Month: September 2025

The first mention of this subject on “The joy of the Lord” is mentioned in Nehemiah 8:10…

Here’s the backstory:

Nehemiah instructed the people to, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord.”

And “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

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Chapter 8, in Nehemiah, starts out by talking about Ezra.

Ezra was an ancient Israelite priest and scribe who led a group of Jewish exiles back from Babylon to Jerusalem, where he worked to restore religious life and adherence to God’s law during the Second Temple era.

His work involved reintroducing the Torah, teaching the Law of Moses, and addressing issues like mixed marriages among the returning exiles, leading a significant spiritual revival.

He is credited with writing the Book of Ezra, which, along with the Book of Nehemiah, chronicles this period of post-exilic restoration.

In Nehemiah 8:10-11. the people were told, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.”

This day is sacred to our Lord.

While the reading of the law produced genuine remorse, sacred days were meant as celebrations of God’s benevolence.

Ezra instructed the people to enjoy a feast and to eat the best they had.

In addition, they were to share with others.

Both of these instructions come from the Deuteronomic writings (see Deut. 26).

The commemoration of God’s goodness was to result in joyous festivities, and no sacred food was to be eaten while in mourning.

It was a day to delight in being part of God’s covenantal people.

Once again we see that this assembly was not a spontaneous get-together but a planned event since the people had already prepared their foods.

The instruction to share with those who had nothing prepared probably refers to the poor and the foreigners among them.

And Ezra concluded, “Do not grieve, for the JOY of the LORD is your strength.”

The primary Hebrew word for joy is simcha (שִׂמְחָה), a noun meaning gladness or mirth, derived from the verb samach (שָׂמֵחַ) (to rejoice).

In Hebrew thought, especially within the biblical context, simcha often represents a deep, meaningful joy that is not merely an abstract feeling but a concrete, active experience rooted in fulfilling divine purpose, celebrating God’s blessings, and expressing an inner state through visible actions like singing, dancing, or clapping.

In verse 9 we read that the people wept openly when they heard God’s laws and realized how far they were from obeying them.

But Ezra told them they should be filled with JOY because the day was sacred.

It was time to celebrate and to give gifts to those in need.

Celebration is not to be self-centered.

Ezra connected celebration with giving.

This gave those in need an opportunity to celebrate as well.

Often when we celebrate and give to others (even when we don’t feel like it), we are strengthened spiritually and filled with joy.

Enter into celebrations that honor God, and allow Him to fill you with His joy.

Celebrate out of joy for what He has done, and you will want to give freely.

Ezra, not Nehemiah, was the official religious leader, and It is significant that Nehemiah was a layman, not a member of the religious establishment or a prophet.

He was motivated by his relationship with God, and he devoted his life to doing God’s will in the world.

Such people are crucial to God’s work in all aspects of life.

No matter what your work or role in life, view it as God’s special calling to serve Him.

God can accomplish His purposes through you, beginning right where you are.

So what is the joy of the Lord?

The joy of the Lord is a deep, supernatural gladness that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

This joy is not dependent on external circumstances and is a source of strength, even during trials.

In John 15:11-16 (The Message Bible) Jesus tells us,

11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that My joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.

This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you.

This is the very best way to love.

Put your life on the line for your friends.

You are my friends when you do the things I command you.

I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning.

No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

16 “You didn’t choose Me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil.

As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to Me, He gives you.”

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Jesus spoke these words during His last discourse with His disciples at the Last Supper to explain His teachings were for them to experience His joy and to prepare them for the challenges ahead, assuring them that their eventual sorrow would be transformed into joy.

SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)

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Abraham: The Father of All Who Have Faith (Romans 4:9-25)…

Abraham is often referred to as the “father of faith” because he is seen as a model of belief in God, whose faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Romans 4:16-25

New Living Translation

16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.

17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”

19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.

21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.

22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit.

It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in Him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised to life to make us right with God.

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First off we can know that because Abraham was called and credited with righteousness while a Gentile, it is clear that both Gentiles and Jews are justified the same way: by faith.

