REJOICE

MESSAGE FROM THE ALTAR
DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. 24 / 10 /2021

REJOICE 

NEHEMIAH 8 : 10
Now go home and have a feast. Share your food and wine with those who haven’t enough. Today is holy to our Lord, so don’t be sad. The joy that the LORD gives you will make you strong.

PHILIPPIANS 4 : 4 – 7

4. May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice !
5. Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon.
6. Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.
7. And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 3 : 1
In conclusion, my brothers and sisters, be joyful in your union with the Lord.
(GOOD NEWS BIBLE).

This world is not our home. We are travellers sent here for a purpose and the purpose is to do the will of God.
The hope of the children of God is to return to God accomplished, having done His will on earth.
We were not brought here to inherit corruption but sanctification leading to enduring inheritance in heaven.
It is most important to live our lives on earth always with eternity in view. It is difficult to live on earth as God’s children until we have the joyful understanding that our treasure, our inheritance, in the hereafter is far better than what is obtainable here.
It is most unfortunate that the present day preachers have given God’s people misplaced priorities. The emphasis is no more on heavenly treasure but worldly glitters. The equipment for sojourning fulfillingly on earth is no more the Holy Spirit but human mentorship. Jesus Christ is no more the focus but the ‘founders’ and their false teachings and fake lives. The minds of God’s people have been turned into seeing ‘ earthly glitters’ as the hope and purpose of Christianity. The Church holds vigils, indulges in fasts and build cathedrals for the purpose of reaping rewards on earth where the hope is now focused. This is most disheartening. The Church that Jesus Christ gave his disciples to set free the captives is under siege and on the verge of capitulation because of avarice; because of lack of knowledge. The Church has been compromised. The Church is, indeed, in need of deliverance.
Whether rich or poor, hale or sick, happy or sad, what God expects from His children is to be thankful and joyful for the joy of salvation is above every other considerations. We must learn to rejoice in the Lord always. We must always bear in mind that we are pilgrims on earth. We came with nothing. We will go home with nothing. It is safer to transfer our treasure home to await our homecoming while keeping with us what is necessary for our passage.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Submit totally to the Lordship of Jesus Christ Permit the Holy Spirit to function effectively in your life. Without the joy of salvation leading you on, it is difficult to really appreciate God in this chaotic world.
May the joy of the Lord never depart from our lives, in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.