Day 4 - Intense Treatment - Cleansing through the Blood of Jesus Brings Joy

God of Joy,

Thank you that you have made a way for us to live in your Spirit-infused joy, by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus the Christ.  Thank you that the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, will cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.  We know that the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.  Thank you that Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many.  He will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Thank you for the invitation to wait on his return and live in communion with him.  I know that the ways of this world - things that vex or influence my spirit - run interference for my ability to be in communion with Christ.  Show me the places where I am not communing, and cleanse me through the blood of Christ.  Purify me from everything that contaminates my body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Where my spirit feels crushed, without courage, and unable to cope, give me refreshing, renewal, and transformation. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. And may your Spirit fill me with joy so that I will show your Love and Joy and Grace to the world.  In Christ's name I pray, Amen. 

A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
    but heartache crushes the spirit.  (Proverbs 15:13 NIV)

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22 NIV)

The human spirit can endure a sick body, but who can bear a crushed spirit?  (Proverbs 18:14 NLT)

The will to live sustains you when you’re sick, but depression crushes courage and leaves you unable to cope. (Proverbs 18:14 TPT)

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12 NIV)

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV)

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.   (Hebrews 9 NIV)

"O the Blood" 
by Mary Elizabeth Miller and Thomas Miller (c) 2010 Gateway Music

O the blood

Crimson love

Price of life's demand

Shameful sin

Placed on Him

The Hope of every man

O the blood of Jesus washes me

O the blood of Jesus shed for me

What a sacrifice that saved my life

Yes, the blood, it is my victory

Idea from:  https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word_pf.html?ID=25704 

Some notes from:   NIV Study Bible (c) Zondervan, 2011

Already - not yet

Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:14-15 NIV)

¹³"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Mt. 25:13 NIV)

^22-26As long as I'm alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I'd choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it's better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues. You can start looking forward to a great reunion when I come visit you again. We'll be praising Christ, enjoying each other. (Philippians 1 MSG)

"All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. ...Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take." (Joshua 1:3-9 MSG)

For awhile now there has been something rolling around within me about the "already" and the "not yet." In the Christian Church this refers to the "already" of Jesus' first coming 2000+ years ago and the "not yet" of his return. In the meantime, we live in this strange place between the two; we live in these "end times" that won't be ended until Jesus' return is fulfilled.

Last night as I was thinking about this "already"/"not yet" world we live in, I came to a different question: "All ready?" and the common answer: "Not yet." "All ready" to leave for church? "Not yet;" still have two sets of shoes and the pantry goods to gather up. "All ready" for bed?" "Not yet;" let's read 7 more stories! For someone hosting a party this weekend, the "All ready?" is probably (as of Wednesday) a "Not yet." And for a family, asked "All ready?" while packing and preparing to relocate their family out of state, is probably a "not yet." If someone asked you today if you were "all ready" to go to heaven, would you give them a "not yet"?

Sometimes when we are asked "all ready?" the answer of "not yet" because we are in such a middle of a storm - of whatever nature - and we can't even figure out what "ready" would be like. That's part of the struggle of living in the "already/not yet" world; there are times when things are just hard. But when we are in that storm, we can count on God for strength and endurance; this "not ready" state will not last forever.

To quote from 2 Cor. 4 - in a song (of course):

I am pressed but not crushed

Persecuted not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed

I am blessed beyond the curse

For His promise will endure

That His joy's gonna be my strength

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning***

Having the knowledge that Christ died once and for all so we could be offered, accept, and live in grace, is a wonderfully empowering and freeing state. But, we haven't been freed from the struggles of this world; indeed, the Creation groans for the fulfillment of time and the perfecting work of the Creator. So, we live in this state of "already/not yet," with all its joys, struggles, assurances, and trials. But when asked if we are "all ready" for Christ's return, we can boldly and confidently say "YES, LORD, YES; AMEN!"

Thank you, Jesus for coming in humility and dying for our sins. Thank you for the joy, freedom, grace, and abundant life that you offer to us. Thank you for your promises that you will return some day to gather up your chosen children into glory. Thank you for your Word, for your courage, for your strength and power when we face the uncertainties and storms of this life. We await your final return to this "not yet" world - and the completion and perfection of your Creation. Maranatha: Come, Lord Jesus, come....we pray in your name, Amen.

