Jesus & Joy

 JESUS AND JOY

“And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” - John 17:13

One of my favorite movies is the 1959 epic, “Ben Hur.” The story follows the amazing fictional story of Judah Ben Hur, a man who faces great trials in life. What is interesting about the story is how that Judah Ben Hur has these brief encounters with Jesus of Nazareth. The director made the clever decision to never reveal the face of Jesus at any point.

I have seen many movies and portraits of Jesus. Most paintings, for instance, typically show Jesus to be rather stoic and serious. In our minds, we tend to think of Jesus that way, don't we? Yet as we read the Gospel of John, we are faced with an aspect of Jesus that we typically don't consider. Jesus was a man of joy.

I believe that the fruit of the Spirit consists of attributes that Jesus had. Furthermore, when a person is filled with the Spirit, he or she exhibits these same traits. In Galatians 5:22, Paul wrote, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy...” There is a serious shortage of joy among God's people. Few smile. Most will not sing unless it is time for them to sing a solo at church or it is the next item in the church bulletin. It is rare to meet someone with infectious joy. Only the Spirit can produce this in the life of a believer.

Most of the humor that is popular these days come from people who are empty inside. Their humor is often filthy and vile. TV shows and movies that are branded as comedies typically have little humor in them. Yet there is a difference between humor and joy. Comedy and joy are not synonymous. Many of the “comics” these days rely on drugs and alcohol just to get through the day. Secretly, they are lonely and miserable. They don't have joy.

Joy is an internal trait that tends to remain in spite of external changes. Joy is an inward work of God. Yet this joy can be lost. I fear this is the case for many believers. David lost his joy when he sinned against God. In his prayer of repentance in Psalm 51, David prayed, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” Many believers need to make this their prayer.

Jesus and joy go together. The closer you walk with the Lord, the more joy you experience. You don't believe me? Read Psalm 16:11. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Notice that the Psalmist said, “in thy prescence is fulness of joy.” There is joy in the presence of the Lord. Yet the Psalmist goes on to write, “at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” If you've lost your joy, you can probably trace it to a problem with your walk with God.

Yes, it is possible to go to church every Sunday and still lack joy. You can attend a Bible study or small group on a regular basis and do it all without joy. You can teach Sunday School or be involved in ministry and find that joy is missing from your life. What we need is the joy of the Lord.

When Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17, He prayed, ““And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” Notice that Jesus speaks with the intent “that they mighty my joy fulfilled in themselves.” Notice He refers to joy in a personal way, “my joy.”

In John 15:11, Jesus said, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. ” Not only did Jesus want His disciples to have His joy, He wanted their joy to be full. Are you full of joy?

Do you think that the disciples followed Jesus with a since of gloom and doom? I think they enjoyed being with Jesus. So should we.

Even now, heaven erupts with great joy when a sinner repents. In Luke 15:7, the Bible says, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Three verses later, Jesus said, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Could it be that the “presence of the angels,” includes our Lord? Think about it.

I believe that heaven will be a place of joy. When Jesus told about the faithful men who properly invested their talents, notice what He said about their reward, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” They will enter the JOY of their Lord. Heaven will be a place of joy because the Lord is there!

Yes, heaven will be a place of joy, yet there is a little bit of heaven that we can enjoy here on earth. As we walk with the Lord and experience close fellowship with Him, we can experience joy unspeakable and full of glory.

What is keeping you from experiencing such joy today?

Judas Iscariot

 JUDAS ISCARIOT

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” - John 17:12

We tend to have a dim view of those who become traitors. A classic example of a traitor was Benedict Arnold. During the American revolution, he fought for the Colonial army, but later fled to the British and fought for them. We use the name, “Benedict Arnold,” as a label that we apply to those we feel are traitors in some form.

Probably the best known traitor of all time was Judas Iscariot. He was one of the original twelve disciples. He was personally chosen by Jesus to be among the twelve. Judas would ultimately betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

It has been said that, “everyone has their price.” I don't agree with that statement. There are some who have strong convictions and will refuse to compromise. Yet many in our culture do have a price. At the right price, they are willing to bend their ethics out of convenience or for profit. Judas was such a man.

When Jesus prayed to His Father in John 17, He mentions Judas without specifically naming him. “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” Jesus kept His disciples and specifies that none of them are lost … but one. When Jesus prayed these words, Judas had not yet betrayed Him with a kiss. Yet Jesus knew Judas. The kiss of betrayal in the garden would not come as a surprise.

Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him. So why did He choose Judas as a disciple? Why include a man who would sell his soul to betray the Lord? Well, for one thing, it was the fulfillment of prophecy. In fact, Jesus mentions this as He prayed, “... none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” Psalm 41:9 says, “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” Zechariah 11:12-13 says, “And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.”

I think there is another reason Jesus permitted Judas to be among His group of twelve. He knew that we would face such people ourselves. Jesus, being our example, showed us that others will disappoint us and even betray us. Jesus was not exempt from personal betrayal.

In His prayer to the Father, Jesus referred to Judas as, “... the son of perdition.”

According to dictionary.com, the word, “perdition,” means a state of final spiritual ruin, or loss of the soul. In other words, Judas was eternally lost. He was facing eternal punishment for his sins.

Let's consider some sobering facts about Judas. First of all, he walked with Jesus for three years. He heard the Lord's teachings. He saw the miracles. He was a witness to magnificent events. There are many who think that if their lost friends and loved ones saw a miracle, it would lead them to saving faith. Not necessarily. Judas saw the miracles and still perished. When the rich man was suffering in hell, he begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to his brothers. The rich man thought that if his brothers saw a dead man come back to life, they would believe. Yet Abraham said, “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

The problem with Judas was not in his head, but in his heart. He saw the miracles, heard the Lord's teachings and stood beside of deity & yet did not believe. To Judas, Jesus was a means to an end. He used the Lord to satisfy his greed. The Bible says that Judas was the treasurer of the ministry finances and he embezzled some of that money. Ultimately, Judas ended up selling the Lord for thirty pieces of silver.

Even worse, Judas had been involved in ministry. Jesus had sent His disciples out two by two. Yes, Judas was part of this short-term mission trip. Read Mark 6:7-13. The disciples were given power over unclean spirits. They preached. They performed miracles, such as the healing of the sick and casting out demons. Yes, Judas was part of this mission trip. He was part of a two-man team that was involved in this powerful ministry. Yet he was lost.

This should force us to look within. Just because you go on a short-term mission trip, serve in a ministry or participate in some evangelistic work … these things don't make you right with God. You must be born again. While the work of your hands is important, it is the state of your heart that makes an eternal difference. Don't continue playing church with a deceitful, hard heart. Get right with God. Repent. Turn to Jesus in complete surrender.

Don't be a Judas.

Protection & Purpose

PROTECTION AND PURPOSE

“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” - John 17:11

There are many who think that everything in life happens by chance. They believe that each day is like the rolling of dice and you never know what the results will be. From a human perspective, we don't know everything about the future. Tomorrow may be a wonderful day. But then again, it could a challenging, heartbreaking day. Each morning, we face a day of uncertainty. We may have high hopes and good intensions, yet this does not guarantee us that the day ahead will be good. I am reminded of the old Don Williams country song that was entitled, “Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good.” That title summarizes our approach to each day.

Yet as that song title indicates, there is One who does know the future. He is in control of our world. Nothing happens by accident. God is sovereign. Although He is not the source of evil, pain or sorrow, He does permit it at times.

In our text, Jesus is praying to His Father about His disciples. As Jesus was nearing the cross, He prayed, “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” In regards to His disciples, He prayed about two things: their protection and their purpose.

The critical moment has arrived. His death upon the cross was imminent. That's why Jesus said, “And now I am no more in the world.” The time for ministry on earth was drawing to a close. Just ahead, Jesus had an appointment with the cross, where He would die for our sins.

Yet Jesus was acutely aware this His disciples were going to remain on the earth a while longer. He prayed for them. “... but these are in the world, and I come to thee.”

Since the disciples were being left in a sin-saturated world, Jesus prayed for their protection. “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me ...” When we pray, we tend to pray for our protection and for the safety of those we care about. Yet our prayers tend to focus primarily on physical protection. We pray for traveling grace. We ask God to keep us safe from dangers, seen and unseen. We want to be protected from burglars and murderers. We ask the Lord to keep muggers away from us.

Yet when our Lord prayed for the protection of His disciples, He was focused more on their spiritual protection. The Holy Spirit would not arrive until the Day of Pentecost. The disciples were being left in a vulnerable situation, having no spiritual help available till the Spirit would come. Thus, Jesus prayed for their protection.

