Kingdom Joy

By Sidharth Mohandas

I had been going through very trying times for months and years- being tormented in my mind of things that happened in my life at various stages of my life. I remember times when I would relive those bitter and painful experiences- which in turn would render me totally helpless and weak. This went on for years- and every time it did, I’d become a vegetable unable to think or speak. But God patiently and gently trained me to come out of it- and in this article I desire to share this practical truth that the Lord revealed to me.

JOY, YOUR SAFETY

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, for it is a safeguard for you. [Philippians 3:1]

The book of Philippians is a book where Paul exhorts the believers at Philippi to rejoice again and again. In fact the word “rejoice” occurs more than 10 times in this epistle. Paul in the above verse says that it was no trouble for him to repeat the command to rejoice again and again to them, because it was a “safeguard” for them. The Greek word used for safeguard is

asphales which also means prophylaxis or immunity. I have always asked myself if it were possible to go through the valleys in life without being affected by it- and the answer to that question is a definite “yes”. The secret to go through the trials of life unaffected is to rejoice in the Lord!

JOY BRINGS DELIVERANCE

The birth of the church at Philippi is a practical demonstration of what joying in the Lord can do. When Paul and Silas arrived Philippi, they met with severe persecution- they were stripped, beaten, severely flogged and were thrown into the inner cell of the prison, and upon that their feet were fastened in the stocks [Acts 16: 22-24]. Most of us would have started questioning God with a series of “Whys” at this point. But not Paul and Silas; the Bible tells us that they were praying and singing hymns to God… [Acts 16:25]. And because they rejoiced in the Lord in the midst of the pain and discomfort, they paved way for the salvation of the jailer and his family [Acts 16: 26-34]

What could Paul and Silas be praising God for? I’m sure they were rejoicing in the fact that nothing could happen to them without the knowledge and permission of the King of the Universe and that He was in perfect control of their situation as they had submitted everything to Him in prayer.

Did Paul and Silas feel like rejoicing? I’m sure not. When I go through problems, rejoicing is the last thing I’d feel like doing. But when you make the choice to obey the Lord to rejoice in Him, I guarantee you – He will help you rejoice in Him. But if you don’t rejoice, you will lose your strength to go through the problem, for the Bible says

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” [Nehemiah 8:10]

JOY CONTINUALLY

I had asked the Lord if it were possible for me to joy in Him continually. And He directed me to a Scripture in Acts 13:52, where it says “The disciples were continually filled with joy and the Holy Ghost” [NASB]. I believe one can reach this place of joying in Him continually as a result of living in the presence of the Lord, for the Scripture says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy…” [Psalm 16:11 ].

PROPHETIC WORD

I now I take you to a prophetic word in the book of Isaiah.

“Behold, My Servant shall prosper; He shall be raised and lifted up and highly exalted” [Isaiah 52:13]

“Who has believed Our report and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” [Isaiah 53:1]

“Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband” [Isaiah 54:1]

God’s report of His Son Jesus is: My servant shall prosper. And so He did. Now He awaits our response: have we believed His report? If we have believed, then God wants us to sing, to burst into song and shout for joy for Jesus is on the throne and He reigns- and there’s no problem that we will ever face that He cannot handle. Hallelu Yah!

Notice, beloved, God tells the barren woman to sing and shout for joy, and not the woman who has given birth to children. When you choose to rejoice in the Lord in your barrenness, God gives you this prophetic word: “More are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband”.

If you are financially barren, rejoice inthe One who sees and will provide. If you are going through broken relationship, rejoice in the One who can heal that relationship. If you are going through sickness and pain, rejoice in the One who took up your infirmities and carried your diseases. Rejoice in the LORD!

THE KEY TO THE MIRACULOUS

Do not be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your request to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6-7]

The only thing God asks you to do in this Scripture is present all your worries to Him with “thanksgiving”. God wants you to “enter His gates with thanksgiving…” [Psalm 100:4]. If I call you up and tell you that I’m sending you a gift, will you say “I’ll thank you when I see the gift”? You’d be dishonoring me, if you did say that. Instead you’d say thank you and expect the gift.

Remember, thanksgiving is the immediate response of faith in God.

Here are some examples from the Bible as to how thanksgiving opens the doors to divine intervention:

1. When Jesus came across an insurmountable task of feeding over 5000 people, He brought before God what was available, and the bible says,

“Jesus then took the loaves, GAVE THANKS…” [John 6:11]. He was able to feed over 5000 with just 5 small loaves and 2 small fish- a miracle had taken place.

2. Before Jesus called out Lazarus, who was dead in the grave for four days, the bible says, Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I THANK YOU that You have heard me…” [John 11:41]. And then…Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”. The dead man came out, his hands and feet with strips of linen, and cloth around His face.[ John 11:43-44]

3. Jesus heals ten lepers, but “one of them, when he saw he was healed, came back [to Jesus], praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and THANKED Him…” [Luke 17: 15-16] Jesus tells the leper, “Rise and go; your faith has made you whole.” [Luke 17:19]. When the leper came back to Jesus with thanksgiving, he was made whole. I believe the parts of his body that had been eaten away by leprosy had been restored. He returned not only healed, but whole. In short, when you thank God, you are in turn saying that you trust Him to take care of what you’re going through, and thus you honor Him and pave way for His deliverance. “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and He prepares the way so that I may show Him the salvation [deliverance] of God” [Psalm 50:23]

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