THE RESTORATION OF JOY

WHAT DOES RESTORATION OF JOY MEANS?

To restore means to bring back into a normal or former condition or to recover back to its original form. And indeed the believer who has lost his joy is truly in a sad state. Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Ammon, king of Judah said; “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph. 3:17). Apostle Paul says in his epistle to the Romans: 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Hope and joy go hand in hand. “For You have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

ISAIAH’S THOUGHT ABOUT A RESTORED JOY

One of the most delightful of human emotions is the experience of joy. We have many human reasons for joy- joy in our families, joy in our work, joy in the abundance of food, joy in good health. For the Israelites there was joy in victory over enemies, religious feasts and the return from exile. There was also joy when the Lord’s Temple was built and the laying down of the walls of Jerusalem.  But the epistle of Isaiah, this was a song of Praise for Salvation because their joy was restored back to them in spite God being angry with them. The Lord once again turned away His anger, comforted them and became their strength, their song and their salvation.” Therefore with joy, they will draw water from the wells of salvation.”  (Isa. 12:3).  In another epistle they again experienced the restoration of their joy because of God’s mercy towards them.  Isaiah 35 stands in contrast to Isaiah 34. This chapter opens with a lilt of joy. The Arabah, or desert plain, has burst into bloom; Halleluiah……

Centuries before Moses had warned in Deuteronomy 28:24 of a day when the rain of this land would become “powder and dust” That day came because Israel was disobedience to God; the same manner our disobedience has brought calamities, uncertainties and pandemic in our season today. From this chapter Moses the servant of the Lord through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit from verses one to fourteen talks of the blessings of God that will come and overtake those who are obedience to God’s laws, commandments, and statutes and observe them carefully.   But to the disobedient ones who will not carefully observe His commandments there are fifty two curses that awaits them. Now Israel is restored spiritually, my beloved, let us humble ourselves, pray, seek God and return from our wicked ways and obey God’s commandments; I assure you God is not slack not to forgive us and restore our first joy. And with spiritual restoration comes physical blessings. When judgment is removed, great blessings follow. God has never changed my brethren; He is still the same God who is able to restore what the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25),”So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.” Restoration follows repentance, and restoration is accompanied by joy. And if restoration in the physical realm produces joy, how much greater is the prospect of joy for the one who is restored to God’s full purpose? Water makes a desert rejoice, but response to the Water of Life assures personal usefulness accompanied by joy. The sorrow of fruitlessness is transformed into joy by obedience.

LET’S SEE PAULS THOUGHT ABOUT THE RESTORED JOY

Joy that lodges deep within the human heart is not necessary related to one’s personal circumstances. The early Christians, for example, experienced joy in the midst of persecution and suffering. The ultimate joy the Christian anticipates is the joy of the new heaven and the new earth and the celebration at the wedding feast of the Lamb. Joy permeates this prison letter to Paul, even though he knew that his life could end at any moment. Paul rejoiced whenever Christ was preached, whenever he saw people living in a Christian manner, and whenever he heard good news about the churches. Over and over Paul challenged the Philippians to rejoice because of the incomparable benefits of knowing Jesus- the encouragement, the comfort, and the tender that flows out of an intimate relationship with Jesus. That joy, a joy in spite of difficult circumstances and people and temptations, is ours for the taking today. (Phil. 4:4) “Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I will say rejoice.”  When faced with temptations, trials and tribulations, uncertainties, and challenges of life, my beloved rejoice and in due season if you do not lose hope, your joy will be restored back attached with blessings.  Paul continues that in all the people in the world, 1. Christians have the greatest reasons to be happy, 2. They ought to follow all the examples of Christ and be willing to put aside their own interests in order to meet the needs of others, 3. We should not look back at mistakes that we have made, but keep looking ahead, with our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, 4. The gift of Christ living in our hearts is what we really need to be content, last and not least 5. We can achieve any victory through the strength we receive from Christ.( Phil. 1:4-5,8; 2:2.19: 4:10),”Always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; For God is my witness how great I long for you with the affection of Jesus Christ.;  fulfill joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; But I trust in the Lord to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state; But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at least your care for me has flourished again, though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.” And in (Rom.12:12) he says. “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;” (Rom. 15:13), says “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

WHAT DOES THE PSALMIST HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE RESTORED JOY?

Psalms 51 is a psalm of David regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba the wife of Uriah. This is an important element; the confession of sins, a recognition of the reality of sin and its power and of the need to go to God for forgiveness. The psalmist usually closes this acknowledgement of sin with an assurance of pardon. We too can be sure God will forgive us, if we confess our sins to Him and our joy restored back to us. (Ps. 51: 8, 12),”Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice; Restore to me the joy of Your Salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”  In (Psalms 30:11; 94:19) the Psalmist said, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sack cloth and clothed me with gladness.”; “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delights my soul.”

FINDING JOY IN GOD’S WILL

Joy, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, never stands alone. Among its companions are faith and wisdom. It is always experienced as the result of seeing God at work. Since God’s presence is a place of joy, restoration to its fellowship is attended with joy. And in this passage again joy is preceded by obedience. Having been set apart and sent by the Holy Spirit, Paul and Barnabas were obedient in the ministry God had given them. The Holy Spirit ministered effectively through them and many believed. And the Jews who did not believe were filled with jealousy and immediately reacted by instigating persecution, driving the disciples from their district. It is recorded at this point that the disciples were” filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”(Acts 13:52). Obedience to God’s purpose results in joy that distractors cannot diminish.  Submissive saints today can expect similar joy through obedience to God’s Word and dependence on the Holy Spirit of God.

Beloved brethren, lets join hands together with Nehemiah the  great wall builder, Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz and the Psalmist the son of Jesse ;” Abba Father” ;  Restore to me the joy of Your Salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit; Make me hear Joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice;  For I shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace ; that the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before You, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands:  then I will go my way, eat the fat, drink the sweet and send portions  to those for whom  nothing  is prepared;  for this day is holy to the Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of our Lord has become our strength.”

“Grace to you and Favor from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen, and Amen, and Amen”.