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EXCEEDING JOY USHERS IN THE GLORY OF GOD

Yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1 Peter 1:8)

Believing is always accompanied by joy. Mark Hankins

Rejoicing activates faith; joy accompanies believing. In 1Peter1:8, the Apostle Peter speaks of some wild, ecstatic, triumphant, heavenly joy, not someday when we get to heaven, but right now! The Amplified Bible says, “You believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy.”

Unspeakable joy is a container of the glory of God. The glory and the abundance of God are manifested in an atmosphere of rejoicing. We are commanded to rejoice; it is not an option! God brought us here to have fun — now we are going to have fun!  God brought us here to have victory — now we are going to have victory! 

Confession:  I rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I have victory! The glory and the abundance of God are manifesting in my life today!

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ENJOYING THE TRIP

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)

Jesus paid too high a price for our blessing for us to be cursed. Mark Hankins

Several years ago, Trina and I took our children to Disney World in Florida. It was quite an expensive trip for our family. I thought it was funny when I saw a mother scolding and correcting her little boy who had been whining and complaining. The mother grabbed him firmly by the arm and said, “I brought you here to have a good time, and you’re going to have a good time!”  She said, “I paid too much for this trip for you to be grouchy and complaining. It has taken too long to get here for you to ruin it with your whining!”

Now I can imagine our Father God having a similar problem with some of His children. I can hear Him saying,“I brought you here to have a good time–now you are going to have a good time!” The price of our freedom was the precious blood of Jesus. We are blessed in Christ. It is time to enjoy our victory in Christ! It is time to enjoy our redemption!

Confession: The joy of the Lord is my strength! I will rejoice in the Lord always! This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it! (Nehemiah 8:10;Philippians 4:4; Psalm 118:24)

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FAITH GETS HAPPY NOW

…so that I might finish my course with joy. (Acts 20:24)

Faith cranks God’s tractor. Mark Hankins

When you look at the life of the Apostle Paul, you will see a man that God had perfectly “putt” to a divine calling and destiny. You can see the genius of God as you observe the many turning points in the trajectory of Paul’s life. You will also notice the spirit of faith working to overcome adversity. Paul had been stoned, shipwrecked, snake-bit, beat in the head, and left for dead. He could have said he was a tired, mistreated, lonely, disappointed, and hurting man, but that’s not how Paul didn’t described himself.  Instead, Paul said he was a happy man.

Towards the end of his life, Paul stood before the leaders of the Roman Empire and said, “I think myself happy” (Acts 26:2). Another translation says, “I have been congratulating myself, King Agrippa.”

Paul’s spirit of faith carried him to his divine destination. He finished his course with joy and completed the assignment given to him by Jesus Christ. He enjoyed the journey in spite of all the adversity he faced. Faith gets happy now!

Confession: I will finish my course with joy. In spite of adversity, the joy of the Lord is my strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

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GOING WHERE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN

And they commanded the people, saying,When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore. (Joshua 3:3-4)

If God told us everything, we would not have to walk by faith. Mark Hankins

Joshua needed to have a spirit of faith to lead the nation of Israel out of the wilderness into the Promised Land of Canaan. The people were commanded to move from their place, keep their eyes on the ark, and follow it at a certain distance. They were going into new territory. They had never passed that way before.

It seems that God led them in increments of 2,000 cubits (or about 3/5 of a mile). God often gives us only one or two steps at a time. He tells us enough so that we can obey by faith. He doesn’t always tell us everything, but He tells us enough so that we can obey and walk by faith!

Confession:  The Lord orders my steps. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way. (Psalm 37:23) A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.  (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV)

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JOURNEYS IN JOY AND FAITH

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)

The spirit of faith is a pioneer spirit. Mark Hankins

             The Apostle Paul had a spirit of faith. He was a happy man, even in the worst circumstances.  He thanked the believers in Philippi for their partnership with him in the Gospel, and he blessed them with a Word from God. The Word He spoke guaranteed that every need of theirs would be met as a result of their giving. (Philippians 4:19)

Paul wrote in Philippians 1:25, And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith.  The word furtherance could be translated the pioneer advance of the Gospel and of joy and faith. 

God want us to make progress in the Gospel and go where we have never gone before in expectation, joy, and faith. Now is the time for ever-increasing faith!

Confession: I have a pioneer spirit! The joy of the Lord is my strength! I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Nehemiah 8:10; Philippians 3:14)

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