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Joy Is Not An Option

Part 4 - Joy Unspeakable

May 16, 2021 • Pastor Bracken Christian

Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

JOY IS THE ATMOSPHERE OF HEAVEN.

C.S. LEWIS SAID, “GOD DOES HIS MOST SERIOUS WORK IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF JOY”.

THE APOSTLE PAUL KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT JOY!

Rom 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

TPT Rom 12:11 Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him.
12 Let this hope burst forth within you, releasing a continual joy. Don’t give up in a time of trouble, but commune with God at all times.

MSG “Stay cheerfully expectant”

1 Thess 5:16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

MSG – Be cheerful no matter what BBE – Have joy at all times

Rom 12:8 show mercy with cheerfulness

FAITH AND JOY GO HAND IN HAND.

Phil 1:25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

2 Cor 1:24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.

BBE but we are helpers of your joy: for it is faith which is your support.

PAUL USES THE WORD JOY AND REJOICE 16 TIMES IN PHILIPPIANS

Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice!

TPT Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One!

Hab 3:17 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places.

AMP “He causes me to make progress in my times of suffering”

Psalm 30:5 Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES – “THE TIME OF OUR JOY”
A COMMAND TO REJOICE FOR 7 DAYS…

STRONGS CONCORDANCE FOR REJOICE…
To joy, rejoice, be glad, be joyful. The word contains a suggestion of dancing for joy, Leaping for joy. Since the verb means to spin around with intense emotion; This lays to rest the notion that the biblical concept of joy is only a quiet, inner sense of well-being.

NOTICE THE SEASON FOR GREATLY REJOICING!

1 Pet 1:3 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, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so 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; 8 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 (unspeakable) and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

JOY IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN BELIEVING AND RECEIVING

YOUR CELEBRATION IS A DEMONSTRATION OF YOUR EXPECTATION

REJOICING IS A DEMONSTRATION OF YOUR TRIUMPH IN CHRIST

REJOICING IS A PIPELINE TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

JOY AND REJOICING IS A CONTAINER FOR THE GLORY.

Ps 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

TPT Then he broke through and transformed all my wailing into a whirling dance of ecstatic praise! He has torn the veil and lifted from me the sad heaviness of mourning. He wrapped me in the glory garments of gladness.

JOY COMES AS AN ACT OF FAITH.

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April 24, 2024

1. John 17:16 They are not of this world even as I am not of this world. 2. We live in an environment of expected microwave results to rotisserie circumstances, but some things just take time. 3.  Matt 6:6 NASB https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/mat.6.6   4.  Eph 6:10 https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/eph.6.10 5.  John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” 6.  John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 7.  John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” 8.  Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the Lord , My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 9.  Matt 4:4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God ” 10.  PHIL 4:19 https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/php.4.19   11.  James 4: 7-10 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you. 12.  Matt 6:10 Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heavan. 13.  Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Searching For God

