Paul was in prison while he wrote the epistle to the Philippians. Over and over he exhorted believers to rejoice. It is not known for certain which prison Paul was at the time, but we know that he was imprisoned for about six years total; in the jails of Ephesus, Caesarea and Rome. When Paul, and Silas with him, were locked in a prison cell in Philippi, God interfered as they chose to pray and praise God in the midst of a nasty situation.
What follows in the next verses is stunning, too. The jailer passed from despair (he was ready to kill himself as he believed all prisoners had escaped) to huge joy, as he and his household received Jesus as Lord and Savior and were all baptized! Paul was writing to the Philippians to be happy, no matter what they were facing. Even if the circumstances he was facing were terrible, Paul urges God's children (from Philippi at that time and all Christians of all times, including us), to rejoice! If we look more carefully at our lives, we see that the most frequent causes of our sadness and lack of peace are rarely major issues, but more commonly the minor ones. The Bible teaches us to repent (to admit we did sin, to regret we did, and ask God to forgive us) quickly of every sin, of every wrong we commit. Whether we realize it or not, when we choose sin over obedience to God, then we are giving place to the devil, which opens us up to attack and hurt. Jesus warned us of Satan's evil ways in John 8:44b “He (the devil) was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” Does it seem to you that a life lived mainly being sad, with an unsatisfied attitude, complaining all the time and with little or no joy is an abundant life? I am sure it doesn't. Also, it is very important to not believe the lies that the enemy brings in our minds to keep us "under the weather," full of sorrows, making us believe we are weak, unworthy, big sinners with no hope that God cannot love. Our heavenly Father is teaching us step by step, how to fight to win and have real joy, continuous joy in Him, to live with the joy that comes from the security of salvation in Jesus Christ, as long as He is our Lord! The more we learn to hear and obey His voice, the happier we'll be! Yes, there are problems and troubles that sadden and upset us, but we have no reason to camp there... our sadness is not solving the problem and does not undo the damage or hurt, and can even ruin our health.
For those who love God, we know that we belong to Christ, who paid for our sins by dying in our places. We live with the desire to please the Lord and trust Him that He will even turn our troubles into something good. Why? Because God changes the evils that the devil and even people did and uses them for good.
As Joseph told his brothers, who had sold him as a slave:
God even changed Balaam's curse into a blessing for the people of Israel.
Spiritual warfare is not occasional, but continuous, as the enemy is in attack-mode at all times. That's why we need to be alert, online with the Lord at all times (prayerful) and recognize enemy attack from its first signs and not falling into his traps. How much better it is being aware that we have authority and power through Jesus, who dwells in God's children and to know how to fight. The Christian life was for too long, considered to be a life of pain, suffering and false humility. Apostle Paul, faced many very tough trials and tribulations (if you want to find out more about it, read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, where Paul shares what he faced in those 22 years of ministry, approximately from 36 AD to 68 AD and ending when Nero ordered his execution). The words joy, glad, happy appear about 330 times in the Bible... For sure God loves joy. He created it, and it defines Him. Heaven is the place of joy, gladness, peace and full truth! Our heavenly Father wants us to learn to rejoice in Him and to stop focusing on our problems and needs. He wants us to learn to know and trust His heart, to enjoy what we have, even the little things. In so doing, bitterness and worry will not find place in our hearts. When we allow the negative it separates us from the joy of being in God's presence. God wants us to know Him and how much He love us and for us to love Him back for who He is, not for what He gives us. The result is a greater relationship with God and being greatly blessed Him. Our carnal nature and spiritual enemy if left unchecked, would have us focusing on material things and daily problems which is not God's plan for us. If allowed, it comes between us and the Lord. On the contrary, the Lord wants us to seek Him, His kingdom and righteousness first and in so doing, the Lord will see our needs met.
We read in the book of Nehemiah, how God touched the hearts of the people of Israel, while they listened to the reading of the Law. The people were crying, understanding how far they were from what God expected from them... Likewise today, when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, God does not want us to continue to be sad after we admit our sins and we sincerely ask Him to forgive us. His desire is for us to enter into His presence and rejoice!
