Mourning That Birthed Joy

By Deacon Ike Mbila

In this our month of “JOY for MOURNING” we must make a self-determined effort to remember all we have been taught on the benefits of allowing joy to prevail over all hardship, catastrophe, sad situations and circumstances that might come our way.

We must constantly remember that we have been taught to ensure that a big smile backed by great encouraging scriptures from the word of God must occupy our thoughts/mind/and face - Psalm 30:11, Isaiah 61:2 our mourning will be turned to Joy.

The Bible teaches us that a merry heart doeth good like a medicine - Proverbs 17:22, so we must keep up with the smile and laughter.

There are several instances where the Bible teaches us events that appeared pretty awful, hard, unmanageable, disastrous and hopeless but God turned all the hopeless situations to hopeful outcomes

- Psalm 126:1-6. In spite of the overwhelming mention/teaching of the word, a lot of Christians are depressed, suffer prolonged sadness, and remain in fear of the unknown.

Like King David and Hannah we must learn and practice to encourage ourselves in the Lord -1 Peter 5:7, 1 Samuel 30:6 and Psalm 13:5-6. Today we will encourage ourselves with some crucial situations that birthed Joy.

E.g - Hannah becomes a mother; Abraham becomes a father of many nations; Haman falls into his own pit; Joseph becomes prime minister; Paul and Silas enjoy unusual freedom from prison; God parts the red sea for the Israelites; David kills Goliath, etc.

All our mourning in the night will birth our morning of joy, in Jesus precious name. AMEN.

You will have good success this 2019.

Remain blessed. 

Shalom.

He Turned My Mourning...

From Our Pastor's Desk.

Psalms 126:1-2 – “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them”

This passage is both  testimonial and prophetic. It is about the  deliverance of God’s people from Babylon  back to Zion. This is His Word for us this  year 2019 - Our Year of Greater Glory.

The song-writer &  singer Ron Kenoly turned Psalms 30:11  into a beautiful song—”Thou hast turned for  me my mourning into dancing…” When  you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, until it seems as though you cannot hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.

The tide turned for Joseph, turned for Hannah, turned for Job, turned for you, yes “you!!!”, in the past, turned for countless others. This tide will turn too. Know that just as there are forces fighting against you, yes that’s true. But there are more forces fighting in your favor.

Jesus said in Luke 10:18 that He “saw satan fall like lightning from heaven”. And satan took a third of the angels with him. But do you realize that left two-thirds of the angels in our favor? They’re outnumbered.

Satan is already defeated. The war has already been won. We may have to fight some few life battles. But don’t you ever give up. Don’t you ever lose hope. Don’t lose your joy. Be of good cheer. God’s power is greater in us than he that’s in the world. He will turn this tide for our favor, in Jesus precious name. AMEN.

You will have good success this 2019. 
Remain blessed. 
Shalom.

All Things Work Together

From Our Pastor's Desk

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them  that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" Hold on….Does that Scripture say “all things?” Really?

All Things? Good things? And bad things? And even ugly things? Trials, tribulations, loss of loved ones, jail, separation, calamity, sufferings? But how can that be? How can  any good come from hurts, griefs, pain,  loss, etc? Good question.

That Scripture does not talk  about the process, course, the moment  while going through a “thing” but the result.  It means the final outcome of our situation is  eventually goodness, because God is in  control of the “thing”.

Sometimes we may  not understand or enjoy the process He  takes us through to fulfill His work in our lives. But later we will look back with gratitude and amazement at the process which God took us through to fulfill His plan for our lives. 

God took Joseph through a process. He was hated, by his own blood brothers, sold as a slave, distressed, imprisoned, lied against etc. But God had a great purpose for the life of Joseph to make him a blessing not only during his lifetime but also throughout human history to inspire His people. Brethren, let’s be encouraged when we face the trials of life, as God is pruning us, changing us, molding us, maturing us and developing us. At the end, we will declare like Joseph in Gen. 50:19-20 that “Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

But as for you (the world), ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good...”, in Jesus precious name. AMEN.

You will have good success this 2019. 

Remain blessed. 

Shalom

Purposeful Joy

By Sis. Tomisin Ogungbemi

Solid joy is found in walking in the purpose of the master planner (God), John 15: 10-11. We need to understand that God makes all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose Romans 8:28. 

If we abide in God, He helps us to  find purpose in our moments of trials and confusion. By so doing, we receive the message and  beauty from the storm. If the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable!

The major thing that the devil tries to attack is our joy in the Lord because he knows that when we lose joy, we lose strength. The Bible says “the joy of the Lord is our strength”. If we lose strength, we risk becoming weary.

Weariness can make us unfit for God’s purpose for our lives. Our ultimate strength should come from the word of God and abiding by His principles, because the word is God Himself and when we have God in us, we have love which makes joy radiate all over.

The most amazing thing about this purposeful joy is that it is all about God, all we have to do is to position ourselves right to receive this joy.

The outcome of our plan doesn’t define our joy, but to remain in the ultimate plan of the Master and to live for His purpose and glory.

May God engulf us with joy that eliminates confusion and mourning, in Jesus precious name. AMEN.

You will have good success this 2019. 

Remain blessed. 

Shalom.

The Joy Givers

From Our Pastor's Desk

What gives us joy as Christians may be different from the world. They may say, get a puppy or fish (pet); nice cup of coffee and a smoke...etc

But thankfully, however, we experience joy in God, who gives each of us joy givers to replenish our joy in Him. Though some people use the terms happiness and joy interchangeably, there is a vast difference in their meaning. Both cause a pleasant emotional response, but the former relies entirely upon circumstance.

As soon as difficulty arises and pain intrudes, a person ceases to be happy. On the other hand, joy is a gift from God that enables believers to find hope and peace—even when life seemingly falls apart.

The  love of almighty God is  unconditional, and His  indwelling Spirit will never abandon you. He  understands everything that you face and promises to provide for your needs. When you stop to consider the amazing blessings that are yours in Christ, gratitude will likely overwhelm you. Sadness concerning circumstances may still endure, but the joy of the Lord will carry you through even the deepest pain.

Nehemiah said unto the people in Nehemiah 8:9-10 - “…This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep... for the joy of the LORD is your strength”

You will have good success this 2019.
Remain blessed.
Shalom.

March 2019 - Our Month of Joy For Mourning

 From Our Pastor's Desk

Welcome to this our new Month of Joy For Mourning in Jesus name. Neh. 8:10 says The joy of the Lord is our strength & Isaiah 61:3 – “...to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning…”

Oil of Joy for mourning. Mourning is to feel & manifest sadness & sorrow. Joy is the opposite. It means utmost delight, gladness, pleasure, bliss, beatitude.  In old Biblical days (maybe even now), oil was used to apply to the face to make the face shine, instead of mourning which disfigures the face & countenance.

When in mourning no oil would be applied to the face.  JOY destroys fear, anxiety, discouragement, loneliness, & reveals the glory of the Lord.

A gift from God that enables believers find hope & peace, even when life seemingly falls apart. Sadness about circumstances may still endure, but the joy of the Lord will carry us through even the deepest pain. Jesus, the “Man of Sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3), went through horrific suffering and the shedding of His blood in a graphic, violent way.

But He wasn’t only a man of sorrows, Luke 7:34 says, “Then the Son of Man came, enjoying life ...” He enjoyed feasts, dinners, wedding get-togethers etc.

The oil of joy is the Holy Ghost, giving us Joy unspeakable & fullness of His glory. Jesus, in spite of the coming sorrow of crucifixion, came enjoying life.

We can, too. And we will, even in hard times, in Jesus Name. AMEN