Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלוהים) says:
The best way to be prepared for eternity is to be doing My Will when I come for you.
And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” Luke 12:42-48.
How are you sure you are doing My Will? Simple. Do what I tell you is My Will. First, it is My Will that all are saved and come to know the truth. When you do that first step of confessing Jesus as your Lord and believing in your heart I raised Him from the dead, you are then sealed in Christ Jesus by My Holy Spirit as a pledge your resurrection to new life upon passing from this world to My Kingdom. And I am very clear that My Will for you who are in Christ Jesus (who are born again from above) is basically three things that encompass all: (1) rejoice always; (2) pray without ceasing, and (3) in everything give thanks. 2 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Are you doing these things? If you are seeking to do My Will, you can start with these three things.
There is much to talk with you about here, but today I will concentrate on the first one, that is, rejoicing always.
My Son did powerful deeds and wonderful works while He was among you as a man. He told you this was only because I was always with Him, and that the reason I was always with Him was because He always did that which was pleasing to Me. John 8:29. If you want to live the powerful, wonderful kind of life Jesus did, you too must follow His example.
Jesus was joyful. Remember in My Word when it says, “Jesus rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit”? Luke 10:21. And He told His disciples that He had shared My Word with them so His joy might be in them and their joy be complete. John 15:11.
If you are saying you are not sure what to do that pleases Me, start here. Next time you are tempted to feel depressed, unhappy, or hopeless, stand up against it and know it is not from Me and does not please Me for you to give in to it. You must resist it and rejoice in Me—rejoice that I will make things work out good for you. Romans 8:28. But I can only do that if you are keeping My Word, and rejoicing in Me always is part of that.
You may be asking how you can rejoice in trials or you may be thinking you have nothing to rejoice about.
Know that I would not tell you to do something that you could not do.
Actually, rejoicing in Me at all times is a safeguard for you. Philippians 3:1. Rejoicing in the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10. If you have no joy, you are not strong or energetic. You are not fruitful when you have no joy. John 15:11. Hope and vision give you joy. Romans 12:12.
My servant James, under the inspiration of My Spirit, wrote, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4.
Trials will come your way, but cheer up! My Son has overcome the world for you and its power to hurt you. John 16:33. Don’t look at trials as cause for crying and retreating, look at trials as opportunities for you to exercise your authority in Christ. Someone who wants to be a champion wrestler or boxer looks for opportunities to work out, practice, and develop his fighting skills so that he can eventually win over the most formidable enemy. If you believe in Me and My power you know you can handle anything. Why? Because He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4. It is not your strength but Mine, which I make available to you, that you are rejoicing in
If it seems I am asking you something greater than you can do, please remember Moses. Do you think he could have parted the Red Sea on his own? No. But when he faced it, I told him to use what he had in hand, that was his staff, and lift it over the Red Sea so that it would part. He did and I parted it. I can only part the Red Sea for you if you are willing to go forward with what you have in your hand and are willing to run through it when I part it.
Have you used what is in you in your trials? I have given you My Word of truth with which to answer all the attacks of the enemy (for they are lies, he has been a liar from the beginning and all he can do is lie), particularly as expressed in My Covenant Names, such as the LORD your Healer and the LORD your provider; I have given you the Name of My Son to cast out demons, stop storms and heal the sick; and I have given you the blood of Jesus to stop the destroyer and atone for sin. And I have given you My Spirit to lead you, guide you to all truth, and to teach you all things. Not in your own power but by My Spirit. Have you used all these marvelous gifts that I have freely given you? Utilize what is in your hand with your faith in Me and knock down your trials. Don’t go hide in your house. Don’t run away in fear. Don’t give up so easily. It was hard, but those of faith did not run from trouble but ran towards it with Me to take trouble down. Like David with Goliath and Jehoshaphat against three enemy armies attacking Jerusalem.
The promises come to you by faith and patience, combined with your diligence. Hebrews 6:11-12.
My Son does not tell you that every mountain will be leveled out of your life once you are born again in Christ. Instead He tells you to face them and speak to your mountains and tell them to be cast into the sea! Mark 11:23. And if you do not doubt in your heart, I will bring it to pass. Mark 11:22-24. All things are possible to those who believe that I can and will do the impossible for you. You can rejoice in that knowledge when trouble strikes.
At the place of your hurt is where I bring My grace. Call out to Me and I will answer you. Ask Me how to move the mountain, to bind the pain. Then use what you have in hand, step out in faith, and I will do the rest. A.C.T.—answer the devil’s lies with My Word of truth, cast out the unclean spirit or move the mountain in Jesus’ Name and cast all your cares on Me, and then thank Me for the good and perfect result according to My Word before you see it, knowing that for sure it is yours. And it will be. I gave My Son for you; will I not give you all things? Romans 8:32.
If you believe what I am telling you, you will rejoice always. You will rejoice, not in the trial, but in Me, that I am with you and I will guide you through it and that I will give you the victory in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:57. All will be done according to My Word, to My magnificent promises that are all “yes” to you in Christ Jesus, if you just stand your ground and enforce My Word in your life.
Then, like the would-be champion boxer, you will look at trials as good workouts for your faith and your authority in Christ. The more victorious you are, the stronger you will become. My servant David went from defeating the bear and the lion to taking on the giant Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:36.
In fact, My Son tells you to rejoice and shout for joy when you are persecuted for your faith because you will be richly rewarded by Me for your faithfulness. Matthew 5:11-12.
My servant and friend Paul understood this when he wrote that even with all his tribulation and in spite of it, he was overflowing with joy. 2 Corinthians 7:4. Why? Because He knew Me and that I had delivered him out of all his tribulations, persecutions and sufferings. 2 Timothy 3:11. He also knew that when he came before My judgment seat he was going to be richly rewarded for the trials he underwent for the sake of the Gospel. 2 Timothy 4:8.
Yes, I will reward you for your perseverance in faith and hope. So rejoice in that. But remember, faith without works is dead. James 2:17. And faith works by love, and so do I, for I am love and so are you. Love never fails, goes under, or goes down lower.
My servant David knew this, he sang and rejoiced in Me. He wrote: “O LORD, in Your strength the king is glad, and in Your salvation how greatly he rejoices!” Psalm 21:1. He always went forward as soon as He knew My Will with what he had in hand, and he never was without abundant provision.
The secret is why you are rejoicing. Paul, under the inspiration of My Spirit, put it this way: “Rejoice in the Lord, always.” Rejoice in Me, in My love and favor, in My promises, in My presence, and you will never be disappointed. I make all things work out good for those who love Me and are called according to My purpose. Romans 8:28.
And I rejoice over you. Zephaniah 3:17. Come share My joy!
I love you. My joy is your strength, if you ask Me for joy, I will give it to you. It comes with My gift of the Holy Spirit, for it is a fruit of the Spirit, and it is the result of knowing and believing in the love I have for you. I pour My love in your heart by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Just open your heart and receive. And, best of all, you will be doing My Will and pleasing Me, which is preparation for eternity.