Paul explains that Abraham had pleased God through faith alone before he had ever heard about the rituals that would become so important to the Jewish people.

We, too, are saved by faith plus nothing.

We are not saved by loving God and doing good; neither are we saved by faith plus love or by faith plus good deeds.

We are saved ONLY through faith in Jesus Christ—trusting Him to forgive all our sins.

The promise (covenant) God gave Abraham stated that Abraham would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:2-4) and that the entire world would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3).

This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Jesus was from Abraham’s line, and truly the whole world was and continues to be blessed through Him.

Abraham never doubted that God would fulfill His promise.

Abraham’s life was marked by mistakes, sins, and failures as well as by wisdom and goodness, but he consistently trusted God.

His faith was strengthened by the obstacles he faced, and his life was an example of faith in action.

If he had looked only at his own resources for subduing Canaan and founding a nation, he would have given up in despair.

But Abraham looked to God, obeyed Him, and waited for God to fulfill His Word.

When we trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, an exchange takes place.

We give Christ our sins, and He gives us His righteousness and forgiveness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).

There is nothing we can do to earn this. Only through Christ can we be made right in God’s eyes.

What an incredible bargain this is for us! But sadly, many still choose to pass up this gift and continue to live their own way, apart from God.

Faith requires that we cast the whole of our trust and reliability upon God and His Word, regardless of any and all negative / contradictory feelings and /or circumstances.

SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)

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Wednesday, Sept 10

WALKING IN SUPERNATURAL HOPE

by Keith Butler

“Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be” (Romans 4:18)

In the absence of all natural hope, Abraham continued to believe. How did he do that?

He had the promise. He had the Word of God. God told him that he would have a son.

So his name must be changed from Abram to Abraham, meaning father of a great multitude.Well, if you are going to receive what Jesus has done for you, seed of Abraham, then you must first find out what the Word says on the subject.

Then every time you run up against something, you must read what God said about it.

Do it even when all natural hope is gone. This is how you will find supernatural hope from the Word when natural hope is gone.

Don’t consider the circumstances. Don’t consider the bankbook. Don’t consider the doctor’s report. Don’t consider what people say, because people talk junk all the time.

But they don’t have any authority behind it.

Jesus gave the authority to you.

Don’t be shaken by what you are looking at. Don’t allow it to get to you.

Be strong in faith and prove it by giving God the glory that your need is already met.

Give God the glory that you are blessed in the city and blessed in the field.

Praise God that all your needs are met.

Praise is an expression of faith in God.

Praising God builds your faith. Praising God shuts the devil’s mouth.

Praising God causes others to praise God too.

When you praise God you cannot lose. The devil has to run, because he gets confused.

So, never forget who you are.

Through faith in Jesus you are the one who possesses the enemy’s gate.

You are the one through whom all families of the earth shall be blessed, as you share the good news that the price has already been paid.

You have the message of reconciliation, which is that God was in Christ restoring the world to favor with Himself.

He is not counting against men their trespasses, but has cancelled them, and committed to us the word of reconciliation to favor with God.

Abraham received his miracle – a son. And when you operate in supernatural hope, you shall see your miracle as well.

[From: Keith Butler Ministries]

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Jesus bids us come to Him…

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28)

When life feels overwhelming, we can lean on God to renew our strength and bring us peace.

(From Max Lucado – Jesus the Coming King)

Jesus Through the Bible

Jesus: The Invitation

You are tired. You are weary.

Weary of being slapped by the waves of broken dreams.

Weary of being stepped on and run over in the endless marathon to the top.

Weary of trusting in someone only to have that trust returned in an envelope with no return address.

Weary of staring into the future and seeing only futility.

What steals our childhood zeal?

It is this weariness that makes the words of the carpenter so compelling. Listen to them.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).

Come to Me. . . The invitation is to come to Him (to Jesus).

Why Him?

He offers the invitation as a penniless rabbi in an oppressed nation.

He has no connections with the authorities in Rome.

