Oil of Joy



To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, that He may glorified


(Isaiah 61:2,3)


Surprisingly this subject is rather deep. It's not easily to simply explain. The difficultly comes in explaining “mourning.” ( bewail, lament) What does it mean to mourn in Zion? What type of mourning would qualify one for the Oil of Joy? To look at this scripture on the surface or casually one could draw the conclusion joy is for us no matter what has caused us to mourn. It is our position, there is more to this... come with us as we discover the Lord's joy for us. One hindrance to entering into the Lord's joy is our expectation as when we should be allowed to partake of His joy. It does not appear to be a realistic scriptural position to expect the Lord to fill our hearts with joy when are living in willful sin and a generally unrepentant, self serving life. Walk with us as we allow the Spirit of God challenge us, change us and bring us into the “Joy of the Lord.”

False expectations is not a new problem ....Charles Finney, the great evangelist of the 19th Century, recorded such a instance of misguided, self-serving expectations in his memoirs. The text to which Mr. Finney is addressing is Psalms 52:10-13. .......

“I was the guest at that place of a Mr. B---, one of the elders of the church, and the most intimate and influential friend of the minister. One day as I came down from my room, and was going out to call on some inquirers, I met Mr. B----- in the hall; and he said to me, “Mr. Finney, what should you think of a man that was praying week after week for the Holy Spirit, and could get no answer?” I replied that I should think he was praying from false motives. “But from what motives,“ said he, “should a man pray? If he wants to be happy, is that a false motive?” I replied, “Satan might pray with as a good a motive as that; “and then quoted the words of the Psalmist: “Uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” “See!” said I, “the Psalmist did not pray for the Holy Spirit that he might be happy, but that he might be useful, and that sinners might be converted to Christ.” I said this and turned and went immediately out; and he turned very short and went back to his room.

I remained out till dinner time; and when I returned, he met me, and immediately began to confess. “Mr. Finney, “ said he, “ I owe you a confession. I was angry when you said that to me; and I must confess that I hoped I should never see you again. What you said, “ he continued, ”forced the conviction upon me, that I never had been converted, that I never had had any higher motive than a mere selfish desire for my own happiness. I went away,” said he,”after you left the house, and prayed to God to take my life. I could not endure to have it known that I had always been deceived. I have been most intimate with our minister. I have journeyed with him, and slept with him, and conversed with him, and have been more intimate with him than any other member of the church; and yet I saw that I had always been a deceived hypocrite. The mortification was intolerable; and,”said he, “I wanted to die, and prayed the Lord to take my life.: However, he was all broken down then, and from that time became a new man.” 1

1. Memoirs of Charles Finney...3chaper 9 “Return to Evan Mills” pg 112-113



My wife and I cannot express in words adequately the burden of the Word of the Lord. We have greatly anguished in our hearts as to the reality of our own spiritual condition and of our country the United States. We are broken down and undone. Where are we as a people, as a country in the economy of God's Kingdom? What is our true spiritual condition? In a sense, we are, at times mourning over sin.

In the book of Revelations The Lord Jesus address 7 churches one of which is the Laodicean church. It appears to be an indictment to the self-serving, cross-less gospel which permeates much of the American Church. Again I ask you the reader what is it, to which you mourn?



These things says Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

I could wish you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have

become wealthy, and have need of nothing' -and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked

( Revelation 3:14-19 )

Jesus as our example:

..In the Garden Gethsemane..

Jesus was .........Sorrowful (very heavy, distressed: uncertain)



What was the agony and mourning about in the Garden?

...... The conflict between the self- serving flesh and the sacrificial will of the Father.

(Matthew 26:36-42)

..Then of course the end result..

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus,

the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat

down at the right hand of throne of God.

(Hebrews 12:2)





...Some examples where Jesus allowed his servants to enter into the Joy of the Lord....

Parable of the Talents.



His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things,

I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.”

(Matt 25:21,23)

Faithful: trustworthy, sure and true (from the root meaning)..rely( by inward certainty) Have confidence, obey, trust, yield

Good: benefit. From root( valuable or virtuous for appearance or use)





The death of self and reward of eternal life.



Then Jesus said to His disciples, “if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man

if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in

the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

(Matt. 16:24-27)





Loving the Brethren.



As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's

commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My

joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you

love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down

one's love for his friends.

(John 15:9-13)



Father to whom so ever would read this, Lord by your Spirit bring Revelation to their heart. And Lord plant by your Spirit truth in the inward parts, Oh God! Father I pray your joy would be their portion! Father that they would find release in you!! Lord truly you would confirm your word...what is sown in tears would be reaped in joy!! Lord Jesus we ask you to bless this soul and your Glory and your presence fill and touch them now!! In Jesus wonderful name we pray...Amen!!



**Joy: NT cheerfulness , calm delight – gladness**

**Joy: Hebrew OT Gladness, pleasure, mirth, rejoicing, merry**




Mission / Good Tidings / Broken Pieces / Joy
 Set Free /  Eyes to See /  Restoration
Hindrance / Contact us / Home