Rejoice In The Lord Always
Only Through Jesus Christ
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
”Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/php.4.4-7.NKJ
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Paul’s advice; "Rejoice in the Lord always,” is more than good advice, it is an instruction to all believers from God.
We can choose to live with our cup half full or half empty; we can choose to live happily as we are in joy simply because our names are written in the book of life, or we can choose to live in self-pity because we don’t get everything we want.
We can choose to count our blessing with joy and be grateful, or live in misery focused on what we don’t have, but Jesus has instructed us to rejoice in the Lord always.
It’s not always easy and it takes effort and faith. But it is the first step to receive God’s peace that surpasses all understanding.
Notice how Paul wrote "in the Lord." He didn't say rejoice in your money, your house, your car, or in any material thing or idol; for nothing in this world can sustain your joy.
The truth is, everything in this world starts to deteriorate from the moment you have it; our rubbish dumps are full of peoples past dreams. But the Lord Jesus Christ our saviour never changes, for His love endures forever, (1 CHRONICLES 16:34).
Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.””
Revelation 22:13 NKJV
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV
My beloved, all His plans are perfect and cannot be bettered, therefore He does not, neither does He have reason to change his mind (MATHEW 3:6).
Truly I tell you, you can stand on all his promises, for His name is above every other name and will forever remain unblemished.
My brethren, if you submit to God in repentance and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, being kind and considerate in all you do, and by trusting Him and praying with thanksgiving into everything, He will take care of all your needs and keep you safe. In deed, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all will be added to you (MATHEW 6:33).
It is therefore in Him that you shall experience God's peace that exceeds anything you can understand, and the peace of mind that comes from God, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus and strengthen you against the temptations of this world.
Most people think money can buy them happiness, but the truth is, most of the high earners of this world, suffer from anxiety/ depression, just like those in poverty, indeed even more, and many, just like the homeless and needy, become dependent on alcohol or drugs.
Whilst we need money to live in this world, it cannot buy anything lasting, for like all the things of this world, it is temporary.
People who have money are quick to learn that neither their money nor the things they can buy with it can make them happy. “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, Whether he eats little or much; But the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep. There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. But those riches perish through misfortune; When he begets a son, there is nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a severe evil— Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind? All his days he also eats in darkness, And he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.”
Ecclesiastes 5:12-17 NKJV
But the joy and peace that you receive from Christ Jesus, which exceeds anything we can understand, is always with you, no matter what troubles life throws at you, God’s love endures forever.
My beloved, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 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.”
Romans 8:35-39 NKJV
The Good News-God’s love is available to all, regardless of culture, skin colour, place of birth or sin.
Our God does not want to remain angry forever; though He has every right to.
Yet, out of mercy, He gave up His life that you and I might live. It’s a free gift that none of us deserve and all we need do is believe and say thank You.
For “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 NKJV
My God, “Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.”
Micah 7:18 NKJV
All Glory to God forever and ever. Amen
