The Kimberly Joy Show – Know Yourself…Be Yourself…Love Yourself – THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW Fridays at 4:15PM & Saturdays at 6PM on Inspiration 1050 AM & 103.1 FM WGRI (Cincinnati) or www.inspiration1050.com

Know Yourself!

On November 11, 2019

KNOW YOURSELF! BE YOURSELF! LOVE YOURSELF!

My personal motto or declaration is “Know yourself! Be yourself! Love yourself!” In other words, know who you are in God! Be who you are unapologetically! And love yourself wholeheartedly!

Why is it important to know who you are in God? He’s your Creator! And who knows you better than your creator? NO ONE! God created you in His image and in His likeness (Genesis 1:26-27) and breathed His breath of life into you (Genesis 2:7). Therefore, only God is able to wake you up every morning. Contrary to what you might have believed in the past, your alarm clock, spouse, child, parent, dog, or even the garbage truck does not have the capability of waking you up! Rather, God is the one who causes you to open your eyes every day.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN GOD?

In order to know who you are in God, you have to know God Himself. How do you learn a person? You get to know someone by spending ample time with that individual. For instance, a husband and wife typically know each other better than anyone else because of the time that is spent with each other. They live together, make decisions together, raise a family together and do almost, if not, everything together!

Like human relationships, you must have a personal relationship with God. In the past, I have been asked about my religion. My reply is, “I don’t have a religion.” Understand that religion is “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.” Although Christianity can be classified as a religion, unlike other belief systems or religions, it involves relationship. In other words, Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship God has established with His children through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

HOW DO I KNOW GOD?

In order for me to know me, I must know God. In order to know God, I must form a relationship with God. In order to form a relationship with God, I must believe in the death, burial and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their disobedience severed the personal connection they once had with God, which affected the rest of the human race. So, when Jesus was crucified on the cross, He served as a mediator between God and anyone who believes in Him. Romans 10:9-10 (New Living Translation) say:

“⁹If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.”

And that’s exactly what I did! I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior which brought me into a right relationship with God. Notice I said a RIGHT relationship because Jesus has made me righteous before God. We have to come to God His way, not our way. Jesus said in John 14:6 (NLT):

“…..I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”

It has to be God’s way because He is God, the Creator, and He holds the world in the palms of His hands. Only God knows His purpose/plans for my life. God says in Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version):

“…..I know the plans I have for you…..plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

WHEN DOES GOD REVEAL HIS PLANS?

God reveals His plans to us little by little as we walk with Him. God never reveals all of His plans at once because we probably wouldn’t be able to handle it. Plus, it builds our faith. II Corinthians 5:7 says that we are to walk/live by faith and not by sight. We are not to live by what we see and understand. We are to live according to what we KNOW about God and the Word of God.

As I’ve come to know God more through my relationship with Him, I’ve come to know me more, as His daughter. What I now know about myself I didn’t always believe. For instance, I didn’t always believe I was beautiful, strong, courageous, talented, or worthy of love. Fortunately, I do now, and that’s because God has never given up on me. God continues to love me and encourage me.

God is doing the same for YOU which is why you are reading this article! So, I encourage you to get to know God and who you are in God, and your life will never be the same!

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

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Knowing Yourself

By Kimberly Joy

On October 1, 2019

In Know Yourself

KNOWING YOURSELF

“Know yourself! Be yourself! Love yourself!”

The above quote has become a personal motto I now live by. However, in this article, I want to focus on the importance of knowing yourself.

Before I can be me and love me, I have to know me, and that takes time. We don’t come out of the womb automatically knowing everything there is to know about ourselves as individuals. We learn as we grow. We discover as we go. We figure out what we like and don’t like, what makes us tick and motivates us. We realize our gifts and specialties.

Again, self-discovery takes time. Early in life we have no clue! Take me, for instance. What did I know about me when I was a little girl?

Well, I knew that…………………………

……….I was the daughter of Bill and Geraldine.

……….I was B.J.’s big sister.

……….I liked watching cartoons like Tom and Jerry, Scooby-Doo, Popeye, and The Flintstones.

……….my favorite TV show was The Brady Bunch.

……….I liked eating hot dogs, pancakes and Count Chocula cereal.

**My brother BJ and me on Easter Sunday in the 80’s**

……….although I was taking piano lessons, I didn’t really like playing the piano.

……….I wanted to be a really good singer like my mom.

……….I was quiet and shy.

……….I was scared—a chicken—a scaredy cat.

……….I was afraid of making mistakes, of being rejected, of being criticized and made fun of.

Those were a few of the things I knew and understood about myself when I was just a child.

However, what I didn’t know at the time was how special I really was. I couldn’t see that I was just as good as any of my classmates and friends. I didn’t realize that I had a specific purpose in life.

