Repeat the Sounding JOY!!

Many years ago, when I was a history teacher at a Christian school, I did an activity with my class that required each of us to come up with a name for ourselves.  This name had to reflect a godly characteristic of our personality or one we desired.  If my memory serves me correctly, the purpose of the activity was to emphasize the importance of the spoken word and our names.  I chose "Mrs. Maintaining-A-Spirit-of-Joy-Wagner".  Whenever we addressed one another in class, we had to use our chosen name. It was an interesting!  I thought that was the name that most reflected my heart's desire at that time.  Fast forward about 18 years. Even today, I want to maintain a spirit of joy. I believe joy is so important to our spiritual life.

Yesterday, I was listening to a new DVD of Christmas music I had just received from a ministry, simply having what I call my praise and worship break.  Then the song Joy to the World came on and it was like I was hearing it in a different way. The words of the song made my eyes well up with tears and my heart overflowed with worship. Here are the lyrics...yes...I know we know them but just read them slowly....ponder them.

JOY to the WORLD
the LORD has COME
let EARTH receive her KING.
LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM

AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing.

JOY to the WORLD
the SAVIOR REIGNS
let men their SONGS employ
while FIELDS and FLOODS, ROCKS, HILLS AND PLAINS
REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding JOY.

NO more let SINS and SORROWS grow
nor THORNS infest the ground
He COMES to make HIS BLESSINGS FLOW
Far AS THE CURSE IS FOUND, far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found.

He rules the world with TRUTH and GRACE
and makes the NATIONS prove  
the GLORIES OF HIS RIGTHEOUSNESS
and WONDERS of HIS LOVE, and wonders of His love, and wonders, and wonders of His love. 

Selah. 

Luke 2:8-14

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the GLORY of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY which will be to ALL PEOPLE.  For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a MULTITUDE of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

As I was worshipping, I just keep hearing in my spirit, repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy.   It was as if I saw a picture of heaven and earth singing, praising God for the joy that had come into the earth through Christ His Son.  Real Joy. Eternal JOY.  The joy that can only come from the Source of Life.  Just think about the fact that ALL of heaven repeats the sounding joy.  All of nature, repeats the sounding joy.. the fields, the floods, the rocks, the hills, the plains...repeat the sounding joy.  This is the joy that Jesus gives us as gifts, His Joy, not just Christmas joy but eternal joy that the world can't take away. Finally, this joy has an expression. It has a sound. It is a joyful praise. It is a joy that can't be silenced. It is joy worth repeating.  Joy worth sharing. JOY JOY JOY.

JOY to the WORLD! Great joy to all people.

May the Presence of the King and His JOY touch your heart and the hearts of those you love  this Christmas...and may we all repeat the sounding joy!




© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles, 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Are You Election Ready?

I am what most would consider a political junky.  During my undergraduate studies I majored in political science and actually studied within a special program for poli-sci majors.  Back then I had it really bad!  Since then I have significantly “turned down” my political volume, but I still enjoy most political news shows.  November has come and gone, but the political volume is still pretty high.  You know the players and the pundits and the non-stop ads and promos. It is all in.  The political "propaganda" is going to get "turned up" as we move into 2016. 

You might be thinking is she going “left” or “right” with this blog.  Neither.  I have some pretty strong convictions when it comes to religion and politics. I don’t care if you are talking the evangelical right or the progressive left.  When it comes to elections, the church can sometimes get its foot stuck in its mouth, just like the political players.  Many believers tend to focus on the conservative political agenda that ascribes strong Christian values.  I am going somewhere, but I am sure it is not where you think. Although, many Christians advocate for specific political agendas and positions, what I believe I heard the Spirit say a few elections ago is that “you can’t legislate righteousness”.  Laws on the books don't change peoples hearts.  If that was the case, the law of God would have changed us, but not so. It took the shed blood of the Lamb of God and the Spirit of God to cleanse our hearts. So maybe there is another position believers should take in response to our advocacy.

Recently I heard in my spirit the phrase, “the office of the believer”.  I have been meditating on it for a few weeks and so I am going to share a few thoughts about it.

There is plenty of discussion in church circles about gifts and offices.  Most believers are familiar with at least a few. Here are some examples: teaching and ministry (motivational-Rom. 8:4-8), word of wisdom or word of knowledge (gifts of the Spirit-I Cor. 12:7-11) apostles and prophets (gifts/offices for ministry to the Body of Christ-Eph. 4:11-12.  However, what about the office of every believer?

I Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Rev. 1: 4-6

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler over the kings of the earth.   To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Rev. 5:9-10

And they sang a new song, saying:

You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on the earth.

As believers, we talk about being “kings and priests” but are we operating as “kings and priests”? In the Old Testament the kings and priests were the offices that were “anointed” by God to perform specific duties and functions. Kings rule with power and priests intercede with authority. There are many leaders in the church ministering about the next move, sharing revelation and a lot of it has to do with prayer. There has to be a move in the church back to prayer. Real prayer. Real intercession.  Real power. Real authority. I think this is why I heard…”the office of the believer.”  Holy Spirit is revealing new kingdom strategies regarding prayer and how to operate as kings and priests after and according to the order of Melchizedek to which the High Priest of our confession belongs. (Hebrews 5: 6,10).

As our Faithful High Priest Jesus Christ has made a new and living way for us to come before the Father…the way is open but that doesn’t mean everyone will come.  Every believer has this position in Christ , but not everyone has the revelation to operate in the office and position as a king and priest before God.

WORD INSIGHT: ELECTION

1. the selection of a person or persons for the office by vote.

2. the act of electing

3. theology. the choice by God of individuals as for a particular work or for favor or salvation.

WORD INSIGHT: OFFICE

1. A position of duty, trust, or authority, especially in the government, a corporation, a society, or the like.

ARE YOU ELECTION READY?

While I was meditating on this I had the distinct impression that there will be more than one type of election in 2016.   There will be political elections in the natural, but there will be spiritual election too. I pray that the church isn’t so focused on the natural election that we miss the spiritual.  There is a great need for us as believers to press into the Kingdom in prayer to receive revelation and strategy for what I call Kingdom administration.  As kings as priests, we have an invitation to operate in Kingdom power and authority.  We can legislate "in the spirit" for the Kingdom of God through prayer, intercession and prophetic decree. However, although the office and position are paid for by the blood of Jesus… a believer has to enter into it through faithful prayer and intimacy with the Father. 


Ephesians 2:10 The Amplified Bible

For we are God's own handiwork, ( His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live). 

We have an office to fulfill as believers. We have works of faith to obediently fulfill that were predestined for us by the foreknowledge of God.  We have prophetic words to speak and to fulfill.  We have Kingdom administration to fulfill as the sons and daughters of God.  The whole earth is in travail awaiting our manifestation. (Romans 8:22)

Look at this portion of scripture from Psalms.

Psalm 149:5-9


Let the saints be joyful in glory: Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment-this honor have all His saints.

Selah.

P.S.  I don't think I am done with this topic.  I am still praying about a lot of this, but if you're interested I have been reading Zechariah specifically looking at chapter 3 and 4.  Joshua the High Priest and Zerubbabel are examples of the combination of the king and priest anointings at work.  

Grace and peace. 

© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles, 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Kelbey Chronicles Volume One is published!

Here is a link to our first devotional. We are eternally grateful for every person who helped to bring this act of obedience to completion.  You are loved and appreciated.  The devotional is a compilation of this blog along with a few additions.  We pray that each person who reads it is encouraged in faith and love. 

Kelbey Chronicles Volume One

Grace and peace

Ronda

Sweetness of the Scroll Recap #2

Here is the second recap for Sweetness of the Scroll.  These are simply thoughts and insights from the weekly Torah portions.  We will continue Sweetness of the Scroll on social podcast media, Spreaker. 

Vayera (And he appeared): Genesis 18:1-22:24

Drop: It is important to have a “tent of meeting” or miskan (tabernacle/sanctuary) to host the Presence of God.

The first verse of this Torah portion (parashat) speaks of the LORD appearing to Abraham in his tent.  In Jewish tradition, Abram is honored for his hospitality demonstrated during this divine encounter.  In the previous chapter of Genesis, you read how Abraham and his whole house had ratified their covenant with Yahweh through circumcision as he was instructed. Abraham may not have even been fully physically healed when “the three men” visited him.  Abraham was in his tent when the LORD appeared. Through scripture we know that the Father has always wanted to have fellowship with man.  First in the garden and now He appears to Abraham and they have fellowship- a “tent of meeting”.  Later, after Israel sinned against the LORD with the golden calf, Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp and he met with God in a tent. (Exodus 33:7).  This became the tabernacle of meeting for Israel. (Exodus 33:7,8).  There the LORD spoke to Moses face to face.

