Reasons to Rejoice

Here are several good reasons to make a CHOICE to REJOICE:
1. Your Name is written in the Book of Life! (Luke 10:18–20) – “And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
2. Other reasons for rejoicing! (Phil. 4:4) – “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
3. Reasons to Rejoice! (Rom. 12:15) – “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
4. Reasons to Rejoice! (Psa. 118:24) – “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
5. Reasons to Rejoice! (1 Thess. 5:16) – “Rejoice evermore.”
A Song in the Night

All of his children were tragically killed when a terrible storm caused their fatalities. Next, all of his wealth vanished overnight. This included all of his sheep, camel, oxen, and servants. Boom. Boom. Boom. He was down for the count. But Satan was not finished. Even his own health was inflicted with putrefying sores from the top of his head to the sole of his feet. Yet, in all of his calamities, Job refused to curse God!
3. In the midst of his pain and suffering, three fair-weather friends showed up to try to analyze Job’s situation.
Unfortunately, they were all wrong. Why? Because they did not have a clue as to the challenge of Satan. Nevertheless, through their false accusations, Job defended himself. While feeling depressed and defeated, he cried out to God who became silent.
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”
“But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (Job 13:15; 23:10)
By trusting, the Lord would give him a “SONG in the NIGHT”! “But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night.” (Job 35:10)
The SONG in the NIGHT comforted Job’s heavy heart! The SONG in the NIGHT encouraged Job’s hopeless situation! The SONG in the NIGHT filled Job with a deep abiding PEACE! The SONG in the NIGHT lifted Job’s spirit! The SONG in the NIGHT got Job’s eyes off of himself and on the God of the Bible! The SONG in the NIGHT was just in time!
Jesus #1!

The word “firstborn” is prōtótokos and refers to the first among others who follow Jesus from the dead. Connect the dots. Jesus was crucified, buried, but arose from the dead. He was the first to conquer the grave and never die again! We, the Church {the body of Christ}, are the first to follow in His VICTORIOUS steps!!
First, our spirits rise to heaven at the moment of death. But then our bodies will rise from the grave at the RAPTURE! Finally, both our bodies and spirits will be reunited to be forever with Jesus in His FATHER’S house (John 14:1–3).
That word “preeminence” tells it all. It is the word πρωτεύω (pro-tyoo’-o). It literally means to have first place! It can be understood as “to be first.” Also, there is another interesting thought found in the word “fulness.”
Does He need to be ENTHRONED in your life? Let Him be Lord!
Nations, Leaders, and Believers in Bible Prophecy Under God’s Control

Are nations under His control? David wrote, “For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations” (Psa. 22:28). This great verse demonstrates that God rules and ever rules, even over the nations. In fact, the Scripture teaches that the Lord sets up one ruler and puts down another.
The prophet Daniel wrote, “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding” (Dan. 2:21).
How about the phrase, “…he removeth kings, and setteth up kings”? That means that His orchestrated plan is moving forward in motion according to His purpose. Leaders are under His control.
Speaking of His purpose, I love Eph. 1:11. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is writing to believers. Listen to these words: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
Besides God’s plan for believers, did you know that regardless of the wicked, God can get glory? Check out Psa. 76:10 — “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee.”
Speaking of nations and leaders, some of the Gentile nations are listed in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream found in Daniel chapter 2. The God whom Daniel served revealed the “Gentile Powers” that would have control over Jerusalem. From Babylon to Rome, they have come and gone just like the Lord led Daniel to prophesy. God is in control!
As a matter of fact, speaking of prophecy being fulfilled, Zechariah the prophet described what is happening today in Jerusalem. He wrote (Zech. 12:2), “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.”
In other words, this apocalyptic literature (“cup of trembling”) describes an intoxicated man desiring power; i.e., there are those fighting for control of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Presently, the Jordanian government is in charge of its primary operation. This has been a major problem for the Jewish people. Why? Because they are not allowed to pray on the Temple Mount. However, having been on the Temple Mount, prayer can be offered to heaven with one’s eyes open!
Also, eventually, Jesus Christ will rule over His temple called Messiah’s Temple (Ezek. 40–48).
Additional studies reveal other nations that are listed in Bible prophecy. Whereas, as of today, these prophecies have not been fulfilled, their ultimate fulfillment is certain according to the Scriptures. Check them out:
Conclusion: All of this information should lead every believer into a deeper trust with the God of the Bible! Can you say that since He is in control, you will trust Him more?
Prevail or Fail

