“The JOY OF THE LORD is your STRENGTH”: Overcoming the Spirit of Defeatism 17 NOV 2017
The Word of God teaches us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (A); so then it naturally follows that the Spirit of Defeatism will weaken us! Allowing that Spirit in is like begging for disaster. People can think themselves into defeat. While this seems like common sense, how many of us allow the Spirit of Defeatism, the Spirit of Cynicism and a lack of thankfulness to overtake us?? Calvin Coolidge, the 31st President, said something that has been quoted by others since: “Doubts do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create.” These negative attitudes are a lack of faith, hope & joy…and are simply sin. So count your blessings, count them one by one!
THE ONGOING FIRST BLESSING. If God has spoken to your heart & you accepted His salvation, then you can joyfully say, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels.”(B) Did you see those words “greatly rejoice”?!? The liberty & joy that comes with the new birth is “joy unspeakable and full of glory”!! (C) “The Kingdom of God is not [food & booze]…but…joy in the Holy Spirit.”(D) And the mercy God had on us when the Holy Spirit came into our hearts as repentant sinners continues…”His mercy endures forever”.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT. There are many things we can remember. For example, we can ponder on how miraculous God made our bodies…pretty incredible…and our bodies are resilient in spite of the neglect & total disregard people have to life & health. We can remember all the suffering that people in war zones experience…and how people live on the edge of survival in places like Calcutta, Rio de Janiero & Mexico City. No matter how hard each of us has it, it is likely someone else has it harder…and I can testify that in some of these poor countries, those who have it harder, accept it with much less whining & complaining.
CHRIST CAME TO BRING JOY. Christ repeatedly said he came to bring joy to the world. It is our choice to embrace that. He spoke, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, & that your joy might be full.”(E) I believe we can choose to have hope, joy & faith…and that we can cast out & renounce any contrary evil spirit. Satan get behind us, we do not want your spirits of defeat, discouragement and doubts. We want the Holy Spirit to guide us. May you my friend choose life, health, hope, joy & happiness. I want these good things for you!
(A) NEH 8:10b (B) ISA 61:10 (C) 1 PTR 1:8 (D) ROM 14:17 (E) JN17:15
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