The Joyful Heart by Jim Hughes: 2011

Saturday, December 24, 2011

This Is The Refreshing

Isaiah 28:11-12

(KJV)

¹¹For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. ¹²To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

(AMP)

¹¹ No, but [the Lord will teach the rebels in a more humiliating way] by men with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people [says Isaiah, and teach them His lessons]. ¹²To these [complaining Jews the Lord] had said, This is the true rest [the way to true comfort and happiness] that you shall give to the weary, and, This is the [true] refreshing--yet they would not listen [to His teaching]. (MSG)

But that's exactly how you will be addressed.

God will speak to this people

In baby talk, one syllable at a time—

and he'll do it through foreign oppressors.

He said before, "This is the time and place to rest,

to give rest to the weary.

This is the place to lay down your burden."

But they won't listen.

What is this refreshing? It’s praying in tongues – your prayer language. Paul the apostle explains,

1 Corinthians 14:20-21

(KJV)

²⁰Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. ²¹ In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

(It’s interesting to note that Paul calls the book of Isaiah, “the Law.” I thought it was one of the books of the prophets.) The Corinthians were fighting over what their “new” Christmas toy from God (their prayer language) was to be used for.

(AMP)

20 Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men]. 21 It is written in the Law, By men of strange languages and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to Me, says the Lord.

Your prayer language (singing, speaking and praying in tongues) is meant for charging you up spiritually,

Jude 20

(AMP)

But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [[d]make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;

(MSG)

But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit.

Praying in the Holy Ghost builds you up!

1 Corinthians 14:4

(KJV)

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself.

How do you get built up by praying in tongues? You are speaking to God (verse 4). Speaking in tongues is God’s intimate love language; His native language – the Spirit – spirit words! Don’t ever think you have to understand in this earthly realm everything that goes on in the spirit realm!

Anytime you are having an intimate encounter with God you are in His presence; and in His presence is fulness! (Psalm 16:11). God fills you to the full with His fulness! Hallelujah! You charge yourself up when you pray in tongues! It’s like using a battery charger for your car when the battery runs low because of some drain on the system.

We all get drained out during the day’s activities. Well, a car has a generator and an alternator that charges the battery while the car is running. But, once in a while you might leave the lights on while you go shopping and come back to find a dead battery. You call AAA and the come give you a jump. That’s what you get with tongues, a jump from God’s jumper cables, Tongues!

When I first got baptized in the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues I read that I could sing in tongues. WOW, I wanted that!

1 Corinthians 14:15

(AMP)

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Just as there are different kinds of charges from a battery charger, there are different kinds of charges from the Holy Ghost. If you have the time to place you battery on a charger all night while you sleep that’s fine, but you can’t do that in the parking lot at Wal-Mart. You need to get home!

When you speak in tongues you are slowly charging your spirit up, but when you sing in tongues, you are getting a quick start in the Holy Ghost! Boom! A tremendous charge of energy! Then once you get going about your day, the alternator of God (The Word of God, the Bible) keeps you charged up as you are moving. Try not to leave your lights on (your testimony) all the time; this will drain your spiritual battery. Sometimes you need charging up! Start singing in tongues! This is the refreshing!

References:

King James Version (KJV)—Public Domain/ 1604, King James I of

England

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Prayer Of Faith

I just prayed the prayer of faith over my dog Junior. He’s been under the weather today and he turned down a dog biscuit. He never turns down dog biscuits. He does flips for dog biscuits. So I knew something was wrong! When things go wrong the Holy Spirit comes to our aid to pray the perfect prayer because we don’t know how or what to pray. Praise God! I need the Holy Spirit’s help when I pray, how ‘bout you? – Jim

Romans 8:26

(MSG)

The moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

I just can’t take the credit when it comes to crisis’s in my life as if I know what to pray!

(AMP)

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

But there is one caveat, ALWAYS pray in faith believing what you pray for will come true!

James 1:5-8

(AMP)

5 If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.

6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.

7 For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,

8 [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides].

So let’s stop being wishy-washy with our prayers

James 5:14-16

(AMP)

14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders (the spiritual guides). And they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord's name.

15 And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him;

16 The effectual fervent <G1754> prayer <G1162> of a righteous man <G1342> availeth <G2480> much <G4183>.

[the effectual fervent, hot-to-boiling, prayer]

Greek Strong's Number: 1754

Greek Word: ἐνεργέω

Transliteration: energeō

Phonetic Pronunciation:

en-erg-eh'-o

Root: from <G1756>

Cross Reference: TDNT - 2:652,251

Part of Speech: v

Vine's Words: Effectual, Work, Wrought

Usage Notes:

English Words used in KJV:

work 12
show forth (one's) self 2
wrought 1
be effectual 1
effectually work 1
effectual fervent 1
work effectually in 1
be might in 1
to do 1
[Total Count: 21]

from <G1756> (energes); to be active, efficient :- do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in).