Here is JESUS’ last message to the Church:
What are the first works? Perseverance and patience are marks of the Church of Ephesus. Evidently, the Christians got complacent and apathetic—not caring. So instead of FAILING, the Risen Lord designed for them to be PREVAILING!
Do you see the phrase “faithful unto death”? It literally means willing to die for your faith! That PREVAILING crowd will not see the second death.
False teaching is everywhere. Bad interpretations of Scripture. Peter, Jude, John, Jesus, and Paul all warned us. So PREVAIL instead of FAIL as you obey the Bible!
It appears the Church had abandoned its WORK, WITNESS, and WATCH, and desperately needed to return! FAILING instead of PREVAILING was the sad indictment by our Lord.
Love y’all,
Hold On or Let Go

And guess what? Our Lord Jesus put all of this in His Word that we might learn from this example. What about all the millions and millions of people that have been helped by this biblical narrative? Does that include you?
Love y’all,
Praying Fervently but Waiting Patiently

Does this make sense? Are you in this dilemma? So what can you do?
Here are some guidelines that hopefully will help you:
Perhaps you have been praying for years for a wayward child, a lost relative, a broken relationship, or even a financial goal. Regardless of what you are praying for, as long as it is in God’s will, it can be challenging to “hang in there”! So be patient. Wait. But wait in faith. After all, while we are focused on the changes we are asking our Lord Jesus to do, His purpose is to CHANGE us in the process. With that in mind, maybe we need to readjust our focus! Your thoughts?
How Great Thou Art: From Creation to Salvation

Do you remember Gen. 1:1? “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” By the way, the word “create” is בָּרָא (bara), which means to make SOMETHING out of NOTHING!
Time, space, and matter instantaneously came into existence. How? By the Word of Jesus Christ! Wow!!
Not only is He the God of CREATION, but more importantly, He is the God of SALVATION. As God, He became a man in order to live a life without sin, and therefore die as a substitute for our sins. Praise His name because He arose from the grave, assuring everyone who trusts in Him can have eternal life.
So you can conclude that this means angels, both good and bad. But please note that He controls them all!
Faith that Finishes Well

1. Constantly in and out of seasons of testing! (1 Pet. 1:6,7) – “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”
2. Final exam for our faith being tested! (2 Tim. 4:7,8) – “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
Conclusion: Overcoming obstacles that require Mountain Moving FAITH is on God’s agenda. With His ultimate purpose to purify His people while bringing honor and GLORY to His name! And at the same time, demonstrating His GLORY to a desperate world that they may see, believe, and join the fellowship of believers on their God-given journey by FINISHING FAITHFUL!
Faster than You Can Blink an Eye

1. When we are AWAKENED out of our DEEP SLEEP! (1 Cor 15:51-52) – “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
2. Meanwhile, through Jesus, we have WORK to do UNTIL THAT DAY! (1 Cor 15:57-58) – “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ…. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
There is ALWAYS VICTORY in JESUS! Since that is true, notice what we should do. “Be steadfast.” That means be “firm.” Next, be “unmovable.” Where? Unmovable in our faith, our fight, and our freedom.
You have heard it said, “the work of God is the most important work on earth!” I believe that!! Do you? Think about it. Eternity is a long, long time. Separation from God in eternity would be AWFUL! Going to hell would be terrible!! Tormented forever would be miserable!!! Weeping and gnashing of teeth would be horrible!!!!
Conclusion: Since all of this is going to happen FASTER than you can BLINK your eye, stay awake for now, stay alert with diligence, and stay always abounding in the work of the Lord, until He comes for you.