Ephesians 1:

¹⁶ Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

¹⁹ And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

²⁰ Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

²¹ Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

²² And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

²³ Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Romans 15:

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.

Hope you enjoy the following sermon from John Piper. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1BPh3q0sRg

Zephaniah 3:  ¹⁷ The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Think about this the Creator of the Universe rejoices over me with Joy and singing.  So amazing.  Think of this when you are facing trying times on this Earth.  God wants to share His Joy and His Love with you.  He knows that He is the only true source of Joy that can fill your heart to overflowing.  That intimate relationship with Him provides a Joy that is overflowing no matter what the circumstances on this earth are and no matter what the trials you are facing.  Christ, soon before He laid down His Life on the Cross to take upon Himself the wrath that Justice demanded against my sin and your sin, spoke to His apostles telling them that He must go and complete this work.  He was sending the Holy Spirit to be their comforter.  He told them, "³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."   He reminds us that if we abide in Him (resting upon His covenant promises of Grace which we continue to learn through reading His love letters) we will have joy.  Listen to what Jesus said in John 15, "⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

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

I want to say thank you to God for the wonderful people I met last night at Atlanta Live.  Thank you Rick Goins (producer) for inviting me.  My host Cherisse Stephens overflows with the love and joy of Christ which is in her.  Her website is http://www.cherissestephens.com/.  I met an incredible young man, Brandon Maye.  He had worked hard, against all odds and had made it to the NFL only to have his football career put on hold due to injury.  God has led him to become a motivational speaker who now must go out to proclaim the name of Christ with the resounding verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."  He just finished his book, "Diamond in the Rough".  http://www.brandonmaye.com/.  There was Debora Coty, who has such a bubbling joy and has written 12 books which through humor helps women to face the trials of this world through faith.  Her lastest book is Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolates.  Her website is http://deboracoty.com/.  A Christian life coach, Denise Morton can be found at http://www.dominionlifeccc.org/.   There were amazing women who have the incredible talent of singing and who have a true ministry for Christ that they bring with song.  One was Rae Ellis, who shows through her songs that if we will fling open our diaries, become transparent God can use all that stuff we try to hide, for His glory.    Her website is http://www.officialraeellis.com/.  Wincey Terry-Bryant is a true blessing in song.  Her story was uplifting as she said, "God loved me back into His ministry"  Her website is:  http://www.winceyco.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2rBCMoQoew

Isaiah 63: ⁹ In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Jeremiah 31: ³ The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.

Hosea 14: ⁴ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely:

Zephaniah 3: ¹⁷ The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

John 3: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 15: 9  ⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

John 17: ²² And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Why did God create man?  and why do I exist?  Are they the same question or are they two distinct questions?  The usual answer would be within the Christian world, "I exist to glorify God."  Although I might agree that Glorifying God is an ultimate result or as Jonathan Edwards says the ultimate means of my creation: yet, I want to cautiously break this thought down and propose that; although this may be a final result as I grow in my knowledge of Him and begin like a mirror to reflect His glory back to Him: God created man with a different immediate purpose in mind and that the ever increasing glorification that results merely increases eternally the purpose that He created man for.  That purpose was to share His overflowing fountain of love and Joy with a people.  There is nothing within me that can add one tiny fleck of glory to God; that end only occurs as I see, savor, and rejoice in the knowledge of His Glory.  The more I learn of His righteousness, His justice, His mercy, His love, and His grace to have chosen me; the depth of darkness that is my heart without Him becomes ever more visualized; so that I seek Him ever more diligently wanting to have His Word (the Bible) be etched on my Heart so that it reveals every corner of darkness.  My desire becomes such that I want God to rip from my hands any desire that stands in the way of my being fully focused on Him—destroying all hopes I might have in counterfeit joys, that I might stand in the light of His love and bask in the Joy I have in Him.  As that happens, my life can begin to reflect His Glory back to Him.  Have you ever seen a mirror reflecting light?  When a mirror, shiny and cleaned of all smudges, reflects light; the light becomes so great that it is nearly blinding and heat is intensified to the extent that a fire can be started by such methods.  That is the only means that God’s Ultimate Glory can be magnified, by the reflection of such Glory from the mirrored images of those who are the redeemed of Christ.  So, God created man in His Triune Image of (body, soul, and spirit) to share the overflowing Joy and Love that was His within His triune presence (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  This love and Joy was so great that He just had to create a being with free will to share it with.  Therefore, why do I exist?  To be loved by God and to rejoice with exceeding Joy in that love.  He becomes my greatest treasure which I then seek with all my heart.  The superfluous desires, temptations to immediate gratifications, self-centered, self-exalting desires, counterfeit joys must be set aside for the Joy, Glory, and Love that will be mine with Him–today, tomorrow and throughout eternity. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0qQCNRlBJc

Tonight I have the honor of being interviewed on Atlanta Live this evening which airs over WATC Atlanta TV 57. ATLANTA LIVE is WATC TV’s flagship program airing live weeknights from 7-9 p.m. with encore presentations every weekday morning from 7-9 a.m. In addition, one hour of ATLANTA LIVE is seen nationwide on NRB Network seen on DirecTV every weekday morning at 8 a.m. (ET). Also, Sky 21 in Summerville, Georgia now airs Atlanta Live from 7-9 a.m. every weekday morning. Please pray that I honor God through my words tonight and that I get out of the way, so He is shining through.  Join me if you can.