BUILD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD

Fortunately, as I began to build a personal relationship with the Lord, He slowly opened my eyes. Psalms 139:14 says that I have been fearfully and wonderfully made by the Almighty God! Sometimes, as humans, we fail to see just how wonderful we really are. God carefully crafted each of us in His own loving hands from the brain, to the eyes, the ears, the nose, the mouth, the neck, the arms, the legs, the hands, the feet, the bones, the veins, the arteries, the blood, the heart, every organ, every cell. The human body is complex, and God did that!

Satan tries to fool us into thinking we are worthless and that our lives are a waste. He wants to convince us to throw in the towel and, worse, kill ourselves! BUT, NO WAY! NO HOW! God says, “I took the time to create you My child into someone special for a special purpose that will bring Me glory. You must get to know Me in order to know what that purpose is and to know the person I’ve created YOU to be!”

As I’ve grown closer to the Lord, I’ve also come to realize that being fearfully and wonderfully made is not just about the physical body, but about the inner man or soul—-mind, will, emotions. Psalms 139:13a (New International Version) says:

“For You created my inmost being…”

God created our inner beings. Therefore, we are unlike any of God’s other creatures. For instance, as humans, we think, rationalize, make judgments, and create. Every invention began in the mind of a human being.

WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE

Whether or not people still believe this theory, once upon a time, some said that humans evolved from apes. Needless to say, that is a lie! We believe the Bible! Genesis 1:26-27 (King James Version) say:

“²⁶And God said, Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

²⁷So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.”

As the verses state, we were created in God’s image to have authority over the animals, NOT to come from any particular animal. Instead, we were created to look and act like God here on earth as He does in Heaven.

God began revealing this truth to me of who I am once I accepted His Son Jesus into my heart. And He will do the same for you! All you have to do is make Jesus your Lord and Savior. Once you receive Him into your heart, get to know the Lord by spending time with Him in worship, in prayer and in reading the scriptures, and allow Him to show you the person You really are.

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

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If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

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Know YOU!

By Kimberly Joy

On September 23, 2019

In Know Yourself

DO YOU KNOW YOU?

For those who may not be aware, I have a weekly radio broadcast entitled The Kimberly Joy Show. I am truly thankful to God that November will mark three years I’ve been on Inspiration 1050 AM and 103.1 FM WGRI in Cincinnati, Ohio!

Every week, since the very first show aired, the radio audience hears my personal declaration: “Know yourself! Be yourself! Love yourself!” It has taken me over 30 years to be able to make that declaration and to make it with confidence. Throughout my life I’ve heard people say, “Love yourself…..Love you…..Be yourself…..Be you!”

The first time I remember being introduced to the notion of loving myself and what that even means was when I heard Whitney Houston sing “The Greatest Love of All”:

“I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be

I decided long ago
Never to walk in anyone’s shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I’ll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can’t take away my dignity

Because the greatest
Love of all is happening to me
I found the greatest
Love of all inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all”

What a beautiful song! However, I just have one argument. I don’t believe loving myself is the GREATEST love of all. GOD’S LOVE is the greatest love of all! I John 4:8b says:

“GOD IS LOVE.”

If it weren’t for God, we wouldn’t even know how to love, let alone how to love ourselves. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the song expressing the importance of self-love.

HOW DO YOU GET TO KNOW YOU?

When I say, “Know yourself! Be yourself! Love yourself,” I say it in that order intentionally. Speaking from personal experience, before I could be me and love me, I had to know me.

Some might believe that you discover who you are as you live life. I would agree with that to a certain extent. For example, there is a woman (let’s call her Bernice) who is a giver. She loves to give to others in need. Bernice discovered this quality about herself early in life. As a child, she was always giving away her toys to other children who didn’t have much. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, her parents would take her and her siblings to a soup kitchen to feed the homeless. She found joy in giving back. So, now as an adult, Bernice continues to give because she is, indeed, a giver.

Needless to say, there’s more to knowing yourself than just living life. Not all experiences are good, and not everything we are taught or shown is healthy or true. For example, there is a young man by the name of Lloyd. Lloyd didn’t have the best upbringing. He was verbally abused by his father. He was told that he was too dumb to graduate from high school and that he would never be successful in life. So, Lloyd grew up believing the words spoken by his father and turned to hustling to make a living. Now, just because Lloyd’s father spoke those ugly words to him didn’t make them true. None of it was true! Unfortunately, Lloyd believed him, without anyone else to teach him differently.

TO KNOW GOD IS TO KNOW YOU

Knowing yourself begins with knowing GOD, the Creator of the universe, the Creator of all mankind, the Creator of every living being, YOUR Creator! And who knows you better than your Creator? After all, God breathed His breath of life into you (Genesis 2:7)!

To know yourself you must know the only true and living God! He is the God of the capital G, not a god made from man’s hands or a god who was once alive and is now dead. He is the Great and Eternal God (Deuteronomy 33:27).

You must get to know the God who was, is, and will always be (Revelation 1:8)! Nobody compares to God! Nobody can stand up against God! Nobody can conquer God! He is GOD, and, again, He knows you better than anyone! So, if you want to know who you really are, get to know God, and He will open your eyes to the truth!

