(Our 8-part study with Psalm 104 — including video, audio and notes — is available here)

It seems like such a simple statement to accomplish: “I will be glad in the Lord”, but we know as with every part of God’s word that there is a working and unfolding in the hearts of His children that must happen in order to bring about that gladness or joy in the Lord that we all want to partake of and share with each other, “being affectionately desirous” toward each other, as it says in these verses (1Th_2:8-10):

1Th 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
1Th 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
1Th 2:10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

We are learning that we cannot have His joy in us if our hearts are looking to find our pleasure or joy in the world, and so God’s elect are being dragged out of those things that don’t bring lasting joy, also defined as the pleasures of sin for a season, to be brought to understand His joy, and how we can be “Glad in the Lord” through Christ who is our advocate who will enable us to overcome the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (all that is in the world within us) (1Jn_2:1-2 , 1Jn_2:15-17).

1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

This study focuses on many of the different things that God works in our lives to bring about that gladness and how we come to bless the Lord for his mercy that prevails, as he makes the clouds (the elect of God) his chariot, and he makes his angels spirits, his minsters a flaming fire for our good as well (Rom 8:31). He is doing it all (Php 2:13), and it is all leading to perfection that comes on the third day as Christ described in (Luk 13:32).

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

God’s great power is being used to assure us throughout our lives, which are filled with much tribulation (Act 14:22), that we can be more than conquerors through Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith (Php 1:6 , Heb 12:2); and this is really at the heart and core of this eight part study and the reason we can say “I will be glad in the LORD”.

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

Heb 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.

(Our 8-part study with Psalm 104 — including video, audio and notes — is available here)