Keep in mind that many of them would eventually suffer physically. Some would even die for their faith. God's will does not always provide us a haven from danger or pain. There are times His will is accomplished through persecution or problems. Thankfully, we are spiritually secure in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit, who came at the Day of Pentecost, has sealed us unto the day of redemption. Praise the Lord!

When Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17:11, He also prayed for about their purpose: “... that they may be one, as we are.” Jesus prayed for His disciples to have a unified spirit. He wanted them to be in agreement on the work they needed to do. After Jesus died, arose and ascended, the disciples worked in unison. They had a mandate to carry the Gospel to all the nations. They established churches, encouraged believers and evangelized as they went.

Here in the twenty-first century, we are failing in this area. Rather than focusing on the primary things, we get side-tracked and focus on the small things. We emphasize what we disagree on instead of seeking common ground in the primary aspects of Christian doctrine and purpose. We've created labels that have separated believers. Many of these areas of disagreement did not exist in the first century. Even missionaries focus on the primary issues. Rather than winning the lost, we'd rather win an argument. Instead of changing the culture, we are trying to change opinions about minor issues. One day we will stand before the Lord. I can't help but believe that most of us will be ashamed how far off-course we lived.

It is possible to have denominational distinctives and yet remain focused on the primary things. My job is not to make Baptists out of everyone. Neither is it my job to make Republicans out of people. It is my job to exalt the Lord Jesus and spread His Gospel to the lost, while encouraging believers to do the same. I haven't done as well as I should have. What about you?

The disciples were kept by the power of God and mobilized to do the will of God.

May that be true of us today!

Prized Possessions

PRIZED POSSESSIONS

“And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” - John 17:10

What is the most valuable item that you own? Is it your car? Maybe it's your home. It could be a family heirloom. Perhaps it is the money you have stored away in stocks and bonds. Most of us aren't rich. I know I'm not. Yet compared to many people in the world, I seem wealthy. You see, some live on the streets. Others live in impoverished areas where mere necessities are rare. Some are starving to death as I write this. In spite of our best efforts, poverty is still a major problem here in America, as well as overseas.

While we may struggle financially in this world, we know that God is not poor. His treasures are immense, intrinsic and eternal. He is not concerned about the performance of the stock market. His wealth is not taxable. The filthy, greedy hands of sinful men are not permitted to touch His bountiful supply of riches.

As Jesus was praying to the Father in John 10, He mentions a possession that was precious to Him. Referring to His disciples, Jesus said, “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” We shutter to think that one person owns another. We have this opinion due to our understanding of slavery, in particular as it unfolded here in America. We want to think that all Americans are free from such bondage. However, human trafficking is still an ongoing issue, even here in our country.

Furthermore, many are in bondage to substances like drugs and alcohol. Such bondage is real and lethal. I live in the southern part of West Virginia. Substance abuse is a major problem in this region. It is heartbreaking to realize that many of the funerals in my area are due to overdose. While we wish to brag that slavery is gone from our land, we must confess that many are slaves to substances and can't break free apart from a miracle.

Human slavery is illegal here in America, as it should be. While we emphasize human freedom, we must understand an important spiritual truth. We still belong to someone else. Either we belong to the devil or to the Lord. There are many who claim that they don't belong to anyone … yet that is a deception that many are living in. Sin is a form of bondage that is wrecking the lives of many. It is a sinister foe. We are all born into sin. Yet we must confess our personal choice to indulge in sin. Yes, we are sinners by birth. But we are also sinners by choice. The devil has many people bound in the bondage to sin. Many of them are oblivious to their perilous state. I was in the same situation. So were you.

Thankfully, Jesus came and purchased us with His blood. That transaction is something we call redemption. Through faith in Him, our title of ownership changed from the devil to the Lord. The devil does not care about his possessions. He treats people harshly and leads them to death. Our Lord has lovingly welcomed us into His fellowship. When He purchased us, He adopted us into His family. I don't keep myself. I am kept by One who loves me and seeks the best of me. He is actively working in my life, doing things for me that I could never do for myself. It is a blessing to belong to Him!

Returning to our text, Jesus prayed about His disciples, “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine.” All who belong to Jesus also belong to the Father and vice versa. The disciples belonged to Jesus and the Father.

What a blessing to belong to the Lord. Consider how prized we are to Him! He has invested heavily in us. Jesus gave His life to save us. Salvation is a free gift to us, but it came at a high cost to the Lord. That is how much He loves us. We are His prized possessions!