Pastor Bracken Christian

Hosea 6:3 So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.” THE RAPTURE IS ONE THE LORD’S MOST PRECIOUS PROMISES TO THE CHURCH 1 Thess 1:10 Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.  35 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 37 For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; 38 And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. THERE IS A 7 YEAR TIME PERIOD RAPIDLY APPROACHING  Jeremiah 30:7 “The time of Jacobs trouble” Daniel 12:1 “A time of distress such as has never occurred” Revelation 3:10 “The hour of testing” Matthew 24:21 “A time of great tribulation” Revelation 7:14 “The great tribulation” Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. Rev 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. THE CHURCH IS PICTURED HERE IN CHAPTERS 4 & 5 5:9 And they *sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” THE CHURCH IS NOT SEEN AGAIN UNTIL Rev 19 WHERE WE THE CHURCH WILL RETURN WITH JESUS TO THE EARTH AT HIS 2ND COMING.  Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.  13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 1 Cor 10:32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God (SAINTS): Rom 11:25 for I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the gentiles has come in; 26 and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “the deliverer will come from Zion, he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “and this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”   IN SCRIPTURE YOU HAVE THE CHURCH AS WELL AS JEWS WHO HAVE YET TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST. Luke 21:29 Then He told them a parable: “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. ANOTHER MYSTERY PAUL TALKS ABOUT “EPH 5”  THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHURCH IS LIKE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A HUSBAND AND WIFE A MYSTERY – “IT WAS NOT UNDERSTOOD IN THE OLD COVENANT” ANOTHER MYSTERY “1 Cor 15” 1 Cor 15:51 “BEHOLD, I TELL YOU A MYSTERY” THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH “CATCHING AWAY OF THE SAINTS” THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH IS SOMETHING THAT PAUL GOT BY REVELATION (GAL 1:12, 2:2) 1 Cor 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the lord. THERE ARE TYPES OF IT HAPPENING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT GENISIS – A MAN BY THE NAME OF ENOCH. HE WALKED WITH GOD BY FAITH AND GOD TOOK HIM ANOTHER PICTURE IS THAT OF ELIJAH THE PROPHET… HE WENT TO HEAVEN IN A CHARIOT SOME OTHER TYPES AND SHADOWS ARE IN THE LIVES OF NOAH AND LOT. THEY DIED BUT THEY WERE BOTH DELIEVERD FROM JUDGMENT. WHEN THE WORLD WAS JUDGED AROUND THEM, THEY WERE SPARED AND SEPERATED. GO TO 1 Thess 4 AND LOOK AT WHAT PAUL SAY’S ABOUT THIS EVENT WHERE THE RIGHTEOUS ARE SEIZED UP OFF THE EARTH 1Thess 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (dead in Christ), that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so god will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. WE WILL HAVE A BORN-AGAIN GLORIFIED BODY Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.  1 Thess 5:1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. PAUL WAS PREVIOUSLY TALKING ABOUT THE CATCHING AWAY OF THE CHURCH NOW HE TALKS ABOUT SOMETHING THEY ALREADY KNOW ABOUT. EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT THE DAY OF THE LORD SAY’S, “JUDGMENT”, “DOOM AND GLOOM – TROUBLE”, DESTRUCTION NOW WE HAVE’NT READ ANYTHING IN 1 Cor 15 OR 1Thess 4 THAT PERTAINS TO THE BELIEVER THAT SOUNDS LIKE DOOM AND GLOOM PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS HERE 2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 3 while they are saying, “peace and safety!” Then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; And they shall not escape.  4 but you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; 5 For you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 6 So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 for God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ WHEN THE DAY OF THE LORD COMES ON PLANET EARTH IT IS A DAY OF WRATH ON HIS ENEMIES Today there are 8 billion people in the world. If 2 billion were taken in the rapture. That would leave 6 billion behind.  The seal judgements (Rev 6:8) are going to kill one fourth of those people (1.5 billion), leaving a total of 4.5 billion. The trumpet judgments will kill one-third of those remaining (another 1.5 billion), making a total of 3 billion gentileswho will die during the first half of the tribulation; Half of the world’s population. Percentage wise, more Jews will die in the tribulation. Zec 13:8 “Two-thirds of them will be killed by the antichrist. There are approximately, 15.3 million Jews in the world today.   So the total number of Jews destined to be killed is about 10 million – one third more than those killed in the holocaust. THE WORLD/GENTILES ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE A MASS SLAUGHTER THAT IS UNPARALLELED IN ALL OF HISTORY. THE TRIBULATION PERIOD IS A TIME FOR MEN TO MAKE THEIR FINAL CHOICE. THERE’S A LOT OF SIFTING THAT TAKES PLACE… IF YOU’VE ALREADY MADE YOUR CHOICE THEN THERE’S NO NEED FOR YOU TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SIFTING HERE WE SEE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN APPOINTED TO WRATH 1 Thess 1:10 and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

Sitting With Jesus

April 17, 2024 • Pastor Brody Christian

FIRST POSTURE YOU SHOULD DO WITH JESUS IS SIT WITH HIM EPHESIANS 1:20  which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places EPHESIANS 2:6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus 3 THINGS SITTING/RESTING REPRESENTS  1. WE DECLARE "IT'S DONE" 2. GIVES CONTENTMENT  1 TIMOTHY 6:6  But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 3. GIVES US CONFIDENCE  HEBREWS 10:35  Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. YOUR DESTINY - IS TO SIT & KNOW HIM, BE CONTENT & HAVE SO MUCH CONFIDENCE THAT HE IS IN CONTROL