A Carefree Joy

My own lethargy, lukewarmness and lack of fervency is something I find myself carrying as a care, a burden.

Seeing the developing of evil in the world, I feel the need to draw near to the Lord, to be led by the Spirit, be empowered by Him as a place of safety from what is to come. As I reach for these things, I am hindered by my own lack of fervency and fire. Also how can I lay hold of the great promises and the inheritance that God has made available to me, that I have come to value so much, in this condition? These things have been a great concern and I have been burdened by them, but a few days ago, the Lord impressed on me that if I will cast all my cares on Him and trust in Him with all my heart, not leaning on my own understanding, that He will be my helper and enabler and with such a Helper, I am freed from every burden, care, worry, fear to live in the joy of the Lord. It is not God’s will that His people bear these cares and concerns, but that they trust Him completely with all of them and live in the joy of the Lord and that His peace should rule our spirits. This is living by faith and in this condition, I can overcome the worry, concern, fear, lukewarmness, lethargy etc.

Peace and joy are marks of faith and fruits of the Spirit.

Those who live by faith in Him with a revelation of what Christ did for them on the cross can walk in this life of joy and peace. We will not struggle in our own effort and live under guilt and shame.

Isaiah 61:10 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 her jewels.

We rejoice because the Lord has adorned us with His salvation and His righteousness.

Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

{the former rain moderately: or, a teacher of righteousness} {moderately: Heb. according to righteousness}

We are glad and rejoice because the Lord has given us His Spirit in measure and has promised to give Him to us in His fullness enabling us to overcome the sin nature and be perfected.

Habakkuk 3

17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:


18 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Yet I will rejoice in the LORD</span>, <span style="text-decoration:underline;">I will joy in the God of my salvation</span>.


19 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The LORD God is my strength</span>, and <span style="text-decoration:underline;">he will make my feet like hinds' feet</span>, and <span style="text-decoration:underline;">he will make me to walk upon mine high places</span>.

We can be free of burdens and care even in hard, trying times because we can trust in the Lord with all our heart, not leaning on our own understanding and cast our burdens on Him. He is our burden bearer. He bears our burdens and cares and gives us power to overcome every obstacle and hindrance so that regardless of circumstances around us or even our own weakness, faults, lack etc, we rejoice in Him with “joy unspeakable and full of glory”. Only the humble who trust the Lord and believe Him know this joy.

God is going to see if you will trust Him.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

I Peter 5

5 ¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.


6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:


7 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Casting all your care upon him</span>; for he careth for you.

I WILL GIVE YOU REST
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

God has promised His people a glorious rest, a rest that includes peace and security for the soul. The Lord offered this wonderful rest to the children of Israel, which meant a life full of joy and victory, without fear, guilt or condemnation. Up to the time of Christ, no generation of believers ever walked fully in this blessed promise. Why was this? The Bible makes very clear that it was because of their unbelief. “So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief" (Hebrews 3:19).

Because of their unbelief, God's people—during the period of the kings and prophets through David’s generation—went through life full of misery, doubt, fear and restlessness. In every generation the rest was promised but it was refused—never appropriated, never understood.

That is why, when we read Hebrews 4, we find this glorious life of faith still unclaimed: “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (verse 9). Yet we also read: "Since therefore it remains that some must enter it . . ." (verse 6). The Bible admonishes present-day believers with a warning: "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering into His rest, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have come short of it" (verse 1).

Thousands upon thousands of believers claim to be filled with the Spirit of God, yet few have entered into this promised rest. Many are tossed about by winds and waves of doctrines, restless and guilt-ridden, with no security in Christ. Jesus said, “I will give you rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (see Matthew 11:28-30).

My prayer is that today you will enter into the rest God has for you. Reach up by faith and receive because it is His free gift!

LEARN OF ME
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me” (Matthew 11:28-29, KJV). Christ tells us very plainly: "Do not attempt to take on a walk with Me until you are at rest in your soul!"

If you do not have this wonderful confidence in what the Word of God says Jesus did for you, His yoke will not be easy or light. On the contrary, you will spend your time striving in the flesh to please God. You will go from hot to cold, living with unnecessary guilt and shame.

I believe the key to this verse lies in the words “learn of me.” Jesus is speaking here of the discipline of learning who He is and what He accomplished on the cross. He is saying, "You must have a knowledge of what I have done for you. Then, once your soul is at rest, you can take on My yoke. So, learn of Me!"

We do not want this kind of discipline. We want to take the easy way! We are like schoolchildren on the playground at recess who do not want to go back into the classroom.

Perhaps today you say, "I'm reading my Bible now and praying a little each day. I'm trying hard to do better!" This is all good, but I assure you that these things will not keep you through the coming storm. It is not enough to try hard, to make promises to God, to strive to be better. Nor is it enough to say, "I'm more diligent than before." No, it is all about going after a revelation of what Jesus did for you at the cross!

Something should cry out in all of us: "Jesus, Your Word says I can live in total rest, peace and security. I don't have to strive in my flesh or be tossed about by guilt or fear. You have set before me the promise of a life at rest, but I don't have that rest. Oh, Lord, I want Your rest with everything that's in me. Teach me by Your Spirit—I want to learn of You." \

Isaiah 30:15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

Returning and rest; returning to God and resting in his promises.

They who, in times of trouble and danger, honor God with the full confidence of their souls, shall receive from him inward peace and comfort, and also outward deliverance, so far as their highest welfare requires it. FBN

Only depend on him.

Psalm 51

7 ¶ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Ps 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Ps 118:15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

Ps 119:111 ¶ Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Ro 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Psalm 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Psalm 46 (To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth)

1 ¶ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 


2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 


3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.    (A place of perfect trust in the Lord)


4 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God</span>, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.


5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Psalms 100 (A Psalm of praise)

1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 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. 


4 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise</span>: <span style="text-decoration:underline;">be thankful unto him</span>, and <span style="text-decoration:underline;">bless his name</span>.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

I Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

I Peter 4

12 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:


13 But <span style="text-decoration:underline;">rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings</span>; that, <span style="text-decoration:underline;">when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy</span>.


14 <span style="text-decoration:underline;">If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye</span>; <span style="text-decoration:underline;">for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you</span>: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.