STEPHANIE: Hello and welcome to Episode 6, in our series, “Empowered
Through Jesus, Our Living Hope. Today, Apostle Charles will follow up from last
week’s Episode entitled, “Stay in the Game” with God. He will show us how Jesus
empowers us to be victorious while we "Run in God’s River of Joy." This is
Stephanie Wright. Let’s join Apostle Charles for today’s presentation. (End music)
CHARLES: Hello, this is Apostle Charles. We will get started on our
presentation shortly, but before we get started, I have a brief reminder. Our nation, the United States is celebrating Veterans Day.
We are reminded of many veterans who are now disabled. Yet they are still running in their race of life with hopes to be joyful. Please, remember our disabled veterans by supporting your local Disabled American Veterans chapter. We thank God that we are a free people to worship. Now, let’s go into today’s presentation.
Today’s Episode 6, is a follow‑up to last week’s presentation, “Stay in the Game.”
We reflected this spiritual game as our “Olympics of Life.” And as we
participate in our godly Olympics, we should remember what Proverbs chapter 17: verse 22, states:
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” We will expand on this verse later in today’s presentation. But remember, having joyful hearts are like a medicine as we run in God's River of His Holy Spirit.
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STEPHANIE: Hello and welcome to Episode 6, in our series, “Empowered
Through Jesus, Our Living Hope. Today, Apostle Charles will follow up from last
week’s Episode entitled, “Stay in the Game” with God. He will show us how Jesus
empowers us to be victorious while we "Run in God’s River of Joy." This is
Stephanie Wright. Let’s join Apostle Charles for today’s presentation. (End music)
CHARLES: Hello, this is Apostle Charles. We will get started on our
presentation shortly, but before we get started, I have a brief reminder. Our nation, the United States is celebrating Veterans Day.
We are reminded of many veterans who are now disabled. Yet they are still running in their race of life with hopes to be joyful. Please, remember our disabled veterans by supporting your local Disabled American Veterans chapter. We thank God that we are a free people to worship. Now, let’s go into today’s presentation.
Today’s Episode 6, is a follow‑up to last week’s presentation, “Stay in the Game.”
We reflected this spiritual game as our “Olympics of Life.” And as we
participate in our godly Olympics, we should remember what Proverbs chapter 17: verse 22, states:
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” We will expand on this verse later in today’s presentation. But remember, having joyful hearts are like a medicine as we run in God's River of His Holy Spirit.
It is good to have a "belly laugh.” See John chapter 7, verse 38, as a paraphrased prophetic promise from Jesus. Jesus said, " ... out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water." There is a river filled with Jesus’ life giving blood.
As an introductory thought, let’s imagine how various creatures in the earth attempt to survive despite being pursued by predators.
Envision a creature that is not a predator, calmly wading in a river.
Suddenly out of nowhere it is attacked by a ferocious beast who sees him as its
next meal. Yet, the creature being pursued, seemingly mocks this beast, laughs and
taunts him as the creature runs with joy to safety into the deeper parts of the river. This episode teaches us that we can successfully "Run In God’s River of Joy" when being pursued. As we run in God’s river, we can laugh at our enemy during the pursuit.
Recently, I saw a video of a moose being chased in a river by a predatory
wolf. Of course, the wolf was extremely determined to run down, capture, and kill
the moose in hopes of making the moose his next meal. But the moose was
endowed and empowered with longer legs that helped him to stay above water and not drown. Regarding the predator, I recall my wife saying, “Demons can’t swim.” Does that remind you of how Jesus cast demons out of a man and allowed the demons to enter the swine and drown?
But this natural wolf could swim. However, his legs were ill equipped to swim into
deeper water and maintain the pursuit. The moose continued to swim in the river
from the shallow water into the deep. I could only imagine that the moose was
laughing while running through the water. So, let’s “deep dive” into the biblical perspective of this story.
In certain parts of the Book of Isaiah, chapter 40, we are plunged into the spiritual reality of a God given hope. According to Isaiah 40: verse 29, we are told that God gives strength to the weary. He also increases the power of the weak. And in verse 31 (paraphrased), we are reminded that, “Those who wait or wade into God’s waters will have their strength renewed. They will soar on wings like an eagle through God's Holy Spirit waters. And they will run through those waters and not grow weary.”
Have you been wearied by the devil lately, while running? I confess that I have recently felt weary in my running. But I thank God for this video as an allegory of a moose running through waters of “Olympics of its Life.” The moose was determined to “Stay in The Game.”
