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Where Joy Lives

January 3, 2022 by Fritz

Podcast

In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” – Psalm 16:11b

The Jewish King, David, was a passionate man with strong emotions.  Anger, Love, Gladness, Fear.  He was 100% everything he felt.  And Joy was a big part of his life and faith.

Writing to God he said, “in your presence is Joy!”, and “at your right hand is constant and forever joy”.  Term, “at right hand” in ancient times was a special place of honor.  

Jesus, when he arose from the dead, after paying the price for our sins, was seated at God’s right hand.  In fact, many think the 16th Psalm was written about Jesus’ resurrection, from his perspective.

That’s great for Jesus, seated where there is eternal Joy, but what about us?

The Apostle Paul wrote,
"God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" - Ephesians 2:6

How could he say that?  Paul was a logical man, where was the logic in this, we are on this side of eternity.

The thought process is this…  When we give our lives to Christ, he enters us, literally, and we enter him.  Where we go, he is there in us, AND where he is, we are there in him.  The first part is fairly easy to understand, but the second part is also true!

In Christ we live at God’s right hand where Joy is, and, if we let ourselves believe it, we can feel it this side of eternity.

Sometimes, here, we get knocked around a bit and stop feeling very joyful, but that is not where we stay. 

King David wrote 

These things I remember
    as I pour out my soul: 
how I used to go to the house of God
    under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise (Psalm 42:4)

The king was not feeling it, so what did he do?  He gave himself a good talking to!  He told himself this…

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.
    among the festive throng (Psalm 42:11).

Give yourself a good talking to!  Embrace it by faith!

Life is intended to be lived in Joy; it is found in God’s presence.  Surrendering to Jesus put us smack dab in the middle of it.

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Throwback: A Lesson from Hair

December 30, 2021 by Fritz

This week’s throwback Thursday comes from 10 years ago.

A Lesson From Hair

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Sabbath Controversy

December 29, 2021 by Fritz

Christianity began as a movement within the Jewish Faith.  Jesus was a Jew, all the disciples were Jews, all the apostles were Jews, and almost all the miracles Jesus did were to Jewish people, with just a few exceptions

But some of the Jewish believers preached to those who weren’t Jews, and surprise, those people were giving their lives to Christ and experiencing a great revival.

Then came the controversy.

The Bible, in Acts 15, tells of a group of believing Pharisees telling people, especially the non-Jewish converts, they had to get circumcised or they wouldn’t go to heaven.  After all, the Bible commands circumcision; so they weren’t obeying the Scriptures if they didn’t get circumcised, and you can’t go to heaven if you disobey the Bible. 

It’s a bigger controversy than just circumcision, the Bible is full of laws that don’t address faith and daily living; the worship on Saturday, the Sabbath for instance; and Tithing, and not eating Pork, Shrimp, or catfish.

The Jewish Apostles in Jerusalem had to figure this out!  

Their conclusion was, since God saved non-Jewish people before they were circumcised, they didn’t have to get circumcised to be saved and go to Heaven.

This, by the way, is a strong indication salvation is NOT a guess, people can know for sure they are saved or not.  They knew by the movement of the Holy Spirit and a “know so” faith in Christ.

So they sent a letter abroad to the new non-Jewish believers with a list of requirements, and it is a short list:

“be responsible only for these bare necessities: Be careful not to get involved in activities connected with idols; avoid serving food offensive to Jewish Christians (blood, for instance); and guard the morality of sex and marriage. These guidelines are sufficient to keep relations congenial between us. And God be with you!”

Acts 1:29 (Message Bible)

What about circumcision?  Not on the list.

What about Saturday worship? Not on the list.

What about Tithing? Not on the list.

What about eating catfish, shrimp, pork, or a whole host of other things?  Not on the list.

Faith and salvation is about receiving the living Jesus Christ who paid for our sins with his own self-sacrifice. Full surrender to him, what the bible calls letting him live in you and you living in him is the source of life here and on the other side of eternity.

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