of Abraham and as the children of God. In this section (5:13--6:10) his references to the Spirit express his confidence that the Spirit is more than adequate to direct their moral behavior. The Spirit is the best guarantee of Christian identity and the only sure guide for Christian behavior. The Spirit is the only source of power to love in a way that fulfills the whole law.

Paul's confidence in the directive power of the Spirit is emphatically asserted in the promise that follows his command: Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature (v. 16). Paul's use of a double negative in the Greek could be expressed in English by saying, "You will absolutely not gratify the desires of your sinful nature." The fulfillment of this promise depends on the implementation of the command.

Walking is excellent exercise, my doctor says! Walking by the Spirit demands active determination to follow the direction of the Spirit in the power of the Spirit. Those who follow the Spirit's direction in the Spirit's power will not carry out the evil intentions of their sinful nature. Walking by the Spirit excludes the destructive influence of the sinful nature. Walking by the Spirit can transform people who are "biting and devouring each other" into people who are serving each other in love.

In verse 17 Paul explains the basis of his confidence in the Spirit. He describes the war between the flesh and the Spirit and the result of that war. The Spirit and the sinful nature are two hostile forces opposed to each other: the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other. So walking by the Spirit (v. 16) means fighting in a war between the Spirit and the sinful nature (v. 17). The connection between verse 16 and verse 17 indicates that those who live by the Spirit are not neutral in this war. They are committed to fight on the side of the Spirit against the desires of the sinful nature.

This inner spiritual warfare is the nature of the Christian life; it is the experience of all those who live by the Spirit. The conflict Paul is describing here is not the moral conflict that everyone feels at some time, nor the conflict of a wayward Christian who is no longer committed to Christ. This is the conflict of a thoroughly committed Christian who is choosing each day to "walk by the Spirit." Each day the Christian who chooses to walk by the Spirit is engaged in a fierce battle between the Spirit and the sinful nature. It is important to stress this point, because many Christians feel ashamed to admit that they are experiencing such a conflict. They feel that mature Christians should somehow be above this kind of struggle. They imagine that the great saints were surely too spiritual to feel the desires of the flesh. But Paul flatly contradicts such images of superspirituality. His perspective is expressed by an old hymn:

And none, O Lord, have perfect rest,

For none are wholly free from sin;

And they who fain would serve Thee best

Are conscious most of wrong within.

But while Paul honestly portrays the reality of incessant moral warfare in the life of a Spirit-led Christian, he is not painting a picture of defeat. If you have sworn your allegiance to the Spirit in this war between the Spirit and your sinful nature, you "do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature" (v. 13), nor will you gratify the desires of the sinful nature (v. 16). The result of this fierce conflict is that you do not do what you want (v. 17), but what the Spirit desires you to do.

Some interpreters have taken the phrase you do not do what you want as an admission of defeat: the sinful nature defeats the Spirit-given desires of the believer, or at best the conflict ends in a stalemate between the flesh and the Spirit. But such an interpretation fails to see that Paul sets forth verse 17 as the explanation of his confident promise in verse 16 of the Spirit's victory over the sinful nature for those who live by the Spirit. If the Spirit's direction is continually defeated by the sinful nature, then there is no good reason to live by the Spirit or to have confidence in the Spirit's directive power.

The common interpretation of verse 17 as an admission of defeat in the conflict is influenced by Paul's admission of defeat in Romans 7:14-25 and the frequent experience of defeat in Christian experience. But there are significant differences between Romans 7:14-25 and this passage in Galatians 5, not least of which is that there is no mention of the Spirit in the Romans 7:14-25 passage. Furthermore, our common experience of moral failure should not determine our understanding of Paul's explanation of life in the Spirit. In this context Paul is presenting a reason for confidence in the Spirit's power to guide Christian behavior. His confidence is based on the fact that Christians who walk by the Spirit are involved in a war that determines the direction of every choice and every action. Their Christian freedom does not mean that they are left without moral direction to do whatever they want. They do not do what they want. They march under the Spirit's orders, to fulfill the directions of the Spirit.

In my elementary school we stood at the beginning of every day with our hands over our hearts to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America "and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Mrs. Crane, our principal, often reminded us that some had upheld their pledge of allegiance at the cost of their own lives so that we could experience liberty and justice. And she challenged us to dedicate our own lives to keeping our pledge of allegiance in order to preserve true liberty and justice for all. In the war for true Christian freedom, victory is possible only for those who continually renew their allegiance to the Spirit in the unremitting war against the sinful nature. Then they do not do whatever they want, but only what the Spirit directs them to do.

Those who are living by the guiding power of the Spirit in their lives and are fighting each day against the influence of the sinful nature do not need to be supervised and restrained by the law. So Paul says, If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law (v. 18). Life in the Spirit was pictured in verse 16 as an active determination: "Walk by the Spirit!" Walking demands active determination to get up out of the soft armchair and endurance to keep going at a steady pace. But now Paul speaks of life in the Spirit as passive submission: if you are led by the Spirit. The verb suggests pressure and control. A donkey and her colt were led by the disciples to Jesus (Mt 21:2). Soldiers arrested Jesus and led him away (Lk 22:54). Soldiers arrested Paul and led him away (Acts 21:34; 23:10). Paul has already described the control of the law in similar terms: "we were held prisoners by the law, locked up" (3:23); "the law was put in charge to lead us" (3:24), "subject to guardians and trustees" (4:2). But while the law exercised control, it could not give life or transform character (3:21). The law controlled by locking up all under sin (3:22). Now Paul depicts an alternative kind of control: the control of the Spirit. Life begins with the Spirit (3:3); children of promise are born by the power of the Spirit (4:29). The Spirit produces a transformation of character (5:22-23). The one who submits to the control of the Spirit is not under the control of the law.

