Joy of the Lord by Daniel D. Rodes

Newsletter From: Truth, Light & Life Ministries International

PO Box 70

Mt. Crawford VA 22841

Pastor Daniel D. Rodes

Ph 540-234-9222

Over the years, I have had the privilege of preaching in numerous churches, conventions, minister's meetings, camp meetings and revival meetings. I have noted that many people were sad and their countenance was fallen. I wondered why they were so downcast. On numerous occasions, I asked them, "Why are you so discouraged? Do you have food and sufficient clothing? Do you have a home to live in? Do you have a bed to sleep in? Then why are you so sad?" Some have responded, " I really don't know, I'm just sad." This has been a puzzle to me for years why people do not rejoice when they are so blessed. Those of you which have heard me preach know that I have often spoken on the importance of joy and rejoicing.

Many have lost their Joy
On Sunday evening, February 2, 2003, the Lord gave me a prophetic message for the church of America. He said that love, joy and peace are the fruit of the Spirit and one cannot operate fluently without the other. He explained that joy is what brings love and peace to their fullness. He said, "Many of My people have lost their joy; therefore, they have lost their love and peace. They try to worship Me, but instead of serving the Lord with gladness, they are trying to serve Me with tears of self pity, fear and anxiety. I have pled with My children for years," He said, "to rejoice in the Lord. They rejoice for a little while, but are soon back in the valley of despair." Then He said something that made my heart tremble: "I want you to warn My children that Deuteronomy chapter 28 verses 47 and 48 are about to be fulfilled. If someone does not arise on the scene and appeal to the people that their joy may be restored that they will rejoice over the good things that I have given them, I will have no choice but to turn them over to the enemy as I have promised."

"Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee."

Notice, He said, "because you didn't rejoice in the Lord for the abundance." If we cannot rejoice in the Lord for the abundance now when we have abundance, we will lose it.

Saddest Christians in the world!
I heard the Lord say, "There is no nation in the history of the world that has had such an abundance of food (all kinds of vegetables, fruits, meats, etc.) as the American people have available in their grocery stores and can enjoy the year round. Yet, here is where some of the saddest Christians in the world live." The Lord said, "My wrath is about to be poured out upon My children and I want you to warn them if they can't rejoice now, I have no choice but to turn them over into the hands of the enemy."

I thank God for His mercy that He sent this warning. He said, "This will happen very soon unless My children turn back to Me with rejoicing. (When the Lord says soon, it is not always as quickly as we think.) They are sad all week long and then try to come to church and praise Me, but they are not praising Me from the heart. They are trying to work up some kind of an emotional experience which I cannot accept."

The Lord reminded me that those who do not express their gratitude and praise to Him now will experience hunger and thirst. They will try to quote Bible verses and claim promises that God will meet all their needs, but they do not qualify for those promises to operate in their life because they did not rejoice over the abundance they had received. The Lord doesn't expect us to just say, "Thank you," or, "Lord, I praise you." He expects us to have a lifestyle of praise and thanksgiving flowing from our hearts and not our head or emotions. Paul said he rejoiced even in difficult circumstances, "I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation" (2Corinthians 7:4). The disciples also rejoiced in the midst of persecution, "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41). That's the kind of lifestyle God is looking for. We need to repent of our lack of gratitude and turn to the lord with a heart full of joy and gladness.