Take Time With God #99: The secret to constant joy
The apostle Paul is in prison chained between two guards. If anyone knows the secret of constant joy it is Paul who twice wrote in Philippians also while in prison “Rejoice always and again I say rejoice”. Ray has found that same secret for his life and will share it on this edition of Take Time With God.
Take Time With God #99: The secret to constant joy
Total Forgiveness: Ch. 6, Part 1 – The Art of Forgiving and Forgetting
Ray reads the first half of the sixth chapter from R. T. Kendall’s powerful book that stresses the dangers of keeping a record of wrongs and shows you how to get rid of them. His example is Jim and Tammy of PTL fame as they appeared when Jim Bakker was released from prison and exonerated. Tammy had married someone else while Jim was in prison. He had been in prison for eight years before being released. How did Jim forgive his accusers, and how did he forgive Tammy? You’ll find out on this edition of Total Forgiveness.
Total Forgiveness: Ch. 6, Part 1 – The Art of Forgiving and Forgetting
19 Take Time With God – Are you content with your life?
There is a great deal of difference between being content and being numb. The content person can rest in the fact that they are going through a moment in their life, good or bad, that will lead to greater happenings with Christ no matter how wonderful or painful this day is for them. They may be experiencing “growing pains” but as that is happening they are content while expecting miracles. The numb person wallows in their discontentment with little vision beyond where they are at this precise moment.
The Christian life in the kingdom of God fulfills visions and then goes on to fulfill more because Christ has purpose for every Christian that goes beyond this day. The Christian who focuses on Christ knows that they are loved no matter how good or bad things are going at the moment. They believe Romans 8:28 and that is what makes them content but not numb.
To the Christ-focused Christian they know that this world is not their permanent home, but that Heaven awaits them. And while on Earth their goal, no matter what else they’re doing, is to bring people to Christ and glorify God with their own life. They know Christ died for them, conquered death, and is magnificently active in their life. That knowledge gives every day vital meaning and contentment.
Atheists and so-called “agnostics” have a tendency to be extremely bitter and most believe they have every right to do whatever they want. They focus on revenge and if they think of a god at all, without knowing it they picture Satan and his always cruel ways. They eradicate the one true God in their thinking and in doing that they shut off any knowledge of His great love for them. Still Christ waits and works in their life as far as the unbeliever will allow Him. Salvation is their only hope and those who know that need to be praying for them.
How has this played out in my own life and how is it playing out in yours? Let’s explore the answers on the days Take Time With God. –Ray
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles –
2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s gracewhich was given to me for you;
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.
4 By referring to this, when youread you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellowpartakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
8 To me, the very least of all saints,this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches ofChrist,
9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;
10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the chhank youurch to therulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. This is take time with God a daily program
13Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened withpower through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 so that Christ may dwell in yourhearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, and
18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and lengthand height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpassesknowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,according to the power that works within us,
21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
19 Take Time With God – Are you content with your life? Content
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.4 [a]By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight [b]into the mystery of Christ,5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets [c]in the Spirit;6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to meaccording to the working of His power.8 To me, the very least of all [d]saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,9 and to [e]bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
It is my prayer that you will join me for a very few minutes each day to take time with Christ. Some Christians would call these “Daily Devotions.” I am going to try to post these every morning at 8 AM Fort Worth, Texas, time. It will be a great way to start every morning. But you can join me at anytime of the day or night to share these few minutes together. God’s Word is powerful 24 hours a day, every day.
It was a great honor to write an entire commentary on the book of Ephesians which was originally breathed by the Holy Spirit through the apostle Paul. You won’t find this online anywhere else or in any bookstore. but you can download it with my love. – Ray
This book bears Paul’s style, is in total agreement with everything else he wrote, and it bore up to the most thorough testings by those who were led of the Spirit to choose the 66 books of the Bible.
The following verses should be studied with your Bible open to them.
EPHESIANS, CHAPTER ONE
1-2. How many Christians would heavily question God if they were imprisoned for their faith? John the Baptist did exactly that. But Paul wasted no time at all with self pity or doubt. Instead he lived each day of his Christian life to the fullest. He realized that he was in prison on assignment from and for Christ, not because Christ failed him. Paul spent eight years in prisons during his ministry. He never wasted a moment of them. They became his “rest stops” that gave him more time for talking to Christ (Colossians 2:1-3), hearing Christ respond (John 10:27), witnessing to the prison guards and everyone else (Philippians 1:13),and to write in his own words what the Holy Spirit dictated to him (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Colossians 2:1-3 – For I want you to know how great the struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
John 10:27 – My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Philippians 1:13 – so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well-known among the whole praterion guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
2 Peter 1:20–21 – For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.
Lesson: Never think your life is over until you absolutely draw your last breath. Lesson: Never fear being thrown in prison and being kept there. Your life is simply developing. As a Christian you have God’s favor even there. Lesson: “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Believe that. Lesson: Above all things, forgive your enemies. God is only using them to bring you to a place where you can fulfill your destiny. – Ray
