JOY
Suggested Reading: Philippians 1
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Paul's letter among the ruins of ancient Philippi.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Philippians 1:3-4
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy…
In Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome, he was under house arrest. The Romans had a great idea. Their prisoners had to pay for their own imprisonment costs. The initial purpose of this letter is to thank the congregation in Philippi for their financial support.
This was the first church Paul planted in Europe. Philippi was a Roman military city where Paul had experienced a severe beating and imprisonment. The warden of the prison and his family would’ve been there at church when this letter was read. The members no doubt expected “JOY.” After all, Paul and his co-worker, Silas, had been singing praises to God (probably a Psalm of David) at midnight, their feet and hands securely fastened, when an earthquake hit the city and the shaking set them free. Read Acts 16:9-40.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, grant me the grace to exude joy in the midst of circumstances that would not naturally produce joy. Thank You for those You have allowed to bless my life. I pray that I will consistently pass on the blessing! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
When I opened my Bible to read Philippians, I found my notes from the message I brought at the home-going celebration of Leah Johnson. This special person in my life showed joy in very difficult circumstances. A mother of five, she still had time for me. I was 16 years old and still needed a mother figure. Her third son, Wallace, a classmate of mine, brought me home with him again and again. Leah, a single Mom, welcomed me with love and joy. My own mother had died when I was 12, and my Father had returned to Egypt where his services were required as a missionary. I can see in my mind’s eye her loving face, complete with the warmest smile I could imagine. I do thank God upon every remembrance of Leah and her family.
I’m taking the liberty of more than 100 personal words today. When the television opportunity presented itself in 1962, I had no idea how I would pay the bills. While I had the blessing of the congregation of which I was Pastor, there was no way that a television ministry could be funded out of the general fund of the church. I believe God speaks to me from the pages of Holy Scripture. Here in Philippians chapter one I found what I believe was, and still is, God’s answer to my prayer for the money to fulfill my vision to use television to communicate the Good News of Jesus. The Amplified Bible, which brings out all the shades of meaning present in the original text, is the translation that particularly spoke to me. Here are the words in which I found the answer of God to the challenge: Philippians 1:3-5 in the Amplified Bible says…
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty and petition for you all with joy (delight). [I thank my God] for your fellowship (your sympathetic cooperation and contributions and partnership) in advancing the good news (the Gospel) from the first day [you heard it] until now.
This is exactly what has been happening now for 51 years. Check out the Crossroads Ministry at www.crossroads.ca. I resonate with the same joy expressed by Paul throughout his letter to the people of Philippi.
Yours for a joy-filled life based on the love and provision of God!
David
P.S. Apparantley there was a problem for some with the link I gave in yesterday’s blog to the interview with Pastor John Kilpatrick, whose church experienced a great revival. If you still want to see it, try clicking HERE.
A modern gate prohibits visitors from walking into an ancient prison in Philippi, likely where Paul and Silas were held and miraculously delivered.
The spectacular Theatre of Ancient Philippi.
I love the expression of JOY on Paul’s heart. His sincere and zealous love for the gospel message and it’s furtherance and for the love of fellow Christians is quite evident. I pray that we too might connect with Paul’s sentiments in this generation, and may the Holy Spirit do a mighty work in the hearts and minds of those reading and following the daily scripture readings and David’s blog. Amen.
Oh, joy! I was on my hands and knees, this morning, giving thanks and praise and singing to my Lord God! Then, to read this scripture and message, this morning–my heart is overflowing with emotion! Alas, I wish I had more time to write. I have to get going for my morning lake swim. I will write a longer reply upon my return. Oh, the words of Paul; OH, the heart of Paul–ever connected with the Spirit–ever embracing the love of the divine! Praise you Jesus!
Oh how I love these scriptures. In these contrivercial times what Paul is saying is so fitting in a way he is saying that no publicity is bad pudlicity. I don’t think I can remember a time when the Name of Jesus was so front and centre. Praise the lord! Oh how I love that Name.
Have a wonderful day love and prayers to all!
M. 🙂
It is so easy to confuse JOY with happiness or even enjoyment, which is about pleasure. I knew in my heart of hearts that JOY the Bible speaks about had to be about something far deeper and lasting.
