The Joy of the Lord
There are times when the weight of ministry suddenly increases. I think this has to be one of them. I am asking for prayer for three people today. Names are known by God and I believe that is the most important. Each situation involves a looming death of a family member or the fact that family members had passed away. I truly admit an inability to know what to say…and for that reason I listen.
Today there will be three contacts with these folks.
It is at heavy times the reality of God seems the greatest. God is there. It is like having a very large, happy person sitting next to you – you just know they are in the room.
The Bible so clearly speaks of a joy that seems to mean everything to the folks that experience it. I point to one particular joy today. In Nehemiah 8:9-11 the description of God’s people is as follows…
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."
There had been a strong response to the revealing/reading of God’s word. Nehemiah encouraged them that the joy God has in them as they are receiving the words read – is their strength.
Today....
Oh how these families I am ministering too now need a gentle understanding of God’s word… and with it a special anointing of joy. For the most part a wonderful realization of the joy that they once had would be what is needed. But with God the joy will be even greater.
As I spoke with one person yesterday they describe the loss of four close family members in 15 months. She had lost her twin girls just after their birth, her husband passed away 7 months later and then her close friend died about two months ago. At this point she has begun a search for God and an understanding of what is happening from the Bible – in fact it started this week.
In her desperation to find an answer she went to a Christian Bookstore where she lives. She wanted a Bible to begin reading. She left the store frustrated because the sales person asked questions about her spiritual background and what church she had been raised in. She had none and has never known God in anyway.
She left the store with $785.00 worth of Bibles – almost one of every kind.
Through the deep pain that she has had she did two things. She began reading and the Spirit directed her to Jeremiah29:11…
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
She told of how deeply these words had touched her – and how she had wept when reading them.
The second thing she did was call a Pastor – me. She felt strongly that she needed to speak with a person that was a minister. I am still not sure how she found my number. She lives over 1000 miles from us (two provinces away) and will be moving to this area at the end of September. She felt that she should call me and didn’t know if there was a protocol to call a pastor. She felt that she needed to build a relationship with someone that she could talk to as she continues her healing.
Her husband was a doctor and she is a nurse with unique and special training.
Last evening her main question was, “Do you know God in a personal way? Do you really feel he is there?”
Today I need that anointing of joy more than anyone else. As I rose early today –God gave it too me again, His joy. What a joy that is! What a special joy!!
Last Sunday I felt very strongly as I preached.. that the revelation of what God has done in our lives would be used by God to help others. Never has this come home to me so quickly.
Pastor Murray Lincoln
Today there will be three contacts with these folks.
It is at heavy times the reality of God seems the greatest. God is there. It is like having a very large, happy person sitting next to you – you just know they are in the room.
The Bible so clearly speaks of a joy that seems to mean everything to the folks that experience it. I point to one particular joy today. In Nehemiah 8:9-11 the description of God’s people is as follows…
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve."
There had been a strong response to the revealing/reading of God’s word. Nehemiah encouraged them that the joy God has in them as they are receiving the words read – is their strength.
Today....
Oh how these families I am ministering too now need a gentle understanding of God’s word… and with it a special anointing of joy. For the most part a wonderful realization of the joy that they once had would be what is needed. But with God the joy will be even greater.
As I spoke with one person yesterday they describe the loss of four close family members in 15 months. She had lost her twin girls just after their birth, her husband passed away 7 months later and then her close friend died about two months ago. At this point she has begun a search for God and an understanding of what is happening from the Bible – in fact it started this week.
In her desperation to find an answer she went to a Christian Bookstore where she lives. She wanted a Bible to begin reading. She left the store frustrated because the sales person asked questions about her spiritual background and what church she had been raised in. She had none and has never known God in anyway.
She left the store with $785.00 worth of Bibles – almost one of every kind.
Through the deep pain that she has had she did two things. She began reading and the Spirit directed her to Jeremiah29:11…
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
She told of how deeply these words had touched her – and how she had wept when reading them.
The second thing she did was call a Pastor – me. She felt strongly that she needed to speak with a person that was a minister. I am still not sure how she found my number. She lives over 1000 miles from us (two provinces away) and will be moving to this area at the end of September. She felt that she should call me and didn’t know if there was a protocol to call a pastor. She felt that she needed to build a relationship with someone that she could talk to as she continues her healing.
Her husband was a doctor and she is a nurse with unique and special training.
Last evening her main question was, “Do you know God in a personal way? Do you really feel he is there?”
Today I need that anointing of joy more than anyone else. As I rose early today –God gave it too me again, His joy. What a joy that is! What a special joy!!
Last Sunday I felt very strongly as I preached.. that the revelation of what God has done in our lives would be used by God to help others. Never has this come home to me so quickly.
Pastor Murray Lincoln
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
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