For the Joy Set Before Him

[1LoverofGod]

**Sharing my personal newsletter emailed to me by Jonathan Brenter.

​ View this email in your browser

​

​ For the Joy Set Before Him As we begin 2024, the signs scream with the message that the Tribulation period is rapidly approaching and hence Jesus' appearing, which happens first. If there was ever a time when we as followers of Jesus need to tightly grasp the Bible's promises regarding the joy that lies ahead for us in eternity, this is surely it! I learned the necessity, as well as the value of such an outlook, during a dark time in my life when the Lord impressed upon my heart the words of Hebrews 12:2: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." How did Jesus deal with a the most painful and agonizing time that any human being will ever endure? He focused on the "joy" that lay ahead for Him. Is this not also a pattern we should imitate today? I'm absolutely certain that it is. Our Future Joy The words of Hebrews 12:2 shifted my attention from painful circumstances to the joy that the Bible says will one day be mine because of my glorious inheritance in Christ. Such a focus has repeatedly filled my heart with peace in the midst of much affliction. The truths regarding Jesus' appearing, sadly neglected by so many churches today, are what we as believers so desperately need to hear and hold on to as our world grows more chaotic and violent. Paul sums up the anticipation of all New Testament saints with the words of Philippians 3:20-21: "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." Our future joy consists of seeing Jesus, and more specifically that of meeting Him in the air with immortal bodies like that of Jesus Himself. Amazingly, the news gets even more wonderful for us! Our Glorious Inheritance of a Kingdom Do you know that the New Testament says that as believers we are heirs to a kingdom? It's a promise repeatedly given to us in verses such as Ephesians 1:11-14; Colossians 1;12; 1 Corinthians 15:50; and James 2:5. What's even more remarkable about this kingdom is that we will reign alongside Jesus (Revelation 5:9-10). Paul proclaims we are "fellow heirs with Christ" to it (Romans 8:17). Please know that our current experience in this world is most certainly NOT the promised kingdom nor are we now reigning with Jesus. We look ahead with great joy to this realm precisely because it will be far, far superior to our current experience. In a recent blog post, I demonstrate why today cannot possibly be the fulfillment of Psalm 2 nor that of Revelation 20:1-10. The Apostle Paul tells us that it's impossible to receive our inheritance of a kingdom while we exist in bodies patterned after Adam. The good news is that when Jesus comes for us, He will make us fit for it by giving us immortal bodies just like His (I Corinthians 15:47-55). Such is the nature of our thrilling expectation of the future. There's more good news about what lies ahead for us. When Jesus inherits the nations from His Father (Psalm 2:7-8), wars will cease to exist everywhere in the world (Psalm 46:6-10). What a difference that will make! It will also be a righteous reign (Isaiah 11:3-5; 32:1). Imitating Our Savior We are back to imitating the Lord Jesus as He looked to the joy "set before him" while enduring the agony of the cross. He's our example to follow regardless of the terrors we might see this year, unless Jesus comes for us soon. Hold tightly to the light regarding our future and take time to meditate on what Scripture says about meeting Jesus in the air and the spectacular kingdom we will inherit. Jesus is coming for us soon. Perhaps it will happen today! Our Hereafter Because of our desire for believers to understand the full scope of the over-the-top joy that awaits them in eternity, Terry James and I wrote Hereafter - It's Far Better Than You Can Imagine. In it, we write about our jubilant celebration in Heaven, our rewards for faithful service, and the nature of our reign with Jesus. We also describe our future bliss in the New Jerusalem, our eternal home, based upon what the Bible says about it. The last chapter has twenty-seven frequently asked questions about Heaven with answers, of course. In Hereafter, Terry and I our also share our experiences of how the words of Hebrews 12:1-2 impacted our lives and our hope of eternity. We both learned the necessity of following Jesus' example of looking to the "joy" set before us. My Blog Below are links to a couple of my most recent blog posts. As always, I write with the intent of encouraging believers during these perilous times just as I do with my newsletters. For the Joy mailchi.mp Thanks for subscribing to my newsletter!! Copyright © 2023 Our Journey Home, All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail because you are following Jonathan's blog at Jonathan Brentner. My mailing address is: Jonathanbrentner@yahoo.com

 

[Baby Yoda]

Love all things joy!

