August 13, 2010

• Will you finish your course with joy? (Acts 20:24) - letter 71 on assurance & joy

  Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

  As you know I've been writing for quite some time on joy. I began doing so here on October 14 of last year. This is my 71st post on it specifically, plus I've alluded to joy in other posts.

  Many of you see ministry and life as a drudgery, as a chore, as an obligation.

  These things ought not be.

  As I recently wrote, this grieves and distresses me. It grieves and distresses me more and more because I know what that's like, and I was stuck in it. And I've been trying to show you the Lord God has so much more for you, I keep seeing so many of you continuing to be forlorn and moping and groaning and distressed and despairing. And yes, I will be honest and admit I fall into that same trap on occasion, yet by the grace of God, I do so less and less. My friends, our God has so much more for us! May He open our eyes to see and our hearts to receive the gift of joy He wishes to give each of us.

  so that I might finish my course with joy

  Please look at Paul's words in Acts 20:24 (NKJV). Notice Paul's attitude toward ministry and the Christian life:

  But none of these things move me, nor do I count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

  First off the bat, before I get far into this, I want to make it clear (once again) that the joy-filled life is available to all who have received Christ and have been born again by the Spirit. I'm repeating myself because, as I said, I continue to see so many of you stuck in gloom and doom and darkness and hopelessness.

  Throughout his epistles, Paul tells each and every one of us to rejoice and give thanks in everything. Remember that those letters were written to whole churches, not to a few select people. And Jesus Himself said He had come that we might have life abundantly and our joy might be full. (Again I must emphasize that I don't mean things are going to go without our having to struggle or without trials or heartaches, and there will certainly be times when we we'll wrestle with God about these things. However – let us always remember that we're to do all things to the glory of God. There is a godly way to wrestle with God and an ungodly way to do that, e.g. - please read the Psalmists to see how they deal with things (e.g.- they always end up acknowledging the love, mercy and grace of God, the sovereignty of God and the presence and power of God available to His people), and please also see my post here which discusses that more in depth.)

  The ability to finish our course with joy is not only for a few; it is not only for a select group of super-sanctified believers. Joy is for all. And do not try to argue with me that joy isn't possible for you. It is. If God has granted me to know Him and His joy in deeper and greater measure, then this is certainly possible for any of you. As I've shared before, I'm not "naturally" a joyful, cheery person. And besides my own testimony, all you really need to do is to look to the Bible itself to see what our Lord has to say about these things in His Word. Do not try to argue with Him about them. (I tried. I know it doesn't work. I kept telling Him it was impossible for me. I insisted. Well, we know what God Almighty has to say about that. Impossible with men; possible with God...)

  Now, let's go back to Acts 20:24...

  But none of these things move me, nor do I count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

  Notice there that Paul wasn't looking to barely get by and then check out of this life and get to heaven.

  so that I might finish my course with joy

  Paul wasn't content to grin and bear it.

  so that I might finish my course with joy

  Paul was seeking to finish how?

  To finish his course with joy.

  Joy!

  • Are you seeking to finish your course with joy?
  • Do you see that as a possibility?
  • What is your attitude in your day to day responsibilities? Are you seeking to serve with joy?
  • What is your attitude in your ministry? Are you seeking to minister with joy?

  Do you use the excuse that you'll be joyful once such and such happens? (e.g.- job promotion, boyfriend/girlfriend, graduation, marriage, etc., etc., etc.)

  This desire to finish your course with joy must begin today. No excuses.

  Is our God not our exceeding joy?
  Have we not all been adopted by the same Father in heaven?
  Have we not all drunk of that spiritual drink, Jesus Christ?
  Have we not all received of the same Holy Spirit?

  Our ability to run the race and finish our course with joy is independent of our feelings.
  Our ability to run the race and finish our course with joy is independent of our circumstances.
  Our ability to run the race and finish our course with joy is independent of our successes or failures.
  Our ability to run the race and finish our course with joy comes from the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us.

  Habakkuk & finishing our course with joy

  Remember Habakkuk's words (chapter 3):

  Though the fig tree may not blossom,
        Nor fruit be on the vines;
        Though the labor of the olive may fail,
        And the fields yield no food;
        Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
        And there be no herd in the stalls—
  
  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
        I will joy in the God of my salvation.
  