May the Lord our God help us overcome quickly the hard times and remember this big truth: THE JOY OF THE LORD REALLY IS OUR STRENGTH! C. Pușcaș |
BLOG BY DATE
OUR WORDS MATTER 10/24/2024 LIGHT AND DARKNESS DO NOT MIX 9/24/24 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS 8/22/2024 JOY IN HARD TIMES 7/23/2024 LET US LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF JESUS 6/25/2024 THE DISCOURAGEMENT TRAP 5/24/2024 KNOWING AND COUNTERING THE UNSEEN ENEMY 4/27/2024 JESUS, THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD SAVE US 03/23/2024 WHO ARE WE LIKE IN TIMES OF TESTING? 02/27/2024 THE TRUE SOURCE OF PEACE 1/22/2024 REFLECTION AND ANTICIPATION 01/01/2024 THE PEACE THAT HAS COME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST 12/15/2023 THE ESSENCE OF BEING CHRISTLIKE 11/22/2023 HEIRS OF GOD 10/24/2023 RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE 9/28/2023 HOW MUCH OF THE BIBLE IS ENOUGH? 8/28/2023 THE HEART OF GOD 7/24/23 THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS 6/22/2023 THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 5/19/2023 IT IS TIME TO REIGN IN LIFE 4/25/2023 CAN WE REST PEACEFULLY? 3/25/2023 GOD'S BEST FOR US 2/28/2023 BLESSINGS AND PROSPERITY 1/21/2023 THE BEST CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE 12/30/2022 DO YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 12/15/2022 IMPORTANT BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 11/28/2022 THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS 11/22/2022 THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 10/22/2022 THE ABUNDANT LIFE 9/18/2022 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 08/12/2022 THE LORD IS MY REFUGE 06/27/22 PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 5/16/2022 WINNER OR LOSER? 2/18/22 IN CHANGING TIMES 2/22/22 SELAH 1/1/22 THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR, CHRIST THE LORD 12/14/21 VICTORY IN HARD TIMES 11/10/2021 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 10/8/2021 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND ALL THY SOUL, AND ALL THY MIND" 9/10/21 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 8/19/21 CAN WE HAVE GOD'S BEST? 7/23/2021 HOW DO WE HANDLE SUFFERING? 6/17/2021 WHEN THE ANSWER TO PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS REQUESTED 05/06/21 IT IS EASY NOT TO SIN WHEN THINGS ARE GOING OUR WAY! 4/8/21 THE BLAME GAME 3/19/21 GOD HELPS US TO SUCCEED 2/15/2021 THE PEACE OF GOD WITH US 1/26/2021 REJOICING IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES 01/05/2021 COME UNTO ME 12/8/2020 THANKFULNESS 11/22/2020 WHAT IS LIFE? 10/30/2020 DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU 9/18/2020 WE FIND "THE REST" WE NEED IN THE LORD! 8/13/2020 WITH GOD, WE CAN FILTER WHAT WE RECEIVE? 7/24/2020 THE ANCHOR HOLDS 7/9/2020 TODAY "I CHOOSE" JOY 6/23/2020 OUR EMOTIONS IN TROUBLED TIMES 5/26/2020 BIRTH PAINS OF A ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT 5/12/2020 TEST ALL THINGS 4/22/2020 PERFECT PEACE 3/31/2020 IS THE COVID-19 VIRUS A SIGN OF THE END TIMES 3/22/2020 KEEPING OUR PEACE AND JOY 3/15/2020 GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO HELP US! 2/28/2020 GOD KNOWS! 1/14/2020 WHEN JESUS CAME! 12/23/2019 CHAINS OF SMOKE 11/11/19 FALL IS IN THE AIR 9/29/19 WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO REMAIN CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK? 7/18/2019 LITTLE THINGS 7/1/2019 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 5/16/2019 FULLNESS OF JOY 3/6/2019 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 2/1/2019 LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY 1/14/2018 FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT 12/4/2018 THE PRODIGAL SON 10/11/2018 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 JESUS DID NOT FALL INTO TEMPTATION 7/16/2018 GOD'S LOVE IS IMMEASURABLE! 6/6/2018 THE DEVIL HAS NO POWER OVER CHRISTIANS 5/18/2018 THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED 3/26/2018 ENDURANCE! 