Spirit Food - December 2019

Let Your Joy Out!

The American Heritage Dictionary defines joy as “Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness; an expression of such feeling.” Now, multiply that by large number, and you begin to get a glimpse of the kind of joy that the wise men experienced. They went on a divine mission from God to shower His Son (Jesus) with gifts and rejoice over His birth – to let out their joy!

The Bible tells us that they traveled to Jerusalem, Matthew 2:2 says, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? The Matthew 2:10 says, “When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.”

Now, a couple of things to point out here:

1. The Bible doesn’t say there were “Three Wise Men”, it just says wise men.

1. The Bible doesn’t say the Wise Men went to the stable were the manger was. It says in Matthew 2:11: “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

This shows how religious traditions and incorrect teaching have caused so many Christians and people in general to be deceived by taking their focus on what the Word of God really says. Think about the nativity scenes around the world that have been displayed over this season that do not represent the Word of God properly.

1. The Greek word used for a new born in Luke 2:5 is Nepious.

1. The Greek word used for a small toddler or child in Matthew 2:11 is Teknon.

1. Once they realized Jesus was the Messiah, they opened up their treasure chests, and provided as led by the Holy Spirit. Most likely, it was not just three, but an entire caravan with cooks, guards (as they had treasure chests), people to set up and tear down tents, etc.

They had traveled a long way and at considerable expense to announce the birth of this newborn King. They most likely expressed and declared it with most all the people they come in contact with.

Then look at Matthew 2:12 which says, “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.”

I submit for your consideration that God provided them with the “dream”, a dream to provide them with revelation knowledge of King Herod’s evil intentions. And as a result, they left with their joy intact and “left for their own country by another road.”

• When we provide God with our tithe and offerings, He ensures we are blessed. Malachi 3:10 says, “ Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” Not only that, but Malachi 3:12 says, “I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts.”

In Isaiah 61:10-11 it says:

10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

These verses assist in inspiring and help me realize how important it is for my mind, will, and emotions to allow joy to be expressed.

When we neglect our praise, our spirit will begin to wilt and dry up. We may even feel like we are having a really bad day. That is precisely the time that we must offer up a sacrifice of praise and begin to rejoice in the Lord. Why? Because the joy of the Lord is our strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

Through the Bible we see people who saw the power of God and walked in victory when they refused to allow the circumstances of life to stop their praise. The apostle Paul discovered the power that praise could unleash while chained in prison along with Silas for preaching the Gospel. (Acts 16:25)

Speaking from first hand experience, Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi in Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”

In 2 Chronicles 20:21-25:

21 When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy splendor, as they went before the army, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.

23 For the Ammonites and Moab attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them utterly; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; they were corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped.

25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the booty from them, they found livestock in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They spent three days taking the booty, because of its abundance.

The king was obedient to follow God’s plan for victory and sent the praise team out before the army. As soon as they began to sing, the Lord went to work and set ambushments against their enemy. It took them longer to gather all the riches that the wicked had left behind. Now that is blessed!

We need to rehearse our victory dance and rejoice about the promises in God’s Word. Psalm 119:162 says, “I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.” And you don’t have to wait until you actually see your victory before you begin to rejoice. In fact, thanking Our Heavenly Father and rejoicing when you pray is a vital key to receiving any promise that is in the Word of God. Psalm 5:11 says, “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.”

When you put your trust in Jesus, letting your joy out is not very difficult. Once you believe in Jesus, even though you do not see Him with your natural eyes, your heart will be filled with a joy that cannot be put into words. 1 Peter 1:8-9 says:

8 Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,

9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

As you think about all that Jesus means to you and to the world, take time this holiday season to let the joy out. Refuse to allow the cares of this life to cause you to neglect your praise. Remember, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

You were created to let your joy out!