 

[Margery]

**Sharing my personal newsletter emailed to me by Jonathan Brenter.

​ View this email in your browser

​

​ For the Joy Set Before Him As we begin 2024, the signs scream with the message that the Tribulation period is rapidly approaching and hence Jesus' appearing, which happens first. If there was ever a time when we as followers of Jesus need to tightly grasp the Bible's promises regarding the joy that lies ahead for us in eternity, this is surely it! I learned the necessity, as well as the value of such an outlook, during a dark time in my life when the Lord impressed upon my heart the words of Hebrews 12:2: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." How did Jesus deal with a the most painful and agonizing time that any human being will ever endure? He focused on the "joy" that lay ahead for Him. Is this not also a pattern we should imitate today? I'm absolutely certain that it is. Our Future Joy The words of Hebrews 12:2 shifted my attention from painful circumstances to the joy that the Bible says will one day be mine because of my glorious inheritance in Christ. Such a focus has repeatedly filled my heart with peace in the midst of much affliction. The truths regarding Jesus' appearing, sadly neglected by so many churches today, are what we as believers so desperately need to hear and hold on to as our world grows more chaotic and violent. Paul sums up the anticipation of all New Testament saints with the words of Philippians 3:20-21: "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." Our future joy consists of seeing Jesus, and more specifically that of meeting Him in the air with immortal bodies like that of Jesus Himself. Amazingly, the news gets even more wonderful for us! Our Glorious Inheritance of a Kingdom Do you know that the New Testament says that as believers we are heirs to a kingdom? It's a promise repeatedly given to us in verses such as Ephesians 1:11-14; Colossians 1;12; 1 Corinthians 15:50; and James 2:5. What's even more remarkable about this kingdom is that we will reign alongside Jesus (Revelation 5:9-10). Paul proclaims we are "fellow heirs with Christ" to it (Romans 8:17). Please know that our current experience in this world is most certainly NOT the promised kingdom nor are we now reigning with Jesus. We look ahead with great joy to this realm precisely because it will be far, far superior to our current experience. In a recent blog post, I demonstrate why today cannot possibly be the fulfillment of Psalm 2 nor that of Revelation 20:1-10. The Apostle Paul tells us that it's impossible to receive our inheritance of a kingdom while we exist in bodies patterned after Adam. The good news is that when Jesus comes for us, He will make us fit for it by giving us immortal bodies just like His (I Corinthians 15:47-55). Such is the nature of our thrilling expectation of the future. There's more good news about what lies ahead for us. When Jesus inherits the nations from His Father (Psalm 2:7-8), wars will cease to exist everywhere in the world (Psalm 46:6-10). What a difference that will make! It will also be a righteous reign (Isaiah 11:3-5; 32:1). Imitating Our Savior We are back to imitating the Lord Jesus as He looked to the joy "set before him" while enduring the agony of the cross. He's our example to follow regardless of the terrors we might see this year, unless Jesus comes for us soon. Hold tightly to the light regarding our future and take time to meditate on what Scripture says about meeting Jesus in the air and the spectacular kingdom we will inherit. Jesus is coming for us soon. Perhaps it will happen today! Our Hereafter Because of our desire for believers to understand the full scope of the over-the-top joy that awaits them in eternity, Terry James and I wrote Hereafter - It's Far Better Than You Can Imagine. In it, we write about our jubilant celebration in Heaven, our rewards for faithful service, and the nature of our reign with Jesus. We also describe our future bliss in the New Jerusalem, our eternal home, based upon what the Bible says about it. The last chapter has twenty-seven frequently asked questions about Heaven with answers, of course. In Hereafter, Terry and I our also share our experiences of how the words of Hebrews 12:1-2 impacted our lives and our hope of eternity. We both learned the necessity of following Jesus' example of looking to the "joy" set before us. My Blog Below are links to a couple of my most recent blog posts. As always, I write with the intent of encouraging believers during these perilous times just as I do with my newsletters. For the Joy mailchi.mp Thanks for subscribing to my newsletter!! Copyright © 2023 Our Journey Home, All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail because you are following Jonathan's blog at Jonathan Brentner. My mailing address is: Jonathanbrentner@yahoo.com

Amen and thank you Rose!