“You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32, New Living Translation)

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

Please follow The Kimberly Joy Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Chosen

By Kimberly Joy

On May 7, 2019

In Being Chosen by God

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: Chosen

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE CHOSEN?

When you hear the word “chosen” what comes to mind? In other words, what does it mean to be “chosen”? According to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, chosen is defined as “elect; carefully selected; marked for favor or special privilege.”

Now, that we know the definition, to whom does the word “chosen” apply?

This word applies to YOU!

Yes, YOU!

It doesn’t matter where you come from, the color of your skin, how much money you make, or if you have a lot of friends or no friends at all, YOU are chosen! I want you to do something—–take a deep breath…..inhale…..exhale. There’s your proof that you are chosen! If you are living and breathing, it’s because God chose to give you life. Your mother didn’t miscarry you. You didn’t die in infancy. You are alive and well because God allowed it.

WHY DID GOD CHOOSE TO GIVE YOU LIFE?

So, why did God choose to give you life? Let’s go back to the beginning. Genesis 1:26-28 (New Living Translation) say:

“²⁶Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’

²⁷So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

²⁸God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'”

Let’s consider what God said about the pioneers of the human race, Adam and Eve. First of all, God created them to look and act like Himself. Secondly, He gave them authority over all creatures, even lions, tigers and bears! Thirdly, God told them to reproduce and birth more humans who were to grow up and repeat the cycle. By doing so, they would prove that God is God and God alone!

WHAT PREVENTS ONE FROM LIVING LIKE GOD?

Living in sin or in disobedience to God prevents one from living like God. However, there’s no need to fret because God has STILL chosen you. Although Adam and Eve disobeyed God and forfeited all the blessings He had given them, God had another plan. Romans 5:15 (NLT) says:

“But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.”

Then Romans 5:18 (NLT) says:

“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.”

So, not only has God chosen to give you life here on earth, He has chosen to give you eternal life. How do I know? You’re reading this article right now. This is not a coincidence. It’s not a mistake. God is speaking to you! God wants you to receive His grace and gift of salvation by believing in His Son Jesus.

God has given each of us free will, so you have the right to ignore this message. However, I pray you don’t. Instead, I pray you freely choose Jesus. But, don’t do it for me. Don’t do it for your family. Don’t do it for the church. Rather, do it for YOU!

Choose Jesus to not only be your Savior, but choose Him to be Lord of your life. Doing things your way is not working. Living in sin is taking a toll on your mental and physical health. As a result, you’re getting tired. And do you know why you’re getting tired? Deep down inside you know God has chosen you. So, I encourage you to stop fighting the inner calling. Instead, surrender your all to the Lord. As II Corinthians 6:2b (King James Version) says:

“…..Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

Please follow The Kimberly Joy Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Today Is a Good Day!

By Kimberly Joy

On April 19, 2019

In Jesus

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: Father, Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY: WHAT DOES GOOD FRIDAY REPRESENT?

Today is a good day! It’s Friday! And it’s not just Friday; it’s Good Friday! Good Friday represents the day Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. Now, it’s not to suggest that this is the actual day He died. It simply represents it!

WHAT WERE JESUS’ FINAL WORDS BEFORE HE DIED?

As was mentioned in the previous article “The Passion of the Christ,” Jesus endured great suffering, more than we could ever fathom, in order for us to be saved from sin and eternal damnation. According to Luke 23:46 (New International Version), His final words were “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” He then breathed His last breath and died.

“Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit!”

While Jesus was on earth, He lived as a man. In other words, although He is divine, He experienced what it’s like to be human. He entered this world by way of a natural birth. He was raised by Mary and her husband Joseph. He ate, slept, cried and got angry. He was lied on, ridiculed, mishandled and abused. Satan even tempted Him, but as Hebrews 4:15 states, Jesus still did not sin.

WHAT HAPPENS TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHEN HE OR SHE DIES?

When an individual dies, there is a separation of the body, soul and spirit. In Genesis 3:19, God told Adam that because he came from the dust, one day he would return to the dust. Ecclesiastes 12:7 (NIV) also says:

“…the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

Then, the soul, which consists of one’s will, mind and emotions experiences eternal life or eternal death. Matthew 10:28 (New Living Translation) states:

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

I share those scriptures to reiterate what happened to Jesus during His last moments on the cross. He left His human body and committed His Spirit back to God. He let go and died.

Jesus’s crucifixion marked the end of His work on earth, and He did a great work! Everything He did serves as examples of what we as believers are to do today. Jesus taught and preached to many. He healed the blind, deaf, mute, crippled and paralyzed. He healed those with incurable diseases and resurrected the dead. He even embraced the poor and castaways.

Missionaries having Bible study in a small village

HOW EXACTLY DID JESUS DIE?