And as previously stated, I imagine the moose was laughing at the wolf. The wolf could not swim into the deeper waters. The wolf’s legs were too short to overcome the deeper waters. Again, bear with me. If the wolf could cry, I envision this predator running with tears of failure in his eyes.
Indeed, we should be making the devil cry. It shouldn’t be the other way around. Our best weapon of warfare are the rivers of living waters such as prayers out of our mouths. Our warfare weapons are mighty to pull down any stronghold the devil might think he has over us. Review 2 Corinthians chapter 10 as modified verses of 4 & 5. Remember, the knowledge and grace of God, brings into captivity every predatory adverse thought to the obedience of Christ.” So, "Run in God's River of Joy" and stay in the game for your Holy olympian lifestyle.
In Revelation 7:17, God promises that He will guide us to springs of living water
and will wipe away every tear from our eyes, especially those who are pursued by
their enemies. And Revelation 22:1, states, in part: “And He showed me a river of
water of Life.”
No doubt, the moose we referenced earlier, saw the river of living water as a means of escape and salvation from the predator. Do we see God’s River of Life as our
means of escape and salvation? I invite you to jump deeper into God’s River and run. Run for your Salvation in your Olympics of Life. You will be saved when you totally immerse yourself into God’s prepared river where you will find joy and medicinal laughter. Yes, a merry heart doeth good like a medicine."
Are we continuously being pursued by the enemy? Of course, we know we are
being pursued, daily. Otherwise, Jesus would not have told us to deny ourselves,
take up our cross daily, and follow Him. Follow Jesus into the rivers of joy and laughter. Read Luke’s Gospel, chapter 9: verse 23.
And don’t forget that we are more than conquerors. God makes our hearts merry with laughter which is like a medicine to our souls. Remember our primary empowering verse of Proverbs chapter 17:verse 22, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”
A few more points about water. It is believed that water is mentioned a total of 722
times in the Bible. Also, water is mentioned more often than faith, hope, prayer,
and worship. According to Israelite tradition, WATER is referred to as the power
of cleansing. In ancient times and today, water is used universally to help wash
away infirmities like dirt, infection, corruption, and topical diseases which are clearly unfavorable and opposed to the joys of one’s life. If there is no hope of joy, there is no possibility of having joyful laughter. And therefore, there is no spiritual medicine for the believer's emotional and weary souls.
Yes, our souls need healing as we run through God’s saving and healing River of
Life. Ha, ha, ha! And while we are running, we must remember Jesus is Our Living Hope who empowers us. Again remember, Jesus said in John chapter 7: verse 38, “Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." This is the (ESV) or Easy Standard Version. Jesus’ spiritual living waters empower us with Godly expectation of confirmed hope.
And from Isaiah 58:11 (part 3) God promises, “You shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, wherein the waters do not fail." And Isaiah chapter 12: verse 3, as modified, promises we will, “With joy (or laughter), draw living water from wells where living water dwells for your salvation.”
So, let us jump deeper as we run through God's living water to get our Joy back. Let’s keep a Holy laughter within our heart when we get weary. Let us outpace the devil and his demons. Don’t forget, demons can't swim, especially in God’s deeper waters. God will give you strength to not be weary. And Jesus has already prepared this river for our escape!
Therefore, "Run In The River Of God's Joy," daily and always. Amen.
STEPHANIE: Thank you, Apostle Charles and Happy Veteran’s Day to You and
thank you to all of our listeners who are veterans for your service. Please,
remember our disabled veterans by supporting your local Disabled American
Veterans' chapter. God bless you all and have a good rest of your week. And
remember to, “Stay in the Game” as you "Run In God's River Of Joy" with laughter!
Now, stay with us as Apostle Charles closes with prayer and CGM's contact
information.
Closing
CHARLES: If you do not know Jesus as your Empowering Living Hope, please, invite Him into your heart today. Call on him to save your soul to a life that pleases God.
Pray with me.
Holy Father, our God in heaven, we thank you for your Son, Jesus. We’re asking for your continued unfailing love, grace, mercy and strength to be upon your people who “Run In Your River Of Joy.” We desire to grow spiritually in your ordained Olympics of Life as we “Stay In The Game.” We pray for your empowerment and encouragement to finish this race which is set before us. We pray to receive your crown of righteousness, and to hear you say to us, “Well done.” Thank you, Heavenly Father, in Jesus Name. Amen.
Thank you, podcast listeners. And thank you for praying with us to remember to Run In God's River Of Joy as you stay in the game of life!