Advent Season – Joy 4

Comparing earthly joy with celestial joy...

 

Earthly joy refers to temporary and imperfect pleasures derived from material and worldly experiences, which are ultimately fleeting and unreliable sources of contentment. It is often associated with external circumstances, such as success, possessions, or sensory pleasures, and can be easily lost or diminished when those conditions change. While earthly joy may provide happiness, it lacks lasting fulfillment and can distract believers from their spiritual focus, as it is contrasted with the eternal rewards of heaven. It is sometimes described as superficial, lying on the outside like dew on a leaf, and is not deeply rooted in the heart.

In contrast, celestial joy—also referred to as heavenly or divine joy—is a profound, spiritual fulfillment that transcends earthly experiences. It is not dependent on external circumstances and remains constant even in suffering, as it is rooted in a relationship with God and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Celestial joy is described as inward, pure, and enduring, like a spring of water running underground, hidden from the world’s view. It is a gift from God, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and is characterized by deep satisfaction, inner peace, and a lasting sweetness that surpasses all earthly delights. Unlike fleeting earthly joys, celestial joy is abiding and eternal, symbolizing a foretaste of the everlasting pleasures found in God’s presence. It is associated with spiritual fulfillment, divine approval, and the ultimate hope of believers for eternal life.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource:  www.goarch.org

Advent Season – Joy 3

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.’” – Luke 2:9-10

 

            Imagine you are a shepherd watching your flock of sheep in the middle of the night. It’s dark except for the light of a multitude of the stars that filled the skies. Perhaps you’ve never seen such a multitude of stars in the night sky because of the massive amount of light pollution that is all around many of us. I have and it is an unbelievable sight.

            So here are some shepherds, at night, alone with their sheep and there appeared before them an angel of the Lord whose glory filled the night. Having never seen anything like this before the shepherds were petrified. We know they were afraid because the angel first said to them, “Don’t be afraid”. Put yourself in their situation. How would you have reacted? The news the angel brought was good & would provide great joy to ALL people. Who is salvation available to? ALL people. Whosoever will...

            As if a lone angel wasn’t shocking enough, soon a “vast host – the armies of the Lord” appeared to give praises to God. Now THAT must have been a sight to see.  Isn’t it interesting that though the shepherds had never had this type of experience before, their fear obviously left them. It would appear that their fear was replaced by a response rooted in faith, awe, and purpose, for when the host of angels returned to heaven they decided to go to Bethlehem to seek out the baby that was described to them. There was written in scripture no explanation for the sudden change in emotion. This transition reflects the broader theme that God’s message of peace and salvation is meant to inspire faith and action, not ongoing fear.

Whenever the Lord is involved, there is always reason for joy. Mixed in with the joy is hope and peace. Mortal man’s joy, hope, and peace are placed in temporal things and therefore cannot last. It is with joy that we celebrate the birth of Christ the Messiah, Savior of men’s souls.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Advent Season – Joy 2

The Joy of Salvation

 

“The joy of salvation is a profound, lasting happiness rooted in the knowledge of being forgiven, redeemed, and eternally secure in God’s grace through Jesus Christ. It is not dependent on circumstances but arises from a deep understanding of God’s unchanging love and the fulfillment of His promises, as seen in Scripture where believers are called to rejoice always. This joy is described as "unspeakable and full of glory”, a result of the transformative experience of salvation that brings reconciliation with God, the removal of sin’s burden, and the hope of eternal life.”^[1]

 

Our greatest reason to be joyful is that God wants to save us and spend eternity with us. 

 

Luke 15:7 NLT: “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”

All heaven is joyful when a person accepts God’s provision of salvation.

 

Acts 8:8: The people of Samaria were joyful as they heard the gospel and saw God’s power in healing the sick.

 

Acts 13:52; 15:3: Jewish believers rejoiced when they heard of the work of the Holy Spirit in saving Gentiles.

 

            Once a person realizes they have a debt that they are unable to pay, having that debt paid by another party would be reason enough to exude feelings of joy. A celebratory flood of emotions should ensue. That is EXACTLY what our Lord did by virtue of His death on the cross. His spilt blood in effect has washed away the sin debt of every person who sought forgiveness. When one submits to the will of God, they become a NEW CREATURE in Christ. 