I remember hearing once about the testimony of a man who was once in prison in some country I forget the name of. But in the cell next to his was a Christian woman. One day she was being gang raped by the guards and she was singing praises to God during the attack. One of the guards shoved a gun to her head and told her to stop singing or he will kill her- she kept singing and he shot her dead. This woman was not happy she was being raped, nor was she enjoying it– but something in her soul burst out in song during the one of the horrible experiences. What was it? And it hit me that was JOY-
JOY is the ability to LOVE GOD and to LOVE OTHERS under circumstances that are meant to destroy it. And in that context, I realized our Lord must of been the most JOYFUL on the CROSS, when He first wondered why God abandon Him, but instead of getting mad, or renouncing His Father- He trusted His Spirit to Him and breathe His last breath– He died in JOY, for didn’t lose his ability to love His Father, even when it appeared His Father left Him alone.
So I no longer look at JOY as an emotion, but a STATE OF GRACE given us by God. Perhaps that isn’t the way everyone would look at it, but for me that makes the most sense in context with how JOY is used in Scriptures. And I hope some found this helpful because God never asked us to Happy in all circumstances, but JOYFUL- which means to never surrender your ability to love to anything or anyone.
I love and appreciate this daily blog so much! I have noticed at times where the bloggers have asked one another prayer and that is what I am doing today Our son is travelling to Iraq to work in the oil fields. He would be in Basra area about now on his way to work. This is his first time in this area. I noticed there were bombings etc. in the area yesterday. Please pray for help angelic protection and safety for him when there and returning. He will probably have to go again. This is a 45 day job at this time. I would appreciate it so much if you would hold him up in prayer. God Bless You, Elizabeth
Elizabeth, my husband and I just prayed for you and your son. Thank you for sharing your prayer request with us. God Bless you!!!
Praying for your son and your family,Elizabeth!
Hi Elizabeth, this is my first week reading David Mainse blog and the first day to read the comments. I prayed and will continue to pray for God’s protection for your son in Iraq. Your sister in Christ. God bless you.
Be it ever joy, that rests in our hearts. Joy is the marker that God is no longer separate from us, but is indeed, part of us–we are united as one. Our God lives and breathes within us; our God becomes us. All that we desire to bring forward for the purpose of serving His Kingdom manifests itself in us, fortifies us, and glorifies Him. Your work for our King is evidence of that, David Mainse. As we become stronger vehicles of praise and worship to our King, we give thanks for the teaching you have imparted to us. Praise the Lord on high!
In one of the darkest moments of my life, the day my dear husband, the love of my life, passed into the Father’s presence, I had Joy. That was 33 years ago. I remember telling my Minister that I still had Joy in my heart and thanksgiving for the 36 years of married bliss. The Lord God has never left me and has carried me through all these years of joy and happiness too. I know my dear husband is with the Lord in our eternal home. I am looking forward to seeing him soon when my Heavenly Father calls me home. I will be 90 yrs. in December and am in good health. ” Praise the Lord. Thank you Jesus”.
David I thank you for your daily blogs. They are such a blessing for all who read them. I keep you in my prayers, David, for complete healing of the cancer.
In Christian Love,
Dorothy
Dear David M. and precious fellow bloggers
What a great lesson of complete surrender and fearless action we are shown today . Each of us as christians completely , willingly give our life to Jesus and must filled with The Holy Spirit show every minute of our life that Perfect Joy that can only be given by His Amazing Grace.
What a great privilige it is for me to be among such precious saints .
PS.. Will be praying for your son Elizabeth .
I leave you all with a little part of a song that I love to worship the Lord with …
This little light of mine , I am going to let it shine , let it shine , let it shine .
Have a blessed day .
xxxx Carole .
Thank You!
Praying for your son Elizabeth ,May God put a hedge of protection over
his coming and going in the name of Jesus I pray …Keep him safe Lord God
Thank you David .M..and all you wonderful bloggers….R…
No words of mine can express the joy you David, with God’s guidance, have given me through the years. I look forward daily to your 100 Words plus the Crossroads 1/2 hour program. I received your book yesterday and don’t want to put it down. I can imagine you are telling me the stories.
I also have the ‘Healing Atmosphere’ CD which is great and soul inspiring….but I do wish that you would record such a CD. It would be so wonderful to hear your voice, as you have a very soothing, believable voice.
I pray for you daily and those who speak the true word of God, the mission fields, the destitute, the lonely, the elderly, the homeless, our country, etc etc.
As I am an octogenarian, I look forward to seeing you in Heaven.
blessings
blessed
The results are joy as we realize all powers of the Godhead are within and responds to our call, and we can follow the injunctions as in Psalm 100″—- (appropriate for 100 Word readers).
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless hiis name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth forever.
Praying for your son, Elizabeth, and that God will protect, provide, guide, and bless him, accoding to His perfect will and His promises.