This Month's Newsletter

Part 4: The Greatest need in the church today " The Holy Spirit"

Pastor Don Nicely's Newsletter for April 2009

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…

The second fruit that is immediately displayed in our life once we come to Christ is joy. The main reason is because for the first time in our life we understand the reality of Christ’s birth. According to Luke the birth of Christ brought joy to the world.

Luke 2:10 (NKJV)¹⁰Then the angle said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

Not only did His birth bring joy to people but His life brought joy as well. Wherever Christ went joy followed Him. Through His teachings, healings and miracles Christ delivered people and made their lives better.

Acts 10:38 (NKJV)³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

His death also brought Joy, because now we no longer have to make sacrifices for sins, but just ask and we have full forgiveness of sins. More exciting than His death is the power of the resurrection. Because He lives we too can live. Many founder of religions throughout the world claim to have the secret to eternal life, but none of them have the real secret to eternal life, and non of them have proved it like Jesus by rising from the dead. Only Christ has the real truth to live eternally and it’s found in knowing Him personally and having a relationship with God through him.

John 17:17 (NKJV)¹⁷Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Also Christ’s ascension brought joy to the world. Note His words right before He ascended.

John 14:1-3 (NKJV)¹Let not your heart be trouble; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ²In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

And look at the angels words after He ascended.

Acts 1:11 (NKJV)¹¹who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

God’s greatest desire for His people is that their joy be full.

John 16:24 (NKJV)²⁴Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

And no matter what life throws at them, it is possible to full of joy. Paul and Silas even though they were beaten and bloody and in a dark damp dungeon at midnight they still found enough joy in God to sing praises to him.

Acts 16:25 (NKVJ)²⁵But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Friends God has a plan for us and a purpose to prosper us so we must not lose heart and let the worlds woes wear us out.

Jeremiah 29:11 (GWT)¹¹I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans of peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

When we face times of sorrow as children of God we must remember that our joy can still be found in Him.

Psalms 30:5 (NKJV)⁵For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

David claimed that he had lost his joy through his sin with Bathsheba and asked God to restore to him his joy of his salvation.

Psalms 51:12 (NKJV)¹²Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

This informs us that one of the greatest joy robbers in this life is to harbor sin in our heart. Sin, criticism, and anger are three joy stealers that we must fight diligently to not get wrapped up in. Many people become angry and lose their joy and soon turn into being critical towards tothers and this also steals your joy. Whatever you do- stay away from all these joy stealers. Now if you’re one of those people who somehow along the way lost your joy know right now that you can have it back right now if you would like. Just repent of whatever is stealing it. God doesn’t hold our mistakes against us. He wants us to live in the fullness of the life that He’s given us. He’s just waiting on us to get into the picture and make it right. Don’t live another day as a Christian without the fullness of Christ dwelling in you richly. And the richness is shown in our joy. When people look at you do they see Christ? Make it right now! That’s what being a Christian is all about living such an abundant life full of God that you make others without God hungry and thirsty for what you have.

Continued Next Month