JOY

 Satan is a thief. John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.10.KJV 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.5.KJV Job 2:1 “Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JOB.2.KJV In Job chapter 1 Satan takes away everything from Job, all his possessions and even his children. Then in Job 2, he causes Job to suffer with sore boils. All evil comes from Satan. Yes, God must give his permission, but the evil comes because of Satan. Luke 13:11 “And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.13.KJV Mark 4:14 “The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MRK.4.KJV Acts 26:15 “And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 18 to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ACT.26.KJV Revelation 12:9 “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/REV.12.KJV Satan causes misery, pain, and death. He uses three “D’s” --deception, distraction, and discouragement as weapons in his arsenal. Satan is using the culture of today to aggressively chase after the hearts and minds of people by redefining the views on morality, purpose and truth. 1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care (anxiety) upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.5.KJV Worry and anxiety steals our joy. Jesus came to take away Satan's power. Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.28.KJV Sin brought sickness and death, Jesus came that we might have life. John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.16.KJV Luke 15:7 “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.15.KJV Matthew 6:31 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought (do not be anxious) for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.6.KJV Philippians 4:6 “Be careful (or anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.4.KJV  Psalm 55:22 “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.55.KJV John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JHN.14.KJV Romans 12:9 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.12.KJV Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/NEH.8.KJV Romans 15:13 “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ROM.15.KJV Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/GAL.5.KJV 1 Peter 1:6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.1.KJV Ecclesiastes 9:7 “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." https://www.bible.com/bible/1/ECC.9.KJV Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PRO.17.KJV James 1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/JAS.1.KJV Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PHP.4.KJV 1 Peter 3:12 “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, And his ears are open unto their prayers: But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1PE.3.KJV 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/1JN.4.KJV Psalm 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/PSA.34.KJV It has been said that JOY is an acronym for Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last. Many in today’s society have this backwards, it’s all about themselves. They rarely think of others and when they do it’s only for what they can get out of the other person. God is little thought of, if at all by the majority of people. If you want to have true JOY you must get your priorities straight and put God and others ahead of yourself. 

Quick youtube clip Hope

 https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkxl0yp5gC-aaCoCmbuiM1NuBl1ct0Ylctb?si=AWGZN3X-4mbuImvr

Romans 8:24  "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" https://bible.com/bible/1/rom.8.24.KJV

" 'This is the will of God' concerning you, 'even your sanctification.' 1 Thessalonians 4:3. Is it your will also? Your sins may be as mountains before you; but if you humble your heart and confess your sins, trusting in the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, He will forgive and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. God demands of you entire conformity to His law. This law is the echo of His voice saying to you, Holier, yes, holier still. Desire the fullness of the grace of Christ. Let your heart be filled with an intense longing for His righteousness, the work of which God’s word declares is peace, and its effect quietness and assurance forever.

As your soul yearns after God, you will find more and still more of the unsearchable riches of His grace. As you contemplate these riches you will come into possession of them and will reveal the merits of the Saviour’s sacrifice, the protection of His righteousness, the fullness of His wisdom, and His power to present you before the Father “without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:14. " AA 566.1 - AA 567.1 Prayer is heaven’s ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character. The divine influences that come in answer to the prayer of faith will accomplish in the soul of the suppliant all for which he pleads. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; and the promise is, “Ye shall receive.” AA 564.1

Who Am I?

 Thoughts taken from the movie, “Overcomer” and the book of Ephesians: “I am created by God, he designed me, so I am not a mistake.” Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EPH.2.KJV Ephesians 3:9 “and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EPH.3.KJV 

“His son died for me, just so I could be forgiven.” Ephesians 5:2 “and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling  savour.” https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EPH.5.KJV Ephesians 4:32 “and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EPH.4.KJV  

“He picked me to be his own, so I’m chosen.” Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”  https://www.bible.com/bible/1/EPH.1.KJV 

“He redeemed me, so I am wanted.” Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (link above) Ephesians 2:16 “and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” (link above) 

“He showed me grace, just so I could be saved.” Ephesians 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (link above) 

“He has a future for me, because he loves me.” Ephesians 3:16 “that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding  abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (link above) 

“So, I don’t wonder (who I am) anymore, ... I am a child of God.”