Recently, the movie War Room, emphasized the importance of a consecrated place to meet with God in prayer.  After reading this parashat this truth was established in me in a different way.  Under the new and better covenant we are the tabernacles of the Spirit of God.  We are now the “miskan” and yet I still believe that a place to meet with God is relevant. Most of my time with the Lord is spent in my bedroom, since I don’t have extra space for a war room.  However, since then I have taken a small area of my bedroom (which is a nice size) and set it apart like my own personal tent of meeting. In Jewish tradition, the prayer shawl, or tallit is to serve this same purpose.  We are now the temple of the Living God and as we take time to spend time, consecrated time in a consecrated place I chose to believe that we become His habitation. We will host His Presence in a tangible way. Amen and so be it.

Chayei Sarah (The Life of Sarah): Genesis 23:1-25:18

Drop: We are sent ones, apostles, just like Eliezer sent out by our Lord. Shaliach=sent one (apostle)

My perspective about our gifts from the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit is changing.  Religious circles have taught that these gifts are for the few not the many.  Scripture says it is the traditions of men that make the word of God of no effect.  In this Torah portion is the story of Eliezer, Abraham’s servant finding a wife for Isaac.  Eliezer is sent out as a representative of Abraham’s house, and is given authority to act on Abraham’s behalf.  The Hebrew word used in this account is translated as apostle or sent one. Anyone sent out with authority and a mission is an apostle like the disciples.  Jesus commissioned the disciples and in turn they acted as apostles in their world.  It makes me wonder where would the church be today if believers accepted the original definition of apostle and not the traditional teachings of the past.  Apostles and those being sent out did not stop with the twelve disciples…

The gifts and callings of God are without repentance.  They are not for the elite among us. They are given by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in accordance with His will, yet they are for whosoever will. That means to the one that believes! 

Toldot (Generations): Genesis 25:19-28:9

Drop: Digging Wells... Finding Living Water for the Generations

In this Torah portion, Isaac has an encounter with the LORD after redigging the wells of his Father Abraham.  There are several accounts in Isaac’s life recounted here that remind us of his father, Abraham.  There was a famine, a relocation, a lie and a king name Abimelech.  I think this speaks to how one generation affects another generation either positively or negatively.  However, after Isaac experiences the conflict over the wells and had to keep digging one well after another, then the LORD appeared.  Just when he could have gotten discouraged, the LORD confirmed His promise.  The Father knows when we need to hear from Him.  So after finding and redigging his father’s well and discovering his own well it was as if Isaac established the generational blessing for those coming after him.  He worshipped the LORD at the place where he received his promise.  He pitched a tent. He dug a well.  When we overcome obstacles in our lives through the power of the promise of God, we secure living water for the generations that come after.  We discover the living water by standing in faith against opposing forcing trusting in the One who promised.   Then we can begin to experience the blessing that comes to the generation who chooses to believe and to obey.  Isaac was blessed because he obeyed when the Lord said don’t go down to Egypt. He sowed and received a hundred fold return. He kept digging despite the opposition and loss, then he received, because he waited for the LORD to work on his behalf. His testimony according to King Abimelech…” We have certainly seen the LORD is with you”. 

Vayetze (He went out): Genesis 28:10- 32:2

Drop: Dream Sleep…sleep and dream

In this Torah portion is Jacob’s dream of the ladder to heaven.  Jacob falls asleep and dreams.  Here is dream sleep again! Genesis 28:12 reads, “Then he dreamed, and behold a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven…”  This scripture is referenced often when teaching on prophetic or spiritual encounters.  Remember that Jesus has made a way for us through his own blood on the cross and we have access to the heavenly places.  Now that may seem a little far fetched for some, but I would consider that this is Jacob who is under the old covenant and actually has a few character flaws and he receives a covenant promise through his dream.  The prophet Joel speaks about the outpouring of the Spirit and how dreams and visions will increase.  Don't you want to exercise your faith for more dreams and visions? I do!  If you haven’t been paying attention to your dreams, maybe you should start.  If you haven’t been resting well, rebuke the enemy and press into deep sleep and rest. Let's agree with the Word and believe the Spirit wants to give more dreams and visions to God’s people.  Sweet dreams!

© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles, 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.