Philippians 4:4 (NKJV) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
There is always a choice in every situation. Even though the initial reaction to every bad experience and situation might be anger, frustration, and sadness, we need not stay in these emotions for a prolonged period. The Apostle Paul asked us to rejoice in the Lord always, and again rejoice. Every challenge that we face in life is an opportunity for us to exercise our faith in God, and to see and experience His faithfulness.
We are thankful that we can seek His counsel, opinion, and wisdom in dire situations. We are not alone in any situation, for Emmanuel is God with us. He is for us and not against us, and nothing that can separate us from God’s love from now until eternity. God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. He is the Creator of all things and all flesh. Therefore, there is nothing too difficult for Him. God is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
The joy of the Lord and the constant ability to rejoice in all circumstances should be the trademark of every Christian.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Many of us are familiar with the above passage, but Beth Jones wrote in her book “UP: Writing A New Chapter Of Joy And Laughter” : “If you read this passage from the bottom up, notice that everything begins with a thought and then moves into an argument or a high thing that is set against the knowledge of God. And finally, that thought moves into a stronghold…. The good news is that this sequence will work to establish a stronghold of joy in our lives in the same way. For example, if we take a thought of joy and let it become an argument or imagination that agrees with God’s Word, we can argue for this truth and imagine ourselves full of joy. Then as we continue to do this, in time, joy will become a stronghold in our lives!”
Psalm 37:13 (NKJV) The Lord laughs at him, For He sees that his day is coming.
We might see a hard place and a difficult situation, but God can see the end from the beginning. Therefore He knows what is ahead of us, and He is laughing in heaven about the situation which we can’t see through. Let us see by faith that it will have a good end, especially when God has given us His Word of assurance during our quiet moments with Him. Let us rejoice and join Him in laughter!
Sermon Series: Up! Cell Group Campaign (Part 2)
与上帝同声欢笑
腓立比书4:4（新标点和合本）你们要靠主常常喜乐。我再说，你们要喜乐。
无论何等境况，我们都有选择的余地。对于每一次糟糕的体验和状况，即使我们最初的反应可能是愤怒、沮丧和悲伤，但我们不必长时间沉溺在这些情绪中。使徒保罗要求我们在主里常常喜乐，再喜乐！我们在生命中面对的每一个挑战都是我们操练对上帝信心的机会，并且见证并经历祂的信实。
我们心存感恩，因为我们可以在困境中寻求神的忠告、意见和智慧。我们在任何情况下都不孤单，因为以马内利是神与我们同在。祂是支持我们的，而不是反对我们的，从现在到永远，没有什么能使我们与神的爱隔绝。神是全知的、全能的、无所不在的。祂是万物和一切血肉的创造主。因此，对祂来说没有什么是太困难的。神是阿拉法和俄梅戛，是起初和终结。
主的喜乐，和在一切情况下常常喜乐的能力，应该是每个基督徒的标志。
哥林多后书10:3-5（新标点和合本）因为我们虽然在血气中行事，却不凭着血气争战。 我们争战的兵器本不是属血气的，乃是在神面前有能力，可以攻破坚固的营垒， 将各样的计谋，各样拦阻人认识神的那些自高之事，一概攻破了，又将人所有的心意夺回，使他都顺服基督。
我们中许多人都熟悉上述的经文，但贝丝·琼斯在她的书《起来：书写快乐和笑声的新篇章》中写道：“如果你从后往前读这段经文，就会注意到一切都始于一个动念，然后进入一个与神的话相抵触的论断或高傲的事物。最后，念头就变成了一个坚固的营垒……好消息是，这个顺序将以同样的方式在我们的生活中建立喜乐的堡垒。例如，如果我们采纳一个喜乐的心念，让它成为一个与神的话一致的论断或想象，我们就能为这个真理争辩，想象自己充满喜乐。然后，当我们继续这样做时，久而久之，喜乐将成为我们生活中的一个坚固堡垒！”
诗篇37:13（新标点和合本）主要笑他，因见他受罚的日子将要来到。
看在我们的眼中，那可能是一个困境和一个艰难的情境，但上帝能从开始看到结局。因此，祂知道我们将有的遭遇，祂在天上因为我们看不透的情况而大笑。让我们凭着信心看到这将有一个美好的结局，尤其是当上帝在我们与祂安静相处的时候给了我们祂确据的话语时。让我们欣喜快乐并与祂同声欢笑！
讲章系列：天天向上! 细胞小组运动（第二部分）
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