Written by Michael J. Martinez
Guiding Light Praying Ministry.
www.glprayingministry.com

?But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your Salvation? Psalm 13:5. ?We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions? Psalm 20:5.

We can pray and we can rejoice as we live the life of ours! Even though things may get rough, calamity may happen, death of loved ones, and or pestilences. The scriptures say, ?And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven? Luke 21:11. We see the recent hurricanes in Florida and now in New Orleans, Louisiana, Alabama and other areas hit hard by hurricane ?Katrina.? We see the destruction afterward and the chaos that it has created not just there but all over the United States as gas prices soar and companies close.

Man, is scripture showing to be true as we live in the last days? I do not know how long the world will go, how much time we got to preach and share Jesus Christ, but however long it is, we must as Christians rejoice and endure. Those of you who have no faith and no hope and do not know how to rejoice you must consider what the end of all things holds and where will you end up when life ceases to exist.
Whether or not bad happenings are inevitable we have to be here and how would you rather live? Rejoicing and serving the living God, the creator, or suffering mentally with anguish, misery, pain, and false peace (lies) serving the creature, the world, the ruler of the world, Satan.

?But let all those rejoice who put their trust in you; let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them; let those also who love your name be joyful in you. For you, O Lord, will bless the righteous with favor you will surround him as with a shield? Psalm 5:11,12. If God knows that calamity and chaos are coming and it is part of the plan and His process to bring about the end times, then He also knows we can rejoice in the troubles to come. The Apostle Paul says, ?For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain? Phil.2:21. Although life must bring about disease, tragedy and destruction to say the least, we are living here now to know Christ.

To become a new creation, to be set free from the bondage of sin and the bondage of fear/anxiety from what is inevitable. To receive and have the gift freely given by the Father, through the Son Jesus Christ, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. ?I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me? Gal. 2:20. We live sometimes not wanting to die because this is all we know, even as a Christian and death may not be feared but when death is coming and we are going to enter in, as believers, to heaven we all of a sudden try and fight for life here. Is life here to gain, or is it to accept the gift of salvation and become born again to have eternal life? To share with others this gift and transformation so that they may as well have eternal life. Paul said ?to die is gain? not to live, in a world that the scriptures tell us clearly is not our home. 1 John 2 verses 15 and 16 say, ?Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world?the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life?is not of the Father but is of the world.? And James tells us in James 4 verse 4 ?Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

I know for me and having kids, I ask the Lord that I may stay and train up my children and wife for what is coming, I want to live to teach others. But I also have to realize that if God does take me, then there is nothing I can do to stop it. Do not waste time and deny the Son of God Jesus Christ, ?For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? You do not want to try to prolong life here or try to exchange your soul for a better life, but you want to exchange life here for salvation and eternal security with Jesus Christ. We must be willing to endure and learn how to rejoice in trials and tribulations, because as an unbeliever you will have to go through them anyway. Yet you will put yourself through unnecessary hardship, and risk not being saved, instead of going through this life with God?s help and allowing Him to protect you from the evil one.
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ? 2 Tim.2:3. We can make it through and become strengthened by the Holy Spirit that will help us and know that if we die in the process, we gain new life we do not loose it.

A new life without pain, sorrow, disease, anguish, worry, anxiety and all the other worldly problems. Paul says, ?Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory? 2 Tim.2:10. Paul?s desire was to see people come to know the savior of the world and have what you may have as well, for free, not easy lived, yet having in abundance everything God will give you. ?If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us? 2 Tim.2:12. You must be willing to endure for Christ, just as He endured all sin of every human being that lived then and that will live to the end of time, when He died on the cross.

?For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning? Psalm 30:5. Yes, my friends we may have to live today for what the day brings but the Lord can fill us up with much joy. ?The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace? Psalm 30:11. So become His child and understand His peace and joy for you, His unconditional love He wants to bless you with. Christians ?Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart? Psalm 32:11. God is not saying to walk with your head hung low, complain and whine, be discouraged, and fear everything that is happening today. Pray, that if you are in bondage to sin, you would ask Him to bring into your life whatever it takes to get you to stop, and pray to Him that you would have the strength to respond. Confess with your mouth to Jesus (Rom.9:9-10) your sins and believe in Him, ask for His forgiveness and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit, that you will be born again, saved.

Read John 16:20

May God Bless you and give you of His peace, Amen.

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Published on: 2005-09-02 (2070 reads)