02/15/18 HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 1/27/2018 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 OUR REJOICING IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 12/6/2017 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 9/18/2017 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT? 8/26/2017 HEALTHY FEAR - UNHEALTHY FEAR 6/25/2017 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 6/13/2017 BE WATCHFUL, AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN 4/19/2017 GOD IS ON OUR SIDE! 4/11/2017 AWESOME GRACE 2/26/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 2/6/2017 "IT IS HARD FOR YOU TO KICK AGAINST THE GOADS" 1/29/2017 JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 1/10/2017 NO ONE IS ABLE STEAL US FROM GOD'S HAND 12/15/2016 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 12/7/2016 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 11/9/2016 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 10/14/2016 HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES ARE VALID FOR THE GENTILES TOO? 10/14/2016 CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 10/12/2016 THE WAR BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN WITH MAN IN THE MIDDLE 10/7/2016 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 10/6/2016 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 9/17/2016 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 9/7/2016 THE THORN IN PAUL'S SIDE 8/26/2016 WALKING ON THE WATER 8/25/2016 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 8/6/2016 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL! 7/29/2016 WHY PRAY? 7/14/2016 PRAYER IS COMMUNICATION WITH GOD 7/13/2016 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 6/7/2016 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 5/23/2016 GOD'S WILL FOR MANKIND 3/30/2016 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 2/13/2016 WE NEED THE PRESENCE OF GOD 1/29/2016 THE PRICE OF SEPARATING FROM GOD 1/21/2016 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY "KNOWING" GOD 12/5/2015 HAPPY OR SAD 11/23/2015 JESUS IS THE TRUTH 9/3/2015 FREE IN JESUS 8/22/2015 GROWING IN THE LORD 8/11/2015 ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU 8/11/2015 CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 8/7/2015 BLOG BY TOPIC
BIBLE - THE WORD OF GOD ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU 8/11/2015 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 9/17/2016 HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES ARE VALID FOR THE GENTILES TOO? 10/14/2016 HOW MUCH OF THE BIBLE IS ENOUGH? 8/28/2023 IMPORTANT BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 11/28/2022 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 5/23/2016 THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED 3/26/2018 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 11/9/2016 CHRISTIAN LIVING BE WATCHFUL, AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN 4/19/2017 BLESSINGS AND PROSPERITY 1/21/2023 CAN WE CHOOSE WHAT WE RECEIVE? 7/24/2020 CAN WE HAVE GOD'S BEST? 7/23/2021 CHAINS OF SMOKE 11/11/19 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 9/7/2016 DRAW NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU 9/18/2020 ENDURANCE! 2/15/2018 THE ESSENCE OF BEING CHRISTLIKE 11/22/2023 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 6/7/2016 FREE IN JESUS 8/22/2015 GOD'S WILL FOR MANKIND 3/30/2016 GROWING IN THE LORD 8/11/2015 HAPPY OR SAD 11/23/2015 HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 1/27/2018 HEALTHY FEAR - UNHEALTHY FEAR 6/25/2017 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT:? 26/82017 "IT IS HARD FOR YOU TO KICK AGAINST THE GOADS" 1/29/2017 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 5/16/2019 IT IS TIME TO REIGN IN LIFE 4/25/2023 THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 5/19/2023 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL! 7/29/2016 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 12/7/2019 LITTLE THINGS 7/1/2019 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 10/6/2016 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND ALL THY SOUL, AND ALL THY MIND" 9/10/21 NO ONE IS ABLE STEAL US FROM GOD'S HAND 12/15/2016 OUR WORDS MATTER 10/24/2024 REJOICING IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES 01/05/21 RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE 9/28/2023 TEST ALL THINGS 22/04/2020 THANKFULNESS 11/22/2020 THE ABUNDANT LIFE 9/18/2022 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE DEVIL HAS NO POWER OVER CHRISTIANS 5/18/2018 THE PRICE OF SEPARATING FROM GOD 1/21/2016 THE PRODIGAL SON 10/11/2018 THE THORN IN PAUL'S SIDE 8/26/2016 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 2/13/2016 THE WAR BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN WITH MAN IN THE MIDDLE 10/7/2016 THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED 3/26/2018 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 8/6/2016 CHRISTMAS DO YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 12/15/2022 THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR, CHRIST THE LORD 12/14/21 THE PEACE THAT HAS COME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST 12/15/2023 FAITH & TRUST SELAH 1/1/22 CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 10/12/2016 THE DEVIL HAS NO POWER OVER CHRISTIANS 5/18/2018 THE LORD IS MY REFUGE 06/27/22 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 10/14/2016 WALKING ON THE WATER 8/25/2016 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 6/13/2017 FORGIVENESS JESUS, THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD SAVE US 03/23/2024 THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS 6/22/2023 GOD: THE FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 8/7/2015 COME UNTO ME 12/8/2020 GOD IS ON OUR SIDE! 4/11/2017 GOD'S LOVE IS IMMEASURABLE! 6/6/2018 GOD'S WILL FOR MANKIND 3/30/2016 HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 1/27/2018 JESUS DID NOT FALL INTO TEMPTATION 7/16/2018 JESUS IS THE TRUTH 9/3/2015 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE HEART OF GOD 7/24/23 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY "KNOWING" GOD 12/5/2015 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 9/18/2017 WE NEED THE PRESENCE OF GOD 1/29/2016 GRACE AWESOME GRACE 2/26/2017 JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 1/10/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 2/6/2017 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 HEALING GOD'S BEST FOR US 2/28/2023 HEALING IS GOD'S WILL! 01/27/2018 JOY, HAPPINESS FULLNESS OF JOY 3/6/2019 JOY IN HARD TIMES 7/23/2024 TODAY "I CHOOSE" JOY 6/23/2020 LOVE OF GOD FULLNESS OF JOY 3/6/2019 GOD'S LOVE IS IMMEASURABLE! 6/6/2018 MISCELLANEOUS FALL IS IN THE AIR 9/29/19 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 2/1/2019 HEIRS OF GOD 10/24/2023 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 10/8/2021 IMPORTANT BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 11/28/2022 IS COVID-19 A SIGN OF THE END TIMES 3/22/2020 LIGHT AND DARKNESS DO NOT MIX 9/24/24 THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS 11/22/2022 THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 10/22/2022 THE ANCHOR HOLDS 7/9/2020 THE BLAME GAME 3/19/21 WHAT IS LIFE? 10/30/2020 WHEN JESUS CAME! 12/23/2019 PEACE CAN WE REST PEACEFULLY? 3/25/2023 KEEPING OUR PEACE AND JOY 3/15/2020 PERFECT PEACE 3/31/2020 PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 5/16/2022 THE PEACE OF GOD WITH US 1/26/21 THE TRUE SOURCE OF PEACE 1/22/2024 PRAISE AND WORSHIP PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 5/16/2022 REJOICING IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES 01/05/21 PRAYER PRAYER IS COMMUNICATION WITH GOD 7/13/2016 WHEN THE ANSWER TO PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS REQUESTED 05/06/21 WHY PRAY? 7/14/2016 RAPTURE WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS 8/22/2024 SALVATION THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS 6/22/2023 SELF-EXAMINATION WHO ARE WE LIKE IN TIMES OF TESTING? 02/27/2024 STRENGTH AND PERSEVERANCE BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN 04/19/2017 CHAINS OF SMOKE 11/11/19 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 8/19/21 DO YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 12/15/2022 ENDURANCE! 02/15/2018 GOD HELPS US TO SUCCEED 2/15/2021 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 08/12/2022 IN CHANGING TIMES 2/22/22 JESUS DID NOT FALL INTO TEMPTATION 7/16/2018 KNOWING AND COUNTERING THE UNSEEN ENEMY 4/27/2024 LET US LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF JESUS 6/25/2024 THE BEST CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE 12/30/2022 THE DEVIL HAS NO POWER OVER CHRISTIANS 5/18/2018 THE DISCOURAGEMENT TRAP 5/24/2024 TODAY "I CHOOSE" JOY 6/23/2020 WE FIND "THE REST" WE NEED IN THE LORD! 8/13/2020 VICTORY IN HARD TIMES 11/10/2021 WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS 8/22/2024 WINNER OR LOSER? 2/18/22 TESTIMONY, DREAMS, ETC. JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 1/10/2017 Archives
October 2024
Categories |