Count it all Joy
When things comes after you, don’t get dismayed, James tells us in James 1:2-4
“My brethren, count it all joy, when you fall into divers temptations. Knowing this,
that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work,
that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”. Most people find this hard to
do, but it is a true statement, because we should look at problems as an
opportunity to bring glory to God. Jesus says in John 14:21 “he that has My
commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves Me and he that loves Me shall
be loved of My Father and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him”. When
Jesus manifest Himself, He shows His power. We must look at problems and
circumstances as God sees them. Jesus tells us to speak to the mountain. Jesus
spoke to the storm (Mark 4:35-40) “and the same day, when the even was come,
He said to them, let us pass over to the other side. And when they had sent away
the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with
Him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat
into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship,
asleep on a pillow, and they awake Him, and say to Him, Master, care You not that
we perish? And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace be
still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said to them, why
are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
The key is that Jesus said to them, let us pass over to the other side. Which meant
they were going to make it. He rebuked them because they should have done what
He did. Jesus spoke to a tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21) “and on the morrow, when
they were come from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree afar off
having leaves, He came, if haply He might find anything thereon, and when He
came to it, He found nothing, but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus
answered and said to it, no man eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And His disciples
heard it. And in the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from
the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance said to Him, Master, behold the fig
tree which You cursed is withered away. And Jesus answering said to them, have
faith in God”. This instance is sometimes misunderstood, because verse 13 does
say “for the time of figs was not yet”, however, when the tree has leaves, it is
supposed to have fruit. This tree was being non productive.
The Bible shows us from the beginning in Genesis 1:2-3 how when God saw
darkness, He didn’t speak what He saw, but He said “let there be light, and there
was light”. He spoke what He wanted to see. Romans 4:17 says “even God, who
makes alive the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were”.
We were made in the image and likeness of God. And was gave them dominion
over fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all
the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth (Genesis 1:
26,28). Hannah is a good example of counting it all joy. Hannah was barren and
her adversary provoked her sore, so Hannah prayed to God and vowed a vow, and
said “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and
remember me, and not forget Your handmaid, but will give to Your handmaid, a
man child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall not
razor come upon his head”, she prayed and spoke in heart, only her lips moved,
but her voice was not heard, and Eli the priest though she was drunk (I Samuel 1:9-
14) but as she explained that she was not drunk (verse 15-16), the priest blessed
her and said “go in peace, and the God of Israel grant you your petition that you
have asked of Him”. So the women went her way, and did eat, and her
countenance was no more said (verse 18).
Now this was before she was with her husband. Verse 19-20 says “and they rose
up in the morning early, and worshiped before the Lord Yahweh, and returned and
came to their house to Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord
Yahweh remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass when the time was come
about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name
Samuel, saying because I have asked him of the Lord Yahweh”. She believed she
had received the blessing that the priest spoke over her, and her joy was lifted.
Philippians 4:4,6-7 says “rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice. Be
careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your request be made know to God. And the peace of God, which passes all
understanding, shall keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus”. This is our
promise that we can receive the same joy as Hannah. Psalm 82 witnesses this,
verse 6-8 says “I have said that you are gods, and all of you are children of the
Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like on the princes. Arise, O god,
judge the earth, for you shall inherit all nations”. This is God speaking to us. We
have been given dominion, and even after Adam fell and lost it to satan, Jesus
restored it to us (Luke 10:19) “behold I give to you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means
hurt you”. Now that should make you joyful.
