Fullness of Joy

Yesterday we talked about building our faith on a sure foundation which is Christ Jesus.  Today I thought it would be appropriate to study fullness of joy, which is something that I need, probably the one thing that I could use a lot more of.  I am not talking about happiness, I am talking about the joy that fills the heart up to overflowing because we are contented in our faith walk.  I need and want that fullness of joy that we are offered in the Bible,  how do we get it?  Let's find out.

Psalms 16:11  "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  We have been talking about staying in God's presence a lot on this blog, and still I think from my own experience I need to talk about it a lot more.  In this very verse is one of the reasons that I need to stay in His presence more and more.  It says, 'In His presence is fullness of joy'.  Do you want fullness of joy?  I sure do.

John 17 is Jesus prayer for His disciples and for us that are living since then.  And in verse 13 He is asking His Father for something special for us.  "But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves." It was His joy to go to the cross to save us, I don't think He was happy about the suffering he was facing because He was pleading in the garden to let it pass from Him, but it was His joy to go through with it because he saw all who would be saved eternally if He went through with it.  What kind of joy is that?  It's the joy of knowing that you are doing your Father's will and that was the joy that He had and that is the joy that we need in our hearts, the joy of knowing we are doing our Father's will.

In John 15, Jesus is talking to His disciples about abiding in Him, which is what we have talked a lot about on this blog, and it is so very important.  In verse 11, He tells us what abiding in Him does for us.  "Thee things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."

I have written almost 300 blogs and have had viewers from nine countries around the world and have had as high as 68 viewers in one day and as low as 3.  The title of my blog is Vital Concerns and I have tried really hard to hit on the Vital Concerns of our personal lives. I have prayed for my viewers and am hoping that some of you if not all have been touched by the Jesus that I have learned to trust in and have learned to share with you.  This has done me the most good of all.  To be able to share my love for God with you has meant a better relationship with Him myself and each day my desire is to grow closer and closer to Him as I study to share with you.  May you continue to be blessed as I continue to share as long as God gives me the grace and strength to do it.  By the way, I mentioned to you my horrible fall I had recently, well, I am recovering from it very well and had no broken bones, which was a miracle in itself.  Praise God for His loving intervention.  Grandma Joan

A Sure Foundation

The story is told of a man who was a builder of homes and he worked for a contractor who really appreciated his work and one day he told this man that worked for him, you have been a faithful employee and been really particular in all that you do when you are building.  I am going to put you in charge of this next house and you buy the lumber and do everything that needs to be done to this house.  You are in charge of it.  So the man thought about it a lot and decided he could make more money if he bought second grade lumber and pocketed the difference in the cost.  He did this with everything he did with the house and when it was done, he had painted it and covered up any inferior work and it looked pretty good.  Then his boss came up to him and said, 'you have been so faithful and done such a good job in your work, I want to reward you with this house, it is yours for your faithfulness.'  How do you think the man felt?  I can imagine he felt pretty sick, I would have.

We are in the process of building a temple for the Lord, a temple for Him to dwell in,  what is the first thing we do to make sure it will stand the test of time..  We make sure it has a real good foundation.  So today I wanted to take the time to see what a sure foundation is.

1 Corinthians 3:11  "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
Our foundation that we lay should be on Christ Jesus and the things that He taught, don't you think?

Ephesians 2:20  "Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." In that era of history, the foundations were made of stone and they had to have a special stone for the cornerstone.  It had to be of a particular shape and size and fit the corner perfectly in order to hold up the building.  If Jesus is our chief cornerstone, don't you think that is the perfect way to build our temple of beliefs?

Luke 6:48  "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.  And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock."  If our building of beliefs is founded on Christ Jesus, when the tempest of trials come, nothing can tear it down.  The winds of strife can come, the floods of false doctrine can beat against it, the enemy can try to beat the door down, but nothing can tear down our faith and trust in Christ.  Isn't that right?

Isaiah 28:16  "Therefore thus says the Lord God:  'Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.'"  Jesus Christ is a tried stone isn't He, and a precious Cornerstone too for a sure foundation.  So there you have what kind of foundation we are to build our faith on.  We are warned not to act hastily in changing the truths that we have learned.  If our foundation is Christ Jesus, we have nothing to fear.  Make sure you are building your faith on a sure foundation and no matter what anyone tells you are tries to undermine your foundation, remember it is built upon Christ the chief cornerstone and nothing can tear it away unless we act hastily and allow the enemy to discourage us and undermine our true foundation.  My prayer is that you will not let anyone tear away any of your foundation of faith.  Hold on, Jesus will see you through.  Grandma Joan

Our Mediator and Intercessor

When we go to a court of law in our land, we have to have a lawyer intercede for us, sometimes people act as their own lawyer, but usually we hire one.  He tries his best to get us off the hook, so to speak.  If we are guilty he has to work really hard and sometimes we have to pay for our crime, whatever that might be.

