As we enter this week of Thanksgiving, our nation and world are experiencing times of turmoil and upheaval. Jesus warned about times of great tribulation and distress in John 16:33 BUT with that warning came the assurance for us to rejoice—to take courage because He has overcome the world! We can say, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15: 57). The apostle John affirms that truth in 1 John 5: 4: “Who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” We can be of good cheer—rejoice because Jesus conquered the world. If we believe in Jesus and belong to the Father, we too have overcome the world because the One living in us is greater than the one in the world (1 John 4: 4). Paul in Philippians 4: 3-7 gives us a similar command: “Rejoice in the Lord always—again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything—but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I believe that God is calling us this Thanksgiving to rejoice in the Lord—to encourage ourself in Him by focusing on Christ the Living Word and Christ the Written Word. George Mueller said: “Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” David encouraged himself in the Lord. (I Samuel 30: 6) For whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that we may have hope through endurance and through the encouragement from the Scriptures. (Romans 15:4) David needed to, and so do we. And if he can do it, we can do it. Let God pour His love and acceptance into you. He is faithful and you are accepted in the Beloved. Receive it and walk in it!
LET US REJOICE IN THE LORD IN CHRIST’S MISSION OF REDEMPTION AND RESTORATION:
Salvation is a gift we have received from God in Christ: This gift is by grace and is expressed by God’s forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ’s death on the cross. Salvation from start to finish is entirely the work of God, and man cannot add anything to it. After being reconciled to God through Jesus’ death, much more we will be saved through His life. After receiving the forgiveness of sins and coming to faith in Jesus, we are able to receive His Spirit. Both grace and faith are gifts from God. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (ESV). Unlike a thief, the Lord Jesus did not come for selfish reasons. He came to give, not to get. He came that people may have life in Him that is meaningful, purposeful, joyful, and eternal. Let us meditate and rest on His Word and Promises.
John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 10: 28-29 “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been made righteous by trusting, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1: 13-14 “After you heard the message of truth—the Good News of your salvation—and when you put your trust in Him, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the guarantee of our inheritance, until the redemption of His possession—to His glorious praise!” Hebrews 7: 25 “Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He is always living to make intercession for them.” Ephesians 4: 30 “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” John 6: 39 “Now this is the will of the One who sent Me, that I lose not one of all He has given Me, but raise each one on the last day.”
Christ came to bind up the brokenhearted: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4: 18-19)
Christ exchanged wholeness for brokenness: “Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our pains. Yet we esteemed Him stricken, struck by God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53: 4-5)
Christ granted liberty from bondage: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ. For the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8: 1-2) “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching under which you were placed; and after you were set free from, you became enslaved to righteousness.” (Romans 6: 17-18) “For sin’s payment is death, but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (v. 23) “Brothers and sisters, you were called to freedom—only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5: 13)
Christ brought light to darkness: “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” (John 1: 4-5) “Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. The one who follows Me will no longer walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8: 12)
Christ brought hope and rejoicing: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. An incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading inheritance has been reserved in heaven for you. By trusting, you are being protected by God’s power for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials. These trials are so that the true metal of your faith (far more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire) may come to light in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. And even though you don’t see Him now, you trust Him and are filled with a joy that is glorious beyond words, receiving the outcome of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1: 3-9)
Christ gives a spirit of praise for despair: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our trouble, light and momentary, is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, as we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18)
Christ bears our burdens: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11: 28-29)
Christ gives us purpose: “For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares the LORD, “Plans for peace and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me, and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you will search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29: 11-13)
Christ makes us children of God: “But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God. They were born not of a bloodline, nor of human desire, nor of man’s will, but of God.” (John 1: 23-13) “Now because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, who cries out, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son—and if a son, also an heir through God.” (Galatians 4: 6-7)
In Act 2: 25-28 Peter quotes Psalm 16: 8-11 “For David says about Him, I saw the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand so that I might not be shaken. Therefore, my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; moreover, my body also will live in hope, because You will not abandon my soul to Hell or let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.” Like David, may we rejoice in the Lord this Thanksgiving—to encourage ourself in Him by focusing on Christ the Living Word and experiencing His Presence!
Psalms 5: 12-13 “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice! Let them always shout for joy! You will shelter them and they exult—those who love Your Name. For You bless the righteous, LORD. You surround him with favor as a shield.” AMEN
Worship and rejoice in the Lord with this song SHOUT TO THE LORD!