The Lord Jesus Christ was able to endure the cross because joy was set before Him, the prospect of the Bride and Kingdom He was to be given.

We cannot possibly endure our cross except as joy is set before us. This is so important to understand! David set the Lord before him. Because the Lord was at David's right hand he was not moved by his troubles.

We must set the Lord before us. We must set the expectation of joy before us if we are to survive.

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalms 16:11—NIV)

Paul cried from prison, "Rejoice! rejoice! rejoice!" How could Paul obey his own command when he was chained to a soldier? He certainly wasn't having fun. His imprisonment was not pleasurable or enjoyable. But the prospect and presence of joy was set in concrete in his personality.

Joy is one of the nine aspects of the fruit of the Spirit of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy, . . . . (Galatians 5:22,23—NIV)

America of today is not joyous. There is a scandal associated with the highest level of government and the papers are filled with the depressing news of the alleged moral behavior of the President.

I have said before that one of the perils of the end-time will be fretting over the satanic activities that take place. We Christians are not to fret about or dwell on the dung held before us constantly by the media. Satan is having his way with us even when we are not actually participating, just as long as we keep dwelling on the mess and talking about it.

The Apostle commanded us to think about lovely things. This is not just a good idea, it is an apostolic commandment. It will be essential to our survival in the age of moral horrors to keep thinking about that which is good, true, and lovely.

But as I said, today there is a blanket of gloom hovering over the country. People are fascinated and repulsed by what has been uncovered.

You know what I think? Do you remember how the Israelites lusted for meat and the Lord gave them quail until they were vomiting?

I think this is what is happening today. The American people have embraced their filthy sitcoms on television and have made sexual intercourse their main interest in life—even ahead of professional football and baseball.

So the Lord says, "Okay, smut you want, smut you get until you are vomiting it from your mouth!"

Our morning paper contains the full report of the President's alleged behavior. The editors of our paper apologized for the disgusting content because they are attempting to make their publication a family newspaper.

Some of the local school districts are screening the Internet report from the computers the students use.

Can you imagine? The behavior of the President of the United States is described as being so abominable that the adults want to screen the report from the children and young people!

They will not be successful. The children and young people of America are very adept with the personal computer. They will read what the President has done and it will affect them one way or another.

To be continued.