He hasn’t written a best seller or earned a diploma. Yet, He dares to look into the leathery faces of farmers and tired faces of housewives and offer rest.

He looks into the disillusioned eyes of a bartender and makes this paradoxical promise:

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I AM gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29).

The people came. They came out of the cul-de-sacs and office complexes of their existence. And He gave them, not religion, not doctrine, not systems, but rest.

As a result, they called Him Lord.

As a result, they called Him Savior.

Not so much because of what He said, but because of what He did.

What He did on the cross during six hours, one Friday.

SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)

Prayer Confession:

Lord, we pray for Your Shalom-peace to surround your Covenant People… everyone who is feeling weary or burdened.

Give them strength, comfort, and a sense of Your presence.

Remind them that You are their refuge and rest.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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The fall of Eli’s house…

1 Samuel 2:27-30

The Message Bible

27-30 A holy man came to Eli and said: “This is God’s message: I revealed myself openly to your ancestors when they were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt.

Out of all the tribes of Israel, I chose your family to be my priests: to preside at the Altar, to burn incense, to wear the priestly robes in my presence.

I put your ancestral family in charge of all the sacrificial offerings of Israel.

So why do you now treat as mere loot these very sacrificial offerings that I commanded for my worship?

Why do you treat your sons better than me, turning them loose to get fat on these offerings, and ignoring me?

Therefore—this is God’s word, the God of Israel speaking—I once said that you and your ancestral family would be my priests indefinitely, but now—God’s word, remember!—there is no way this can continue.

I honor those who honor me; those who scorn me I demean.

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Here’s the backstory:

Eli was the high priest and judge of Israel, and the Bible says, “his sons were wicked,” and while Eli makes a feeble attempt to correct them, they are undaunted. It wasn’t until Eli heard reports of immorality that he finally reproved his sons.

But it was far too late for his mild verbal reproof to have any effect.

They hardened their hearts and so were judicially hardened, like Pharaoh of old, for God had determined to destroy them.

During this time Samuel was quietly growing, his purity and goodness pleasing both … the LORD and men.

If we remember that these events took place during the time of the judges, it is not surprising that the priesthood failed to escape the moral decadence of the period.

Anyway, as a result of the wickedness of Eli’s Sons, a prophet comes to the temple and prophesies judgment against Eli and his family.

Eli was guilty of honoring his sons above God by letting them continue their sinful actions.

Is there a situation in your life, family, or work that you allow to continue even though you know it is wrong?

If so, you may become as guilty as those engaged in the wrong act.

Honor God more highly than anything else, and don’t wait for Him to intervene for you.

SELAH (let us pause and calmly think about these things)

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Monday, Sept 8

The Cutting Edge

by Larry Ollison

WHEN WE HONOR GOD, GOD HONORS US

The Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 2:30 that God honors those who honor Him and that He lightly esteems those who despise Him.

By this scripture, we know what we must do, but the question is

“How do we esteem and honor God?”

Of course, we esteem and give Him honor when we worship Him and tithe.

But there is another way to give Him honor that is often overlooked.

Jesus said, “If you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto Me.”

When the disciples attempted to keep the children away from Jesus, Jesus rebuked them.

The children are considered least by some, but according to Jesus, they are valuable.

We can give honor to Jesus and we honor God by giving honor to the little ones.

But that raises the question again, “How do we honor the children?”

We honor our children at home and at church by giving them the Word of God and by training them in the ways of the Kingdom.

As Christian adults, we should supply the very best teaching materials for our children.

We must give them quality time and understanding.

We must be an example to them of peace and wisdom.

Too many parents will control their tongue and their anger in public, but release it in an ungodly way privately in front of their children. This should not be.

When we do this, we are not giving honor to our children. And according to Jesus, what we do to the least, we are doing to Him.

So how do we honor God?

We honor God by giving honor to children and we despise God by not esteeming our children.

Therefore the LORD God of Israel says:

‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’

But now the LORD says:

‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. (1 Sam 2:30).

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