When Jesus was finally arrested, He didn’t put up a fight. Why? He knew it was His time to die. Therefore, as He hung on the cross, He committed His Spirit back to God the Father. In other words, Jesus CHOSE to die in that moment. Men didn’t kill Him. His enemies didn’t take Him out. Satan couldn’t even destroy Jesus.

Our pastor Apostle Ron Banks often states that if any other human being had been beaten the way Jesus was, he or she would have died before going to the cross. In fact, Jesus wasn’t just beaten, He was flogged. In other words, He was beaten with a whip containing sharp pieces of metal. So, every time the whip hit His body, it ripped His flesh. Nevertheless, despite the severe beating, He still didn’t die. Jesus said in John 10:17-18 (NLT):

“…I sacrifice My life so I may take it back again. ¹⁸No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again….”

Just as Jesus gave up His life and committed His Spirit to God, we are to give up our sinful lives and commit our all to God. That is the greatest way in which we can show our appreciation for His sacrifice. Many of us follow rituals during this holiday season. We give up something for Lent. We hold fish frys. We preach “The Seven Last Words of Jesus” on Good Friday. We shop for the perfect Easter outfit. We go to the barber shop and hair salon. We take pictures of our children sitting on the Easter bunny’s lap, give them Easter baskets and let them participate in the annual Easter egg hunt. Finally, we fill up the church pews on Easter Sunday.

Now, I’m not criticizing said rituals. We enjoy them! They bless us! However, what matters most to God is that we surrender our lives to Him and strive daily to please Him. That is THEE greatest way we can say, “Thank You Jesus for sacrificing Your life for mine!”

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

Please follow The Kimberly Joy Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

The Passion of the Christ

By Kimberly Joy

On April 11, 2019

In Jesus

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST: WHY DO WE HONOR JESUS?

Next week, churches everywhere will be celebrating the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Although we, as believers, should praise Him every day for what He has done for us, Easter or, as some Christians like to term it, Resurrection Sunday is a special day to honor Him.

Why do we honor Jesus? He sacrificed His life for us! The word “passion” is often used in reference to the suffering and death of Jesus, which is why award-winning actor Mel Gibson titled his 2004 film The Passion of the Christ.

Many consider this film to be the most accurate portrayal of Jesus’ crucifixion. However, even with the graphic details, we’ll never know just how much pain Jesus experienced in order for us to be saved.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT JESUS’ SUFFERING?

Jesus was betrayed and handed over to His enemies by Judas, one of His very own disciples, for 30 pieces of silver, which would be equivalent to $600 (Matthew 26:15).
When Jesus was arrested, His disciples deserted Him. Even Peter, who had claimed that he would willingly die with Jesus, denied knowing Him on three separate occasions (Mark 14:50; Luke 22:54-62).
At His trial, Jesus was falsely accused, so His enemies could justify executing Him (Matthew 27:11-26).
Jesus was spit in His face (Matthew 26:67).
Jesus was slapped and punched repeatedly (Matthew 26:67).
Jesus was ridiculed, mocked and even cursed (Matthew 27:29).
Jesus was flogged or severely beaten with a leather strap containing bits of sharp metal (John 19:1).
Jesus was stripped of His clothes which were gambled away (Matthew 27:35).
Jesus had a crown of thorns placed on His head (Matthew 27:29).
Jesus was nailed to the cross (Matthew 27:35).
Jesus was pierced in His side as blood and water gushed out (John 19:34).
Jesus was humiliated as He hung on the cross for the public to witness (Matthew 27:37).

DID GOD ABANDON JESUS AS HE HUNG ON THE CROSS?

According to Matthew 27:46 (King James Version), during the crucifixion around three o’clock in the afternoon, in the midst of His agonizing pain, Jesus cried out as loud as He could:

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

But, wait! There’s one problem! Abandoning His only begotten Son doesn’t sound like God!!!! After all, Deuteronomy 31:6 (KJV) says:

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

King David also declared in Psalms 23:1 (KJV):

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Then in verse four he said:

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”

The scriptures don’t lie! God is omnipresent! God was there! Nevertheless, in those final hours, Jesus, who was in a fleshly body capable of experiencing pain and suffering, felt abandoned.

Have you ever felt like God had abandoned you? That He wasn’t listening? That He didn’t care about your suffering?

Well, that’s how the man Jesus felt! Prior to this moment, Jesus always declared, “I and My Father are one,” (John 10:30, KJV). Jesus only spoke what His Father told Him to speak. Not once did He disobey Him. He always found time to get alone and pray. Everything Jesus did was to glorify God because They are one! They are in sync! But now, He didn’t feel in sync with the Father.

WHY DIDN’T GOD RESPOND TO JESUS WHILE HE WAS ON THE CROSS?

In those final hours on the cross, God the Father didn’t respond to Jesus. He didn’t comfort Him. He didn’t give Him medicine to ease His pain. He didn’t swoop down to rescue Jesus. He didn’t even whisper words of comfort in His ear. “I’m here Son! I’m here!”

