You are welcome to the month of February Edition of El Shaddai Heritage
We thank God for His faithfulness and mercies over us and our families. We blessed him for miraculously crossing us over to the year 2023 and here we are in the 2nd month of the year ‘February’. May His name be praised forever.
Our Focus for this Month of February is JOY
Sub-topic: Joy- Weapon of Warfare
Introduction
We live in a world full of challenges and we are confronted with different battles on daily basis. The general saying is that life is a battleground and the fiercest battle is in the heart/ mind. Hence, the Holy Spirit is introducing to us Joy as a weapon of Warfare as we journey through this year and beyond. Since challenges in life are inevitable.
The Bible also testifies that there are battles to fight, hence, he said in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (KJV)
Our faith in Christ does not immune us from warfare but thank God, we have weapons of warfare. The weapons are many but the Holy Spirit is calling our attention Joy as one of the weapons of our warfare in this world.
What is Joy?
Joy is a feeling of extreme delight or exultation of the spirit arising from a sense of well-being or satisfaction/contentment “According to a Psychologist.”
The Bible then said in Nehemiah 8:10
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
The word of God above says Joy is a strength. It also shows that there is a link between Joy and strength. We all know that to fight any battle in life strength is required to win.
Receive the Joy of the Lord, receive strength in Jesus’ name
The bible also said in Galatians 5:22a
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Joy is also defined as one of the components of the fruit of Spirit. It is interesting that the bible agreed that we fight battles and described that the warfare we are confronted with are not physical in Ephesians 6:12
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
You see brethren our battles are not physical hence the weapon of warfare cannot be physical too. It is high time we apply the right weapon to whatever challenges confronting us.
Joy is the weapon. “ The joy of the Lord is your strength..
Joy is about the state of our heart, not feeling or what we see. No wonder the word of the Lord warns us in Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (KJV)
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.(NIV)
To constantly and consistently win battles of life which is inevitable, Joy is one of the weapons to deploy and since joy is of the state of heart// mind, we must guard it jealously.
How to guard our hearts
- Stand firm in faith no matter the situation
1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on guard. Stand firm in faith. Be courageous., Be strong. (NIV)
- Be content with your life. We lose our joy sometimes because we want to be like others.
Luke 12:15 “Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
- Be positive in your confession.
Proverbs 13:3 “Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. (NIV)
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. (KJV)
- Thanksgiving and Prayers
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)
Conclusion
Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV)
3 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (KJV) Amen.
Shalom