Why does it take a long time for us to come into an awareness of a truth? When we read a passage of Scripture, the true impact of what it is saying may not reach us. Does it seem that you are enduring life instead of entering into the joy of it? We are still missing the real blessings of it that are ours. God does not want us to live with a feeling of heaviness. We should be bouncing out of bed in the morning, overwhelmed with the joy of the Lord.
God and His prophets have declared that what He really has for us should go beyond what we are even capable of expressing. Are you still able to express everything that God has done for you so far? Perhaps you feel cheated because the joy you have experienced during the past month was only enough to fill a thimble. Ask God for something more.
A dullness has crept over many people of this world. Their sensitivities have been so dulled that they no longer even have a capacity for awareness. We are not to be like those in the world. Hebrews 5:12–14 says that the mature believers partake of the meat of the Word, and not the milk only. Through reason of use, the senses of those who eat the meat have been exercised to discern both good and evil. Their consistent walk with God has made them very sensitive, able to really tune in to what God is saying.
The ears of those who do not walk with God are invaded with a dullness of hearing, so that they cannot hear His voice. The truth does not come through to them because of their dullness and heaviness of hearing. Ephesians 4:17–19 mentions those who because of their sensuality and wickedness have given themselves over to every form of impurity; they have gone beyond feeling. A Christian should never feel that he is missing “the good life,” or become envious of those people in the world who are so jaded that they must jazz themselves up in order to get out of bed in the morning, then get high on drugs to make it through the day, and finally take downers to fall asleep at night. Some can hardly endure life unless they have a cocktail in one hand and a cigarette in the other. They are not capable of enjoying the simple things of life that a human being should enjoy, even on a natural plane.
God not only wants to make us more sensitive; He wants us to constantly experience from His hand the “inexpressibles”—that which cannot even be expressed in human words or related to an individual’s emotional expression. The Lord Jesus said, “I came that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Have we been shortchanged? We have entered into conflict with the forces of darkness, but have we yet entered into the full conquest and victory that the Lord has for us, the real joy, the real love, the real peace described in His Word as being “inexpressible”? When we see a revelation in the Word, then we must scramble to possess it in total reality. God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11); and if He makes a declaration in His Word concerning a provision He has made for us, then we can appropriate it.
In these days of recession, tribulation, and judgment, we should not be geared to a “grin-and-bear-it” kind of doctrine. The everlasting joy from God that crowns our heads will be our one distinguishing mark before the rest of the world (Isaiah 35:10). When you read the book of Joel carefully, you see the contrast between the joy of the Lord’s redeemed ones and the lack of joy so prevalent among the sons of men. The people of the earth are filled with terror and moaning. Joy has withered away from almost everyone (Joel 1:12). Nevertheless, God is about to pour out upon His people an abundance of inexpressible joy. We should begin to contend and reach for it, because without the joy of the Lord as our strength, we will not be able to walk through these days victoriously. God does not intend that we merely endure this time. He intends for us to have that sustaining exhilarating joy, beyond what any of us can even understand, which comes by the Holy Spirit.
The Scriptures tell us what the Kingdom joy will be like. The parable of Jesus in Matthew 25:14–23 presents some very sober teaching, but it also gives a revelation of this joy. “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
“Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.’ The one also who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ” Notice that the reward was promised a second time: “Enter into the joy of your master.”
We have not yet seen this joy. We have been sustained and comforted in edifying one another, but God must also allow us to enter into hilarious, everlasting joy. The Master’s presence with us makes the reward described in this parable attainable now, a present truth to be appropriated. Let us not put it off, thinking, “Some day it will happen.” Now is the time! Now the Lord is returning for an accountability on our part, and He sees our faithfulness.
There is a scriptural foundation for this joy of the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to your spirit that it is for you. Start today to believe God to be among the most joyful people who have ever lived upon the face of the earth. A very unique joy is reserved for this hour in which the Lord’s presence is being manifested. These days of tribulation need not be a heavy scourge upon the backs of the saints. They will be perfectly delivered from what the world experiences; and this will distinguish them from the people of the world.
Jesus described one of the unique characteristics of His disciples: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35. In a time of hatred, divine love will be one of the characteristics of His saints. In addition to that, Romans 14:17 speaks of the joy that will be ours. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of God must show forth these qualities. While the world is filled with wickedness, there must be a tremendous, holy visitation that imputes righteousness to the saints of God. His joy and peace must also be within us. If we do not have this, we are not manifesting the Kingdom of God.
Peter’s Epistles are definitely books of eschatology, the teaching of the final events. Like I and II Thessalonians, they were written to a people who needed to know what was to come. I Peter 1:3–9: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The fulfillment of this Scripture is focused upon the end of the Church age and the beginning of the Kingdom age.
In this (the salvation which is ready to be revealed in the last time) you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Verse 13: Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Notice that this grace is to come to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Peter was speaking to us in these days of the Parousia, as we approach the great advent and revelation of the Lord. The unique time for the manifestation of this inexpressible joy has been reserved for us in the last time. Determine that you will have it.
There are other inexpressibles available to us. Paul prayed that the Ephesians would be able to comprehend with all the saints the love of God; yet he showed them too how incomprehensible it really is. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:17–19.
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Then comes the wonderful promise, verse 7: And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul spoke in these passages of three inexpressibles: a peace beyond comprehension, a love beyond knowledge, and a joy so great that it is inexpressible. We have not experienced these endowments in the measure that God has promised. We are still being exhorted to love one another. This does not discredit the good effort we put forth; however, we know that we have not yet seen the love of God totally fill the Church, nor have we seen the peace of God that passes all understanding. People are still troubled and anxious and disturbed. They are still moved by their circumstances and the world around them.
