Christianity Oasis Forum

[Mackenaw]

Hello Everyone,

God bless you this day.

... joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

For many of us, joy does not come in the morning. I remember a time in my life that joy did not come in the morning. I want to share that through prayer and through a daily commitment to seek God, to read His Word, and my quest to really and truly get to know Him, that the Lord transformed me. Now I can say that joy cometh in the morning. Praise God! Thank You Jesus.

In the first epistle of Peter we read:

IPeter 2:1-5
1)Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2)As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3)If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4)To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5)Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Peter says that we are to lay aside all malice and guile and evil speakings, and to desire, as babies, the true milk of the word, that we may grow. Because if we had done so, then we would have tasted that the Lord is gracious. So it goes to say also, that if we haven't, we are still missing out on something something pretty spectacular.
In verse 5 it says that we (Christians) are an holy priesthood that offers up spiritual sacrifices. What sacrifices are they?

Let's see what Paul said in Hebrews 12:1-2:
1) Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.


Sounds like it begins with changing our mindset, and choosing to seek Him first and foremost, and laying aside everything else.
We've been taught by the Word and fellow Christians that we are to lay down our flesh man, and put on our spirit man -- daily. We are to put on the whole armor of God. Are we always obedient? Do we always choose to believe and follow the instructions of the Word and what our fellow Christians have told us?

Paul says that he dies daily. I Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Paul also tells us to put on the full armor of God.


Ephesians 6:11-18
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I know initially this feels like we have to do a whole lot of stuff. It doesn't come naturally to our carnal mind to do these things, and it most assuredly does NOT feel natural to our flesh to do them. But, what is it that we want? Do we want to please the flesh or do we want to be delivered from this thing that steals our joy -- maybe better said -- has kept us from ever experiencing the joy of The Lord?.
What did the priests of the Old Testament have to do each morning? While I am not going to list each and every thing that the priests had to do in the Old Testament, I am going to share some scriptures with you.

Exodus 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

We could burn incense every morning, but I want to show you something else...

Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

We could start off our mornings by praying to God, and thanking Him for our salvation through the bloodshed of Christ Jesus.

Exodus 36:3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.

Could we also lay ourselves, our flesh man, down by the blood of Jesus and put on our spirit man, as a service and free offering? Acknowledge what Jesus did for us, and humble ourselves before Him?

Leviticus 6:12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.

Might we at this time, lift up prayers for salvation for people that we know and even for those we do not know. Pray that souls will be reached for God and they will receive Christ as Saviour?

I Chronicles 9:27 And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.

Might we at this time, pray for our brethren, the vessels of God, who we know are doing a work for God. Pray for strength for them and blessings.?

II Chronicles 13:11 And they burn unto the Lord every morning and every evening burnst sacrifices and sweet incense: the showbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the Lord our God; but ye have forsaken Him.

Might we at this time pray for ourselves, asking God to show us any unrighteousness within us, and ask for forgiveness? A repentant heart, ushers in a grateful heart. Might we then sing praises to our Lord, thanking Him for His love and blessings?

There is something special that takes place, through acts of obedience to our Lord. He does; however, want the obedience to be with an open heart, with hope of love and getting to know Him. If we go about this with an attitude of I gotta go make the donuts

[Lani]

Amen Mack,

Awesome post! Thanks for the time you took to do so.

The one thing I focus on when I face trials is the fact that God doesn't create a storm with out an end already planned as well. I know when I make my way through, I will be able to rejoice fully in Him.

One great way to start reading His Word, is to read some of the Studies here on this site. They are Holy Spirit inspired, and they are full of His Word the scriptures within the Bible.

AMEN, Indeed!!!!

Thanks for all you do Sis!!!

Peace and Love in Christ,

Lani