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JOY.
This is not the temporal material joy that people manifest only when there are material achievements. Every unregenerate heart only rejoices when there is a good job, a new car, a big business deal and financial breakthrough. But spiritual things never really move them. Carnal prophet Jonah was extremely displeased with God when through his preaching, about one hundred and twenty thousand people of Nineve were saved from destruction.
But he was exceedingly glad when God prepared a common gourd to shadow him from the heat of the sun. The spirit given joy is that which says thank you to Jesus in every situation, being fully persuaded that the thought of God for him is for peace and not evil to give him his expected end. The early disciples having been beaten by their religious persecutors did not go about murmuring, grumbling and complaining. They returned home rejoicing, counting themselves worthy to have suffered for their master Jesus. Do you have such joy flowing in your heart?
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PEACE.
Peace is one of the most essential scarce commodity the world at large is seriously looking for today. Organizations like U.N., O.A.U., ECOWAS, E.U. etc. have done their best to bring peace to the world, but all their efforts have proved abortive. Some people thought that peace could be found through the acquiring of much wealth, (money, properties, fame, education etc.) and they set themselves to achieve these material needs at all cost, but many circumstances have proved their theory wrong. Some others felt that the best way to find peace is to give themselves over to the pleasures of life (partying, eating, drinking, smoking and womanizing) and like King Solomon, many have concluded these as vanity of vanities.
The spirit filled heart cannot be moved by circumstances. Jesus said to His followers, “In me you shall have peace, but in the world tribulations, my peace I give unto you not as the world giveth, let not your heart be troubled”.
Peter was kept in the prison by King Herod to be killed the next morning. But he wasn’t troubled. He was enjoying his sleep until mid-night when the angel of God came to free him. Apostle Paul was in a troubled ship with other sailors, while others were panicking and casting their goods into the sea, he was at peace with himself and was rather busy communicating to heaven and eventually received angelic message.
I have peace like a river,
Peace like a river (2x)
In my soul….. (Repeat