  The LORD God is my strength;
        He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
        And He will make me walk on my high hills. 
  
  To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.
  

  These are not only words, they are a hymn. A hymn of joy. A declaration of joy. A praise to God. A proclamation of the salvation of the Lord. A proclamation of the ongoing care of our Savior from beginning to end. A reminder that the joy of the Lord is available to us no matter what the circumstances. Has not the Lord given us His Son as an atoning sacrifice for sin? Is that not enough for us to rejoice in all our days? Is He not enough for us to rejoice in all our days?

  • When was the last time you really rejoiced in the LORD and joyed in the God of your salvation?

  How could Habakkuk be joyful at all times and in all circumstances? How can we be joyful at all times and in all circumstances?

  We can only be joyful always when our source of joy is rightly rooted. True joy comes from the LORD and our relationship with the LORD Himself (please see here and here).

  When we derive joy from knowing the LORD and being His children, we can't help but continue to marvel at the work He has done. As we begin to grasp in even a small measure the glory of the incarnate Christ, in whom mercy and truth met and righteousness and peace kissed, the spotless Lamb who laid down His life as an offering in our place, how can we not help but rejoice? What a wonder it is that we have brought near and made His children when our minds were enmity against God and we were far away! To think that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world! To ponder that we are loved and accepted in the Beloved! That we now are cleansed by His blood and stand unashamed in His presence! That our God sings and rejoices over us with singing! What a God who rendered Himself an offering for us while we were helpless and lifeless sinners!

  When our joy is tied up in our circumstances, our relationships, our work, our ministry, our possessions, etc., etc., that's a sure fail eventually. None of those things are the wellspring of joy. The LORD alone is the source of true and living and eternal joy. No other joy. All other joys are fleeting and incomplete.

  Habakkuk 3:17-19 was the passage I sat down with and poured my heart out to the Lord (along with many tears) last Friday, October 9. I had begun to see that God had more for me than merely biding my time here in a joyless existence, going through the motions on a never-ending treadmill of ministering and working for Him without pleasure, without enjoying Him as He had intended.

  In the NKJV, the heading over that portion of Scripture is "A Hymn of Faith." Yes, I know the headings have been added in by men and are not part of the inspired Word of God, but isn't that the key right there? Faith. Not sight. Faith. Not feelings. Faith. Not results. Faith. Not appearances. Faith. When we walk and work and minister by faith, we can finish our course with joy.

  
  Murmuring, grumbling and complaining ≠ finishing our course with joy

  The apostle Paul would never count grumbling and murmuring and whining and ranting as acceptable behavior for the servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.

  And neither does our Lord. Remember His attitude toward Israel when she began to murmur. Look back in Exodus and Numbers; that's scary stuff. And notice how that same negative example is given to us as a warning in the New Testament (I Corinthians 10:9-10):

  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. (KJV)

  nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. (NKJV)

  We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. (ESV)

  Destroyed for murmuring...yes, murmuring!
  Destroyed for complaining...yes, complaining!
  Destroyed for grumbling...yes, grumbling!

  Have you really considered that . . .

  When we murmur, we tempt Christ.
  When we complain, we tempt Christ.
  When we grumble, we tempt Christ.

  • The Lord Jesus Christ takes murmuring seriously. Do you?
  • The Lord Jesus Christ takes complaining seriously. Do you?
  • The Lord Jesus Christ takes grumbling seriously. Do you?

  And, by the way, Jude lumps murmurers and complainers in with ungodly sinners and those who commit ungodly deeds. Don't believe me? Look it up.

  So there we had the apostle Paul looking to finish his course with joy.

  • Are you looking to finish your course with joy?
  • Are you looking to finish this day with joy?
  • Are you looking to finish the next hour with joy?

  And know this, as we run the course set before us, we will not run unopposed. Our flesh, the world and the devil himself will arise and oppose us at every turn. That's one reason I titled the posts in this series "Assurance and Fighting for Joy." We're in a battle here.

  
  and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God

  Please go read the end of v. 24.

  and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

  Have you received life from the Lord Jesus through the gospel of the grace of God?