Jesus continued, “I am glorified in them.” His work in the lives of believers brings glory and honor to Him. Who are we to take credit for what the Lord does? If you are a child of God, this is due to the work of Christ, not your own. Our boasting is in vain. Only God should be praised for our salvation. His continued work of sanctification is something only He should be praised for. Our ultimate glorification at the resurrection will be His work, too. He, alone, will deserve praise for this. When we enter the bliss of heaven, we will be trophies of His grace.

Let's think about what the Lord did for us. When Jesus came to earth, God stepped down of heaven so that we may ultimately step up into glory. He made Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself, so that we may be exalted to be children of God. God came to men so that men could come to God. He died so that we may live. One day, I turned to Him in repentance and faith and a great transaction took place. I gave Him my life and He gave me His. I surrendered my empty heart so that He could make it new. He has moved in to stay. I was dead and He made me alive. I was an old relic that was nothing more than garbage. He took me and changed me and made me His very own. I am thankful that I belong to Him. The future is looking bright. I am an heir of the King! I am His prized possession.

Do you belong to Him? 

Intercessory Prayer

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” - John 17:9

It is comforting to know that someone is praying for you. Whether it is your spouse, your pastor or a close friend, it is good to have someone who cares enough to call out your name in prayer.

There are people who seem to have a special burden about intercessory prayer. They treat prayer requests seriously. If you ask them to pray about something, they will reach heaven on your behalf. These precious saints often engage in spiritual warfare on their knees. To them, prayer is more than a religious task or a personal discipline, it is their passion.

Where are such prayer warriors today? The church is in dire need of men and women who will get in the prayer closet and meet with God on a regular basis. When a person has the audience of God, their feeble prayers touch deity.

As I get older, certain things don't impress me like they used to. When I was a young Christian, I was impressed with mega-church pastors who saw their churches grow numerically at a significant rate. I was impressed with those who talked about their spiritual accomplishments. I am not as impressed with these things like I used to be. Some of the “numerical growth” that some bragged about turned out to be temporary and superficial. Others who eagerly shared phenomenal experiences have turned out to have major character flaws that ruined their ministries.

The things that are most impressive to me usually aren't seen or noticed by others. Such things as a strong prayer life, generosity and private piety. While we may catch a glimpse of these things, they tend to be conducted in private, away from the public gaze. While our society emphasizes external matters, God looks upon the heart. He sees the things done in private. He knows about the quality of our faith and the pureness of our motives. Such things please Him and impress me. These are things I want my life to exhibit in private before the Lord.

For some time, I've been writing about the prayers of Jesus. When our Lord prayed in public, His prayers were short in duration. His private prayers were often long. Many of these longer prayers are not recorded for us to read. In John 17, we find the longest recorded prayer of Jesus. We get a little snapshot of our Lord's prayers. Most of this prayer is a time of intercession for His disciples.

In our text, Jesus prayed, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” Jesus was referring to His disciples when He said, “I pray for them.”

Why did Jesus pray for His disciples? There may be numerous answers to this question, but let me give you the most obvious reason. He prayed for His disciples because they needed it. They needed His prayers. They were about to face uncertainty, confusion and desperation because of the arrest and execution of Jesus. Furthermore, there would be the time gap between the crucifixion and resurrection which would deepen their anxiety and pain. Ultimately, the future of the church and the advancement of the Gospel would be their responsibility. Yes, they needed the prayers of Jesus.

Notice that Jesus did not pray for the unbelieving world. That may seem strange for us. Most of us are praying for the conversion of many. Yet at this time, Jesus concentrated on His disciples, not the skeptics. The disciples were His close friends. He had invested a great deal of time with them. In earlier verses of this prayer, we learn that the Father had given these men to Him. Jesus dedicated much of His prayer to the men who had given up everything to follow Him.

I think it is great to have others pray for you, especially strong prayer warriors. To have your name on their hearts daily as they talk with God is a special blessing. Think of how great it is to know that your name is on the Master's heart and to know that He talks to the Father on your behalf. What a blessing that would be!

Yet even know, our Lord makes intercession for us. As the enemy accuses us to the Father, we have an advocate who speaks up in our defense. We have a friend in the highest position, interceding on our behalf.

There has never been an intercessor like Jesus. His intercessory ministry continues to this day. While we find great assurance and comfort in this fact, it should also motivate us to be an intercessor ourselves.

Jesus prayed for His disciples. Because we follow Him, He is praying for us right now.

What a blessing to know He is praying for me!