Summary: Suffering is opportunity for the joy of God to make us strong

“THE STRONGHOLD”

THE JOY OF THE HOLY GHOST

01/29/09

Gal 5:16-25

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

(KJV)

Gal. 5:16-25 AMP

But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [ that can bring a charge].

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

Ps 5:11

11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. (KJV)

Ps 16:11

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (KJV)

Ps 30:5

5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (KJV)

Ps 51:12

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (KJV)

Ps 51:12

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.

AMP

Ps 126:5

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. (KJV)

*** Human suffering is opportunity for the strength of the lord!!

Ps 132:16

16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. (KJV)

Isa 12:3

3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (KJV)

Isa 35:10

10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (KJV)

Isa 61:3

3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (KJV)

Isa. 61:3

To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion--to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit--that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

AMP

[To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion] "To impart gladness to the mourners of Zion." A word necessary to the sense is certainly lost in this place, of which the ancient Versions have preserved no traces. Houbigant, by conjecture, inserts the word saasown (heb 8342), gladness, taken from the line next but one below, where it stands opposed to 'eebel (heb 60), sorrow or mourning, as the word lost here was to 'abeleey (heb 56), mourners: I follow him.-- Lowth.

[Beauty for ashes] "A beautiful crown instead of ashes." In times of mourning the Jews put on sackcloth, or coarse and sordid raiment, and spread dust and ashes on their heads; on the contrary, splendid clothing and ointment poured on the head were the signs of joy. "Feign thyself to be a mourner," says Joab to the woman of Tekoah, "and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil," <2 Sam. 14:2>. These customs are at large expressed in the Book of Judith: "She pulled off the sackcloth which she had on, and put off the garments of her widowhood, and washed her body all over with water and anointed herself with precious ointment, and braided the hair of her head, and put on a tire [mitre, marg.] upon it; and put on her garments of gladness;" .-- Lowth.

P?'eer (heb 6287) tachat (heb 8478) 'eepar (heb 665), glory for ashes; a paronomasia which the prophet often uses: a chaplet, crown, or other ornament of the head (for so the Vulgate renders the word here and in ; in which last place the Septuagint agree in the same rendering,) instead of dust and ashes, which before covered it; and the costly ointments used on occasions of festivity, instead of the ensigns of sorrow.-- Lowth.

[Trees of righteousness] "Trees approved." Heb. oaks of righteousness or truth; that is, such as by their flourishing condition should show that `they were indeed "the scion of God's planting, and the work of his hands;" under which images, in the preceding chapter, , the true servants of God, in a highly improved state of the church, were represented; that is, says Vitringa on that place, "commendable for the strength of their faith, their durability, and firmness."

(from Adam Clarke Commentary)

*** I want to read to from the book of Nehemiah but let me give you a little background of him first.

NEHEMIAH

1 NEHEMI'AH (ne'he-mi'a; "Jehovah consoles").

2

3 Governor of the Jews. The genealogy of Nehemiah is unknown, except that he was the son of Hacaliah and brother of Hanani (<7:2>; cf. <1:2>). All that we know for certain of Nehemiah is found in the book bearing his name.

4

He first appears at Susa as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes;

(ARTAXERXES (ar-ta-zerk'sez). Neh. 1:11-2:1>, about 446 B.C.

In that year he was informed of the deplorable condition of his countrymen in Judea, and determined to go to Jerusalem to endeavor to better their condition.

Three or four months later he presented his request to the king to be allowed to go and rebuild Jerusalem.

His royal master granted his request and appointed him Tirshatha, "governor."

Accompanied by a troop of cavalry and letters from the king to the different governors through whose provinces he was to pass, as well as to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forests (to supply him with timber), he started upon his journey, being under promise to return to Persia within a given time (2:1-10).

Nehemiah, without a moment's unnecessary delay, began the restoration of the city walls, which was accomplished in the wonderfully short time of fifty-two days (6:15), 444 B.C.

In this he was opposed by Sanballat and Tobiah, who not only poured out a torrent of abuse and contempt upon all engaged in the work but actually made a conspiracy to fall upon the builders with an armed force and put a stop to the undertaking.

The project was defeated by the vigilance and prudence of Nehemiah.

This armed attitude was continued from that day forward (chap. 4). He also reformed abuses, redressed grievances (chap. 5), introduced law and order (chap. 7), and revived the worship of God (chap. 8).

Various strategems were then resorted to in order to get Nehemiah away from Jerusalem and, if possible, take his life.

But that which most nearly succeeded was the attempt to bring him into suspicion with the king of Persia, as if Nehemiah intended to set himself up as an independent king as soon as the walls were completed.

The artful letter of Sanballat so far wrought upon Artaxerxes that he issued a decree stopping the work until further orders .

(from New Unger's Bible Dictionary)

Neh 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.

(KJV)

SORRY--6087 `atsab-

1) to hurt, to pain, to grieve, to displease, to vex, to wrest

a) (Qal) to hurt, to pain

b) (Niphal) to be in pain, to be pained, to be grieved

c) (Piel) to vex, to torture

d) (Hiphil) to cause pain

e) (Hithpael) to feel grieved, to be vexed

2) to shape, to fashion, to make, to form, to stretch into shape, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament: worship

a) (Piel) to shape, to form

b) (Hiphil) to form, to copy, to fashion

JOY--2302 chadah-

to rejoice

a) (Qal) to rejoice

b) (Piel) to make glad, to gladden

STRENGTH--4581 ma` owz (maw-oze') (also ma` uwz (maw-ooz'));

or ma` oz (maw-oze') (also ma` uz (maw-ooz'); from 5810; a fortified place; figuratively, a defence:

KJV-- force, fort (-ress), rock, strength (-en), (X most) strong (hold).

Neh. 8:10

Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.

AMP

Luke 2:10

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (KJV)

John 15:11

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (KJV)

Jude 1:20

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

(KJV)

Jude 1:20

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

AMP

John 15:11

I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

AMP

John 16:20

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (KJV)

John 16:22

22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. (KJV)

Luke 6:23

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

(KJV)

John 16:24

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (KJV)

Acts 13:52

52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

Rom 14:17

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

Rom 15:13

13 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)

Heb 12:2

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (KJV)

1 Pet 1:8

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (KJV)