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Drawing Water Isa 12:3 “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” In order to draw from the wells of salvation, we must know how to get the water out. “With joy you will draw water out of the well of salvation." It is with joy that you will go deeply in the wells of salvation to get all that is needed in this day. What is in the well of salvation? Everything Jesus provided for in redemption is in the well of salvation - wholeness, righteousness, sanctification, power, victory. The reason we don't live it is that we aren't allowing the river to flow out from the well. It is not hard to draw from this well. All you have to do is come and drink - do what He asks - NOW! Is it easy? We have been trying so hard, now it is time to relax - BUT IT TAKES BELIEVING! The depth of God's promises is the well of salvation, and we receive by believing. There are many unhappy Christians. They want to serve God, but it doesn't work, so they seek ungodly provisions to satisfy their needs. That's not believing! Believing will show forth in joy from the Lord. Pro. 15:13 (KJV) "A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance:" Joy is not always laughter. Laughter does not heal, nor does it deliver. Some of the most miserable people on earth laugh at deplorable things. Some people laugh at anything because they are so full of fears - their laughter is a cover-up. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and it will result in some form of glorious expression. There is power in joy: Neh 8:10 (KJV) "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Without this strength we won't have the fullness of power that is coming. Strength = defense or stronghold. Many today are melancholy because they don't have the stronghold of JOY to protect them. JOY is key to reviving and allows God to move among us. If you don't allow this, then you won't be part of God's move. Joy must be expected! 1. JOY IS POWER - not money, not influence, not fun - but JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST: Rom 14:17 (KJV) "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." Joy goes on when there is no fun! It continues in tribulation. Tribulation isn't fun! But joy enables us to get through it: Acts 20:24 (KJV) "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy," I wish I had had more joy in the past. Life is wonderful and we need to enjoy it. Heb 12:2 (KJV) "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." Jesus was anointed with JOY to endure the cross! Psa 45:7 (KJV) "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." This joy will produce healing spiritually so we can have power to bring in the harvest! God will meet us when we allow the river of joy to flow from us. Joy is therapeutic. [If we advertised a hospital for healing through joy, it might just work.] But we must have an encounter of joy with Christ first. 2. JOY IS MEDICINE -You won't need counseling when you encounter joy because the Spirit of Counsel will fix you. Joy causes us to open ourselves to new possibilities: 1 Pet 1:8 (KJV) "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN? Could it mean there is so much joy you can't speak! We need that. If you are not a person of joy, then you need to be humbled. A merry heart (joyous) is a medicine. So many are afflicted today they live on medicines. Let's get on the medicine of joy. 3. JOY IS SPIRITUAL EQUIPPING - Jesus was ready to go to His Father, but He told His disciples He would send the Holy Ghost. Then He told them about the Vine and the Branches. Jesus said if you as the Branches draw from Me, the Vine, you will bear much fruit. And the fruit you bear will remain. Then He said this: John 15:11 (KJV) "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." Jesus said, "I will transfer my joy to you." Not that you just have some joy, but that the joy you have may be full! Not "full of joy, but FULL OF HIM"- the best joy there is. We all try to be something for Him, but all we need is to wait on Him to fill us. You can't add one cubit to your stature by worrying. When we begin to cast ourselves completely on Him, our joy is going to begin to fill up and overflow! John 15:11 (KJV) "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." full = to cram; complete To those who are branches, getting their source of life from the vine, He will fill their well with spiritual JOY because joy is "SPIRITUAL EQUIPPING." Without it you can't witness, pray, minister, or accomplish anything for the Kingdom. John 16:22 (KJV) "And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." True Holy Ghost joy can't be touched by man! For those who say church is a drag, I have a feeling Jesus wants to give us something to produce some genuine excitement today that people need! Joy in the morning, joy in the evening, joy on the job. I think it might just change some things in this life! A joy not subject to our natural environment. [FRUSTRATION IS BIG TIME TODAY IN THE CHURCH.] The reason - the joy level is below the full mark. Let the joy of the Lord fill you today. It will be, genuine. The world is too difficult to find it there. -Pr. Steve May Newsletter 2005 | Drawing Water | Recognizing the Blessings Pastor's Journal May 2004 | Growing Up is Hard to Do part 3 of 3 | The Suddenlies of God part 2 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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