COMMANDED TO REJOICE

Last month my neighbour's wife gave birth to a boy. That night his kinsmen gathered in joyful celebration with songs and dancing. That was how I found out about the birth of the new baby. We joined them to rejoice. Anyone can rejoice when there is good news. Anyone can praise God when they experience victory. That is natural. They don't need a command to do so. But the command to rejoice is not for all.

"REJOICE evermore.

In every thing GIVE THANKS: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18).


This is a heavenly command for a peculiar people on earth. What then is the real purpose of this command to rejoice in the Lord? 


1. IT IS TO SENSITIZE YOU AS A STRANGER ON EARTH ABOUT THE POWER OF YOUR PRAISE. 


It is for you not to let circumstances steal your praise and rejoicing. You will be behaving like other men. The Lord who gives you victory on earth and in whom you are rejoicing is not subject to circumstances. By right He is Lord over your circumstances.


2. IT IS TO LET YOU KNOW THE BEST TIME TO DEPLOY YOUR PRAISE.


When circumstances are contrary, that's when your obedience to this command is being tested. Contrary circumstances increase the value of your praise to God. It's called sacrifice of praise. It's called obedience. That is when you can really prove the supernatural strength of God in which you trust. 


Any circumstance that can stop your obedience to this command has become your Lord. You are now obeying that circumstances and the devil behind it. You are demonstrating that the situation is greater than your God. But if you will choose to rejoice and praise God; nothing is impossible for Him who inhabits the praise of His people (Psalms 22:3).


THE RECOMMENDATION OF HEAVEN. 

But this is the correct response recommended by scripture for you.


"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:


YET I WILL REJOICE in the LORD, I will joy in the GOD OF MY SALVATION.


The LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." (Habakkuk 3:17-19).


Everything went contrary to expectation; yet this prophet decides to rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of his salvation. That's the way of the strangers from heaven.


CONTRARY CIRCUMSTANCES COME TO CHECK THE SOURCE OF YOUR STRENGTH. 


They come to test if your faith is in the Lord. They come to check the source of your joy. If you can rejoice in the midst of them, the God of your salvation will show His strength in your favour and make you walk upon your high places against all odds.


"REJOICE in the Lord ALWAYS: and again I say, REJOICE." (Philippians 4:4).


It takes knowledge, faith and obedience.

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