            If that describes you, then rejoice, for Christ was born to save the world from itself. There is no greater gift this side of heaven then salvation from sin. It is the only gift that is completely free for the asking. It is the only path you can take that clears your way to eternal life with our Father in heaven. What glorious news!! 

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1]  www.christianitytoday.com

Advent Season – Joy 1

          “The Greek word for joy is "chara", a noun derived from the verb "chairo", meaning "to rejoice". It is used 59 times in the New Testament and is defined as cheerfulness or calm delight, representing a deep, inner gladness that is not dependent on external circumstances. This joy is understood as a spiritual reality, rooted in the redemptive work of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit, rather than a fleeting emotional state tied to favorable situations. The term is closely related to other Greek words like "charis" (grace) and "eucharisteo" (to give thanks), highlighting that biblical joy is a response to God's grace and gifts, and is often expressed as a sustained, soul-satisfying state given by God. It is a fruit of the Spirit, appearing alongside love, peace, and other virtues in Christian character.” ^[1]

 

Whenever God is at work, typically, the natural reaction is one of joy. It is produced and brought out in individuals in several different ways. 

 

One is the “Joy of Deliverance”.  “The concept of deliverance is a central theme throughout the Bible, representing God's intervention to rescue His people from peril, sin, and oppression. The joy that accompanies deliverance is a profound expression of gratitude and worship, reflecting the believer's recognition of God's power and mercy.” ^[2]

 

When God sets someone free, rejoicing is in order. Here is an example in scripture of joy found in 1^st Samuel & the Book of Acts.

 

1 Samuel 2:1: Hannah was filled with joy at her deliverance from her enemies.

 

Acts 12:14: The servant girl was so overjoyed that God had rescued Peter from prison that she forgot to let Peter in the house.

                  Joy, especially at this time of year, creates a festive atmosphere. We, as followers of Christ have much to be both grateful & joyful about. Being grateful starts on Thanksgiving, and it ushers in the joyous season of Christ’s birth. Are you joyful during this Advent Season?

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/chara.html

^[2]  www.Wikipedia.com

Advent Season – Peace 5

3 Practical Ways to Find Peace at Christmas Time 

 

            One of the reasons Jesus came down to live among men was to bring peace to the whole entire world. In spite of your current situation in life there are three things you can do to achieve the peace that God freely offers.

 

Give all your worries over to God – What is heavy on your heart this holiday season? Is it your first holiday with a loved one? Did you just lose your job? Are you and your spouse continually fighting about family finances? Lift them all up to your Heavenly Father in prayer and see what happens. Prayer helps us bring our hopes, frustrations, fears, and doubts to God. You should EXPECT to have peace. God doesn’t lie to us or attempt in any way to fool us. He is truthful and just and shall give you what you need exactly when you need it the most.

 

Accept His overwhelming peace - Colossians 3:15 says “The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make…”. The followers of Christ are promised an abundance of peace from God... read 2 Peter 1:2, "Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord".

            Accept His overwhelming peace and let that peace guide your way of living this holiday season. Is there a way to accept His peace? You could start by recognizing His overwhelming, unmatched power. He is in control of all things in existence. If it were not true He couldn’t be who He says He is. We need to accept the fact that God is in the process of healing the world. If we can realize that as true it may be a little easier to find personal peace; even when you are dealing with conflict, pain, and/or grief.

 

Even in the midst of your struggles accept His peace – There isn’t a magic potion that enables you to find peace in the midst of pain. It’s allowing His peace to permeate your being. It starts with refocusing... shifting what you are seeing over to looking full in the face of Christ. That reminds me of the following chorus: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory & grace.” That is one way to find peace. 

            The Lord understands when we get frustrated, overwhelmed or mourn a loss, but His compassion can take the place of the negative emotions you are facing. Don’t you realize that God controls every detail in the entire universe. Nothing is overlooked. Nothing is out of place. No matter what you’re going thru, God knows all about it and is ready, willing, and able to be the salve that brings healing to your soul.

