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
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorsSince we became Christians, the authors of this site, over the decades, with the help of the Holy Spirit, have learned deeper biblical truths and how to have a closer walk with Christ. Through the websites that we are writing on, we try to share with the readers who might be interested, messages about living life with Jesus Christ as Lord. BLOG LIST BY DATE
(THE DATES ARE LISTED IN FORMAT DD/MM/YYYY) WALKING WORTHY OF THE LORD 21/01/2025 LET US KEEP THE LORD IN OUR HEARTS 03/01/2025 JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 13/12/2024 THE GOODNESS OF GOD 22/11/2024 WHAT WE SAY BRINGS LIFE OR DEATH 24/10/2024 NO UNITY BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS 24/9/2024 ENDURING TO THE END 22/8/2024 JOY IN TRANSFORMATION 23/07/2024 EFFECTS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 25/06/2024 FIGHTING DISCOURAGEMENT 24/05/2024 LIVING VICTORIOUS OVER SIN AND THE ENEMY 27/4/2024 WHY JESUS HAD TO DIE 23/03/2024 WHO ARE WE MORE LIKE? 27/02/2024 CAN WE KEEP OUR PEACE? 22/1/2024 THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR 1/01/2024 THE PEACE THAT CAME AT THE BIRTH OF JESUS 15/12/2023 THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR 22/11/2023 JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST 24/10/2023 RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE 28/9/2023 WHY SHOULD WE READ THE BIBLE DAILY? 28/8/2023 GOD'S HEART 25/07/2023 FORGIVENESS IS IMPORTANT 22/6/2023 THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 19/5/2023 REIGNING IN LIFE 25/4/2023 CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 GOD WANTS US WELL 28/02/2023 TRUE PROSPERITY 23/01/2023 THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 30/12/2023 CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 28/11/2022 THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 22/10/2022 THE SURRENDERED LIFE 18/9/2022 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 13/8/2022 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 LET US PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 16/5/2022 VICTORIOUS OR DEFEATED 18/3/2022 CHANGING WITH THE TIMES 2/22/2022 CONSIDERING THE PAST AND THE FUTURE 1/1/2022 THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR 14/12/2021 VICTORY IN SUFFERING 10/11/2021 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 8/10/2021 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH..." 10/9/21 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 19/08/2021 HOW DO WE HANDLE SUFFERING? 17/6/2021 FORGIVE US LORD, AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS 26/05/21 WHEN THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS WE ASKED 06/05/21 GOD'S WORD WORKS 26/3/2021 GOD WANTS US TO SUCCEED 15/2/2021 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 OUR CHOICES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE 5/1/2021 "COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN" 8/12/2020 BEING THANKFUL 22/11/2020 WHAT DEFINES OUR LIVES AND US? 31/10/2020 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD 18/09/2020 "THE REST" WE FIND IN THE LORD 13/08/2020 HOW WE CAN FILTER OUR IN-TAKE 24/07/20 JESUS IS OUR ANCHOR IN STORMY TIMES 9/07/2020 CHOOSING TO REJOICE 23/06/2020 STRESSFUL TIMES AND OUR EMOTIONS 26/05/2020 BIRTH PAINS OF A ONE WORLD ORDER 12/5/2020 TEST ALL THINGS 22/04/2020 IN STRESSFUL TIMES 31/03/2020 STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 15/03/2020 GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO HELP US 28/02/2020 GOD KNOWS! 14/01/2020 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 FALL IS IN THE AIR 30/09/2019 WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO REMAIN CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK? 18/7/2019 LITTLE THINGS 01/07/2019 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 17/5/2019 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 1/2/2019 LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY 15/1/2019 FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT 4/12/2018 THE PRODIGAL SON 11/10/2018 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 HOW JESUS ANSWERED TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 GOD'S LOVE IS IMMEASURABLE 6/6/2018 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED... 26/3/2018 ENDURANCE! 15/02/2018 CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 25/1/2018 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN TODAY 15/11/2017 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT? 26/8/2017 THE DANGER OF UNHEALTHY FEAR 26/6/2017 HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 26/6/2017 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 13/6/2017 "NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN SNATCH US OUT OF THE HAND OF JESUS OR FATHER GOD!" 11/4/2017 "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 "GRACE UPON GRACE" 24/2/2017 TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED 6/2/2017 WHAT MAY HARDEN THE HEART? 31/1/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 30/1/2017 IT IS HARD KICKING AGAINST THE GOADS 30/1/2017 JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 10/1/2017 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 6/12/2016 NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH US OUT OF GOD'S HAND! 2/12/2016 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 9/11/2016DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 15/10/2016 ARE THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES FOR US, THE GENTILES, TOO? 14/10/2016 CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 11/10/2016 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 6/10/2016 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 17/9/2016 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 7/9/2016 PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH 26/8/2016 "WALKING ON WATER" 23/8/2016 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 5/8/2016 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL 29/7/2016 ANSWER TO PRAYER 23/7/2016 WHY PRAY? 22/7/2016 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY ”KNOWING” GOD 21/7/2016 WE NEED GOD'S PRESENCE 21/7/2016 GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! 21/7/2016 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 21/7/2016 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 21/7/2016 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 21/7/2016 CATEGORIES
BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD ARE THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES FOR US, THE GENTILES, TOO? 14/10/2016 BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 28/11/2022 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 17/9/2016 GOD'S WORD IS POWERFUL 1/11/2016 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 21/7/2016 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 9/11/2016 WHY SHOULD WE READ THE BIBLE DAILY? 28/8/2023 CHRISTIAN LIVING "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 BEING THANKFUL 22/11/2020 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 7/9/2016 DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR 22/11/2023 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 21/7/2016 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! 21/7/2016 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 8/10/2021 HOW WE ARE MADE AND CHOOSING HOW WE RECEIVE 24/07/20 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD 18/09/2020 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT? 26/8/2017 IT IS HARD KICKING AGAINST THE GOADS 30/1/2017 THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 19/5/2023 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL 29/7/2016 LITTLE THINGS 01/07/2019 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 6/12/2016 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 6/10/2016 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH..." 10/9/21 "NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN SNATCH US OUT OF THE HAND OF JESUS OR FATHER GOD!" 11/4/2017 NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH US OUT OF GOD'S HAND! 2/12/2016 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 OUR CHOICES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE 5/1/2021 PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH 26/8/2016 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THE PRODIGAL SON 11/10/2018 RETURNING TO OUR FIRST LOVE 28/9/2023 THE SURRENDERED LIFE 18/9/2022 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 21/7/2016 TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED 6/2/2017 TRUE PROSPERITY 23/01/2023 WALKING WORTHY OF THE LORD 21/01/2025 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 5/8/2016 REIGNING IN LIFE 25/4/2023 WHAT DEFINES OUR LIVES AND US? 31/10/2020 WHAT MAY HARDEN THE HEART? 31/1/2017 WHAT WE SAY BRINGS LIFE OR DEATH 24/10/2024 CHRISTMAS CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD 13/12/2024 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 THE PEACE THAT CAME AT THE BIRTH OF JESUS 15/12/2023 FAITH & TRUST CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 11/10/2016 CONSIDERING THE PAST AND THE FUTURE 1/1/22 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 19/08/2021 DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 15/10/2016 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 "THE REST" WE FIND IN THE LORD 13/08/2020 "WALKING ON WATER" 23/8/2016 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 13/6/2017 WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO REMAIN CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK? 18/7/2019 FEAR THE DANGER OF UNHEALTHY FEAR 26/6/2017 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 FORGIVENESS FORGIVE US LORD, AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS 26/05/21 FORGIVENESS IS IMPORTANT 22/6/2023 WHY JESUS HAD TO DIE 23/03/2024 GOD, FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 25/1/2018 "COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN" 8/12/2020 GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO HELP US 28/02/2020 GOD KNOWS! 14/01/2020 GOD'S HEART 25/07/2023 HOW DID JESUS ANSWER TO TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN TODAY 15/11/2017 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE GOODNESS OF GOD 22/11/2024 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY ”KNOWING” GOD 21/7/2016 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 WE NEED GOD'S PRESENCE 21/7/2016 GRACE "GRACE UPON GRACE" 24/2/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 30/1/2017 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 HEALING HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 26/6/2017 GOD WANTS US WELL 28/02/2023 JOY, HAPPINESS CHOOSING TO REJOICE 23/06/2020 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 JOY IN TRANSFORMATION 23/07/2024 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 MISCELLANEOUS CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 NO UNITY BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS 24/9/2024 THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 22/10/2022 PERSEVERANCE AND STRENGTH "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 CHAINS OF SMOKE 11/11/2019 CHANGING WITH THE TIMES 2/22/2022 EFFECTS OF FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD 25/06/2024 ENDURANCE! 15/02/2018 ENDURING TO THE END 22/8/2024 FIGHTING DISCOURAGEMENT 24/05/2024 HOW DID JESUS ANSWER TO TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 13/8/2022 IN STRESSFUL TIMES 31/3/2020 LIVING VICTORIOUS OVER SIN AND THE ENEMY 27/4/2024 STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 15/03/2020 THE BEGINNING OF A NEW YEAR 1/01/2024 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 30/12/2023 VICTORY IN SUFFERING 10/11/2021 VICTORIOUS OR DEFEATED 18/3/2022 PEACE CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 CAN WE KEEP OUR PEACE? 22/1/2024 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 PRAISE AND WORSHIP LET US PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 16/5/2022 PRAYER ANSWER TO PRAYER 23/7/2016 WHEN THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS WE ASKED 06/05/21 WHY PRAY? 22/7/2016 SALVATION THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 WHY JESUS HAD TO DIE 23/03/2024 SELF-EXAMINATION WHO ARE WE MORE LIKE? 27/02/2024 TESTIMONIES, DREAMS, ETC JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 10/1/2017 VARIOUS FALL IS IN THE AIR 30/09/2019 GOD WANTS US TO SUCCEED 15/2/2021 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 1/2/2019 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 17/5/2019 JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST 24/10/2023 LET US KEEP THE LORD IN OUR HEARTS 03/01/2024 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 Archives
January 2025
|