When it comes to our Christian experience, Christ has already paid for our crime (sin) when He died for us on the cross.  So in the judgment day, to put it in plain language, Christ is our lawyer, (intercessor) He presents our case to the Father and holds out His pierced hands as proof that He has paid for our crime or sins.  God accepts His sacrifice for our sins and we are counted as if we had never sinned.

Christ is our Mediator and Intercessor, He earned this position by His death for us on the cross.  We are told in John 14:13 that, "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."  We must come to the Father in prayer in the name of Jesus that the Father may be glorified through the Son.  Right there we see that Jesus is interceding for us.  We must go to the Father through Jesus His Son.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.  Now all things are of God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

To be reconciled to God and having our sins covered by the righteousness of Christ is the most wonderful news I have ever, ever heard.  Get the full meaning of this.  What ever sin you have ever committed, Christ took that sin to the cross and died for it so you wouldn't have to.  Then when He went back to heaven after His resurrection, He became our intercessor before His Father for you and for me.  Do you get it?  The sins of the whole world were laid on Him, that is why it was such terrible torture to Him who knew no sin.  This separated Him from His Father of which He thought was forever and that broke His heart and He did it all for you and for me.

It has to take a very hard heart to not see this and accept it.  If your heart has been hardened so that this does not affect you, please, I pray that you will seek God in prayer and let Jesus intercede for you until your heart is softened and becomes tender until you see the magnitude of this horrible, yet wonderful thing Christ has done for you and me.  He is interceding for you and for me right now before the Father.  Will you let him reconcile you to the Father.  I will and I pray that you will too, just now as you are reading this little study.

If you need more texts on this subject, you can read Hebrews 10:5-22 and 2:14-17 and there are more but perhaps this is enough for this time.  I do pray for each of you who are reading my blog that you will let these studies sink deep into your heart and be blessed each day.  Grandma Joan

The Reward of the Faithful

I remember when I was a little girl how my mother rewarded me with good things to eat, perhaps that's why I like to eat, I don't know but one time she changed things and promised me a brand new bicycle if I would stay home with my Aunt and Uncle while she went on a weekend date and he took his two kids but didn't want me along.  That should have been a warning shouldn't it but I guess it wasn't.  Anyway, what little girl wouldn't want a brand new bicycle?  So I stayed home and got my new bicycle.  It was beautiful, and well worth staying home for.

We have a reward promised us if we are faithful.  It far outshines the bicycle and is not only a physical reward but an eternal reward that far surpasses anything that we have ever seen or heard. Let's read about it.

Isaiah 65:1-5  "They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit; They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people; And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.  They shall not labor in vain nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.  It shall come to pass, That before they call, I will answer;  And while they are still speaking, I will hear.  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food.  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, says the Lord."

Isn't that the most perfect place you have ever heard of.  I have a hard time even picturing it but I know it is true because I know the God that has promised it.  He has kept His word with me and I know His word is true and faithful.  Read Revelation 21 and 22, it is even a more beautiful picture of our eternal home with God.

Doesn't this picture of our eternal home and there's more in Revelation, doesn't it make you want to be there, God will be there in person and His Son and all the Holy angels.  I have always said since I learned these truths that the first thing I want to do is meet Jesus and then I want to witness His meeting with Adam when they first meet in heaven. I know Adam loved His Redeemer and it will be a wonderful thing to see them embrace and Adam will probably fall down and worship Jesus and praise Him for saving him, as we all will probably do.

None of us will be worthy to be there but Jesus has made a way through His life and death here on this earth to save us and through His mediation that He is doing now, presenting us to the Father with His hands out-
stretched with the nail prints showing His Father why we are worthy to be there.  Because He died for us to save us and when we accept this salvation which has been provided free to all, we will be worthy through Christ to be there.

Don't you want to be there?  I do and I will be there by God's amazing grace and you can too.  I do hope that you will make that decision for Christ today.  What could hold you back?  Nothing is worth giving up  the Reward of the Faithful for, nothing.  Tomorrow, I want to study Christ's mediation for us that is going on right now this very time.  Won't you join me for this very important study?  Grandma Joan

Put it off and Put it on.

What in the world are we to put off and put on?  In preparation for the coming of Jesus, there are some things that we need to put off.

Colossians 3:8,9  "But now you yourselves are to put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds."
In order to prepare ourselves for heaven and the second coming of Christ, we are to put off the old man of sin.  And it names some of the sins we are to put off.  Here are some more things to put off the old man of sin.

