FUNCTIONING STEADILY ON CLOUD NINE - PART 3

WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2023

Functioning on cloud nine can be rendered as being expressive of the joy of salvation based on faith principles. For instance, if you have an expectation awaiting manifestation, being on cloud nine will ignite your hopeful aspiration, thereby giving you an inner assurance that your expectations are coming to pass. So the simplicity of the gospel of salvation and its benefits lie in happy and joyful expressions.

Reference: Proverbs 17:22 New Century Version (NCV)

"A happy heart is like good medicine, but a broken spirit drains your strength."

The proof that you sustain an unspeakable joy is that you possess a happy countenance. No one can detect that you have an inner conflict or inner joy except by your countenance. With a dignified and happy outlook, which is not easily angered or irritated, your joy will be evident to all. Now, people can noticeably say, "This born again Christian always looks happy."

When James said, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds", notice that he gave us the reason to be joyful. And the reason has nothing to do with unpleasant experiences that come with trials and persecution. Simply put, trials, afflictions, and predicaments are not a source of unspeakable joy or the reasons to function in perfect happiness, which means that you are not urged to celebrate such plights. So why should you be joyful in trials or tribulation? Let's look at the passage below carefully.

James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (NIV). So what are we to consider pure joy? In the versified statement, notice the subordinate conjunction "because" which is used to explain why pure joy should happen or take place. That which the testing of our faith produces, is perseverance. That means, clinging faithfully to this particular outcome - perseverance - should be considered as pure joy. So be joyful about the end results, or the new version of glory you are about to manifest after the trials. According to James, you've not been informed to be joyful about the unpleasant experiences that accompany the trials.

To instantiate this verity in a simpler way, let me assume that you are expecting a parcel from another country, and you know what will be delivered to you through the parcel...now watch this: No matter the process it will undergo to get to you via post, you will continue to function in a state of peaceful happiness because you'll soon receive it. Why are you overjoyed? You are so, not because of the process of delivery which could keep you waiting, but because you are aware of the good news or reward enclosed in the parcel coming to you. Apparently, focusing on what is coming is what inspires you to be happy or joyful, such that you bear all things happening within the time-frame of the delivery process.

2nd Corinthians 4:17-18 reads, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (KJV). What does this mean in terms of cloud nine? The sense of giving attention to unseen reality, yet to manifest, should be the bedrock on which our joy rests, not the light affliction, which is but for a moment (or things that are seen). Stay tuned for part 4. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Acts 15:3; Romans 14:17; Philippians 4:4; Romans 12:12.

Guided Prayer:

The joy of the Lord is my strength; the glorious possibilities of functioning on cloud nine have been enormous in my life, and it transports me from one level of glory to higher levels, in Jesus' Name, Amen!