Building Community of Love & Trust in Prayer. Part 2

This week Adventists around the world continued in the 10-days of prayer, gathering at homes and praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Wednesday night as the church comes together for prayer we focus on one aspect every week.  Earl Biggs led reflections on the first feature of the fruit of Holy Spirit – joy (Galatians 5:22-23).  The fruit of the Spirit is Love, which is: joy, peace …and more.  Joy is listed first.

Usually when people are encouraged to pray in public, requests are more numerous than praises.  We are more aware of our needs than are willing to express our gladness.  Yet, for the redeemed, for those who are saved – the joy of salvation is overflowing.  When you read Habakkuk 3:17-18 it is one’s salvation and not material things that is the source of Joy.  Isaiah 12 – the shortest chapter in this prophetic book – is all about the Joy of Salvation, which is in God who saves. 

So, pause and ask yourself “Am I rejoicing in Salvation I have received from God?  Am I glad and happy being set free, redeemed, liberated, healed, by Christ, the Lord of my Salvation?”  I invite you to think on this, because true religious experience is full of joy!  Real Christianity is all about salvation, freedom, blessings abounding in God, who is the author and doer of our salvation.

Psalmist David in his prayer of repentance says it best (Psalm 51)  ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.  ¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.   ¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Notice what brings the joy of salvation – being restored to righteousness, entering God’s presence, receiving Holy Spirit.  Only then we are ready and fit to evangelize, to share this joy with others, to witness so others may be converted, changed, turned to freedom too!  This liberating Joy of the Lord gives us strength (Nehemiah 8:10)  It is Paul’s personal experience of salvation that gave him joy even in prison, and moved him to write to all believers “Rejoice in the Lord always!” (Philippians 4:4) – not in your possessions, achievements, human relationships, but in the Lord who gives salvation.

Jesus says “I came that your joy may be full” (John 15:11) and he invites us to ask for the Holy Spirit, for our joy may be always full (John 16:24).  Cherish the Joy of Salvation!  May your countenance express gladness that you found Jesus, happiness of relationship with God of the Universe.  And remember that God answers even before you call (Isaiah 65:24), but you must call in prayer to have the answer manifested!