The veritable strength

As a people of God, we can not move toward fullness in Christ unless we separate ourselves more and more from the spirit of this world. If our thoughts do not always turn more to the things of Heaven by becoming less and less attached to the pleasures of the world around us, we shall be drained of the joy of our salvation. The sad truth is that many believers are unable to take advantage of their salvation because they neglect to obey the Word of God. Obedience to His Word is the place where blessing and joy begin !

Israel did not want to lose the great spirit of rejoicing they had experienced, so they gathered again to obey God on this subject : "Those of the seed of Israel, having separated themselves from all the strangers, presented themselves and confessed their sins" (Nehemiah 9: 2).

The circumstances and trials of Israel had not changed - God changed them. Nehemiah reminded a people of Israel in full rejoicing how God had provided for their ancestors in the wilderness. The Lord had poured many blessings upon them. He had taught them by His Spirit and guided them by the cloud and the pillar of fire. He had given them manna and water, miraculously. And He did not allow their clothes or shoes to wear out (see Nehemiah 9: 19-21).

In the same way, today God has promised to pour these same mercies on His people. In the midst of our afflictions we must merely approach the Word of God and pray that the Holy Spirit may engrave it on our hearts. This is how we begin to enter His rest and peace.

How to maintain the joy of the Lord ? We do it in the same way as to obtain it at the beginning : by loving, honoring and hungering for His Word. And by continually walking in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Only the joy of the Lord gives us the veritable strength !

David Wilkerson