Jesus had to fulfill God’s divine plan. He had to endure the suffering for a crime He did NOT commit! He had to sacrifice His life for us and for those who were crucifying, mocking, beating, spitting on, and cursing Him. He had to serve as our Mediator and Intercessor and stand in the gap for mankind. And this process didn’t involve any short cuts. He realized this when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the garden, He experienced severe mental pain, sadness, and uneasiness. He felt like He was dying. Therefore, He had to pray fervently in order to gain the strength necessary to face the cross.

Jesus suffered for us all, so we might have a chance at eternal life. I include the word “might” because we each have to choose Him. We don’t just choose Him when we first get saved, but EVERY DAY we should choose Jesus. Let’s always choose to follow, obey and honor Him. And why do we honor Jesus again? He chose us!!!

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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A Gospel Legend: The Dr. Bobby Jones Story

By Kimberly Joy

On February 4, 2019

In Black History

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: Dr. Bobby Jones

A GOSPEL LEGEND

For Black History Month, it is important that I use my platform to honor African-Americans who have paved and are, yet, paving the way for others. Since we, as a people, were oppressed for so long, and are still facing challenges today, I want to, not only honor our pioneers, but inspire those who are reading this article.

As my first Black History Month tribute for 2019, I want to honor a Gospel legend who has opened doors and provided a platform for many Gospel artists.

THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND

Dr. Bobby Jones was born to Jim and Augusta Jones on September 18, 1938, in Henry County, Tennessee. Growing up in a poor, rural community, he sang in the church choir. With big dreams, he excelled academically and graduated from high school at the young age of 15. As soon as he could, he moved to Nashville where he taught himself how to play the piano and worked his way through college by playing for churches.

A few years later, Dr. Jones graduated from Tennessee State University, at age 19, with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. He went on to receive a Masters of Education degree from Tennessee State University and a Doctorate of Education degree from Vanderbilt University. He also graduated from Payne’s Theological Seminary with a Doctorate of Theology degree. Dr. Jones became a lifetime member of the historically black fraternity Phi Beta Sigma.

**Dr. Jones began his career as a teacher**

Education was obviously very important to Dr. Jones. He was a teacher for the St. Louis Public Schools from 1959 to 1965, and for the Nashville Metropolitan Schools from 1966 to 1968. He then became a textbook consultant for McGraw-Hill Publishers and taught at Tennessee State University from 1974 to 1986.

BOBBY JONES GOSPEL PREMIERED ON SUNDAY MORNINGS

While teaching, Dr. Jones helped develop the idea for a Black Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. During this time, he introduced the television pilot for what became known as Bobby Jones Gospel. On a shoe-string budget, Bobby Jones Gospel was a local show that featured singers from churches in the region. The show ran in Nashville from 1976 to 1980. Concerning his new show, Dr. Jones said, “I just thought I could do it. I always wanted to, growing up watching Johnny Carson and all those guys.”

Dr. Jones also created, produced, and hosted Bobby Jones’ World, a magazine-style show that ran from 1978 to 1984. Fortunately, his dream of having a national show came to life in 1980, when he got a call from Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, better known as BET. Bobby Jones Gospel premiered on Sunday mornings in January 1980, and quickly became a success.

**Early days of** **Bobby** **Jones** **Gospel**

Bobby Jones Gospel helped launch the careers of many Gospel artists. Record labels viewed the show as a vehicle to get new singers and choirs in the spotlight. Often referred to as the “Ed Sullivan” of Gospel music, Dr. Jones welcomed everyone to the Gospel stage, from new artists to Gospel legends. Singer Yolanda Adams, who is known for blending gospel with smooth jazz and contemporary R&B had this to say about Dr. Jones. “He didn’t just…..give me the platform. He also validated what I was doing. He never said, ‘You need to change your look.’ He never said, ‘You need to calm your jazz stuff down,’ because no one was doing that at the time.”

THE HARDEST WORKING MAN

In time, Bobby Jones Gospel, became the highest rated show on BET and the longest running show in the history of cable television. During the show’s 35 years on the air, Dr. Jones kept busy with other projects. Some of these projects include, but are not limited to, Video Gospel, Bobby Jones Gospel Classics, Bobby Jones Presents, Let’s Talk Church, and Bobby Jones Next Generation. In addition, Dr. Jones has earned numerous awards including, Dove awards, Grammy awards, Stellar awards, and Trumpet awards.

**Dr. Bobby Jones at the Stellar Awards**

After serving viewing audiences all over the world for 35 years, Dr. Jones decided it was time to retire. Some may think the show was cancelled, but on the contrary, it was his decision to bring the show to a close in 2015. The idea of Bobby Jones Gospel no longer appearing on television screens on Sunday mornings was a hard concept to grasp. I, personally, was surprised. Fans even signed a petition for the network to keep the show on the air. Nevertheless, Dr. Jones had made up his mind. He said he was getting older and felt it was time to move on and make room for others. The final episode of Bobby Jones Gospel aired in July 2016.

