The human race in my view is really quite undeserving of all the needless and merciless abuse that is being heaped on the race at this time. The Human being was actually created out of Love and joy, in order to experience love and joy, not suffering and stress; certainly not at the levels we see operating today. It is correct to say that humans have been somewhat complacent in their own enslavement, yet that is because the process has been systematic, relentless, persistent, and superbly deviously orchestrated, by this malevolent entity. Part of the problem is mankind's innocence in comprehending the depth of evil and de-gradation to which this malevolent entity is capable of falling. The anti-Christ is opposed to all love, all joy, all happiness, all freedom, all prosperity, all health, all community, of sentient beings. It is spiritually diseased entity excellent at pretence, but without the faculty of compassion, that is the fundamental basis for community. It is this lack of Compassion and inability to empathise, that permits it to plan, and implement such acts of atrocity against sentient beings without feeling and sense of conscience or repentance. How would a Being, which once was a being of Light get so low, one might ask? This is a question to be answered at another time, because right now there is a more pressing question to address.
Is it possible, under such oppression to still be able to maintain a decent and constant level of inner and outer JOY, and if so why and how?
We can start by reminding ourselves of one very important truth. Each individual human soul is made of Joy. Joy, peace, love, abundance, life...that's what basic soul nature consists of. It is what directs you to care for yourself, your family, and other loved ones. You are Joy, even though much of that joy may be hidden or covered with layers of stressful and unhelpful conditioning. Conditioning that includes a combination of Lies, contradictions, false assumptions and beliefs, prejudices, invalidations, and a considerable amount of brute force and pressure. When these mis-owned nasties are cleared away, what is left is pure joy.
How does that make you feel, knowing that at your essence you are pure joy unlimited? Pretty good feeling isn't it. So in answer to our question, the best ways to maintain our constant level of Joy are:-
a) to remember and remind ourselves that Joy is essentially who we are at our core.
b) to keep re-affirming that cognition.
c) to let go of anything that reduces, or undermines our joy in any way, bearing in mind that, some things may appear in the short term to add to our joy, but at a heavy price in the long term. I go into this in more detail later.
d) We also need to acquire and employ some discernment and wisdom in determining what increases our experience of Joy and what diminishes it.
e) We need to remind ourselves, that joy is not merely our goal, or our destination, but a state of being.
By that I mean that to have joy, as our objective, we need to do joyous things, by engaging in joyful activities, and to be the joy that is our essence. It is not so much that we are attaining joy, but more that we are allowing our joy (which is our natural state of being), to be expressed through us in the world, rather than resisting it.
This is a very important point. Because if you are not experiencing joy right now, know that you are not experiencing the real YOU.
I mentioned earlier that discernment and wisdom were important factors in determining what activities increase our joy. In a confusing world system such as the one we find ourselves in, the joy factors might not be so obvious. For example, a lot of people think that they can get great joy from alcohol consumption, (which may in the short run be the case in some instances), but at what price? What are the long-term effects of consuming large and regular amounts of alcohol? Physical illness, Addiction, memory loss, broken relationships, to name a few. These are definitely not Joyful conditions are they?
So how do we get discernment and wisdom?
We get them from The Spirit of God directly, and also through His inspired writings and sacred texts. The Scriptures of the Holy Bible have a lot to tell us about Joy. Check out Romans 14:17:
17 God's kingdom does not consist of what a person eats or drinks. Rather, God's kingdom consists of God's approval and peace, as well as the joy that the Holy Spirit gives.
Jesus Christ came that our joy might be full. Joy means an inner gladness; a deep-seated pleasure. It is a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart. It is a cheerful heart that leads to cheerful behaviour. Several things need to be said about the believer's joy.
a. Joy is divine. It is possessed and given only by God. Its roots are not in earthly or material things or cheap triumphs. It is the joy of the Holy Spirit, a joy based in the Lord. It is His very own joy. Christ has one great purpose for believers—the completion of their joy.
See:John 15:11 _ joy will be complete.
See:Acts 13:52-- Meanwhile, the disciples {in Antioch} continued to be full of joy, and the Holy Spirit. See:Galatians 5:22: But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
b. Joy does not depend on circumstances or happiness. Happiness depends upon happenings, but the joy that God implants in the believer's heart overrides all, even the matters of life and death.
See: Psalms 5:11_ But let all who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them sing with joy forever. Protect them, and let those who love your name triumph in you. Also See: 2 Cor. 6:10; 2 Cor. 7:4).
c. Joy springs from faith
See: Romans 15:13_ May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in him. Then you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Also See: Phil. 1:25; 2 Tim. 1:4; Matthew 2:10).
Also See: Phil. 1:25; 2 Tim. 1:4; Matthew 2:10).
d. Joy of future reward, makes and keeps one faithful.
See:Hebrews 12:2- We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.
The source of the believer's joy is several fold.
1.Our fellowship with the Father and His Son brings joy.
See:1 John 1:3--This is the life we have seen and heard. We are reporting about it to you also so that you, too, can have a relationship with us. Our relationship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
2.Victory over sin, death, and hell brings joy. See:(John 14:28; Also See: John 16:20- I can guarantee this truth: You will cry because you are sad, but the world will be happy. You will feel pain, but your pain will turn to happiness.
3. Repentance brings joy. (Luke 15:7,) and See:Luke 15:10 _''So I can guarantee that God's angels are happy about one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts.”