  If you have, then you have also received a ministry to testify to Jesus Christ, to testify to that same gospel of the grace of God. (No, not all of us have been gifted as Paul, and not all of us will be ordained ministers, yet we are all called to gossip the word (Acts 8:4).)
  
  Freely we have received, freely we are to give.

  We've been saved to proclaim God's praises. Just as Jesus was sent, just as the apostle Paul was sent, we are also sent into all the world to proclaim His praises. We're not saved merely to wait it out here and then get to heaven. Our God has put a new song in our mouths, a song of praise to Him.

  • Are you singing the new song?
  • How can you sing the new song with sincerity if you are stuck in perpetual rants and whining?
  • How can the world clearly see and hear the glories of Christ through your life and in your words if you continue to murmur, complain and grumble?
  • How often do you add to the blindness of the world by obscuring the glory of Christ from a world lost in darkness?

  God forgive us when we hide Your glory under a bushel when we're to be opening eyes so lost souls might turn from darkness to light and receive a place in Your Kingdom!

  The psalmist exhorts us: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. This is for all believers.

  We've been redeemed to proclaim God's praises, and God wants each and every one of us to have joy as we go to the ends of the earth proclaiming His praises.

  I find it really dumbfounding to sit back and think, "Not only has He saved me, but He wants to use me in calling the flock to Himself!" I mean, what IS that? He doesn't need to use any of us, but He does. What a high privilege and honor to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ! It's breathtaking...

  
  But none of these things move me, nor do I count I my life dear to myself

  Please open your Bible and look the verses prior to v. 24, and see what Paul was talking about there that made him write these words in verse 24:

  But none of these things move me, nor do I count I my life dear to myself

  Humble service. Tent maker. Sought to preach the gospel without charge. Did all that was necessary for the gospel's sake and yet had his authority questioned. (e.g. - I Cor. 9)

  Tears and trials which he'd endured, including those due to the plotting of the Jews, his very own people. (e.g. - II Cor. 11)

  Chains and tribulations awaiting Paul in every city.

  I think we would have to agree that the apostle Paul had every possible reason (humanly speaking) to grumble, to murmur and to complain. He had every human reason not to finish his course with joy.

  But here's the thing: Paul was no longer living in the human realm. He was no longer being controlled by his human reason. Paul had begun to be transformed by and consumed by the Spirit of God so he was now Spirit-controlled. He was truly in the heavenlies. So he had every heavenly reason to not be moved, not to count his life dear to himself and to finish His course with joy.

  And, in much the same way, we give full proof that the Spirit of God has been transforming us and we are in the heavenlies when like Paul, we're able to proclaim:

  But none of these things move me, nor do I count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
  

  Past, present or (the prospect of) future trials, heartaches or afflictions did not move Paul.
  Past, present or (the prospect of) future trials, heartaches or afflictions did not keep Paul from finishing his course with joy.

  • Do past, present or (the prospect of) future trials, heartaches or afflictions move you?
  • Do past, present or (the prospect of) future trials, heartaches or afflictions keep you from finishing your course with joy? How so?

  Paul had come to see the glory of Christ exceeding and surpassing each and every trial, heartache and affliction – past, present and yet to come.

  • Have you come to see the glory of Christ exceeding and surpassing each and every trial, heartache and affliction – past, present and yet to come?

  
  

  As we behold the glory of the Lord we are transformed so we might finish our course with joy

  Paul encountered the Lord in a real way on the Damascus Road. No, we will not all have experiences like Paul's, but we should have experiences where we behold Christ's glory and do so in ever-increasing measure.

  II Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

  That's how Paul was able to remain unmoved and how we can remain unmoved.
  That's why Paul didn't count his life dear to himself and how we will not count our lives dear to ourselves.
  That's how Paul was able to look to finish his course with joy, and how we can finish our course with joy.

  • Do you see the glory of Christ far exceeding and far surpassing any and all of your trials, heartaches and afflictions – past, present and future?

  • Have you ever beheld His glory?
  • Have you ever stood in awe of Him?
  • Have you ever covered your mouth in a hushed silence?
  • Have you ever fallen prostrate at His feet?
  • Have you ever bowed and acknowledged, "Surely the presence of the Lord was in this place"?

