The Joy of the Lord
Greetings one and all. 
God is blessing my life in such wonderful ways! Though I am weak, and I fail, and I struggle, he continues to shower his mercy on me. Why he keeps doing it I don’t know, but he does.
Father greatly blessed the message on Sunday, though I did not sense it as I have at other times. I guess God can use you when you don’t realize it. The sermon really spoke to several people in the congregation, particularly the illustration about Eskimos and Wolves. (To find out what it was, you’ll either have to get a time machine and attend church with us last Sunday, or download the sermon notes. 
) For your downloading pleasure, here is Examples from Israel: Part 3.
I was also looking at John 15 today, and saw something I’d never seen before. In verse 11 Jesus says “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” So what things did he say to them so that their joy might be full? Verses 5-10:
“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. 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. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 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.”
So abiding in Christ, keeping (not obeying, but keeping) his commandments is the path to receiving the joy of the Lord. Jesus said it. He spoke those things so that his joy might remain in us and be full. I never saw that connection until today. 
You know, the Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. I think I am beginning to understand why.
About The Author
Preacher Dad
Jarod has been a pastor, construction worker, restaurant manager, ministry administrator, children's story teller, author....in no particular order. At heart he is passionate about the Truth, and has been called to proclaim that Truth from an early age. He is committed to his wife and eight children, and seeks to have a lasting impact upon the future by discipling his family. He blogs at PreacherDad.com on parenting, preparing, and cultural impact.
Click
okay…way cool illustration! Very interesting and goes great with your point. 🙂 Good job buddy!
How are you differentiating between obeying and keeping?
nice sermon, jrod.
Thank you for the chat earlier. As I read through your sermonettes, I can definitely learn from them. As I’ve always said Jarod, I’ve always looked up to you and Matt, so I am taking this opportunity from God and learning from what you are writing. Thank you so much Jarod!
-Mel
So, Jarod. Taking another look at this verse: 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.” Did Jesus then “not obey” his Father’s commandments?? There has to be some correlation between keeping and obeying, if Jesus is our example in this regard. I think saying “(not obeying, but keeping)” may run dangerously close to communicating a cavalere(sp?) attitude toward the importance of walking, as Jesus did, in obedience to the Father.
Lovingly,
Your proud Dad
I think Jarod was bringing up the point that he has made before that keep does not mean obey. Obeying is only part of it. In order to keep the commandments you must also obey them. But keep means more than just obey. I think it would have been more accurate to say “(not JUST obeying but keeping)”. Ok Jarod, go ahead and explain keeping and obeying. Maybe it would work for another post. But then again you have been known for long comments before.
You can explain it better than I can.
I like what you said about abiding in Christ and having His joy in us. Good stuff. See ya later bro.
Obedience comes from keeping. We often read the word “keep” and immediately think “obey”. The NIV even translates that word as “obey” which really messes up the meaning. The word “keep” in Hebrew, Greek, and English, means to observe, to look at intently, to guard. (Basically.) If I say “Would you please keep this pen for me?” I am not saying “Please obey this pen.” The word does not mean that.
Obedience grows out of the keeping. Keeping the commandments does not mean we do not obey them. We certainly do obey them. But how do we obey them? By keeping them. Do you see the difference? Jesus did not say “I want you to obey my commandments.” He said we are to keep them. That means our focus is not on obedience, but on keeping them. (Meditation is a great way to keep them.) The obedience will naturally come, but only as God empowers us to be obedient. He empowers us to be obedient through our relationship with him and our faith in Christ. Our faith, and our relationship with him, grows when we meditate upon his Word. (i.e. Keep the Word.) “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
Matt, you said it pretty well, but that is a little more explanation.