4.The hope of glory brings joy. See(Romans 14:17) also Hebrews 12:2--We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.
See: 1 Peter 4:13-14 -- but be happy as you share Christ's sufferings. Then you will also be full of joy when he appears again in his glory.
14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory—the Spirit of God—is resting on you.
14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory—the Spirit of God—is resting on you.
5.The Lord's Word—the revelations, commandments, and promises that He made—brings joy. See:(John 15:11).
6. The commandments of Christ and the will of God bring joy. Obeying and doing a good job stirs joy within the believer's heart. See: (John 15:11, John 17:13; Acts 13:52).
7. Prayer brings joy.
See: John 16:23-24 --When that day comes, you won't ask me any more questions. I can guarantee this truth: If you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you. 24 So far you haven't asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive so that you can be completely happy.
See: John 16:23-24 --When that day comes, you won't ask me any more questions. I can guarantee this truth: If you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it to you. 24 So far you haven't asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive so that you can be completely happy.
8. The presence and fellowship of believers brings joy (1 John1:3-4).
9. Converts bring joy See:(Luke 15:5; 1 Thes. 2:19-20). and also See:Philippians 4:1 -- So, brothers and sisters, I love you and miss you. You are my joy and my crown. Therefore, dear friends, keep your relationship with the Lord firm!
10. Hearing that others walk in the truth brings joy
See:3 John 1:4-- Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
Questions to ContemplateSee:3 John 1:4-- Nothing makes me happier than to hear that my children are living according to the truth.
In what ways does joy affect how you live? Are you as joyful as you should be? If not, why not?
Where do you think the world tries to find joy? Why is the world's joy powerless and ineffective?
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*A Prayer For Humanity's Joy and Salvation*
Father and Mother God, in the name of Jesus, I make a joyful noise to the Lord, and serve You with gladness! I come before You with singing! I know that You are God!
It is written in Your Word that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. You wish all people to be saved and to know Your divine truth. Therefore, Father, I bring all of humanity before You this day.
Thank You for calling me to be Your agent of intercession for all human beings. By the grace of God I will build up the wall and stand in the gap before You for humanity, that all might be spared from eternal destruction.
Father and Mother God, thank You for salvation. I acknowledge Jesus as the Lamb of God, Who takes away humanity’s sins, and the Holy Spirit, Who convicts and convinces all human beings of sin, righteousness and judgement. Your kindness leads humanity to repent (to change our mind and inner man to accept Your will). You are the One Who delivers humanity and draws us to Yourself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and transfers all human-kind into the Kingdom of the Son of Your love.
Father, I pray that all human beings will hear the truth from someone standing in Your presence. The Good News was hidden from humanity. Satan, the controller of this world, made humanity blind, and we were unable to see the glorious light of the gospel. Now, I ask You, Lord of the harvest, to thrust the perfect labourer into humankind’s path to share Your gospel in a special way so that all will listen and understand it. As Your labourer ministers to all of humankind, I believe that we will come to all our senses—come out of the snare of the devil who has held humanity captive—and make Jesus the Lord of all human life.
Having prayed all that I know to pray, I submit to the Spirit, Who also helps me in my present limitations. I do not always know how to pray worthily, but Your Spirit within me is actually praying for me in those agonizing longings which cannot find words. Having done all to stand, I stand on Your Word, and Father, I shall praise You and thank You for humanity’s salvation. I commit this matter into Your hands, and with my faith I see all of human-kind saved and filled with Your Spirit, with a full and clear knowledge of Your Word.
Amen—so be it!*
With All My Love
Rev.Bola A. (30Jul11)
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It is written in Your Word that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. You wish all people to be saved and to know Your divine truth. Therefore, Father, I bring all of humanity before You this day.
Thank You for calling me to be Your agent of intercession for all human beings. By the grace of God I will build up the wall and stand in the gap before You for humanity, that all might be spared from eternal destruction.
Father and Mother God, thank You for salvation. I acknowledge Jesus as the Lamb of God, Who takes away humanity’s sins, and the Holy Spirit, Who convicts and convinces all human beings of sin, righteousness and judgement. Your kindness leads humanity to repent (to change our mind and inner man to accept Your will). You are the One Who delivers humanity and draws us to Yourself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and transfers all human-kind into the Kingdom of the Son of Your love.
Father, I pray that all human beings will hear the truth from someone standing in Your presence. The Good News was hidden from humanity. Satan, the controller of this world, made humanity blind, and we were unable to see the glorious light of the gospel. Now, I ask You, Lord of the harvest, to thrust the perfect labourer into humankind’s path to share Your gospel in a special way so that all will listen and understand it. As Your labourer ministers to all of humankind, I believe that we will come to all our senses—come out of the snare of the devil who has held humanity captive—and make Jesus the Lord of all human life.
Having prayed all that I know to pray, I submit to the Spirit, Who also helps me in my present limitations. I do not always know how to pray worthily, but Your Spirit within me is actually praying for me in those agonizing longings which cannot find words. Having done all to stand, I stand on Your Word, and Father, I shall praise You and thank You for humanity’s salvation. I commit this matter into Your hands, and with my faith I see all of human-kind saved and filled with Your Spirit, with a full and clear knowledge of Your Word.
Amen—so be it!*
With All My Love
Rev.Bola A. (30Jul11)