I share Dr. Bobby Jones’ story because he is a prime example of what happens when you strive diligently for your dreams. Radio personality Tom Joyner was correct when he honored Dr. Jones with the “Hardest Working Man Award” in 2003. After doing this research, I realize there was a lot I didn’t know about Dr. Jones. He has accomplished so much during his 79 years on earth, and I now admire him even more! His story inspires me to work even harder towards those dreams God has placed inside my heart. And I pray his story inspires you to do the same! When we do our part, like Dr. Jones has done, God will do the rest! Colossians 3:23-24 (New International Version) says:

“²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…..²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

To learn more about Dr. Bobby Jones, you may go to: npr.org, thehistorymakers.org, and bobbyjonespresents.com.

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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Be Committed

By Kimberly Joy

On January 22, 2019

In Jesus

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: Commit To Telling Others About Jesus

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE COMMITTED?

God wants us to be committed to Him. In other words, we are to be wholeheartedly dedicated or completely loyal to serving God. In order to be truly committed to God, we must first accept His Son Jesus into our lives. Now, some may ask, “Why do we HAVE to accept Jesus? Why can’t we just bypass that part of the process?” According to the book of Genesis, once Adam and Even disobeyed God, sin, which is defined as wickedness, wrongdoing, or transgression, was then allowed to run rampant. As a result, man became spiritually disconnected from God.

HOW IS JESUS OUR MEDIATOR?

Because of the separation between God and mankind, Jesus had to step in and serve as our Mediator. What is a mediator? I Timothy 2:5-6 (New Living Translation) explain it well. The verses say:

⁵For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. ⁶He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone.

Imagine you are in court to prove your innocence. Jesus is your mediator or defense attorney because you have chosen to repent of your sins and confess Him as your Lord and Savior. He stands before God the Judge, on your behalf, declaring that you are innocent of all charges!

“I find the defendant NOT GUILTY!“

DO YOU HAVE TO BE A PREACHER TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS?

Once we commit to God by accepting Jesus into our lives, God then wants us to commit to telling others about His love and gift of salvation. Just before Jesus left His earthly ministry to ascend back to Heaven to sit on the right hand of God the Father, He said to His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 (King James Version):

¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I know what you’re thinking! You’re not like the men who walked with Jesus. You’re not a preacher, pastor, or prophet. You’re just a regular church-goer. That’s perfectly okay! You don’t have to hold any of those clergical positions. You may not have a church, a television ministry, a radio ministry, or an outreach ministry, but what you do have is a STORY! That’s right! God wants you to tell YOUR STORY!

Tell someone your story

For instance, perhaps you were once addicted to alcohol, drugs, or both, until Jesus saved you and set you free. Maybe you endured abuse while growing up, but Jesus came into your life and healed you mentally and emotionally. There might have been a time in your life when you struggled with suicidal thoughts, like so many people today. Fortunately, by the grace of God, you have been delivered from those ugly thoughts of death and now see yourself through God’s eyes. Perhaps, like me, you used to feel lonely and insecure, but when you put all your trust in Jesus, He turned your life around and gave you a newfound purpose for living!

WHOM DO YOU TELL ABOUT JESUS?

Whatever your story is, God wants you to share it! With whom do you share your story? You share your story with those around you, like family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, classmates, the person you’re sitting next to in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, and SOCIAL MEDIA! Although some use social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter in a negative light, the internet is a perfect tool for spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ! In fact, I personally believe that we, as believers, should focus more on posting the positive, rather than the negative, simply because we should always represent Jesus. Non-believers should be able to recognize that we are Christians by our conversations, behavior, and treatment of others.

People pay attention to what we do, more so than what we say. For example, after accepting Jesus into my life at the age of seven, I strove to live a godly life at a young age amidst peer pressure. I can recall periods in my life when I only listened to Gospel music and carried my Bible in high school. Because of my decision to be devoted to God, I didn’t have many friends, and I even felt alone. I sometimes questioned if being a young Christian was worth sacrificing my social life. Needless to say, I got my answer my senior year of high school. Since it was our final year before venturing into adulthood, it was customary for us to sign each other’s yearbooks. When classmates signed my yearbook, I was amazed at some of their comments! Here’s an example:

“Kim, I really admire you! You never gave into peer pressure. Stay the same. Never change. Keep carrying your Bible and going to church. God bless you!”

I came to realize that those moments of loneliness and feelings of rejection were all worth it, if it meant being an example or role model to someone. I am grateful for my experiences and wouldn’t go back and change a thing!

My aunt, my mother’s eldest sister, Pearlie I. Ealey-Forrest, a.k.a. Aunt Inez, has dedicated her life to telling others about Jesus. She is the author of several books, including Are All of the Children Inside?, a biography of their father Jeremiah Ealey, and God Knows The Way That I Take, a book about her own personal journey. Both books can currently be purchased on amazon.com.

