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Thoughts Archived > Message of Life - Rejoice! - Part 5


22 Jun 2014

                                      

 

  

June 22, 2014

Message Of Life - Rejoice! - Part 5

Acts 5: 40 - 41

 

 

 Luke

The council accepted his advice.  They called in the apostles and had them flogged.  Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.  The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. 

 

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Thoughts....

 

Recall that last week we learned that a Pharisee named Galiliel, who was popular with religious law and very popular with the people, advised the high priest and the council that they should essentially leave the apostles alone, implying they, too, like others, will 'fizzle out' [my paraphrase] over time.  This action would essentially dissipate any potential religious or political unrest directed toward the high priest and the council. 

Today we learn the council accepted his advice.  But they 'had to do something' to show they were not spineless to the public and show their 'power' to the apostles.  So they called in the apostles and had them flogged.  Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

Folks, I've been in a lot of situations in life, and, I've been told I could not speak of Jesus.  To include suffering dishonor, like recently when an employer who chose to make up lies to discredit, defame, and slander me, flog me with horrible words, abused me in other verbal ways, discriminated against me (not racially), and literally covered every single thing called discrimination, by law, according to the EEOC, and then wrongfully terminated me.  Did that stop me?  No.  I may not have been as bold as before in the workplace (despite Federal laws in place to protect me....and Jesus), but I most certainly have NEVER stopped telling others about Jesus, nor will I.  And I have rejoiced, knowing that God was then, and always will be, at my side.  I've also known only WITH Jesus, as I obey him and trust him, that I can have/do have the confident assurance of eternal life.  OUR high priest is Jesus Christ.  And you can have this confident assurance, too, and rejoice! 

What does it say about what can happen to the high priest and council in Scripture, and others like them?  In Hebrews 10:26-31 we read, 'Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth [the high priest and council had heard the Word/received the full knowledge of the truth...about Jesus and his saving grace...the Message of Life, and chose to ignore and/or turn against it], there is no other sacrifice [recall Jesus' upcoming - at this point in Scripture - sacrifice of death on the cross] that will cover these sins [the ones the priest and the high council perpetrated upon the apostles and against Jesus and God through thought, word and deed, just like folks do today].  There will be nothing to look forward to [forgiveness of sins and eternal life] but the terrible expectation of God's judgment and the raging fire [John 15] that will [Say WILL] consume his [God's] enemies.  Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant [Jesus] as if it were common and unholy.  Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to his people.  For we know the one who said, "I will take vengeance, I will repay those who deserve it.'  He also said, "The Lord will judge his own people."  It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

I'm getting to the rejoice part....hang on.

Hebrews continues in 10:32-39 as Paul tells us,  "Don't ever forget those early days when you first learned about Christ.  Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.  Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.  You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail.  [What is your jail?]  When all you owned was taken from you [cussing, cursing, cigarette smoking, drug and alcohol abuse to include prescription drugs as well as street drugs, depression, aloofness, hurting yourself AND others through 'your sinful nature of producing these [other] evil results' per Galatians 5:19-21: 'sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin.  You accepted it with joy when these sins were forgiven."  It's then, when your sins were forgiven, that you were released from the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual jail of the enemy Satan.  [You rejoiced!].  You knew you had better things waiting for you in eternity. [Rejoice!]

"Do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord no matter what happens.  [Rejoice!]  Remember the great reward it brings you!  [Rejoice!]  Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will [Say WILL] continue to do God's will [START NOW, if you have not].  [Rejoice!]  Then you will [Say WILL] receive all that he has promised you.  [Rejoice!] 

"For in just a little while, the Coming One [Jesus] will come [Say WILL come] and not delay.  [Rejoice!]  And a righteous person will [Say WILL] live by faith.  [Rejoice!]  But I [God] will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away."  [Check mate.]

"But we [?] are not like those who turn their backs on God and seal their fate [I hope, for your sake].  [Rejoice!]  We have [Say HAVE] faith that assures our salvation."  [Rejoice!]      

For an understanding of what faith is, continue reading in Hebrews 11. 

To further understand how to walk in the Lord, so HE will rejoice WITH you, be reminded what else Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22-26: "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us:  love, joy [RE-JOI-CE!] peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Here there is no conflict with the law.

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucifed them there.  If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us [?]  [Action word: DO] follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.  [Rejoice!]  Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another."  [Pay attention.]

For more information on reaping and sowing, please continue reading Galatians 6.  It is very valuable...as is all of the Word of God.  For more information on reaping your harvest, see Believer's Voice of Victory Magazine July 2014 from Kenneth Copeland Ministries.

To further understand 'rejoice', Paul tells us in Philippians 4:4-9, "Always be full of joy in the Lord.  [Rejoice!]  I say it again - rejoice!  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  Remember, the Lord is coming soon.  [Rejoice!]

"Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.  [Rejoice!]  Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.  [Rejoice!]  If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  [Rejoice!]  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  [Rejoice!]

Paul continues to say " And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter.  Fix your thoughts on what is ture and honorable and right.  [Rejoice!]  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  [Rejoice!]  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  [Rejoice!]  Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you." 

REJOICE!

 

   

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  Let Us Pray

 

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I REJOICE!  I praise you and thank you!  I want to live my life to give YOU glory!  I am not perfect.  But I am yours.  With Holy Spirit, I will be made perfect and complete on that day when the trumpet sounds and I will receive the prize of your high calling, God....being in your arms....because I continue to press toward the [high] mark for it by obeying you (I'm certainly trying to on every level), trusting you (fully), and praising you (albeit not always with enthusiasm at times).  Father God, Lord Jesus, Comforter and Teacher Holy Spirit, please help me be a better 'Galatians servant' of yours, as I fix my thoughts on what is true and honorable and right, and think of things that are pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and worthy of praise.  Help me put into practice all that I learned from you, Paul, and other Christians, and saw you, him, and other Christians doing through Scripture (and other documents found telling all about your life, death and resurrection, Jesus) which is documented history, so that you, God of peace, THE God of the universe, MY God will be with me always....while I REJOICE!  The suffering is not easy, in fact in can be quite painful.  But I rejoice!  I don't know how I am going to harvest, but I rejoice!, because I know I WILL harvest.  Show me the way to do so, as I sow into the Kingdom all I have to give.  It seems you measure us mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially.  I've sown everything.  The last is the hardest, as I have nothing now to sow.  Perhaps I should pray to receive your money, Lord, to be able to sow it back into the Kingdom.  I'm listening.  I seek to hear your voice, know your will to better obey you, and learn your wisdom, while I seek further employment.  I'm ready for breakthroughs....a new 'becoming one with you'....on all levels.  I give you my all.  And REJOICE!  Help me, Lord.  Thank you.  I praise you!  Grant me your mercy and peace....please.  I REJOICE!  Amen!          

       

 

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Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

 

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

 

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

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    One last thing....

 

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

 

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

 

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

 

And the people said,

"Amen."

 

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* Lord You Have My Heart from Delirious?  Music and lyrics by Martin Smith c 1992 Kingsway's Thank You Music/PRS/All rights in the Western Hemisphere administered by EMI Christian Music Publishing p 1998 Sparrow Records Delirious? appears courtesy of Furious? Records/Sparrow Records

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

 

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