Joy Is The Fulfilled Answer

Joy Is The Fulfilled Answer

For the believers, three things are unshakable: righteousness, peace and joy are not based on circumstances (Rom 14:17), since they are in the realm of the Spirit within us (Luke 17:21).

Peace is the result of an answered prayer, but through faith (thanksgiving), you get the result (peace) before the prayer is answered (Phil 4:6-7). If you have peace, you know that you have the answered prayer.

As long as we asked according to His will, we will have the answered prayer (1 John 5:14-15). Since the result is certain, peace is unshakable despite your circumstances.

To have unshakable peace, it is found in His presence.

You keep him in 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. - Isa 26:3

The Bible contains a string of truths. They are often interconnected. For the Scriptures cannot be broken.

Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. - Jn 16:24

Fulfilled answer brings joy. Yet in His presence, there is fullness of joy (John 14:22; Ps 16:11). Do we receive joy when our answer is fulfilled OR do we receive joy despite of circumstances? The answer is Yes.

𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐒 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 of everything we are asking for. His presence is the certainty of answered prayers and fulfilled answers.

His presence is "𝐈 𝐀𝐌" with you. ' "𝐈 𝐀𝐌" your ever-present help in times of need (Ps 46:1).' In other words, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, which are the results of answered prayers and fulfilled answers.

When you receive an answer for your prayer, you receive peace.

When you receive the fulfillment of that answer, you receive joy.

But the GOOD Father does not want your peace and joy to be shaken by the immediate circumstances, so He grants you peace and joy BEFORE Him.

For he who comes to Me must believe that "𝐈 𝐀𝐌"... - Heb 11:6 (pronoun changed for clarity).

The moment when you and I acknowledge His presence, peace and joy are guaranteed in any circumstance.

Financial Retirement

Sometimes we live in our culture for so long that we have confused the Kingdom culture with the worldly culture, and we put our own interpretation into the Word.

In the first world, our confusion is to mix worldly financial wisdom with kingdom financial stewardship. The Bible has never taught on financial retirement the way we are taught by the world. Jesus never mentioned it once. To draw a retirement principle from the book of Proverbs is to put in our own opinion that is rooted in the culture that we live in.

Remember: If your gospel cannot be applied in other countries, like rural areas or developing nations, then it is not the gospel.

As citizens of heaven, our financial "retirement" principle is this:

My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - Phil 4:19

Read also Matthew 6:19-33 and Luke 12:13-34.

"Retirement is not a biblical concept. It is a cultural concept." - Tim Slothower, financial advisor.

P.S: The Levites in Numbers 8 did not retire. They simply had their responsibilities changed to serve elsewhere. It is not a principle for financial retirement anyway.

P.P.S: The book of Proverbs does teach about the wise storing up treasures (Prov 21:20). But since Proverbs is the book of Wisdom, 'treasures' mentioned in the book is often referring to spiritual wisdom (Prov 1:7; 2:1-7; 16:16; Col 2:3; 1 Cor 1:30). Yes, it might be interpreted as storing up money but you will have to deal with Jesus' words.

P.P.S: Jesus taught us not to store up treasures on earth but in heaven. It is not a contradiction since the Word is extremely consistent. He ended with 'where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.' In other words, while there is nothing wrong for you to save up for the future, your idea of financial retirement is not His idea. 'Financial retirement' is not meant for you to enjoy the rest of your life as what the world teaches us. It is meant to be used for others so that you are storing up treasures in heaven (1 Tim 6:17-19). 

In other words, when you store up finances, you are storing up treasures on earth. When you use them for others, you are storing up treasures in heaven.

The heart matters because it's a matter of the heart.