Opinion / Religion
Grace, Presence of God and Joy
04 Feb 2013 at 11:36hrs | Views
The grace of God gave us access to God's presence which provides fullness of Joy.
Key Scripture:
Ephisians 2v8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Apostle Paul in the above scripture tells us that our salvation did not come out of our human effort but it came out of God's grace which is his unmerited favor. When Jesus died the bible says that the veil at the temple which was at the entrance to the holy of holies was torn from top to bottom allowing all of us to access the presence of God. In the time past, only the High priest had access to God's presence and once a year. But the day Jesus died we got access by grace to God's presence. It is indeed grace that allows approaching God by faith.
It's by grace that we now have fellowship with God and we can be in his presence anywhere and anytime. Psalms 16v11 says "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." We can see now that we have access to God's presence and hence we qualify for joy, not just small joy but fullness of joy. Being in God's presence gives us pleasure that our jobs can't provide and what our money can't buy. It is pleasure that the world cannot provide. It is pleasure that is eternal and not for a season. It is the type of joy or pleasure that harms you or those around you.
Romans 14v17 "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." We can see that joy and not stress and depression are essential elements in the kingdom of God. We should never forget that joy is found in God's presence not in woman or man or drugs or alcohol.
Nehemiah and Ezra understood the power of the principle of joy when he said "… the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8v10. Satan works hard to take you out of God's presence so that he may still your joy and make you weak. Remember you have free access by Grace to God's presence where there is fullness of joy. When you mess up, don't run away from God but run to God. The joy of the Lord will be your strength.
David was full of joy when the Ark of the covenant arrived in his city the bible says, in 1Chronicles 15v29 "And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart."
You have access to God's presence by grace, so stay there and be full of joy, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Make the presence of God your daily habitation and you joy account will always be full.
Key Scripture:
Ephisians 2v8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Apostle Paul in the above scripture tells us that our salvation did not come out of our human effort but it came out of God's grace which is his unmerited favor. When Jesus died the bible says that the veil at the temple which was at the entrance to the holy of holies was torn from top to bottom allowing all of us to access the presence of God. In the time past, only the High priest had access to God's presence and once a year. But the day Jesus died we got access by grace to God's presence. It is indeed grace that allows approaching God by faith.
It's by grace that we now have fellowship with God and we can be in his presence anywhere and anytime. Psalms 16v11 says "Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." We can see now that we have access to God's presence and hence we qualify for joy, not just small joy but fullness of joy. Being in God's presence gives us pleasure that our jobs can't provide and what our money can't buy. It is pleasure that the world cannot provide. It is pleasure that is eternal and not for a season. It is the type of joy or pleasure that harms you or those around you.
Nehemiah and Ezra understood the power of the principle of joy when he said "… the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8v10. Satan works hard to take you out of God's presence so that he may still your joy and make you weak. Remember you have free access by Grace to God's presence where there is fullness of joy. When you mess up, don't run away from God but run to God. The joy of the Lord will be your strength.
David was full of joy when the Ark of the covenant arrived in his city the bible says, in 1Chronicles 15v29 "And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart."
You have access to God's presence by grace, so stay there and be full of joy, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Make the presence of God your daily habitation and you joy account will always be full.
Source - Professor Ndebele
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