Rejoice ever more – Part 1

We are instructed to rejoice (that is re-joy), regardless of our circumstances, situation or whatever challenges we are going through. The instruction is clear, “Rejoice evermore”. It did not say, ‘Try to rejoice’ or ‘consider rejoicing’ but “Rejoice evermore”. Do it when it seems all hope is lost, when you don’t feel like, when you don’t know what will happen next, when you can’t pay your bills; shout and rejoice. God so loved the world He sent His son to die for us. Joy to the world is a product of the love of God to us, 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 thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 35-39,

Heaven is full of joy and as children of the kingdom, we are to practise the heavenly life here on earth. As difficult as that can be sometimes, God has simply asked us to live out who we are against the wiles of the devil. If you analyse, evaluate and continually think of injustices done to you, your heart will become chaotic, your mind fragmented and your attitude will become critical. Light does not compete with darkness, it just shines. At no time was sorrow or sadness recommended to us as an option.

“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,” Ephesians 3:10

One of the weapons of God to show His wisdom on earth is the joy of the church.

We are the joyful ones: what the eye can see gives joy, but our joy and rejoicing is beyond what eyes can see. Jesus saw beyond the present and rejoiced. For the joy set before Him, He endured pain, Heb. 12:2. The joy was so much that the present situation was meaningless and of no value: that is the joy of the church.

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth…” Luke 10:21a

The world did not give the inner joy to you so it cannot take it from you. Step up and remain in the victory zone where the enemy cannot reach you.

‘And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” Ephesians 2:6

God intends us to be up above principalities and powers. Even when you feel low, you are still on “top of the devil” so, get excited about life. Beloved, joy is it! Go for joy and seek joy for you are a kingdom’s citizen.

It amazes me when I see Christians with heavy and sad faces – your face tells your heart. It was joy in the heart of Jesus as an act of gratitude that made Him to rejoice and burst into praise and say: All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. Luke 10:22.

Some believers are so tensed up and they look so sad that they discourage God’s presence. A sad heart is evil, think evil, and conclude evil: this attitude keeps joy away. You cannot be joyful except you are grateful. Gratitude provokes joy.

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.” James 5:13

Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Victory Life Bible Church, Km 9 Olabisi Onabanjo Way, Opp. OGTV, Ajebo, Abeokuta, Ogun State. 08072929295
victory2life@yahoo.com