‘Jesus said that if we love him, we will keep His commandments. (see John 14:15) The Greek word tereo, translated Keep, means to guard, protect, watch over, observe closely, and to hold fast.
‘During the days of celestial navigation, mariners would use the expression ‘keeping the stars’. To ensure that they were keeping their course in the vast waters, navigators would keep the stars at a certain position, using them to guide the ship toward its destination.
‘Jesus used this same concept when He told His disciples to keep His commands. The commands are fixed “lights” that can be trusted to guide us through the storms of life. If we follow them, we will arrive at our destination safely, bearing much fruit.
‘As we keep Christ’s commands before us, we will be more ready to live them out. “But thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein” (Joshua 1:8; see also Leviticus 20:8)’
Commands of Christ pocket guide
Rejoice
Joyfulness vs. Self-pity
Joyfulness is the bright spirit and radiant countenance that come by being in full fellowship with the Lord.
Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
We should rejoice when we are being persecuted for doing His will, cause that means that our reward becomes greater in Heaven.
1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
We not supposed to be surprised by a trial that comes along and think it unusual and horrible and unfair. We are supposed to rejoice because we know that we are taking part in Christ’s sufferings, which draws us closer to Him and makes us a stronger Christian. When we are being persecuted, God is being glorified, and we should be rejoicing because that is what we live for: to glorify God. (1Chron 16:29, Ps 22:23, 50:15, 1Cor 6:20)
Psalms 70:4
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
*1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.
We are to rejoice ALWAYS. We are to pray ALWAYS. We are to give thanks to God in EVERYTHING (Psalms 118:29). This is what HE wants us to do. If we don’t, we quench the Holy Spirit from working in us.
*2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Psalms 22:19
But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
When our strength gives out, His strength is made perfect in us. His grace is what will keep us going. We are to rejoice in our troubles, whatever they may be, because then the power of Christ will rest on us and glorify Him.
*Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice…Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Psalms 88:13
But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
Psalms 143:8
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Let God know about our troubles by pray. Lean on Him when in trouble. Plead with Him. Thank Him. No matter what the circumstances are, we are supposed to do this. If your being treated wrong, pray, lean, plead, and thank, while you are rejoicing. If your being faulsly accused, pray, lean, plead, and thank, while rejoicing. If you are in the most horrible circumstances possible, pray, lean, plead, and thank. But most of all, REJOICE!
Why should we rejoice?
Because we have much to rejoice over!
Psalms 5:11
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
If our trust is in Him we should rejoice because He will defend us!
Psalms 33:1
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psalms 68:3
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Psalms 40:16
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
His followers are supposed to rejoice, because that is His command. We are supposed to want the Lord to be magnified and we are supposed to always rejoice and be glad in Him.
Luke 10:20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
We are to rejoice because our names are in His book of Life. WE ARE GOING TO HEAVEN!
Revelation 19:7
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
We are to rejoice because Jesus is coming back to get us and build us a new Heaven and a new Earth! How great is that?!
Examining my Heart
Do I see trials as God’s means of bringing me to spiritual maturity?
Have I found scriptures to strengthen me in trials?
How have I overcome reviling with good works?
Have I thanked God for trials and persecution?
Do I keep my eyes on eternity when trials come into my life?
Am I willing to join in the sufferings of Christ?
Have I identified benefits in the trials I am facing?
What qualities are my trials building in me?
‘During the days of celestial navigation, mariners would use the expression ‘keeping the stars’. To ensure that they were keeping their course in the vast waters, navigators would keep the stars at a certain position, using them to guide the ship toward its destination.
‘Jesus used this same concept when He told His disciples to keep His commands. The commands are fixed “lights” that can be trusted to guide us through the storms of life. If we follow them, we will arrive at our destination safely, bearing much fruit.
‘As we keep Christ’s commands before us, we will be more ready to live them out. “But thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein” (Joshua 1:8; see also Leviticus 20:8)’
Commands of Christ pocket guide
Rejoice
Joyfulness vs. Self-pity
Joyfulness is the bright spirit and radiant countenance that come by being in full fellowship with the Lord.
Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
We should rejoice when we are being persecuted for doing His will, cause that means that our reward becomes greater in Heaven.
1 Peter 4:12-14
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
We not supposed to be surprised by a trial that comes along and think it unusual and horrible and unfair. We are supposed to rejoice because we know that we are taking part in Christ’s sufferings, which draws us closer to Him and makes us a stronger Christian. When we are being persecuted, God is being glorified, and we should be rejoicing because that is what we live for: to glorify God. (1Chron 16:29, Ps 22:23, 50:15, 1Cor 6:20)
Psalms 70:4
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.
*1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.
We are to rejoice ALWAYS. We are to pray ALWAYS. We are to give thanks to God in EVERYTHING (Psalms 118:29). This is what HE wants us to do. If we don’t, we quench the Holy Spirit from working in us.
*2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Psalms 22:19
But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
When our strength gives out, His strength is made perfect in us. His grace is what will keep us going. We are to rejoice in our troubles, whatever they may be, because then the power of Christ will rest on us and glorify Him.
*Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice…Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Psalms 88:13
But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
Psalms 143:8
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Let God know about our troubles by pray. Lean on Him when in trouble. Plead with Him. Thank Him. No matter what the circumstances are, we are supposed to do this. If your being treated wrong, pray, lean, plead, and thank, while you are rejoicing. If your being faulsly accused, pray, lean, plead, and thank, while rejoicing. If you are in the most horrible circumstances possible, pray, lean, plead, and thank. But most of all, REJOICE!
Why should we rejoice?
Because we have much to rejoice over!
Psalms 5:11
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
If our trust is in Him we should rejoice because He will defend us!
Psalms 33:1
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Psalms 68:3
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Psalms 40:16
Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.
His followers are supposed to rejoice, because that is His command. We are supposed to want the Lord to be magnified and we are supposed to always rejoice and be glad in Him.
Luke 10:20
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
We are to rejoice because our names are in His book of Life. WE ARE GOING TO HEAVEN!
Revelation 19:7
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
We are to rejoice because Jesus is coming back to get us and build us a new Heaven and a new Earth! How great is that?!
Examining my Heart
Do I see trials as God’s means of bringing me to spiritual maturity?
Have I found scriptures to strengthen me in trials?
How have I overcome reviling with good works?
Have I thanked God for trials and persecution?
Do I keep my eyes on eternity when trials come into my life?
Am I willing to join in the sufferings of Christ?
Have I identified benefits in the trials I am facing?
What qualities are my trials building in me?
Thank you for the scriptures an the the reaffirmation of Gods love for us! very good listing of examining my heart, I shall.
ReplyDeletePrayers,
Granny J