Something to Rejoice about
ACTS 16:10
Some of us Christians have the bad habit, the chronic spiritual disease that may be called looking and "living on the dark side of life. And the reason for this is that there is an absence of joy in our lives. We dwell on the circumstances of our lives instead of looking unto Jesus who is Joy in the time of trouble. We dwell more on what we have gone through than what God has brought us out of. We dwell more on what we are going through than what we have been brought into. We dwell more on what we don’t have instead of thanking God for what we already do have. We dwell more on what we have suffered than on what God has delievered us from. And if you would ask us what do we think of the Christian life, we will give you a detailed description of the continual conflict, our sad adversities and our dreaded sinfulness. This we will do with hardly any reference to the love, the mercy, the grace and the presence of God that aided us in the time of trouble.
But a Christian who has a healthy soul (you know that we have some Christians with malnurshied souls) comes forward and joyfully says "I will speak, but not for myself, but for the glory and honor of God". We need to remember that God is still in control of every situation and whatever God does it’s either for his Glory or our good. No matter what the circumstances of life may be, we should rember what Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 8:28, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose".
It is true that we have trials and tribulations, but it is just as true that God delivers us out of our trials and gives us strength to overcome temptations. And in order to get out of a trial or tribulation, you first have to go through. It is true that we do have our sins and transgressions, but it is just as true that we have an all-sufficient Saviour who forgives and set us free from sin’s dominion. The more numerous our troubles, the deeper our sorrow, the more racking our pain, the louder should be our thanks and praises to God who has brought us through and preserved us to this present moment. Instead of living and dwelling on the dark side of life, we should be too busy thanking and praising God for the bright side of life.
Everywhere we look, folk are looking for happines. Some folk turn to drugs, but there is no happiness in drugs. Some folk try alcohol, but there is no happiness in alcohol. Some folk look for happiness in their homes, their cars, their children, or their spouse. They may find a little happines, but they don’t have any joy. And you know, there is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness depends on the circumstances. Happiness depends on what you have. Happiness depends on what’s happening. But sooner or later your happiness is going to run out. You will get tired of the things that used to make you happy, because they don’t make you happy anymore. But I’ve got good knews for you today, we all have something to rejoice about. Happiness depends on what’s happening, but joy depends on what has already happened over 2,000 years ago, when Jesus shed his precious blood on Calvary. That’s why I cannot stop, I will not stop, I shall not stop praising the Lord.
Joy is a fruit of the spirit. When you have the spirit of Christ working on the in side there should be some joy on the outside. Tests and trials come to everyone. Some folk teach that the moment you become a Christian all your trials and worries will be over. But that is not so. Because Satan is on the loose and he is going to and fro seeking who he can defile. And one thing about Satan is he knows you and he knows just what you like and that’s what he will tempt you with. And your attitude is what makes the difference between victory and defeat. Your altitude depens on your attitude. If you have an attitude of praise, then your mind will have a heavenly altitude.
When, like Paul and Silas, you choose to praise God in your midnight hour, the power of God will meet your needs and affect the lives of those around you. "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning light.
I believe if a lot of folk would just quit praying over and over again about the same petition and start praising God instead, it wouldn’t be long before they would receive an answer.
Singing and making praise to the Lord is something that should be happening in the life of every believer. Singing and praising to the Lord indicate gladness of heart. We should be glad and rejoice because this is the day of salvation and dominion which the Lord has made for us in Christ.
Singing and praising God in your heart to the Lord is just as natural to the Spirit-filled Christian as crowing is to a rooster: A rooster doesn’t crow to show off what he can do. Crowing is just a part of him-- he can’t help but crow because it’s a part of his nature. In the same way, we as Christians can’t help but be glad when you know you are redeemed and Jesus Christ lives on the inside of us.
Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. This verse don’t say, "Rejoice in the Lord every now and then if you think about it or feel like it." It says Rejoince in the Lord always and evermore." When you’re saved, santified, and filled with the Holy Ghost, your heart is filled with gladness and rejoicing. You will praise God no matter what the circumstances.
Many of us do a lot of praying when we are faced with tests and trials, yet we never seem to get anywhere. Well, thank God for prayer. Prayer is needed and it is essential. Certainly, we should pray when facing a trial or a test, but we need to add something to our prayers. Acts 16:25 says Paul and Silas "...prayed, And Sang Praises Unto God... This verse tells us what to do at the midnigh hour of our life.
Folks who won’t praise the Lord in the midst of tests and trials are just living in the natural, letting circumstances rule and reign over them; Romans 5:17 says we are to rule and reigh over our circumstances. So come on over to where God wants you to be-- caught up in his praises, full of gladness and rejoicing! And while you are praising the Lord, He will work on your behalf. Just look at what He did for Paul and Silas.
Some Christians go to church and sit there in the pew and look so sad -- like they lost all their friends. They just sit there and look dead and as the saying goes, "Anything that’s dead need to be buried." And my bible tells me in the 100 Psalm. "Make a joyful noice unto the Lord all ye lands." We should be rejoicing because this is the day of salvation because of our redemption in Christ Jesus. We should rejoice because this is the day that the Lord has made, "Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
So, I stopped by to let you know today, that we have someting to rejoice about. No matter how the economy may look, no matter what Clinton says and Riorden says. We still have something to rejoice about.
We can rejoice because:
Our name is written in heaven
The Joy of the Lord is my strength
Because weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the
morning.
His mercy is from everlasing to everlasting and his truth
endureth to all generations.
Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And I’m so glad today, that I sing, because I happy. I sing because I’m free. His eyes is on the sparrow and I know he watches over me.
This Joy I have the world didn’t give it to me.
That’s why we can sing in the midst of trials and tribulations. When circumstances face us, we can sing I have a feeling everything is going to be alright. We can say that there is something on the inside, working on the outside. John 16:33
"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have obercome the world. James 1:2 says "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations".
Human extremity is diving opportunity. When we’ve gone as far as we can go, that’s when God steps in. When man say no, God says yes and the no fades away. When man puts a period God ads an and. When man says it the end God says it just the beginning. When man says it’s all over God says it’s just getting started. God specializes in things that seem impossible. Our destiny does not rely on what we can do but it relies on what God can says that he will do. He will make a way out of no way. He will turn your midnight hour into day break. He will open doors that are closed in your face. He will make your enemies your footstool.
I’ve got joy like a river that flows continiously. I’ve got joy unspeakable joy. This joy that I have the world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away. Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.
That’s why I’m going to praise the Lord everywhere I go. For he’s done so much for me I just can’t tell it all. I’m going to praise him in the morning, I’m going to praise him in the evening. I’m going to praise him when the sun goes down.