Galatians 5:19,20,21  "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

How do we go about putting off the old man of sin? Philippians 1:6  "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

1 Thessalonians 5:24  "He who calls you is faithful , who also will do it."

Who will take care of the old man of sin? He who has begun a good work in you will do it and He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.  What do you have to do?  Give the old man of sin to Christ.  That is your work, nothing more.  Surrender it all, give it all up to Him who will take care of it all.

Now it is time to 'Put On'.
Colossians 3:12-17 "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Some more things to put on:
Galatians 5:22-26  "The fruit of the Spirit is, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law, And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,  if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited provoking one another, envying one another."

How do we put on the new man?
Philippians 1:6  He who has begun a good work in you will complete it.
1 Thessalonians 5:24  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
John 15:7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."  What does abide mean?  It means to stay with Me, stay in My presence so that you can have My help at all times.  Whenever we ask for the help of His divine presence in overcoming the old man of sin, we have His promise that 'it shall be done for you'.

Will you put off the old man of sin and put on the new man in Christ?  He has promised that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  Will you yoke up with Him? I am praying for you reader, whoever you are that you will follow Christ because He is faithful Who calls you and will do it for you.  What more could you ask for?
Grandma Joan

Is Jesus Coming Again?

Is Jesus coming again?  What do you think?  What have you been taught? Would you like to know for sure whether He is or He isn't?  The Bible is pretty clear on this subject and I would like to share with you what it has to say about His coming.

John 14:1-3  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me, In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

Acts 1:9-11  "Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee why do you stand gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.'"

Matthew 24:30,31  "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.  And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Matthew 25:13  "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming."

Revelation 22:7  "Behold, I am coming quickly, blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
Revelation 22:12 "Behold I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work:"
Revelation 22:20  "Surely I am coming quickly.  Amen"

Jesus has left us plenty of proof that He is coming again and warnings to be ready because we do not know the day or the hour of His coming.  Do you want to be ready?  I do and I am sure that you do.  The reason for this blog is to help prepare you for that day.  I have tried to use personal experiences to help you understand subjects even to my shame so that you can see the importance of getting ready.  When I see what is going on in this nation of ours and our freedoms being taken away from us, I know that His coming is near, even at the door.  Will you be ready?
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Press the Amazing Facts button to the right and order the Bible studies that will help you get ready and be ready.  It is all in the Bible, no fear of being misled.  I want to see you there, will you be there.I plan to be, not because of anything I do or have done but by His mercy He saves us.  Grandma Joan

What happens when we die?

When you walk through a cemetery, you see all kinds of epitaphs on tombstones and one will say, 'our mother is resting in the arms of Jesus until the resurrection morning'.  Another one will say, 'our mother is walking the streets of gold in heaven with the Angels'.  Actually, where is she?  The story is told of a school boy walking through a cemetery and came upon a tombstone that said, 'Stop my friend as you go by, As you are now, so once was I,  As I am now, so you will be, so be prepared to follow me'.  The boy pondered that for a minute and then took out a crayon and wrote on the tombstone, 'To follow you, I'm not content, until I know just where you went'.  Isn't that the great question that a lot of folks are pondering today, there are so many answers, but which one is right?  The Bible tells us exactly what happens to the dead.

When Lazarus died, Jesus said, Lazarus is asleep in John 11:11.

Ecclesiastes 9:5  "For the living know that they shall die; but the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.  Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun."

Genesis 3:19 tells us that we were made from dust and to dust we will return.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18  "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel, and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words."

If our loved one has gone on to heaven when they died, what reason would there be for a resurrection when Jesus comes to gather us all together.  These verses tell us that those of us who die in Jesus will be   resurrected when He comes and will be caught up with Him in the air.

Our God is a loving God and those who die, are sleeping a dreamless sleep in their graves until Jesus comes. What would happen if they were taken to heaven when they die and they saw all the misery their families are going through, maybe some raped, some murdered, some fighting and hurting each other. Some dying of terrible diseases and in horrible pain. How would they feel.  God is a merciful God and is allowing them to sleep in their graves until He comes to claim them for His own.  There are a lot of other texts to convince you of this but I don't want to bore you with text upon text, but if you press the button that says Amazing Facts you can get the whole Bible Study from them on the whereabouts of the dead.  It is such a relief to know that they are asleep in Jesus and not watching all the crime and sin in this world.  To me that would be a horrible thing.

There is no fear in death if we are living our life in Jesus and letting His Holy Spirit guide us and protect us.
What is there to fear.  I would fear greatly if I was out of His loving care and not living His life in me.
I know this was a heavy study, and I pray that you will ask for the study from Amazing Facts on the state of the dead and you will be blessed.  Grandma Joan