“As the messiahship of Christ involved two phases, a coming in humility to suffer and die, and a coming in power and glory to reign, so the kingdom is to be manifested in two realms: the present realm of righteousness or salvation when men may accept or reject the kingdom, and the future realm when the powers of the kingdom shall be manifested in visible glory. The former was inaugurated in insignificant beginnings without outward display, and those who accept it are to live intermingled with those who reject it until the consummation. Then the kingdom will be disclosed in a mighty manifestation of power and glory. God’s kingdom will come; and the ultimate state will witness the perfect realization of the will of God everywhere and forever.” *

*** "Trading My Sorrows" by Darrell Evans (c) 1998 Integrity's Hosanna! Music

* http://www.enjoyinggodministries.com/article/the-kingdom-of-god-already-but-not-yet-part-i/

Worst case scenario

I've been doing some research lately on emergency preparedness. Last week I had a conversation with someone who made the comment that in certain situations, "Worst case scenario: you're dead." And, strangely enough, that was actually encouraging to me; for to me being dead is not my "worst case scenario." No, to be dead would be great! Heaven, here I come! Grace upon grace...freedom from fears and tears and sorrow and pain and suffering...joy in worshipping God forever! No, that is NOT my worst case scenario.

Watching my children suffer illness or hunger or...whatever: THAT is my worst case scenario. A wise woman friend reminded me that God would be with me in that "worst case scenario." I can't understand all that God does or allows to happen. Like Job realized, God is still God even when we can't see him or know what he's doing. And so we have to wrestle back to this place of faith: God is with us no matter what we are going through.

Eventually, faith comes back to having our spiritual eyes and hearts set on heaven. We are warned we will have trials and trouble in this life (John 16:33) but we are also promised that we are not alone.

Jesus said, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Mt. 28:20 NIV)

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." (Ps. 23:4a NIV)

If God is with us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31b) So, then while a "worst case scenario" here on earth may be horrific, my hope is in heaven. I, for one, am more and more with Paul:

Alive, I'm Christ's messenger; dead, I'm his bounty. Life versus even more life! I can't lose. As long as I'm alive in this body, there is good work for me to do. If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I'd choose. Hard choice! The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful. Some days I can think of nothing better. But most days, because of what you are going through, I am sure that it's better for me to stick it out here. So I plan to be around awhile, companion to you as your growth and joy in this life of trusting God continues.(Philippians 1:21-26 MSG)

And so we pray....

God of Abundant Life, Giver of Peace that Passes Understanding, Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow, the One whose Promises are Yes and Amen: All praise be to God, the Lord and Father of Jesus Christ and to the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your promises that we are precious and loved and that you walk with us through joy and through hardship. Thank you that you offer us the gift of salvation and grace and that you've already endured the ultimate worst case scenario because of your love for us. Help us to grow in joy and in trusting you. Help us to focus not on the fears and suffering of this world, but on living out the callings you give to us to be Salt and Light to the people around us. Help us focus on your strength, your provision, your grace - all for your glory. We pray in Christ's name...Amen.

Joy

Be joyful at your Feast—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. (Deut. 16:14 NIV)

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. (Ps. 92:3-5 NIV)

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal. 5:21-23 NIV)

I've been reading Walter Wangerin's "JESUS." This is a novel telling the story of Jesus' life from perspectives of his mother Mary, the Beloved Disciple John, Simon "Rock" Peter, and others. I've found it a fascinating way to look at Jesus because it makes him very human.

I'm up to the section on the last week of Jesus' life and recently read the "Wednesday" chapter. In the church we usually focus on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, and then celebrate Easter Sunday! I've never thought too much about what would have happened that Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, though.

In this novel, the Jews were preparing for the Passover to begin, and Wednesday night was a night to clean out of the home all remaining traces of yeast - from bread loaves to crumbs left in baskets. But Wangerin goes a step farther - he suggests that for Jesus' group, that night became an unexpected party. He suggests that the women of the group, who were making preparations, would have sensed the "differentness" of Jesus' mood and that a no-holes-barred feast and dinner celebration was the result. In this retelling of the story, friend Mary bathes Jesus' feet in the expensive nard perfume and mother Mary watches her son ("Yeshi") laugh wholeheartedly.

What JOY!!

Where is your joy? Where are the moments in which you are aware of this fruit of the Spirit in your life? When do you just look around at your friends or loved ones and praise God for the joy they (and He!) give you?

Joy is not equal to happiness; we can be joyful in the midst of suffering and affliction. Joy is a spiritual state - a blessing by God.

Let us pray...

Joyful God, Laughing "Yeshi," Fruit-giving Spirit,

Thank you for the gift of joy in our lives. Thank you for the moments where we are aware of what you are doing and how it is a pure representation of your joy. Help us be even more aware...and even more grateful. Help us seek out your joy, not the "happiness" of the world, and to help others to seek first your Kingdom, live fully the fruits of your Spirit, and honor you with our lives.

In the powerful name of the laughing One we pray...Amen.