joy

Obadiah Holmes was standing up for what he believed in even though it went against some of the doctrine of the church. He was so convinced that what he knew was right he was jailed and severly whipped. Do you know what you believe, about Jesus and his sacrifice? About the church and its duties, about the law and its power? Obadiah was willing to be punished because his conviction was so strong on Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Read his response and the verse following andask for that type of gentleness and joy that is only experienced in Christ.

"And as the man began to lay the stokes upon my back, I said to the people, though my Flesh should fail, and my Spirit should fail, yet God would not fail; so it pleased the Lord to come in, and so fill my heart and tongue as a vessel full, and with an audible voice I broke forth, praying to the Lord not to lay this Sin to their charge, and telling the people, That now I found he did not fail me, and therefore now I should trust him forever who failed me not; for in truth, as the strokes fell upon me, I had spiritual manifestation o God's presence, as the like thereto I never had, nor felt, nor can with fleshly tongue express, and the outward pain was so removed from me, that indeed I am not able to declare it to you, it was easy to me, that I could bear it,...when he had loosed me from the Post, having joyfulness in my heart, and cheerfulness in my countenance, as the Spectators observed, I told the magistrates you have struck me as with Roses..."

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.