AMAZON.COM

Most recently she has written another book, which I had the pleasure of helping to edit. In the book, she shares her many experiences of leading people to Jesus Christ. Once the book is published, I will encourage everyone to buy it, as well. It provides much needed spiritual enlightenment and inspiration!

BE COMMITTED

In this brand new year, another year God has blessed you to see, I encourage you to be committed, to be wholeheartedly dedicated to God. Be committed to sharing your testimonies with others, so that they too will recognize the goodness of the Lord. Jesus said it best as He delivered His sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:16 (KJV):

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

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I Was Born In Sin

By Kimberly Joy

On January 16, 2019

In Jesus

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW (Commit Your Life to Jesus)

WHY WAS I BORN IN SIN?

(The following passage is an excerpt taken from an upcoming book.)

“…..I stepped into the middle aisle of the sanctuary, as my skinny legs shook like tree limbs on a windy, autumn day, and made my way down to the front. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I just knew HE was calling me…..When I got to the foot of the altar, I knelt down, bowed my head, and folded my hands to pray, just like I always did every night before going to sleep…..[But] Instead [of praying], I just cried. However, it wasn’t my typical cry, the kind that occurs after a spanking or after falling off my bicycle and scraping my knee. These weren’t even tears I mustered up so the adults present would think I was being sincere. These were REAL tears streaming down my little [brown] face. Even though I had been in church from the time I was born and had even been baptized by my great-uncle the late Bishop Timothy Smith, Sr. in the baptismal pool of our family church Mt. Olive Holy Temple, I still had not confessed my sins and accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. It’s not that I was rejecting the King of kings and Lord of lords. My young mind just didn’t understand why I needed Him, until that very moment when He revealed Himself to me….”

The little girl in that story was me! On this particular day, at 7 or 8 years of age, I made the best decision of my life when I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior.

Some, who hear my story, may say I was too young to really know what I was doing. But, I was not too young! As I mentioned in the story, in that moment, Jesus opened my young mind to realize that, I, along with everyone else, was born a sinner. Romans 3:23 (King James Version) says:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…..”

Why are all born in sin? According to the third chapter of Genesis, the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God. When God created Adam, he instructed him not to eat fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He could eat from all the other trees in the Garden of Eden, but he and Eve were to leave that particular tree alone. If they chose to eat from that tree, they would surely die (Genesis 2:17)! Does that mean they would drop dead the moment they took a bite of the fruit? No, rather they would immediately experience a spiritual death and, in time, a physical one. Without God’s grace and mercy, the final result would be eternal destruction or hell. Unfortunately, they allowed Satan, who was speaking through the serpent, to convince them to disobey the voice of God, opening the door for sin to run rampant.

Prior to making this foolish and detrimental choice, Adam and Eve were created as perfect beings. For instance, they were immortal, and with that came perfect health, weight, skin, and hair, along with constant energy. They had no need for clothing because they were unashamed. Moreover, they were the most intelligent creatures alive because God intentionally created them in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). Sadly, they gave all that up for a piece of fruit!

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN GOD CONFRONTED ADAM AND EVE?

What happened when God confronted Adam and Eve about their disobedience? When they ate the forbidden fruit, they immediately felt guilty and used fig leaves to try to cover up the parts of their bodies that gave them the most shame.

Then, when they sensed God looking for them, they did their best to hide from Him. Of course, they soon learned that there is no hiding from the Creator, the One who knows all and sees all! When God finally confronted them about their disobedience, they tried to shift the blame. First, Adam said (Genesis 3:12, New Living Translation):

“It was the woman You gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

When God questioned Eve, she replied (Genesis 3:13, NLT):

“The serpent deceived me. That’s why I ate it.”

What the first couple failed to realize is God doesn’t want to hear our excuses for why we sin and continue to sin. He only wants our confession and repentance.

Continuing with my story……….

“Although no one accompanied me to the altar, I wasn’t left alone for long. My second grade teacher Mrs. Pope soon knelt beside me, put her arm around me and, with tears in her own eyes, led me in what is often termed ‘The Sinner’s Prayer’”……“The Sinner’s Prayer” is inspired by I John 1:9 (KJV), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” and Romans 10:9 (New International Version), “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

WHY DID GOD GIVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON?

Although Adam and Eve messed up, God had another plan! He gave His only begotten Son Jesus (John 3:16) as a living sacrifice to die on our behalf, and three days later He rose again.

So, when we receive Jesus, we are made righteous before God and are guaranteed eternal life once we leave this earth, the way God originally intended.

To begin this brand new year of 2019 on a positive note, I encourage you to repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord. If you already received Jesus, but are not where you used to be spiritually, I encourage you to rededicate your life to Him. Furthermore, don’t just ask Jesus to save you from eternal damnation, but allow Him to be Lord of your life, in control of your life, again the way God originally intended!

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

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Be Strong!