If the Spirit is leading you to forgive your sister who wronged you instead of being resentful toward her, you are under the control of the Spirit rather than under the restriction of the command "You shall not kill." When your conduct is guided and empowered by the Spirit, your conduct will fulfill the law, so you will not be under the condemnation or supervision of the law.

Life by the Spirit involves active obedience to the direction of the Spirit (v. 16), constant warfare against the desires of the sinful nature by the power of the Spirit (v. 17) and complete submission to the control of the Spirit (v. 18). Such a life will be an experience of freedom from the control of the sinful nature and the control of the law.

The Joy of Jesus is Learning to Love

The Psalms
78

God's Faithfulness to His Unfaithful People
Maschil of Asaph.

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law:

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable:

I will utter dark sayings of old: Mt. 13.35
3 which we have heard and known,

and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,

showing to the generation to come
the praises of the LORD, and his strength,
and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob,

and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers,
that they should make them known to their children:
6 that the generation to come might know them,

even the children which should be born;
who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 that they might set their hope in God,

and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments:
8 and might not be as their fathers,

a stubborn and rebellious generation;
a generation that set not their heart aright,
and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
9 The children of E'phra-im,

being armed, and carrying bows,
turned back in the day of battle.
10 They kept not the covenant of God,

and refused to walk in his law;
11 and forgat his works,

and his wonders that he had showed them.
12 Marvelous things did he in the sight of their fathers,

in the land of Egypt, Ex. 7.8--12.32 in the field of Zo'an.
13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through;

and he made the waters to stand as a heap. Ex. 14.21, 22
14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud,

and all the night with a light of fire. Ex. 13.21, 22
15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness,

and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16 He brought streams also out of the rock,

and caused waters to run down like rivers. Ex. 17.1-7 · Num. 20.2-13
17 And they sinned yet more against him

by provoking the Most High in the wilderness.
18 And they tempted God in their heart

by asking meat for their lust.
19 Yea, they spake against God;

they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
20 Behold, he smote the rock,

that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed;
can he give bread also?
Can he provide flesh for his people?
21 Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth:

so a fire was kindled against Jacob,
and anger also came up against Israel;
22 because they believed not in God,

and trusted not in his salvation:
23 though he had commanded the clouds from above,

and opened the doors of heaven,
24 and had rained down manna upon them to eat,

and had given them of the corn of heaven. Joh. 6.31
25 Man did eat angels' food:

he sent them meat to the full.
26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven:

and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27 He rained flesh also upon them as dust,

and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
28 and he let it fall in the midst of their camp,

round about their habitations.
29 So they did eat, and were well filled:

for he gave them their own desire;
30 they were not estranged from their lust:

but while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 the wrath of God came upon them,

and slew the fattest of them,
and smote down the chosen men of Israel. Ex. 16.2-15 · Num. 11.4-23 ; 31.35
32 For all this they sinned still,

and believed not for his wondrous works.
33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity,

and their years in trouble.
34 When he slew them, then they sought him:

and they returned and inquired early after God.
35 And they remembered that God was their rock,

and the high God their redeemer.
36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth,

and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37 For their heart was not right with him, Acts 8.21

neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,

and destroyed them not:
yea, many a time turned he his anger away,
and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh;

a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness,

and grieve him in the desert!
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God,

and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They remembered not his hand,

nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy:
43 how he had wrought his signs in Egypt,

and his wonders in the field of Zo'an:
44 and had turned their rivers into blood;

and their floods, that they could not drink. Ex. 7.17-21
45 He sent divers sorts of flies Ex. 8.20-24 among them, which devoured them;

and frogs, Ex. 8.1-6 which destroyed them.
46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar,

and their labor unto the locust. Ex. 10.12-15
47 He destroyed their vines with hail,

and their sycamore trees with frost.
48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail,

and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. Ex. 9.22-25
49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger,

wrath, and indignation, and trouble,
by sending evil angels among them.
50 He made a way to his anger;

he spared not their soul from death,
but gave their life over to the pestilence;
51 and smote all the firstborn in Egypt; Ex. 12.29

the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52 but made his own people to go forth like sheep,

and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. Ex. 13.17-22
53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not:

but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. Ex. 14.26-28
54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, Ex. 15.17 · Josh. 3.14-17

even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55 He cast out the heathen also before them, Josh. 11.16-23

and divided them an inheritance by line,
and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, Judg. 2.11-15

and kept not his testimonies:
57 but turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers:

they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places,

and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 When God heard this, he was wroth,

and greatly abhorred Israel:
60 so that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh,

the tent which he placed among men; Josh. 18.1 · Jer. 7.12-14 ; 26.6
61 and delivered his strength into captivity,

and his glory into the enemy's hand. 1 Sam. 4.4-22
62 He gave his people over also unto the sword;

and was wroth with his inheritance.
63 The fire consumed their young men;

and their maidens were not given to marriage.
64 Their priests fell by the sword;

and their widows made no lamentation.
65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep,

and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts:

he put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph,

and chose not the tribe of E'phra-im:
68 but chose the tribe of Judah,

the mount Zion which he loved.
69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces,

like the earth which he hath established for ever.
70 He chose David also his servant,

and took him from the sheepfolds:
71 from following the ewes great with young

he brought him to feed Jacob his people,
and Israel his inheritance. 1 Sam. 16.11, 12 · 2 Sam. 7.8 · 1 Chr. 17.7
72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart;

and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Published by The American Bible Society

CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

The Psalms 77

The Joy of Jesus is Beautiful

The Beatitudes

He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.