A DRINK A JOEL’S PLACE

A DRINK A JOEL’S PLACE “These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel . . . ” (Acts 2:15-16) The late John Lyttle was a faithful preacher who suffered a great many heartaches in the course of his ministry for Christ. One source of his suffering was the untimely death of three of his children. James Douglas Lyttle, for example, died from leukemia Nov. 16, 1961. In only 5 days he would have been three years old. John composed the following poem in his honor.

‘Twas night and we sat on the door step, just me and my boy of three. And we talked of the night and the dark and the stars, ‘course mostly the talker was me. For I was far older and wiser and knew things he couldn’t yet know, And he listened with childish amazement, what Daddy said had to be so. Then I pointed my hand up to heaven, and said ‘see them shining so far, for tonight they all know that a Daddy will be showing his boy each star’.

And tonight - as I sit on the door step. Just me - there’s no boy of three. And I look at the night and the dark, and the stars, and I cry, ‘cause he’s taken from me. And someone far older and wiser, looks down on His child in bereavement, And with Him a boy of three. And I fancy my boy up in heaven says, ‘now wipe that tear from your eye, for tonight I am showing my Daddy to each star up here in the sky.’

• The suffering John experienced, however, did not rob him of the joy he experienced in serving Jesus. Many years ago, while attending a Christian Conference in Tulsa, our families were both eating at Casa Bonita. Out of the many delightful enclaves in the restaurant, they chose the waterfall, and we were nearby. The Lyttle family was laughing so loud, and having so much fun, that we overheard a couple call over the waiter and said: “Whatever they’re drinking, we want some of it”. The Lyttle’s, of course, were not drunk with wine, nor were they manifesting the baptism of the Spirit predicted by Joel. They were, however, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit. Remember! The fruit of the Spirit is: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal 5:22-23) Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy. He said:
• “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
• “you will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matt 24:9)
• “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
• “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Paul presented a simple recipe for contentment to the Philippians. (1) Don’t be anxious about anything. (2) In everything by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (3) The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard y our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6,7). Remember! Whoever drinks what Jesus has to give will never thirst again (Jn. 4:13).