By Kimberly Joy

On December 24, 2018

In Inner Strength

THE KIMBERLY JOY SHOW: WHY BELIEVERS IN CHRIST NEED INNER STRENGTH

WHY DO BELIEVERS IN CHRIST NEED TO BE STRONG?

In the third chapter of Ephesians, Paul prayed inner strength for the Gentiles (non-Jews) who had become believers in Christ. Paul, who was appointed as an apostle of Jesus Christ, knew all too well that inner strength was vital for Christians. During this era, men, like Paul, faced much persecution. Paul detailed some of his suffering in II Corinthians 11:23-27 (New Living Translation):

^“23Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served Him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. ²⁴Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. ²⁶I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.²⁷I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.”

Today, most specifically here in the United States, we, as believers, are not threatened with physical persecution, like the apostle Paul. Nevertheless, we are persecuted. For instance, perhaps you have endured lies, ridicule, and, even, rejection for believing in Jesus. Whatever the case may be, through it all, you must be strong!

HOW DO BELIEVERS WITHSTAND OPPOSING VIEWS?

Besides persecution, we need inner strength to withstand the opposing views of non-believers:

Jesus isn’t real!

Jesus isn’t the Son of God!

Jesus isn’t God!

Jesus was only a prophet!

Jesus didn’t die for our sins!

Jesus didn’t rise from the dead!

If you’re not strong in your faith, you can be easily led astray by those who don’t follow Christ. Therefore, you have to be strengthened daily through prayer, worship, and God’s Word. You will then know how to “[cast] down imaginations, and every high thing that [exalts] itself against the knowledge of God, and [bring] into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,” (II Corinthians 10:5, King James Version). In other words, in time we learn how to dismiss words of doubt from naysayers with God’s Word, just as Jesus did when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4, Mark 1, Luke 4).

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR BELIEVERS?

As Paul prayed inner strength for the Gentile believers, he said in Ephesians 3:16-17, NLT):

“I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”

Once we invite Jesus Christ to live in our hearts, through our faith in Him—believing He died for our sins and rose from the dead—we should also invite the Holy Spirit to fill us. At our church Power and Faith Ministries in Fairifield, Ohio, while we believe in accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, we also believe in being filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, as the believers did on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

Each time we pray in our heavenly language (as we also like to call it since it comes from God), our spirits are strengthened.

In Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT) Paul then said:

“18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

Overtime, we recognize more and more just how great God’s love is, and His love becomes strong in us.

WHY IS LOVE SO IMPORTANT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST?

Love is important in the body of Christ because GOD IS LOVE (I John 4:16). Since God is love, His love strengthens us. Please recognize that it’s GOD’S love we need, not worldly love. What do I mean? Worldly love is conditional, which says, “I love you IF…” On the other hand, the love of God says, “I love you IN SPITE OF….”

If we’re full of GOD, then we’re full of LOVE; if we’re full of LOVE, then we’re full of GOD, thereby being strengthened.

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment by some of the Pharisees or religious leaders in Matthew 22:37b-40 (KJV), He replied:

“37…..Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

When we’re full of love—GOD—we won’t do anything to hurt God and each other.

DO WE LOVE AUTOMATICALLY?

Once we are saved, do we possess unconditional love automatically? No, not necessarily. Thus, we must follow the example of Jesus which is displayed so vividly in the Bible. What was His biggest demonstration of love? Absolutely! His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection! Naturally, we are not expected to follow in His footsteps and sacrifice our lives for all mankind on a rugged cross. Nevertheless, we can show the love of God in other ways. Just as Jesus exemplified, while He lived as a man here on Earth, we can love through our kindness, encouragement, helping hand, generosity, and selfless prayers. In a nutshell, we must CHOOSE to love!

A RECIPE FOR INNER STRENGTH

Again, how do we gain inner strength, so we may be able to stand up against persecution, the views of non-believers, and sin?

Repent of our sins and receive Jesus into our hearts as Savior and Lord
Be filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues
Spend time praying to and worshiping God
Study and obey the Scriptures
Walk in God’s love

THE PRAYER OF SALVATION

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you can do so right now. I then encourage you to find a good Bible-believing church that will help you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Romans 10:9 (New International Version) says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Please pray the following prayer:

Dear Jesus, I come to You confessing I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe You shed Your blood on the cross and died for my sins, were buried and rose again so I could be free! Please forgive me for my sins and the life I have lived. I confess You Jesus as Lord and accept You as my own personal Savior. According to the Word of God, I am now saved! Hallelujah! I AM FREE!

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!!!

If you find value in this article, please share.

To subscribe to The Kimberly Joy Blog and receive new articles by email, please leave your email address in the box marked SUBSCRIBE TO BLOG VIA EMAIL provided at the end of the article.

If you would like to make a donation to help with my mission of spreading spiritual inspiration, you may donate to The Kimberly Joy Show via Cash App, Venmo or paypal.me/thekimberlyjoyshow.

Please follow The Kimberly Joy Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.