ζεστός

Greek Strong's Number: 2200

Greek Word: ζεστός

Transliteration: zestos

Phonetic Pronunciation:

dzes-tos'

Root: from <G2204>

Cross Reference: TDNT - 2:876,296

Part of Speech: adj

Vine's Words: Hot

Usage Notes:

English Words used in KJV:

hot 3
[Total Count: 3]

from <G2204> (zeo); boiled, i.e. (by implication) calid (figurative fervent) :- hot.

—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary

So, the Lord wants us either hot or cold:

Rev 3:15-16

(KJV)

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

References:

King James Version (KJV)—Public Domain/ 1604, King James I of

England

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Deep Calls To Deep

Are you down in the dumps? Remember everything you know about God; then you will be singing with Him songs in the night! – Jim

Psalms 42:6-8 I rehearse everything I know of you

(MSG)

When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse

everything I know of you,

From

Jordan

depths to Hermon heights,

including Mount Mizar.

Chaos calls to chaos,

to the tune of whitewater rapids.

Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers

crash and crush me.

Then God promises to love me all day,

sing songs all through the night!

My life is God's prayer.

(AMP)

⁶O my God, my life is cast down upon me [and I find the burden more than I can bear]; therefore will I [earnestly] remember You from the land of the

Jordan

[River] and the [summits of Mount] Hermon, from the little mountain Mizar.

⁷[Roaring] deep calls to [roaring] deep at the thunder of Your waterspouts; all Your breakers and Your rolling waves have gone over me.

⁸Yet the Lord will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

(NLT)

6 my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged,

but I will remember you—

even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the

Jordan

from the land of Mount Mizar.

7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas

as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.

8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,

and through each night I sing his songs,

praying to God who gives me life.

(NLV)

⁶ O my God, my soul is troubled within me. So I remember You from the land of the

Jordan

and the tops of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. ⁷ Sea calls to sea at the sound of Your waterfalls. All Your waves have rolled over me. ⁸ The Lord will send His loving-kindness in the day. And His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life.

(CPV)

So take another look at him who put up with so much opposition from “the good-people-of-this-town.” It’ll keep you from getting blue and down in the dumps. After all, you haven’t stood up to the point of shedding any of your blood in the struggle against sin. Perhaps you should recall the passage which refers to you as “sons”:

“My son, don’t minimize the value of a celestial spanking,

And don’t let it get you down when you’re bawled out from on high.

For the Lord has got to love you to spank you,

And he uses the belt on only a son.”

Hebrews 12:3 Think, Study, Rehearse

(GNT)

Think of what he went through; how he put up with so much hatred from sinners! So do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up.

(MSG)

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed. . .

(AMP)

Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself—so you, yourself will know!

(KJV)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(AMP)

Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

(CPV)

Now as for you, son, take your stand on the things you’ve learned and have been assured of, recognizing that you’ve studied various subjects and that from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures which can wise you up to the salvation that comes through the kind of faith that was in Christ Jesus. Every God-breathed writing is helpful for enlightenment, for guidance, for correction, for instruction in right living, so that God’s man may be outfitted and fully equipped for performing any good task.

References:

**King James Version (KJV)—Public Domain/ 1604, King James I of

England

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Having Done All

There comes a time when temptation is too hard to handle. I do well for a season resisting temptation, living a disciplined life, then I give in and now all I can think about is that temptation. As the scripture says, lust just never quits!

Proverbs 27:20

(MSG)

Hell has a voracious appetite, and lust just never quits.

Once that floodgate is opened it’s pretty hard to plug it up again. But thank God for His Word!

Ephesians 6:13

(MSG)

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.

I remember a parable that Mark Hankins tells about when driving down the road and you start swatting at a fly and lose focus on what you’re doing and crash into the ditch. Sometimes it’s just better to put up with the annoyance for a while until you can pull over and deal with the pest!

Ephesians 6:13

(KJV)

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Having done all—that’s the key! Having done all you can possibly do to withstand the devil’s onslaughts—that’s the key to resisting temptation. Let’s face it, we are tempted by something we love, something we are lusting after. It’s not something we dislike. Yes, lust is evil – it’s the evil day spoken of in our text, but it doesn’t present itself as evil. It comes after me as the most prized possession I desire!

Like I’ve said in other studies, I’m retarded. God knows that, he made me that way. There’s nothing I will do that will ever surprise Him! But, when faced with temptation I need to listen to God’s still small voice in the midst of the shouting of that temptation and just be still!

Elijah was having a pity-party and got alone to seek God (sounds real religious doesn’t it – just because you have your devotions and time to pray doesn’t guarantee that you won’t be caught up in selfishness). He had just slain all the prophets of Baal with the sword.

