FRUIT OF JOY

FRUIT OF JOY

Excerpt from

A Life’s Symphony of Joy

By

Rev. Susan R. Slade

Precious Jewels

Ministries

One of the evidences of being in relationship with Jesus; and, therefore, filled with the Holy Spirit, is the presence of joy. According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, “JOY is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good.” Joy is not an emotion determined by circumstances. Joy is a gift from God Himself that is eternal. This gift lays dormant until and unless a person receives salvation through Jesus Christ. In believing that Jesus is the Son of God who died to pay the debt of our sin and was raised to life, we receive the Holy Spirit and the joy of the Lord. Fruit takes time to be cultivated. We do not instantaneously exhibit all the character qualities listed here. But the Father begins nurturing them as soon as we come to Christ.

Do you see these attributes growing in your own life, and can you spot them in others? Nourish your life, your fruit tree, with the word of God and pray to bear good fruit. Stay plugged in to the vine, Jesus, for apart from Him, you cannot bear fruit. John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  

2 Peter 1:5-6

HIS REFLECTION

His Reflection

by

Nicole Foster,

Susie Hale,

and

Susan Slade

Precious Jewels

Ministries

How can I live the life Jesus demands?

The tools I require, God has placed in my hands.

The ideal is that I be Jesus’ reflection,

Godly choices should be my direction.

A relationship more than mere affection

Because I have come under Jesus’ protection,

Is to know my Lord intimately as brother and friend.

His Spirit within me guides me not to offend

My Heavenly Father, my Master, My King.

I’ll reflect the Lord’s excellence and His praises sing.

SAME GENUINE FAITH

Same Genuine Faith

By Susie Hale, Precious Jewels Ministries

We think of the apostles as far above us.

We tend to forget they were ordinary men.

Peter reminded his readers they were saved by grace

And were equally redeemed from the pit of sin.

He counted faith as precious

For he knew from whence he came.

His readers, also, had been called by God,

Jesus’ righteousness imparted to them just the same.

We today are still saved by faith,

Through no merit of our own,

God’s free gift to those who believe,

The greatest gift ever known.

"ROCK" CONCERT

Day 22 - Rock Concert

Excerpt from A Life's Symphony of Joy

by Rev. Susan R. Slade

           God who is the Rock provided water from the Rock. Numbers 20:8 (NIV) “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” According to 1 Corinthians 10:3-4, Jesus was the Rock that poured out the water, “They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” Jesus, being the Rock, is the provision and is the River of Life. John 7:38 “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” The living water is the Holy Spirit flowing through the life of the believer and bearing witness to the world. The Rock, in scripture, is also a symbol of safety and security because the high rocks of the holy land served as natural fortresses. Jesus is our stronghold, and we rest safely in His care.

           

Let us sing and shout joyfully to the Rock. Let’s hold a “Rock” concert. 

DELIVERANCE

Exodus 12:37 (AMPC) The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children.

Note in John MacArthur Study Bible: A conservative estimate based on the number of men, probably the fighting men 20 years of age and above, would give a population of 2 million.

Seventy Jews entered Egypt

To escape famine in the Holy Land.

When Moses led them back out,

Two million obeyed his command.

God had multiplied his people,

Given them Egypt’s silver and gold.

He brought them out hale and hearty,

None feeble, none stumbled, we’re told.

Their miraculous deliverance from bondage,

Oppressed as Egypt’s slaves,

Is recounted by the psalmist

To give thanks to our God who saves!

STANDING IN GRACE

“With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, 

I have written to you briefly, encouraging you 

and testifying that this is the true grace of God. 

Stand fast in it.

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, 

sends you her greetings,

and so does my son Mark. 

Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”

1 Peter 5:12-14 (NIV)

histēmi²⁴⁷⁶ – to stand (trans. or intrans.), used in various applications (lit. or fig.): - abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up).

            Peter’s first letter is filled with examples of those held up by the grace of God. He concludes by reminding the reader to stand fast in this true grace. Standing may sound passive, but watching my mother trying to regain her balance and ability to stand reminded me that remaining on your feet can be challenging. Remaining on your feet spiritually when winds of persecution or trial are trying to knock you down is a dramatic test of faith.

            Father, thank you for using Peter to encourage us to continue in our covenant relationship with you, realizing that your grace will enable us to stand. 

STRONG, FIRM, STEADFAST

“And the God of all grace, 

who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,

after you have suffered a little while,

will himself restore and make you 

strong, firm and steadfast.

To him be the power for ever and ever. 

Amen.”

1 Peter 5:10-11

sthĕnŏō⁴⁵⁹⁹ – (bodily vigor); to strengthen, i.e. (fig.) confirm (in spiritual knowledge and power): - strengthen.

stērizō⁴⁷⁴¹ – to set fast, i.e. (lit.) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, of (fig.) to confirm: - fix, (e-)stablish, steadfastly set, strengthen.

thĕmĕliŏō²³¹¹ – to lay a basis for, i.e. (lit.) erect, or (fig.) consolidate: - (lay the) foundation, ground, settle.

            Father, help me to be as resilient as the sedum in my backyard. Enable me to weather the storms of life and periods when I feel like I’m in a drought spiritually. Thank you for the promise that “…our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH

“Be self-controlled and alert.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion 

looking for someone to devour.

 Resist him, standing firm in the faith,

because you know that your brothers throughout the world

are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)

nēphō³⁵²⁵ – to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (fig.) be discreet: - be sober, watch.

grēgŏrĕuō¹¹²⁷ – to keep awake, i.e. watch (lit. or fig.): - be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful).

anthistēmi⁴³⁶ – to stand against, i.e. oppose: - resist, withstand.

That last Greek word reminds me of antihistamine, the stuff that blocks those things that make me sneeze. We need to use these three skills – staying sober, being vigilant, and resisting Satan – to block those things that make us sin. We’re not alone in the fight. Our brothers and sisters around the world suffer persecutions, trials, and temptations. The key here is to stand firm in our faith, knowing that nothing “can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39b).

           

Father, you enable us to do what you have commanded. Help me to resist Satan and stand firm in the faith to your glory. Thank you for your unfailing love!

IN GOD'S CARE

“Casting the whole of your care –

all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, 

once and for all – on Him;

for He cares for you affectionately, 

and cares about you watchfully.”

1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified Version) 

See Psalm 55:22, Matthew 6:25-34

mĕlō³¹⁹⁹ – to be of interest to, i.e. to concern (only third pers. sing. pres. indic. used impers. it matters): (take) care.

           (Written by Susie in early 2009) I am currently taking care of my 79-year-old mother since she fell and suffered a subdural hematoma resulting in a craniotomy. In English, that means the neurosurgeon opened up the side of her scull to remove a clot between the lining of her brain and the brain.  At this point, she needs help getting in and out of bed, dressing, etc. However, this is not a burden to me because of the love and care between us. Mom trusts me to do what is best for her all day and night.

            If I care this much about Mom, how much more must a perfect, loving God care for us? He is concerned about our every need. We need not worry, but simply trust the Lord to take care of us. We can throw those cares on him, and he’ll handle everything.

           

Father, thank you for your complete and perfect care. Help me to remember that I need not worry because you are in control, you love me, and you care for me.