WE HAVE CAUSE FOR REJOICING
It is a glorious Name we own and our lives should reflect that Glory.
To use an old cliche, we should be the happiest people on earth. Life should be exciting, full of joy and gladness, if for no other reason than Jesus loves us!!
This is not the only reason though, there are many hundreds of them to be found in the Bible in the form of God's promises to us. Yes, we have great cause to be a rejoicing people, rejoicing not only in the good times but also in the difficulties that we face.
I do not want to give anybody cause for thinking that life should be a bed of roses for a Christian. Nor is life ever going to be one big merry-go-round of fun and exuberant joy. The Bible has promised us many problems and difficulties. We are also promised a wealth of experience that will serve to mature and teach us.
However, the Bible also promise to show us the way to deal with all of our trials and temptations. There is no situation that we can face that we cannot receive wisdom on from God's Word.
We were not promised that it would be easy, but we are promised that, the overcomer is rewarded with the crown of life, and Jesus desires us all to be overcomers, not overcome.
He does'nt even want us battered or bruised. He wants us overcoming all that stands in our way.
If it be a mountain then we are tell it to move. If it is the enemy then we are to trample it underfoot. If it is the flesh then we are to crucify it.
Part of the secret to harvesting the fruit I spoke of earlier is finding, as Paul did, contentment in all situations. Regardless of what adverse circumstances we find ourselves in, if we can maintain our peace and naturally walk close to God each day, then we will discover the truth of being able to rejoice in all things.
As we find ourselves increasingly able to submit to all that God desires of us then we will find the secret of being content in all situations.
Sound simplistic? Well it is!! Why on earth do we have to complicate a simple gospel with 'ifs' and 'buts' and 'maybes'? We should not walk around as mindless morons, but we allow our intellect to overcome our faith far too often.
Believing the gospel truths, we will find ourselves naturally rejoicing and being content with 'our lot', then we will find peace residing in our hearts and minds, we will find joy in all we do, we will find love unsullied by anxiety and self-concern. We will discover blessings flowing, we will find grace and power.
We can look at Peter's situation when in jail. He didn't worry, or get upset, or dwell in self-pity. No, he praised God, the door was opened, and he saw the fruit of his lifestyle in the jailer finding salvation.
We see Paul in his imprisonment. He continued to be content in where he was, he continued to minister to the churches he was overseeing, and along the way he saw great fruit from his lifestyle.
Whether we find ourselves in difficulties or on a 'high', whether we are in seemingly great trouble or enjoying immense blessing, the Word of God does not change.
We all find it easy to be victorious and feel encouraged and blessed when things are going well but the word of God does not change when things are not looking quite so rosy. The promises are exactly the same. We are still saved by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus, we are still blessed, forgiven, regardless of how we may feel. Yes, our sins are still forgiven, our names are still written in the Lambs Book of Life. If for that reason alone, how can we help but exclaim joyfully, HALLELUJAH!!!
CARING FOR THE BODY
One of the points I will make later is that we should stop being so insular. What I am going to say now does not contradict that, but rather enables us not to need to be inward looking.
It is important that we care for the body. I occasionally get very severe headaches, a combination of eye strain and migraine. Such is the severity of these headaches that all of my body is disabled.
It is much the same with the Body of Christ. If brothers and sisters are suffering then the whole body is suffering also. The analogy in 1 Corinthians 12 is continued not just in having a role to fulfil, but in our wholeness.
If the pastor or minister of the church is equated to an arm (because he does much?) and that pastor is not active, then doesn't the whole church suffer? In the spiritual realms though this analogy does not only apply to people in key 'up-front' roles. We all have a role in the spiritual realm (as well as in the physical) and if one is unable to fulfil their role then the whole body suffers.
Imagine, Isaiah wakes up one morning in a bad mood, things are going wrong, the King wants to kill him, he has no friends, he decides to have a depressed day, today he will dwell in self pity. This then will be the day that Isaiah 42 will not be written - and the whole body, if this were true, from that time till now would have suffered. The book of Isaiah would jump from Chapter 41 to 43 and we would have missed out on the rich blessing of Chapter 42.
When a part of the body is suffering then we should identify with that suffering. We should go out of our way to help them practically, pray with them, and counsel where we can. It is not just them suffering but it is each one of us suffering, and whether it be spiritual, material or physical, our priority needs to be helping to alleviate that suffering.
Likewise, when we are suffering, the whole body is suffering in the spiritual realm. Therefore it is also our responsibility not only to look after one another but also ourselves.
Human beings have a tendency, (probably because it is so destructive) to dwell in self pity. As Christians though, we should be seeking to reject normal fleshly responses. It is good practice to deliberately do the opposite to our initial response, in order to oppose demonic influences and lift ourselves out of the mess.
Some of us do like to wallow a little, not least of all me, but this only serves to affect the whole of the church. If that self-pity was an ingrowing toe-nail, then if it were allowed to fester, and not be confronted and treated, then it would not be long before the whole foot and leg would be poisoned.
Let each one of us determine not to drag down the church with our self-pity, but to go on another step toward maturity.
SACRIFICE YOURSELF
We are encouraged, not only by command but also by the ultimate example, to love one another as Christ loved us (John 15:12). Just as He gave His all for us, just as He sacrificed His life for us, so should we sacrifice ourselves and give of ourselves in order to bless and release those who are in need.
Jesus came with the sole intention of releasing men and women from all sorts of sickness and oppression. He came to feed the hungry, and He came to show us how we can be free of the tyranny of the evil one.
One purpose of his releasing us was in order that we can enjoy His creation, and be active in freeing others from the same tyranny. The ultimate purpose being that we might all serve His purposes, and live in peace and harmony.
If we can learn to live as Christ intended then we will find that we will naturally attract those seeking the joy and contentment that we have. The Church will experience the greatest move of the Holy Spirit ever known. This would not be the result of powerful preaching or persuasive words by skilled orators, it would be by the pure beauty of Christ expressed by His Body.
It would be a move of God brought about by effecting change in society through prayer, by the proclamation of God's prophetic word to individuals, and speaking godliness into ungodly situations. More than anything else, it would be a revival brought about by the church moving in the Spirit of God in power, motivated by love, and changing society.
Exposing corruption and ungodly practises and thus releasing those held under and affected by such bondage, releasing the poor from their poverty, the sick from their sickness, the hungry from their hunger, will be key elements in bringing about a move of the Spirit which will not fade and pass away, but will firmly establish God's Kingdom here in a way previously not experienced.
DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM
Difficulties in living as God intended are not always connected with our situation, circumstances, or some other 'third-party' cause. We should consider that we may in actual fact be the problem.
Maybe there is something in our attitudes or lifestyle that is causing us difficulty. There is absolutely no need (or gain) to get into a blame situation but we must each confront our situations. Regardless of cause, if we recognise a lack of 'bubbling springs' in respect of joy, love, power, or any of the fruit of godliness, in our lives, then it is essential that we ask ourselves some very important questions and allow the answers to spur us on to seek the remedy.
The questions are obvious:
1..Why do we experience dryness and depression?
2..Are our lives really drab, dreary, dull, boring, and dissatisfying? Or is this a manifestation of some spiritual inadequacy in our doctrine or our relationship with Jesus?
3..What sort of witness do we presenting to non-believers if we appear negative, defeated or depressed?
This article will be continued........