1 Kings 19:1-18 (MSG)

^1-2 Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including the massacre of the prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: "The gods will get you for this and I'll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you'll be as dead as any one of those prophets."

^3-5 When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of

Judah

. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day's journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: "Enough of this, God! Take my life—I'm ready to join my ancestors in the grave!" Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush.

Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, "Get up and eat!"

⁶ He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep.

⁷ The angel of God came back, shook him awake again, and said, "Get up and eat some more—you've got a long journey ahead of you."

^8-9 He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.

Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?"

¹⁰ "I've been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of

Israel

have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."

^11-12 Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."

A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.

^13-14 When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?" Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of

Israel

have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."

^15-18 God said, "Go back the way you came through the desert to Damascus. When you get there anoint Hazael; make him king over

Aram

. Then anoint Jehu son of Nimshi; make him king over

Israel

. Finally, anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Anyone who escapes death by Hazael will be killed by Jehu; and anyone who escapes death by Jehu will be killed by Elisha. Meanwhile, I'm preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven't bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven't kissed his image."

We have to stop the pity-party that we are the only one's who have ever been tempted this way and have got to start training ourselves to listening for that “still small voice” that “gentle and quiet whisper” so we may be able to do all we can to stand in our moments of temptations!

Ephesians 6:13

(GW)

For this reason, take up all the armor that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. [Or “when the evil day comes.”] Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground.

(AMP)

Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

Amen! When we have “done all the crisis demands” we can stand firmly in our place.

Nehemiah 8:10

(MSG)

Ezra continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy [you have in] God is your strength!"

The joy we have in God is what the devil’s after. Don’t let him have it!

King James Version (KJV)—Public Domain/ 1604, King James I of

England

Monday, October 24, 2011

Do you know what the secret of life is?

We all remember the famous line from the 1991 film City Slickers:

Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is? [points index finger skyward] This.

Mitch: Your finger?

Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean shit.

Mitch: But, what is the "one thing?"

Curly: [smiles and points his finger at Mitch] That's what you have to find out.

Thankfully we don’t have to find out by watching City Slickers, we can find it in the Bible.

Luke 10:42 One thing is needed

(GW)

There’s only one thing you need.[a] Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her.”

^aFootnotes: Luke 10:42 Some manuscripts and translations read, “But of the few things [worth worrying about], there is only one thing you need.”

(NLT)

There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.

Mary had chosen intimate fellowship with the Lord—that’s the one thing needed in life! All else pails in description compared to being intimately united to Christ in everything we do. Do you have a job to do? Do it whole heartedly as unto the Lord:

Colossians 3:23

(KJV)

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

(MSG)

22-25 Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.

Martha wasn’t doing shoddy work physically but in the soulish realm – in her mind. She was full of anxiety and worry! Two of the worst conditions of heart that one could find themselves in. Jesus was always nailing the disciples over worry:

Matthew 6:25-29

(MSG)

25-26 If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27-29 Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30-33 If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Luke 10:41

—Adam Clarke's Commentary

Thou art careful and troubled—Thou art distracted, μεριμνας, thy mind is divided, (see on Matthew 13:22 note below), in consequence of which, τυρβαζῃ, thou art disturbed, thy spirit is thrown into a tumult.

About many things—Getting a variety of things ready for this entertainment, much more than are necessary on such an occasion.

Matthew 13:22 The Parable of the Sower

He also that received seed among the thorns—In land ploughed, but not properly cleared and seeded. Is he—represents that person who heareth the word, but the cares, rather the anxiety, η μεριμνα, the whole system of anxious carking [distressful] cares.

The parable of the sower is about the state of mind of believers:

Mark 4:14-20

(AMP)

14 The sower sows the Word.

15 The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown [in their hearts], but when they hear, Satan comes at once and [by force] takes away the message which is sown in them.

16 And in the same way the ones sown upon stony ground are those who, when they hear the Word, at once receive and accept and welcome it with joy;

17 And they have no real root in themselves, and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful) and they stumble and fall away.

18 And the ones sown among the thorns are others who hear the Word;

19 Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.

20 And those sown on the good (well-adapted) soil are the ones who hear the Word and receive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit--some thirty times as much as was sown, some sixty times as much, and some [even] a hundred times as much.

In verse 24 Jesus gives a very important clue to what was going on in Bethany at Mary & Martha’s house:

24 And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. [This is the kind of carefulness God wants] The measure [of thought and study] you give [to [the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

Mary was giving concentrated thought and study to what Jesus was saying while Martha was just sticking her head in every once in a while. Let’s not be found guilty of just sticking our heads in and out of fellowship with the Lord only when it’s convenient to do so; it is always the most needful thing to be listening intently to the Lord in our hearts whether we are at home having devotions or at work making hamburgers!

References:

City Slickers Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

King James Version (KJV)—Public Domain/ 1604, King James I of

England