  When we begin to behold the glory of the Lord and see Him as our great reward and our treasure beyond compare, we begin to be transformed. Our desires and our will begin to melt into His. We are increasingly transformed into the image of Christ. We know that the Lord Jesus Christ was not moved, and He clearly did not count His life dear to Himself. He set His face like a flint to Jerusalem; He finished the work the Father gave Him. He did not shrink back from drinking the cup. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on the cross. That very life now dwells in us through His Holy Spirit. We are partakers of Christ's nature so we might remain unmoved, not count our lives dear to ourselves and so we might finish our course with joy! Apart from Him, we can't do any of those things.

  When we begin to see the glory of Christ in that way, as the Spirit begins to write His Word in our minds and on our hearts, that's when we're able to begin to say with Paul:

  But none of these things move me, nor do I count I my life dear to myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

  This work of the Holy Spirit of God goes beyond a fleeting emotion. We've all known that. We've attended rallies or concerts, or we've heard sermons or read good books and so forth. We come away excited and we make our resolutions. Well, you know. And we may very well work for a while, but then... You know it. We fall flat. That type of excitement does not last. It's not rooted in the Spirit of God. It's an emotional reaction rather than a Spirit-led transformation coming from within. Our best resolutions, no matter how noble and how well-intended, will come up short time every time apart from the power of God at work in us.

  The Spirit of God works an increasing love and passion for God and for His name, His glory and His renown and His gospel. We become thrilled at being a child of God and the overwhelming love of Christ begins to constrain us in ways we could never imagine.

  That's the type of transformation the Holy Spirit wrought in Paul, so that is why Paul could write these wonderful words in II Corinthians 4:

  16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

  Have you begun to encounter the glory of Christ in such a way?
  If not, would you ask Him to reveal Himself to you?

  I am praying you might have joy in your service for Him starting today. May none of these things move you, your past, present or future trials, heartaches or afflictions, may you not count your lives dear to yourselves so you might finish your course with joy and the ministry you have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify of the gospel of the grace of God. May His Holy Spirit come and fill and empower and compel each of us so we might finish our course with joy to the glory of God.

  For your joy,
  Karen

  ---

  Related:

  Some posts on the work of the Holy Spirit:

  • Naphtali News: God speaking to me about my failures & the one thing needful
  • Why not pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit
  • the lost treasures of Christianity & the call to pray for revival (Bible reading: Ezra 1)
  • trusting the eagles' wings (reliance on the Holy Spirit)
  • update w/ excerpt: Lloyd-Jones' sermons on the role of experience in Christianity
  • New Year's resolutions? ... not "without God's help" (Jonathan Edwards)

  As I mentioned above, I've written a lot on joy. If you have questions, please feel free to comment below and/or message me. I would encourage you to check out my letters on assurance and fighting for joy, but you might find the following especially helpful:

  Jesus Christ: the root of our joy:

  • Letter 4 on joy (true joy is based on our relationship with God through Jesus Christ)
  • Letter 7 on assurance and fighting for joy (remember His love for us while we were sinners)
  • Letter 25 on assurance and fighting for joy (a strong craving ≠ His joy)
  • You whine and complain (Letter 70 on assurance & fighting for joy)

  Joy is independent of our circumstances & feelings:

  • Letter 11 on assurance and fighting for joy (the Lord is at hand! - Philippians 4)
  • Letter 13 on assurance and fighting for joy (strengthened for endurance and patience with joy)
  • Letter 15 on assurance and fighting for joy (Joy is a gift of God, more than a feeling)

  The devil battles to keep us from knowing the joy of the Lord:

  • Letter 3 on assurance and fighting for joy (Jesus' desire vs. Satan's desire)
  • dear devil/dear flock of God (day in, day out): Letter 63 on assurance & joy

  
  Persevering on in joy in Christ's service despite failures and trials:

  • the laborer's lamentation and affirmation
  • Letter 9 on assurance and fighting for joy in contending for the Gospel
  • Letter 17 on assurance and fighting for joy (will we be diligent to enter into His joy?)
  • How can I be joyful weeping over Jerusalem? (Letter 50 on assurance & joy)
  • a conversation with Jesus about trials & joy (Letter 34 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  • Why, Lord? (Letter 52 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  • Rejoicing in Winter?

  Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version¨. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

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