I want to say this, when you can rejoice in the Lord just as
much in either situation then there will be no valley, or desert, because as
far as rejoicing goes you will have a breakthrough in your spiritual walk. One of the big problems with the congregations
that I have been in over the years, many times I hear a lot of talk, but as far
as actions are concerned, talk seems to be as far as it goes. This is not a put down towards any
congregation, just a reminder to me as well as everyone else, we need to keep
our words few and we need to back up our words by our actions.
Let’s read how Paul and Silas responded in the dire
circumstance and situation that they were in, as far as rejoicing was
concerned. Let’s read in Acts 16:22-24, “Then the multitude rose up together against
them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be
beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them
into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such
a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the
stocks.”
I would say that this was a very dire situation and their
response could have been much different than it was, so let’s read what their
response was in this same chapter in verse 25, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the prisoners were listening to them.”
Here we find them praying and singing, praising and
rejoicing in the Lord with hymns, it could have been a much different response,
but these men chose the best way to handle the situation, plus they knew God
was worthy and faithful in all things. Then
in response, read what God did in verses 26-29, “Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the
prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s
chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing
the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was
about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself
no harm, for we are all here.’ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell
down trembling before Paul and Silas.”
In case you don’t know the story, I have a question: Why do
you think the jailer was trembling with fear and was going to kill himself? It was because he knew if any of the prisoners
had escaped, it would have been his life for their life. Now check this out, there is more than one
thing taking place here, think about this, when the jailer called for lights
and rushed in, he experienced some miracles in this story along with everyone
else that was there. First there was a
great earthquake then all the doors were unlocked, and all the chains came loose
but no one left, they were all still there, let that sink in for a while. Then there is the fact that the jailer and his
whole family repented, was saved and immersed in water, praise the Lord!! One miracle after another just think about it.
I have said more about this in other
blogs, but I think I said enough on this now.
Now let’s turn to Philippians 4 and read what it says there
about rejoicing in the Lord. Please read verses 4-7 in that same chapter, “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.”
All through Paul’s ministry he rejoiced in the Lord and he encouraged
the Philippians to do it also, along with all the other brethren and believers
that he ministered to. When we lose our excitement
and our joy, we end up losing our strength as well. The Word of God says this in the last part of Nehemiah
8:10, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the
Lord is your strength.”
We all need to take this to heart; without the joy of the
Lord, we become weak because our strength begins to diminish and we can become
a better target for the evil one who would love to be the cause of us losing
our joy and make us miserable, weak and venerable. I realize that it is not always easy to
rejoice in the Lord, but we need to resist the enemy and stand strong in the
faith and he will flee from us, praise the Lord!!
I hope that this has been an encouragement and a help to you
and that you might want to share with someone else. May the good Lord bless you and yours with His
perfect peace, love and joy and health and happiness!! And don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord
for He is worthy!!
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