Remember as the Bible says “Jesus said to him, if you can believe, all things are
possible to him that believes”. So regardless to the problems in life, look to Jesus,
and trust that He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us”. This is way we are told what to think
(Philippians 4:8-9) “finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things. Those things you have both learned
and received and heard and seen in me, do and the God of peace shall be with
you”. I heard someone say “when problems and trouble come knocking on your
door, send faith to answer it. Just as Jesus said “it is written” and defeated satan
every time he tried to tempt Him, we are to do likewise. Let us stop looking at the
problems and look at how big our God is.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 27, 2007
When things comes after you, don’t get dismayed, James tells us in James 1:2-4
“My brethren, count it all joy, when you fall into divers temptations. Knowing this,
that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work,
that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”. Most people find this hard to
do, but it is a true statement, because we should look at problems as an
opportunity to bring glory to God. Jesus says in John 14:21 “he that has My
commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves Me and he that loves Me shall
be loved of My Father and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him”. When
Jesus manifest Himself, He shows His power. We must look at problems and
circumstances as God sees them. Jesus tells us to speak to the mountain. Jesus
spoke to the storm (Mark 4:35-40) “and the same day, when the even was come,
He said to them, let us pass over to the other side. And when they had sent away
the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with
Him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat
into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship,
asleep on a pillow, and they awake Him, and say to Him, Master, care You not that
we perish? And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace be
still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And He said to them, why
are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
The key is that Jesus said to them, let us pass over to the other side. Which meant
they were going to make it. He rebuked them because they should have done what
He did. Jesus spoke to a tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21) “and on the morrow, when
they were come from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree afar off
having leaves, He came, if haply He might find anything thereon, and when He
came to it, He found nothing, but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus
answered and said to it, no man eat fruit of you hereafter forever. And His disciples
heard it. And in the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from
the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance said to Him, Master, behold the fig
tree which You cursed is withered away. And Jesus answering said to them, have
faith in God”. This instance is sometimes misunderstood, because verse 13 does
say “for the time of figs was not yet”, however, when the tree has leaves, it is
supposed to have fruit. This tree was being non productive.
The Bible shows us from the beginning in Genesis 1:2-3 how when God saw
darkness, He didn’t speak what He saw, but He said “let there be light, and there
was light”. He spoke what He wanted to see. Romans 4:17 says “even God, who
makes alive the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were”.
We were made in the image and likeness of God. And was gave them dominion
over fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all
the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth (Genesis 1:
26,28). Hannah is a good example of counting it all joy. Hannah was barren and
her adversary provoked her sore, so Hannah prayed to God and vowed a vow, and
said “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid and
remember me, and not forget Your handmaid, but will give to Your handmaid, a
man child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall not
razor come upon his head”, she prayed and spoke in heart, only her lips moved,
but her voice was not heard, and Eli the priest though she was drunk (I Samuel 1:9-
14) but as she explained that she was not drunk (verse 15-16), the priest blessed
her and said “go in peace, and the God of Israel grant you your petition that you
have asked of Him”. So the women went her way, and did eat, and her
countenance was no more said (verse 18).
Now this was before she was with her husband. Verse 19-20 says “and they rose
up in the morning early, and worshiped before the Lord Yahweh, and returned and
came to their house to Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord
Yahweh remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass when the time was come
about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name
Samuel, saying because I have asked him of the Lord Yahweh”. She believed she
had received the blessing that the priest spoke over her, and her joy was lifted.
Philippians 4:4,6-7 says “rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice. Be
careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your request be made know to God. And the peace of God, which passes all
understanding, shall keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus”. This is our
promise that we can receive the same joy as Hannah. Psalm 82 witnesses this,
verse 6-8 says “I have said that you are gods, and all of you are children of the
Most High. But you shall die like men, and fall like on the princes. Arise, O god,
judge the earth, for you shall inherit all nations”. This is God speaking to us. We
have been given dominion, and even after Adam fell and lost it to satan, Jesus
restored it to us (Luke 10:19) “behold I give to you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means
hurt you”. Now that should make you joyful.
Remember as the Bible says “Jesus said to him, if you can believe, all things are
possible to him that believes”. So regardless to the problems in life, look to Jesus,
and trust that He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us”. This is way we are told what to think
(Philippians 4:8-9) “finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things. Those things you have both learned
and received and heard and seen in me, do and the God of peace shall be with
you”. I heard someone say “when problems and trouble come knocking on your
door, send faith to answer it. Just as Jesus said “it is written” and defeated satan
every time he tried to tempt Him, we are to do likewise. Let us stop looking at the
problems and look at how big our God is.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: March 27, 2007
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