            Once we find peace we are able to celebrate the greatness of God. We aren’t celebrating as a means of ignoring the complexities of life. It’s not to distract us from reality. It’s making a declaration that we’ve found peace exactly where we were told we would find it, in the realm of God.

            How did Mary find peace when her son was crucified? She found it in God. How did Joseph find peace when his brothers sold him into slavery? He found it in God. How did Paul find peace when he was put in jail for sharing the gospel? He found it in God.  And you can too. It starts with faith, then moves on to trust. If you trust God you will know you can rely on Him. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

https://finds.life.church/peace-at-christmas/

 

Advent Season – Peace 4

          Since we are in the Advent Season, I thought is appropriate to address the topic of the day by quoting the apostle Paul from his letter to the Philippian believers. In his statement we find a way to find peace at any time.

 

Phil 4:6-7 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” 

 

            Okay, so let’s break this down. Initially we’re told not to worry. It comes in the form of the phrase, “Fear not”and is found in scripture 365 times; once for every day of the calendar year. We are implored to pray about EVERYTHING. What does that tell us? It tells us that nothing is too big or too small to pray about. Prayer is communicating with God. The key is for us to be in tune with our Lord to the extent that we can hear Him when He speaks to us thru the indwelt Holy Spirit. It’s communication that must be worked at. Speaking to God is the easy part, hearing from Him is the part the typically needs work.

            From there Paul stresses that we tell God what we need. Now an omniscient God already knows what we need, so why do we have to TELL Him? Is it not so that we verbalize it rather than just expect it to come into being? Prayer is for OUR benefit, not God’s. We are to take the time to thank Him for His gracious willingness to hear us and act on our behalf. It is at that time that God’s peace will permeate our soul and spirit. Paul is plain about it when he says, there is no way we, in our inferior status to God, could ever comprehend God fully or understand the peace that He provides. 

            God’s peace acts as a guard for our hearts and minds as you proceed in your life with the Lord. Let’s face it, the mind is where most of the battles are fought. If we rely on Christ and not ourselves we will live a faithful life... not an easy life necessarily, but one that will reflect God’s perfect standard for living a victorious life in His name and for His kingdom.

            Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Advent Season – Peace 3

The Christmas holiday season, which essentially begins the day after Thanksgiving, in today’s society is anything but peaceful. True peace will never be found in the busyness, materialism, or holiday traditions, but instead in the very presence of Jesus Christ. We certainly understand that He no longer exists in bodily form, for He ascended to heaven in the very beginning of the Book of Acts to sit at the right hand of the Father. He DOES however exist in spirit form and resides within the heart of the Christian beginning on the day of their conversion. With Christ it is possible to find peace even in the middle of grief, stress and/or conflict by simply turning all our worries over to our Heavenly Father. That can be easier said than done. It takes a serious “want to” to LET GO of the worries that have eaten so much of your time, but it can be done with the help of God’s Holy Spirit. He is the one who resides in you. The third person of the Triune God. He, Christ, and Father God are one in the same, yet each one has a distinct role. God is the source, Christ is the means of salvation, and the Holy Spirit as the dynamic force thru which God's decrees are carried out. The Spirit is also the agent of new creation, imparting life and renewal to believers, transforming them into new creations in Christ.

Ways to achieve peace in your soul & spirit is thru prayer, reading scripture, spending valuable family time and/or just being still. These practices can assist in cultivating inner peace anytime of the year.

Ultimately, Christmas is a time to celebrate the Prince of Peace, whose birth offers a foundation for lasting peace—between God and humanity, among people, and within the individual soul. As believers reflect on the story of Christmas, they are reminded that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but a deep, God-given tranquility that comes from trusting in Christ’s redemptive work. There is no deception in God, for He is the lone perfect entity in existence. He has the power and authority to make us perfect as well, though not this side of heaven. We remain flawed until we are taken to the new heaven & new earth. Then we will know even as we are known. 

Peace is attainable thru faith and trust in Christ; more specifically, thru relying on the fact that God is just and fair and perfect in all His judgements & decisions. We are promised a spirit of peace and if we remain focused on the King of Kings, we shall achieve this peace and be able to rest in it. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries