joy

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The Holy Spirit – In The Life Of Christ

The Holy Spirit - In The Life Of Christ2Last message we looked at the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament, and how Jesus had to leave for the Promise of the Holy Spirit to come. We learned that the Holy Spirit “came on” or “filled” individuals in the Old Testament, but it was temporary until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is prominent right from the beginning. The activity of the Holy Spirt is evident at every phase of the life and ministry of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Life
1. Conceives.

In Matthew, after the genealogy list, the Holy Spirit was right there at the conception of Christ in Mary’s womb.

Matthew 1:18 NKJV
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

A clearer understanding of “she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” is found a little further in Scripture.

Matthew 1:20 NKJV
But while he (Joseph) thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

Conceived means form, and another word for conceived is begotten. Begotten means to procreate or generate, to father, to produce (dictionary.com). The Holy Spirit literally was the producer and formed Jesus in Mary’s womb.

What a correlation between Genesis 1:2, and the Spirit hovering over the face of the waters and the conception of Jesus: Both incidences the Holy Spirit was present and very active.

Of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit really shows He is the “executive arm” (Notes on Genesis 1:2 in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible). He brings action. That is just awesome and amazing! He is active always.

2. Baptises.

The Holy Spirit descended and came to rest upon Jesus before His public ministry.

Matthew 3:16 NKJV
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

The word baptized in the original Greek means; “To cover wholly with a fluid” (Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions).

When Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit was present, in fact so present that He came upon Jesus.

In the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions the word, “lighting” upon Jesus literally means: “To come enter” (G2064).

Before Jesus began His public ministry, He was filled with the Spirit of God.

3. Leads.

Matthew 4:1 NKJV
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit

Luke 4:1 NKJV
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”

Mark 1:12 states, “Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.”

The word drove doesn’t imply reluctance on Jesus’ part, rather it was the conviction or urge that Jesus had over how necessary He needed to go. Jesus had to go through the temptations of the devil and defeating them before He stepped out and helped others defeat the enemy in their lives.

How often do we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and we find ourselves right in the middle of a struggle or temptation? We can see this in Jesus’ life when the Spirit led Him into the wilderness after His baptism. For sure we will experience the same thing. The question is how do you respond when you are in the middle of it? In Jesus’ case He combated the enemy with scripture. This is powerful. The Word of God is powerful!

Jesus was full of the Spirit and overcame the enemy! Listening to the Holy Spirit and following His leading will bring VICTORY. You might say, “Pastor Kris, it’s too hard!” “I don’t like what I am going through!” Well neither do I at times, but that is not the time to give up. That is the time to press into the Holy Spirit and He will give you what you need to overcome. Without a hardship you will never experience a victory!

4. Empowers.

Following Jesus’ victory over temptation, Jesus returns to Galilee in the power of the same Spirit.

Luke 4:14 NKJV
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.

The Holy Spirit enabled Jesus to fulfill His ministry. He was now the Spirit-anointed Messiah. Jesus travels to the synagogues and when he comes to the synagogue in Nazareth He was handed the book of Isaiah and reads:

Luke 4:18 – 19 NKJV
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD. (see also Isaiah 61:1 – 2)

Being anointed by the Holy Spirit breaks the yoke of bondage. I have experienced first hand the anointing of God when I speak and I sense the Holy Spirit speaking through me. The words He brings cuts through the flesh right to the spirit of the listener.

I have also experienced when I have walked in my own strength. Walking in the Spirit, and His anointing makes ministry easy. Walking in my own abilities and power makes for one rough service.

The Holy Spirit is just that; Holy. Holy means: sacred, pure, blameless, consecrated, separated, properly revered, worthy of veneration, Godlikeness, God’s innermost nature, set apart for God, reserved for God and His service. Since nothing that is polluted could be holy, purity becomes a big part of holiness. A holy God calls for a holy people (Holy, hagios (hag-ee-oss) Strong’s #40).

We have to understand that the Holy Spirit abides in us. We are the temple of the Holy Ghost.

1 Cor. 6:19 – 20 Amplified Bible
Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

Keep your temple clean and honor the Holy Spirit in all you do and say. You will have such an anointing on your life that will break bondages, empower you for Gods work, and bring favor in your life. Don’t abuse or take for granted what Jesus did on the cross for you.

Anything that Jesus did was lead and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

5. Joy.

The Holy Spirit spreads joy, both to Jesus, the disciples, and the new community.

Luke 10:17 NKJV
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your hame.”

Luke 10:21 NKJV
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

The Spirit was moving in Jesus and the disciples and He gave them joy for the ministry. They rejoiced often seeing the work of the Lord being accomplished.

Luke 24:49 – 53 NKJV
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen

All this said, as we looked at many scriptures last week from the book of John, he speaks of the Holy Spirit as “Comforter” or “Helper.”

John 14:16 Amplified Bible
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

John 14:26 Amplified Bible
But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

We need to understand that the Holy Spirit is our comforter, literally “one called alongside.” He is “another Helper,” namely, one of the same kind as Jesus, and thereby extending the ministry of Jesus to the end of this age.

The Holy Spirit is not necessarily for only predicaments we get ourselves into, but much more because He is there in every facet of life to help and comfort, and strengthen and guides us.

The Father sent the Holy Spirit after Jesus left the earth. The Holy Spirit never draws attention to Himself, nor does He speak in His own authority. Instead, His mission is to glorify Jesus and to declare Christ’s teachings.

John 16:13 – 15 NKJV
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit is with us today! He is available for all to receive as the Promised Gift that Jesus talked about when He left this earth. Are you hungry to receive the Holy Spirit’s infilling? We will look at that next!

Your sister in Christ,
Pastor Kris Belfils
http://www.KrisBelfils.com
http://www.HopeFellowshipSpokane.com
http://www.KrisBelfils.WordPress.com

 

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Fruit of the Spirit – RECAP

Fruit of the Spirit RecapGal. 5:22 NKJV

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

What fruit are you producing? Fruit that looks good on the outside but is really bad on the inside? Fruit that is immature or not ripe? Fruit that is good? People will come and “pick” your fruit.

Immature (not ripe) fruit is thinking you are a wonderful person when in reality you walk immaturely in Christ and expect others to like your fruit. Immature fruit is walking around ignoring issues in your life and expecting good results. It is thinking everyone else is wrong and you are right.

We can really do a world of hurt for others if we don’t take care of any issues in our own life. Issues like; pride, complaining, gossip, un-forgiveness, and so much more, if not dealt with, will produce bitter, unripe, even toxic fruit.

If you want to live like Christ, and have given your heart to Him, there will be times of correction and rebuking. If you are like me, you know in your “knower” that you need to be corrected so that you produce the fruit of the spirit.

God chose us before we were even born. He had a purpose for our lives and that is to bear good fruit.

John 15:16 NASB

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

Love

Love, as a fruit of the Spirit, is a verb. It’s not a feeling, and much like faith, if only expressed in words, it’s essentially meaningless. Though we like to hear the words “I love you” they mean nothing if not accompanied by loving action. Remember actions speak louder then words. Show your love to people with your actions.

1 Jn 4:7 – 8, 16

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. … So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

This simplifies the idea of abiding if we see it as abiding in love because God is love.

Love is from God, we don’t have this kind of love if we don’t know God. If we are abiding in love, keeping it always in the forefront of all our interactions and choices, we are abiding in God.

All that Jesus did was motivated by love. His love for the Father, and His love for others.

This selfless, humble love that washes feet, seeks to build others up, is foreign to the human nature and our culture, but by the example of Christ we can practice this kind of love, and through the power of the Holy Spirit we can achieve this kind of love.

1 Cor. 13: 4

“Love is patient and kind…”

This is the character of God. Patient and kind. Life is hard and we all need a place where we can lick our wounds, be ourselves, rest, and feel safe and cared for. That is what love is supposed to do.

Love makes us feel safe and soothed rather than pressured to perform, or live up to some standard. Love comforts us when we are struggling. Jesus said he will give us rest and peace. We all need to ask ourselves, do the people I love feel soothed by me? Can my loved ones completely let down their guard around me? Are they emotionally safe?

There will be times to love those who are hard to love. Loving people with the love God has given us makes it easy to love others.

1 Cor 13: 7

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

God bears with us, he believes in us, he hopes with us, and he endures our constant disobedience and wandering away from him.

Has God forgiven you of much? Then you should love Him much, and in turn, we should love others much. It is hard to produce any of the fruit of the spirit without love. Love binds all the fruit together.

Joy

Joy is deeper then happiness. Happiness deals with what is happening. Happiness depends on circumstance. Genuine joy, on the other hand does not depend on what’s happening. Joy is an inner sense of well-being that has nothing to do with circumstance. Joy is an inside Job.

God wants to produce the fruit of joy in all of us. Often it comes with trials and struggles. James says to “count it all joy” when we experience trials. Jesus went to the cross with joy. Joy is an inner strength. It is a knowing that God is with you and you can walk through anything that you face because you are not alone.

Too often people try to find false joy. They acquire things thinking that will give them joy (Ron’s uncle). Sometimes people think they have joy when their surroundings and needs are all met. Our surroundings change daily. Other times people place their joy in relationships. This is a big false joy.  People will come and go. They will let you down. They are unstable, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

There are so many lasting things that bring true joy; our salvation, having a grateful heart, and trusting in God are just a few things.

Church remember: Pain, sorrow, trials, and tribulations, are temporary, but Joy is ETERNAL. Happiness is Outside, But Joy is Inside

Allow the fruit of Joy to grow inside of you. Walk in this promise daily. The Joy of the Lord is your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

Peace

Isaiah 26:3 Amplified Bible

“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”

This is how to keep yourself in perfect peace:

  1. Keep your mind stayed on God
  2. Commit yourself to God
  3. Lean on God and hope confidently in Him

Proverbs 3:5 – 6 Amplified Bible

“Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.”

Trying to reason everything out will take your peace away. We will have unanswered questions. Ask God to help you stop reasoning and begin to live by faith, leaning on and trusting in Him and not on your own understanding.

Peace, when your in the Kingdom, is not the absence of conflict, rather its the assurance that in the midst of conflict, the Father has things under control. Learn to have peace with people and peace with yourself.

1 Peter 3:10 – 11 Amplified Bible

“For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good – whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit). Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!]”

Patience

Patience is not an ability to wait. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that manifests while we are waiting. If patience doesn’t manifest in times of waiting, then we see the fruit of impatience.

It doesn’t matter why you are impatient. What matters is how you deal with it. Impatience is a counterfeit fruit. It can look like it is productive, but in reality, it only produces stress and turmoil for you and others. Impatience is very selfish. It only cares about itself.

James 1:4 Amplified Bible

“But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.”

We should rejoice in difficult situations, knowing that through them God tests our faith to bring out patience. Trials do eventually produce patience, but first they bring all kinds of junk to the surface such as pride, anger, rebellion, self-pity, and complaining. We need to face and deal with these ungodly traits before patience can come forth.

Waiting destroys pride. If God gave us everything the minute we wanted it, we would be so proud and haughty, we’d think it was us. We would expect our way always. God makes us wait because He is testing us.

Colossians 3:12 NASB tells us to “put on patience.” That tells me that patience is something that I have to do on purpose. Just because I don’t feel patient doesn’t mean I have to be impatient. We must put on patience.

We can’t expect our clothes to come on our bodies all by themselves. We have to put them on. Likewise, it is the same with patience. We have to choose, to purpose to walk with patience everyday.

Kindness 

Kindness is the quality of being kind. Kindness is being friendly and warm-hearted. It is truly caring about others. It is treating fellow human beings with respect and being beneficial or an asset in someone’s life.

~Pastor Kris Belfils

Kindness goes a long way! People respond positively to kindness. You will win people over with kindness. Love and kindness always go together. Love and Kindness is the opposite of selfishness.

Jesus was motivated by love and kindness. He had compassion on people and moved to heal them. Jesus always receives us and he never rejects us. This character trait is something we need to have in our life. When we show kindness people see we are real and approachable. Kindness builds the Kingdom of God.

Proverbs 20:28 CEB

“Kindness and faithfulness protect the king; he supports his throne by kindness.” 

This shows that if we allow kindness and faithfulness into our lives we will be protected and supported. It is a good foundation to stand on instead of building on a weak foundation of sandy efforts, works, and manipulation.

We are fortified when we are friendly and generous. When we are approachable instead of being an island unto ourselves. People will be strengthened around you and feel secure.

Listen to people. Hear about their life. Don’t be so quick to interrupt and share your needs or something about yourself. People want to know you care about them. Listening is showing kindness.

Kindness costs us something. It costs us our flesh. We die to what we might want to say and change it to be what God wants us to say. We realize what we are thinking will possibly hurt or hinder someone and let it go, and in turn, we say things that build up. This is kindness.

1 Thess. 5:15 Amplified Bible

“See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.”

Goodness

The Greek meaning for goodness is: “Uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness” (Thayer Greek Definitions).

Goodness is the action that kindness brings. Goodness is what God is. God is Good. God can’t be anything else but good. Because He is good, he is waiting and looking for people to be good too.

Isaiah 30:18a Amplified Bible

“And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you.”

Being gracious is being good. This is what God is constantly doing everyday.

Psalm 23:6 NKJV

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Only goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. Only! Nothing bad, nothing negative.

Exodus 33:18 – 19 Amplified Bible

“And Moses said, I beseech You, show me Your glory. And God said, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim My name, The Lord, before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy and loving-kindness on whom I will show mercy and loving-kindness.”

Moses asked to see God’s glory. God said he will make all His goodness pass before him. God’s glory is His goodness. That is such an awesome thought that Moses saw all of God’s goodness pass before him. God’s goodness, His glory, goes before us. When we show goodness we literally are showing God’s glory. We shine when we are good.

Each time you have an opportunity; be good to somebody. Don’t let one occasion pass you by to be good to somebody. If you want to be good to somebody, all you’ve got to do is listen to them.

Forgiving someone is being good to them, and yourself. Forgive people when they don’t deserve it. Before someone stops offending you, you can forgive them.

Remember whenever you are good to someone you shine God’s glory everywhere you go. This takes the pride out of us. We realize we are doing it for God and not our own glory. Shine for the King wherever you go by being good to others.

Faithfulness

A faithful person knows what God has put in their heart, and even though many times they feel like quitting, they don’t give up.

A faithful person is committed to doing whatever God tells them to do no matter what it costs them personally. If you start something, finish it!

A faithful person sees something all the way through to the end. There are so many divorces and so much job-hopping and church-hopping in society today because many people don’t understand what commitment means.

A faithful person understands that no matter where they may go to church they won’t like everything that happens. Stay where God has placed you. The way we grow is to stay planted in one place.

A faithful person arrives at their commitments early or at least on time. A foolish person is constantly late.

A faithful person is someone we can depend on – someone who shows up where they say they will be at the time they say they will be there, someone whom you can count on to do something they say they will do for you. Be a faithful person! Your reputation depends on it!

Too often we start out to do the right thing and then when we don’t get the right response we change and backtrack and do something else.

Galatians 6:9 KJV

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Your faithfulness and stability benefits others. It helps build the Kingdom of God. It brings security in the hearts who are close to you. They know they can count on you.

God never gives up on us, and we should never give up. We especially shouldn’t be the kind of people that give up on something because it is hard.

Don’t expect to be promoted if you are unfaithful. Don’t expect to be promoted if you do what you want to do and not what you committed to do. Bosses, Pastors, Authority figures are looking for faithful people. Being faithful is doing the right thing over and over and over and over and over again.

Gentleness (Humility and meekness)

The word “Gentle” in the Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language: “Mild; meek; soft; bland; not rough, harsh or severe; as a gentle nature, temper or disposition; a tame; peaceable, not wild, turbulent or refractory, soothing, treating with mildness, not violent.”

Are you a gentle person? How do you respond when someone rubs you the wrong way? Are you rough, harsh, or wild in your response or are you meek, humble, and peaceable?

Phil. 4:5 NIV

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

This fruit of gentleness should be seen by the world, Christian and non-Christians alike should see you as a gentle person. Gentleness preserves us and brings peace.

Meekness is not weakness. Meekness requires great strength. What about Jesus? Scripture tells us that he was “led as a lamb to the slaughter” yet cleansed the temple with a whip! Jesus didn’t have to go to the cross. He said, “Don’t you know I can call on a legion of angles and they would deliver me.” But He humbled Himself under the mighty hand of God because He knew that was what God wanted Him to do and what was going to be best for everybody else.

Jesus didn’t use His power to get out of something but humbled Himself to go through something that He thought God wanted Him to go through. It would be like if somebody really did me dirty and it made me mad and I knew I had the ability to get them back but I refused to do that because I knew it wasn’t what God wanted me to do. That’s meekness. When you have the ability to do something but you won’t do it because you don’t believe that is what God wants you to do. Amen!

If you have the authority or ability to get even or hurt the other person who spoke badly about you this is what you need to do: Forgive, pray, and bless (FPB) and allow God to take care of the situation.

Self-Control

1 Timothy 1:7 Amplified Bible

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

The Holy Spirit is not going to ZAP you with self-control, no, it has to be worked out in us. We have to learn to take it as our own and walk in it. It is virtually impossible to show forth the other eight fruit of the Spirit unless we walk in self-control.

How can we remain peaceful in the middle of an upsetting situation unless we exercise self-control?

Self-control allows us to be patient when we feel impatient. You don’t wait to feel patience, but choose to be patient.

How about faithfulness? People commit to do something when they’re in the height of emotions, and then when all the emotional stuff is over, they don’t feel like doing what they said they would do.

How about humility? How can I exercise humility without self-control? You can’t. Remember the “50 Fruits of Pride” we looked at when we were looking at Gentleness?

It takes a willing heart and courage to look at ourselves and see the areas we need to change in, but it is so worth the change. God can trust us with more. Our lives are more organized and blessed. We are not being lead by our emotions.

As we abide in the Vine, we will produce much fruit.

I challenge you to decide right now that you will live the remainder of your life giving glory to God in everything you do. As you make that decision and carry it out in your life, you will find your life to be exceptional beyond anything you could ever have imagined.

Love, joy, peace, faithfulness, kindness, patience, goodness, gentleness, and self-control are the elements that make our lives exceptional; they are a reward in themselves. We were born to display them, and we will never be like Christ or be fulfilled without them.

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

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Fruit of the Spirit – Joy

Joy

Gal. 5:22 Amplified Bible

“But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].”

What is joy and what is joy based on? Joy defined is: “A shout, a proclamation that can manifest in singing. Joy is defined as a triumph, cheerful and a calm delight.”

 Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Definitions: “G5463, A primary verb; to be full of “cheer”, that is, calmly happy or well off.”

Joy is deeper then happiness. Instead of looking to Jesus, people look for JOY anywhere and everywhere else.

Pretty much everybody wants happiness. In fact, people do what they do for the purpose of “finding happiness.” People work hard to buy possessions that can make them happy. They look for happiness in entertainment, hobbies, sports, passions and various addictions, and even another person.

When you consider that happiness seems to be the main goal, it seems surprising that the Bible doesn’t talk much about happiness. But the Bible says a lot about something that is often confused with happiness. The Bible says a lot about JOY. The kind of JOY the Bible talks about goes much deeper than mere happiness.

Happiness deals with what is happening. Happiness depends on circumstance. In fact, for most people happiness is nothing more than a temporary interruption to boredom. We’ve all heard kids complain, “I’m bored.” That means, “I want some happiness, and I’m NOT finding it!”

Genuine joy, on the other hand does not depend on what’s happening. Joy is an inner sense of well-being that has nothing to do with circumstance.  Joy is an inside Job.

The kind of JOY the Bible describes can’t be found in possessions or entertainment or even in looking deeply into your inner self.

 Happiness vs. Joy

Happiness meets surface needs, But Joy meets your deepest needs.

Happiness is like a thermometer, it registers conditions,

Joy is like a Thermostat, it regulates conditions.

Now happiness many times evaporates in suffering,

But Joy frequently intensifies in times of suffering.

Let me give you an example:

Turn with me to James 1:2

James 1:2 NKJV 

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

In other words, when you are in trouble, don’t start crying when things happen, in stead count it as Joy.

The word translated “various” is the Greek word on which our word “polka dot” is based.

It means variegated or diversified. If you look at a dress or garment with lots of polka dots on it, it can be a reminder that we will experience many trials.

Joy is not the natural response to Trouble. How many of you jump and scream with excitement when trouble comes a-knockin’?

Let me tell you something, Trials are meaningless, suffering is senseless and trials are pointless, unless there is some good purpose for them.

God has a goal in mind. God knows what the good purpose is.

Suffering is inevitable. He does not say, “Count it all joy, my brethren, IF you fall into trials,” he says, “Count it all joy WHEN you fall into trials.

What does that mean?

~ It means Trials are not optional.

~ Suffering is a normal part of the process God uses to bring us to glory.

~We are to rule over the trial and not allow the trial to rule over us.

The word “count” in the Greek means: “to lead, that is, command (with official authority); figuratively to deem, that is, consider: – account, (be) chief, count, esteem, governor, judge, have the rule over, suppose, think.”

Far too often we allow the trial to rule over us and it defeats us. We are to count, rule over with authority, any trial that comes our way because we know:

James 1:3 – 4 Amplified Bible

“Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. [with no defects], lacking in nothing.”

God wants to produce patience (fruit of the spirit) and endurance in us. Don’t be a wimp and crumble under trials. Trials will come. But rule over it with joy knowing God is with you and has the answers when we ask for His wisdom.

James 1:5 Amplified Bible

“If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.”

This is how we are to respond in trials. Seek God for wisdom.

Often times we do quit the opposite. We try to acquire our happiness in false joy and end up giving up.

FALSE JOY

1.  Acquiring “things.”

I can have things and enjoy them, but if I don’t have them, I can still enjoy my life. We can desire things, but don’t lust after them. You can have things, but don’t allow things to have you. Lust steals your joy.

Hold everything loosely. Be a steward, not an owner. This is why giving our tithes and offerings are so important. If you can’t give it, then it has got you. That is why God will ask you to give up things that don’t make sense to you.

READ: 1 Tim. 6:6 – 12 

When we were born, we brought nothing into this world, and we can’t take anything out when we die.

My husband’s uncle passed away a few weeks ago. Ron and his brother and Mom and Dad went down to California to see after all the affairs and belongings his uncle had. His uncle had a passion for Nascar racing and throughout the years collected a huge miniature car collection. They lived in a double wide trailer and under the trailer was packed with this collection. They loaded a 20 foot U-Haul truck full of this collection and brought it up to Spokane to sale. It is amazing how we collect things, which brings us temporary happiness at the time, and end up not being able to take any of it with us when we die.

Things will not bring joy, it only brings momentary happiness at the time you purchase it and own it. I know of people who spend their time shopping and acquiring things to fill the void of not having joy.

Some people constantly are consumed with money. They want to get it, save it, or as soon as they get it, they want to spend it.

1 Timothy 6:10 NLT

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”

Any addiction other then God will only bring you false joy. It is temporary and will never last.

God loves to bless His kids, but if you have to have it to be happy, it is wrong.

If you can’t get happy in the valley, you won’t be happy on the mountain top. We say things like… “If this would happen I would be happy!” or “If I had this it would make my life happy.” This is all false Joy. Again, things and possessions are temporary. God, and who He is in our life is permanent.

2.  Surroundings

Your joy shouldn’t be based on your surroundings. Our environment changes constantly. One day we have a job, and the next, it is taken from us. One day you have a beautiful home, and the next a tornado took it away. Our surroundings do not determine our true joy.

Isaiah 54:10 NASB

“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the LORD who has compassion on you.”

Mountains have been shaken and removed, but the promises of God never were broken by any event.

We should be able to give it up and still be happy. Love God and enjoy things and your surroundings, but don’ ever let them get ahead of God.

Matthew Henry Commentary:  “Creature-confidences shall fail; but when our friends fail us, our God does not.” 

3.  Relationships

Basing your joy on people and what they do for you, or who they are in your life is false security. It is a false sense of happiness. It is not their job to keep you happy or content. We don’t want to be dependent on people but on God.

If we put all our hope in people, or a certain person, we will be disappointed. People will let us down. People are not perfect.

2 Timothy 4:16 – 17 ESV

“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”

If we feel we can’t live without a certain person, we have our dependence on them instead of God.

Emotional or Co-Dependency towards an individual is a trap. Yes, people are God’s gift to us, but not to the point they take the place of God in our lives. What I mean is if they are the first thing you think of in the morning and the last thing you think of at night, chances are you are emotionally dependent on them. If you feel like you can’t breathe if you don’t talk to them, you are emotional dependent. Relationships should be healthy.

It is easy to place a person above God. After all they are there in the flesh. But we have to be careful, especially if you are a person who emotionally gets attached to people quickly. God wants that place.

It is time to get happy. It is time to walk in God’s joy He has already given you. Allow this fruit to develop in your life. Don’t prematurely pick this fruit thinking it is ripe. We do this by basing our happiness on people, places, and things.

WHAT BRINGS TRUE JOY?

1.  Salvation

Receiving the salvation God, provided through His Son Jesus Christ, changes our lives forever. We don’t have to spend eternity in Hell where there is torment and constant burning of our flesh. We are free from any bondage sin had on us to live in this world with freedom and joy. We are never alone because God is always with us. We are His. All this should bring joy.

Psalm 51:10 – 12 NKJV

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away form Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” 

Jesus rescued us. No matter what happens in this world, and in our life, we know who we are and where we will spend eternity after we die. We have a reason to get up in the morning because we are valuable and purchased with a great price. We are saved. Salvation is a precious gift that we should cherish every moment of our life. This brings a joy that no one can take away from us. Joy to the world the Lord has come!

2.  A grateful heart 

A grateful heart leads to a place of contentment and joy.

Proverbs 15:13 Amplified Bible

“A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.” 

Proverbs 15:15 Amplified Bible

“All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].”

Proverbs 17:22 Amplified Bible

“A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

We have a choice to be thankful, which gives us a happy heart, or to choose to complain and be ungrateful. Having a grateful heart brings life and joy. Looking at all the bad instead of the good in your life will bring stress, torment, and weariness.

This may sound very simple and even childish, yet most people tend to look at the negative or bad instead of the positive or good in their life. God is good and He has done great things in all of us. Choose to set yourself free with joy and enjoy your life and what God has done for you.

3.  Trusting in God

We can trust God with every part of our life. He will show us the right direction we need to take. He will help us and give us wisdom for our everyday life.

Psalm 16:11 NKJV

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right and are pleasures forevermore.”

This verse sums up. God will show us the right direction we are to take in life. He will be with us constantly, literally face to face. One encounter with God changes our lives forever. But in this case, we are with Him face to face on earth. We are His children and we can come boldly to Him like a child would their parent. No rejection. No fear.

The greatest part of this verse is, “in His presence is fullness of joy.” Not lacking anything. “It is totally full. Not partial joy; not imperfect joy; not joy intermingled with pain and sorrow; not joy which, though in itself real, does not satisfy the desires of the soul, as is the case with much of the happiness which we experience in this life – but joy, full, satisfying, unclouded, un-mingled with anything that would diminish its fulness or its brightness; joy that will not be diminished, as all earthly joys must be, by the feeling that it must soon come to an end.” (Albert Barnes notes on the Bible)

Acknowledging God and knowing He is with us and His presence is there makes us trust Him more and more. It empowers us to live our lives in boldness. It brings such a calm delight within us to know we are not alone.

Romans 15:13 NIV

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Trusting in God fills us with joy and peace. It allows hope to overflow in us and brings such a reassurance that life is good and God is with us. The Holy Spirit fills us with this hope. Wow, what a powerful insight on trusting God!

There are so many verses in the Bible about trusting God and what happens when we do. In the book of Psalms alone you will find over 80 verses on trusting God. Take time to study the Bible on trusting God. It will embed joy deep inside of you that no one or nothing can take away.

Pain, sorrow, trials, and tribulations, are temporary, but Joy is ETERNAL. Happiness is Outside, but Joy is Inside

Allow the fruit of Joy to grow inside of you. Walk in this promise daily. The Joy of the Lord is your strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)

Your Sister,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com

 

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2013 – A New Year For A New You (Part 2 – Obedience Brings Blessing)

2013 - A New Year For A New You (Part 2 - Obedience Brings Blessing)2013 is here! We have walked in it now for several days. There is an expectancy I sense within myself, and so many people I have met. 2013 will be a powerful, abundant year of blessings and breakthroughs. Do you believe it? I sure do.

What are you believing for this year? Allow your faith to arise in your spirit that God will do great things. He is for you! He is on your side!

Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV)

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”

Ephesians 3:20 (Message)

“God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

There are no exceptions to this promise. God can and WILL do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think. Think BIG for this new year. When the dream is bigger then you are, or what you can accomplish, it makes you rely on God and follow His leading.

Let’s be those who dream for the glory of God! I love the Lord so much, and I have seen Him do impossible things that were bigger then my wildest dreams. You see it gives God all the glory when we dream bigger then ourselves. If we only dreamt what we could accomplish on our own, we get the glory because we have fulfilled it with our own strength. When we dream bigger then our abilities, power, or strength God is the only One who can make it happen and therefore He receives the glory when the dream is fulfilled, especially beyond our biggest dreams we have dreamt.

Obedience Brings Blessing

We are successful not because of anything we can do, but because of God’s ability. On our own, we will fail. Everyone of us have weaknesses but when you put God into the equation it always adds up to more! God wants us to succeed. He is for us.

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)

“This Book of the Law shall not depart form your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

This verse shows that we will be successful when you do what the Bible says and obey what it teaches. It’s pretty simple. Actually is not a hardship. God has such basic things we need to follow in His Word for our safety and success.

Obedience use to be a hardship, a dread in my life. I remember when I was a little girl, when my Mom told me to clean my room, I did it with drudgery. I would always say to her; “It’s too hard of work!” I would put a hardship on my Mom just because of my attitude. I found a joy in making my Mom happy when I obeyed her quickly when she told me to do something. This is true with our relationship with God. Often we think it is “too hard of work” to obey the Word of God. Maybe we get rebellious and decide to do our own thing thinking; “Who can tell me what to do?” “I am my own person and I can do what I feel like doing!” Have you ever said or thought those words?

To obey is hard, but we have to obey so many people in our lives. We obey our bosses when they ask us to do something at work. We obey our spouse when they ask us to do something for them. We obey our parents, which there are many promised blessings in God’s Word when we do.

Obedience. Most of the time it is not fun. But I am here to tell you there is a joy in obedience we can have. This joy compels me to obey God all the time, not just when it is convenient, or when it feels good or doesn’t cost me anything. There is joy in obedience and God’s favor follows.

I had a dream the night before I was to write this message. In the dream I was in charge of a group of children. All the children obeyed me except one. He seemed to be disobedient to everything I asked the class to do. I would try everything I knew to get the child to obey and be a part of the class. Still, this child had it in his mind to ignore, or blatantly disregard the rules and choose to be stubborn and self-willed. It caused havoc in the class. Chaos would erupt just because of one child’s disobedience. I was at my wits end when I asked someone from his family for help and insight. They told me to just say, “Do I have to get your Daddy?” When this family member said this, the entire room I was in transformed into a beautiful room, kind of like a living room. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was peace, all chaos was gone. I couldn’t wait to use this new secret on this challenging child. It worked! As soon as he started to act up, I said, “Do I have to get your Daddy?” and immediately he quieted down and listened and obeyed me. From then on the class was productive and in harmony.

This reminds me of our walk with Father God. There is a love that He gives which no one else can ever give, and in turn there is a respect we give Him because He is the ultimate authority and power in our life. Often we live our lives not believing or even ignoring our Father. It is easy because in today’s society there is so much disrespect for parents and for leaders, or presidents, or anyone who has authority over us. Let’s be a people who obey quickly. Let’s be people who realize how Holy God is. If you choose disobedience, it shows you do not have a close relationship with God. Obedience to God shows your love for Him. It shows humility. It speaks clearly that you are not your own, but God’s.

Truth about obedience:

  1. God loves you unconditionally. 

We all make mistakes. Truly the mistake you made is not the issue, as much as, your actions and steps before and after the mistake. God sees you. He sees what you are doing right now. He knows if you will obey Him or not. Still, He loves you with an everlasting love. There is nothing you can or can’t do that will take His love away from you. All that said, remember God will not destroy you if you disobey. He gives us chance after chance to start over.

Romans 8:38 – 39 (NKJV)

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The closer you get to God, the quicker you will obey. God will love us back to Himself. When we realize this, It makes for an easier comeback.

2.  When we obey we are blessed

First, and foremost, we make good decisions when we choose to follow God’s Word. It is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

Psalms 119:105 (NKJV)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Obeying God’s word will help shine light on the next step you should take. We can look to God’s Word for any situation we may be facing in life. God has the answers for us. Are you willing to look?

Second, when we obey God, our life has less trials then one who disobeys and continues to make poor decisions for their life.

Proverbs 4:18 – 19 (The Message)

“The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. But the road of the wrongdoing gets darker and darker – travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.”

I almost titled this message: “Right living = Right Results!” If we choose to live right, and follow God’s word, we will achieve right results in our life. Isn’t it awesome that God gave us His word to help bring right results and success in our lives? This makes me want to obey God even more. It shows His love for us.

Proverbs 3:35 (The Message)

“Wise living gets rewarded with honor; stupid living gets the booby prize.”

I don’t want anything except the very best from God. If my choices of obeying God brings good results, I will all the more obey Him.

3. When we obey God’s word we choose life!

Deuteronomy 30:19 – 20 (NKJV)

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may life; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

We choose good health when we choose to obey God and His word. He is for us and His word has life. God will not lead us astray. No! God’s direction is always the right direction to take. We can trust God with our life. He created us in the first place. Surely the Creator knows what is best for His creation. He has given us a blueprint, a roadmap for our lives with His word if we choose to follow and obey it. We will live a prosperous, productive, successful life when we do.

4.  When we obey it shows we trust God.

What ever happens, whatever you face in 2013 say to yourself: “I trust You, Jesus!” Remind yourself of His power, glory, and love He has for you. This helps trust to build in your heart so you can stand on His principles and His word.

Proverbs 3:5 – 6 (The Message)

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.”

Our own understanding can deceive us at times. God sees all. Trusting our own understanding is like the blind leading the blind. We can’t see beyond where we are at, but God sees the past, present, and future. When we are trusting in our own intellect and knowledge there is no room for faith.

5.  To obey is better then sacrifice.

There is a story of obedience in the Bible that is so true today (Read 1 Samuel 15). Saul was anointed as King over Israel by Samuel. He was given a command to go and attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that they had. They were not to spare anyone or anything (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul went and attacked the Amalekites. He took their king, Agag, but destroyed all the people. Saul and the people also spared the best sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and all that was good and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless was destroyed (1 Samuel 15:9). Then God spoke to Samuel that He regretted setting up Saul as king because he turned his back from following and obeying Him. Samuel grieved all night over this. He left in the morning to meet Saul and it was told him that “Saul went to Carmel, and indeed he set up a monument for himself” (1 Samuel 15:12). Saul sweet talked Samuel saying “Blessed are you of the LORD!” and lied and said he “performed the commandment of the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:13). Samuel asked what was this bleating of the sheep and lowing of the oxen he heard? Saul passed the blame onto the people and said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD you God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed” (1 Samuel 15:15). Samuel told Saul to be quiet and told him what the LORD told him that when Saul was “little in his own eyes” or thought low of himself, God anointed him as king and was the head of Israel. Then the Lord sent him on a mission to go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they were consumed or exterminated. Why did you disobey and take the spoil and do evil in the sight of God (vs. 17)? Saul proceeded to change the command of the Lord and said He did obey God and brought back the king of the Amalekites, Agag, but utterly destroyed the people. Then he passed the blame onto the Israelites, who He was king over, and said they took the plunder the sheep, the oxen and the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal. Then Samuel replied:

1 Samuel 15:22 – 23 (NKJV)

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”

Saul confessed he did sin and disobeyed the commandments of the LORD, and that he feared the people and obeyed them instead. But wanted Samuel to make it all right and sacrifice and worship together. Samuel refused because the LORD rejected him as king and walked away. Saul grabbed and ripped his robe and Samuel said, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you” (1 Samuel 15:28). Even after all this Saul still wanted Samuel to honor him in front of the people. This shows Saul was afraid of man more than God. He wanted man’s approval constantly and at a huge price – losing the kingdom and being king of Israel.

We can learn so much from this story. God wants to see obedience. There is a reason He asks, commands, and states what He wants us to do and how we are to live. God sees everything, we only see what is in front of our eyes.

We can do all these good works, but if we don’t obey God, we are wasting our time and energy. Obedience trumps works. You may say, “Isn’t that the same thing?” No, Works, or trying to be good, is not the same thing as obeying God’s word and following Him. We can still have our own agenda, or our own motives, which very possibly may be selfish. Works will not please God, and will not get you into heaven. Believing in Jesus and receiving Him into your heart is the only way to heaven. When we do this, we start to change from the inside out. Our heart learns and wants to please Him and then our actions will follow. It is not the other way around.

6.  Obey even when you are afraid.

Fear wants you to run and hide. It wants you to please man, or your flesh. God wants you to finish what you started. Our very obedience could be the catalyst to launch us into something new. It could be the very thing that is needed to obtain our promise land!

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

As we read about Saul and his fear of man and how he was seen by them, do you fall into that category? Saul was insecure with who he was. We know this because 1 Samuel 15:17 states: “So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?”

In Saul’s promotion, even when he saw himself as “less-then,” God promoted him to be king. Saul didn’t overcome his insecurities. They actually grew bigger because he was a people pleaser.

Fear of man will paralyze you from being who God created you to be. Fear of man brings bondage. You will never measure up to the expectations of others. It is a never ending battle. I know, as I was trapped in this snare for much of my earlier years. I always wanted people to approve of me. I would do anything to win the favor of others, when I should have been more concerned with God’s favor and walking in obedience to Him.

Fear of any kind is torment. Fear brings present torment concerning future situations that may never happen. God wants to free you from the inside out. Remember that perfect love cast out all fear (1 John 4:18). Love drives out fear. Love makes the insecure, secure.

Ephesians 3:17 (Amplified Bible)

“May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.”

7.  When we obey we have joy!

There is joy in obedience. Why? Because it stems from your love for God. When we love somebody there is joy involved. Love is something you do. Obedience to God is our love in action.

Psalm 84:5 – 7 (TLB)

“Happy are those who are strong in the Lord, who want above all else to follow Your steps. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping it will become a place of springs where pools of blessing and refreshment collect after rains! They will grow constantly in strength.” 

Something happens to the heart of an obedient Christian. It finds a place of contentment and rest. It knows that all things are possible with God. It has stood the test after every trial and circumstance to see that their obedience to God is a safe place to live.

“When we choose the obedient life, we are permitting God to make our lives all He dreamed they would become. We no longer need to ask what God’s will is because we are continually living in His will. Our goal in life is obedience to Him in the midst of each situation.”

Hope MacDonald

Discovering the joy of obedience

I like that quote. It shows we don’t have to strive to know the perfect will of God. The only thing we need to do is live a life of obedience.

What happiness, what joy we can have in obeying God and His Word! There is blessings for those who obey God. 2013 will be a year of promised blessings and much abundance and advancement. Walk in obedience and do not fear for God is with you wherever you go!

From one obedient child to another,

Pastor Kris Belfils

www.krisbelfils.com

www.hopefellowshipspokane.com

www.krisbelfils.wordpress.com