Joy IN the Wilderness
Yet the LORD says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.”
Deuteronomy 29:5
1. Understand the meaning.
Biblical joy is not a feeling, it is a characteristic.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
Circumstances change, but our position as a child of God does not.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:11
…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
-Nehemiah 8:10
Biblical joy is not a feeling, it is a power.
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you.
Romans 8:11
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Joy is not dependent on our ever-changing feelings, but on our never-changing Jesus.
2. Consider the purpose.
If you want to prosper you have to persevere.
Consider it PURE JOY, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces PERSEVERANCE.
-James 1:2-3
I can find joy in the wilderness because the purpose is to produce perseverance.
I command joy in the midst of this wilderness.
We must willingly magnify supernatural joy over our natural circumstances.
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, REJOICING because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
Acts 5:41
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him
Philippians 1:29
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
The presence of trouble doesn’t mean the absence of joy!
…sorrowful, yet always rejoicing…
2 Corinthians 6:10
Examples of the purpose:
-Strengthen us.
-Heal us.
-Prepare us.
For the JOY set before him he ENDURED the cross…
Hebrews 12:2
3. Focus on the Provider.
“You are the God who sees me,” for He said, “I HAVE NOW SEEN the One who sees me.”
Genesis 16:13
There the angel of the Lord APPEARED TO HIM in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
Exodus 3:2-5
“I am who I am.” This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.”
Exodus 3:14
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 8:58
"I will rain down bread from heaven for you.”
Exodus 16:4
I AM the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I AM the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:48-50
Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.
Exodus 17:5-6
They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST.
1 Corinthians 10:3-4
Like a mirage in the desert, the wilderness will lie to you every time.
Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
Numbers 21:6-7
The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Numbers 21:8-9
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up…
John 3:14
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for all the people.”
Luke 2:10
As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Luke 1:44
Understand the meaning. Consider the purpose. Focus on the Provider.
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