A day is coming—and it is upon us right now—when this will be reversed. Let us seek God until He fills us with His joy. Do you realize that the joy of the Lord will be the one distinguishing characteristic of the remnant of God? The Christian world is nowhere near it at this time. There is a blue, heavy spirit on the whole world. It is no wonder that the “blues” became a popular form of jazz music a few decades ago.
As we look in the Word, we see that God intends to beam at us more of His goodness than we can handle. In Malachi 3:10 He promised, “I shall pour you out a blessing, and there will not be room enough to receive it.” Jesus promised, “As you give, it will be given unto you. Heaped up, shaken down, and running over will men give to your bosom” (Luke 6:38). How many tithers and givers are diligent to claim the blessing that is rightfully theirs? After the offering in a service, we should see an almost instant reaction of blessing from God. The pastor should have a difficult time getting the service settled down after that, because the people are so blessed and full of rejoicing in doing the will of the Lord.
The promises in the Word either mean something, or they mean nothing at all. The Bible is not a book of poetry in which the writers have used superlatives without meaning. When a prophet spoke, “Thus saith the Lord…” that is exactly the way it was intended to be. As a matter of fact, the Bible speaks conservatively. The promises and prophecies of the Scriptures are not overstatements; they are understatements. God intends for us to have everything He has declared—and more!
Are you tired of being sad and heavy? Instead of receiving an overflowing river of blessing, do you more often receive just a few drops? Contend to become a fountain of living water. Does believing for inexpressible joy seem a little fanatical? Imagine an entire church entering into such an inexpressible joy that the whole place is absolutely electrified with the joy that is sweeping over it. We may not have that now, but we are going to experience it very soon.
Jesus proclaimed, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:11. That sounds simple. Our joy is made full when His joy is in us. We know that this Scripture is true, even though we have not yet possessed it completely. Would you like to have this fullness of joy? Then set your heart to possess the Lord’s joy, and your joy will be made full. Believe to have the Kingdom joy.
“Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.” John 16:24. The fact that Jesus repeated the promise of John 15:11 in chapter 16 means that He definitely wants your joy to be made full.
There will soon be a time when people will find few reasons or motivations to go on living. In fact, some will cry for the rocks and mountains to fall on them (Revelation 6:16), hoping that God will destroy them, so they will not have to endure anymore. What will we be doing then? We will live in a state of joyful exuberance. Our joy is not conditional upon circumstances or the world’s situation, but upon His joy actually remaining in us, and our awareness that we are literally barging through the barriers, breaking the tape, and moving as conquerors into the next realm, into the Kingdom age to come.
The Lord Jesus prayed to the Father, “But now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy made full in themselves.” John 17:13. A few days before the cross, Jesus prayed that His disciples might have His joy made full in themselves.
Matthew 25:23 expresses plainly the relationship between the joy of the Lord and your faithfulness. “You have been faithful in a few things; now enter into the joy of your Master.” Be faithful to the Lord, but also exercise faith to enter into the joy of the Lord. The fact that the Lord frequently talked about our entering into His joy which is to be made full in us indicates that He desires the completeness of His joy in us.
Psalm 51:12 is part of the penitent prayer of David. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation… This shows that sin can remove the Lord’s joy from you. If you are disobedient, a heaviness will settle upon your life, and your joy will disappear. Then a prayer of repentance is necessary to restore to you the joy of God’s salvation. When you lose your joy and blessing, you can see it restored by repentance. Through your faithfulness, the Lord’s joy is set before you, and you are to enter into it with all of your heart. This is to be part of the Lord’s ministry to you.
When Ezra read the Law at the Feast of Tabernacles, the people were very much given to weeping. So Nehemiah told them, “Do not weep and be heavy of heart, but rejoice. Go prepare your food, and share with one another, because the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:9–10). The joy of the Lord can coexist with the mourning of repentance, but you are not to express your repentance with a heaviness. Look to God to give you joy and to help you rise above past failures and all the limitations you have ever accepted. Believe God to position you in His total victory. The restoration of the Church is dependent upon the joy of the Lord. We may have received it in a measure, but let us be determined to appropriate it to the fullest extent, for it will be our strength.
Luke 4:16–19 records that Jesus opened the scroll at the synagogue in Nazareth and read this passage from the book of Isaiah: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me.… to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting… Isaiah 61:1–3. Isaiah prophesied about the mourning and the heaviness, and that the Lord came to change this. The Sermon on the Mount repeats the same theme: “Blessed are you who mourn, for you shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). The mourning and heaviness of true repentance opens the door to the greatest joy that the world has ever seen. Every problem and need in the Body is surfacing now, yet we are rejoicing as we pray and cry out to the Lord. This is the type of heaviness that the Lord wants for us, inasmuch as we are weeping for one another, praying for one another, and ministering to one another. Underneath the surface of this joy is the very great reality of mourning and praying, crying for one another, and seeking the face of the Lord.
We have been prepared for this hour, and we are about to have a visitation from God that will be so electrifying, so deep, so joyful and victorious, that we will not be able to comprehend it. It will be exactly as Paul said—inexpressible. We are ready for the greatest experience of the peace that surpasses understanding, of a love beyond comprehension, and of the joy that is inexpressible. Do not allow yourself to think in a limited way by asking for small blessings. Accept the fact that the Kingdom joy will become a way of life. Believe for it, and press in to claim it from the Father. We are looking for more than just a reason for existing. Let us believe God until His joy completely fills us.