2 Timothy 1: ⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power,love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

Paul speaks a lot about suffering for Christ and because of his ministry for Christ; yet, Paul in the midst of all of the afflictions demonstrated Joy.  That joy was based on His knowledge of God and Paul’s faith in God’s covenant promises of God providing Paul with everything that he needed.  Paul’s joy was based on a relationship with God which circumstances (no matter how difficult) could not destroy.  Paul had learned Christ was the Greatest Treasure, the only True Joy that could fill man’s empty heart.  It was a Joy worth suffering for, fighting for, and even dying for.  That Joy so unshakeable by life’s fleeting tribulations and Sorrows was kept by focusing on Jesus—the author and finisher of our faith, our love, and our Joy.

^{2 Corinthians 6: 4} But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

⁵ In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

⁶ By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

⁷ By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

⁸ By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

⁹ As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

¹⁰ As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Below is the music by Sebastian Bach, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring; but I will include for you three versions of the words, you choose which is best for you to sing along.  Jesus is our only hope for true Joy in every circumstance of life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwWL8Y-qsJg

The following is the most commonly heard English version of the piece. It was written by the poet laureate Robert Bridges. It is not a translation of the stanzas used within Bach’s original version, but is inspired by the stanzas of the same hymn composed in 1642 by Johann Schop that Bach had drawn upon: Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne, the lyrics of which were written in 1661 by Martin Jahn (c. 1620–c. 1682).

Jesu, joy of man’s desiring,

Holy wisdom, love most bright;

Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring

Soar to uncreated light.

Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,

With the fire of life impassioned,

Striving still to truth unknown,

Soaring, dying round Thy throne.

Through the way where hope is guiding,

Hark, what peaceful music rings;

Where the flock, in Thee confiding,

Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure;

Theirs is wisdom’s holiest treasure.

Thou dost ever lead Thine own

In the love of joys unknown.

Below are the words written by Martin Jahn, translated into English.

Well for me that I have Jesus,

O how strong I hold to him

that he might refresh my heart,

when sick and sad am I.

Jesus have I, who loves me

and gives to me his own,

ah, therefore I will not leave Jesus,

when I feel my heart is breaking.

Jesus remains my joy,

my heart’s comfort and essence,

Jesus resists all suffering,

He is my life’s strength,

my eye’s desire and sun,

my soul’s love and joy;

so will I not leave Jesus

out of heart and face.

And third; but not least  are the opening stanzas of Jahn’s Jesu, meiner Seelen Wonne.

Jesus, my refuge and deliverer,
Jesus, the ground of my confidence,
Jesus, mighty trampler on the serpent,
Jesus, light of my life!
How my heart longs for you,
dear Jesus, painfully!
Come, ah come, I wait for you,
come,O dearest Jesus!
Jesus, delight of my soul,
Jesus, my best pleasure,
Jesus,my sun of joy,
Jesus, it is well known to you
how I love you from my heart
and am distressed without you.
Therefore O Jesus come to me
and stay with me forever and ever.

Colossians  3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God…¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him….²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

^{Romans 6:4} Therefore we are buried with him by baptism (spiritual baptism) into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin.

⁸ Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

¹⁰ For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

¹¹ Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Isaiah 61:  ¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

¹¹ For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Where can we find the power over sin’s lies and devastating power to destroy, when it is whispering sweetly in our ears to chase after the self centered desires?  Or when in fear we want to lie to protect ourselves?  After all, grace has covered it all; what does it matter just this once?  She/he wronged me; don’t I have the right for righteous anger and revenge?  It is an addiction, I cannot help myself–God will understand because he loves me.  Why didn’t God just stop me from saying those hateful words?  He knew what I was going to do before I did it?  Maybe if no one else knows, it is ok?  Well, the Government wastes the money on evil things; why not cheat on my taxes?  You are a worthless failure anyway, why does it matter?  On and on the lies go.  When Christ died on the cross; he paid the penalty for my sin.  When He arose from the grave, He defeated death and sin.  I, do not have the power on my own to conquer sin; but as I focus upon Him, memorizes His words of truth, cling to His promises of future grace for the next minute of my life—He provides the power.  I am helpless to overcome sin; except through His power.  I need to like David, write God’s words on my heart, that I might not sin against Him.  The only offensive weapon against Satan is the "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"  So, my dear friends, never forsake the Bible that is sitting there on the shelf.  Within these love letters left to you by your creator, you will find strength, hope, abounding joy and the power to overcome sin’s devastating power in your life–one sin at a time, one step at a time by faith in His word; until one day you will stand beside Christ and as a mirror reflecting and magnifying the light, you will reflect and magnify His Glory throughout the heavens. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmwxAI9O7WQ