Focus: Reasons For Rejoicing! (Pt.1)

Text: 1Sam.2:1

"And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation."

Paul tells us that the kingdom of God is "joy in the Holy Ghost," and in another place he tells us, "Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say, Rejoice." Christianity is a religion of joy - joy of a supernatural kind and unspeakable.

Let us look at some of our reasons for rejoicing.

*Rejoice for being you!

Isaiah declares, "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy" (Isa.65:18). Your creation calls for rejoicing. You exist to rejoice and designed for joy. Joy is part of your DNA.

*Rejoice for the Word!

The psalmist says, "The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes" (Ps.19:8). God's word inspires joy. The Word fills us with joy. The psalmist says again, "Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart" (Ps.119:111). The Word rejoices the heart. Jeremiah says, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts" (Jer.15:16). Mark says that the ordinary people "heard him gladly." The Word puts joy in your soul and makes you rejoice.

*Rejoice for God's acts!

The psalmist says, "And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing" (Ps.107:22). Rejoice in what the Lord is doing! We know who God is by what God does. His being and His doing are eternal integrated.

*Rejoice in righteousness!

The psalmist proclaims, "The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly" (Ps.118:15). In the home of the righteous there is immense rejoicing. The kingdom of God is righteousness. Righteousness and joy are interconnected.

*Rejoice for finding the lost!

Christ tells us the parable of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son, and interestingly, they were all recovered. Concerning the found sheep, the Lord Jesus Christ said, "And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing" (Lk.15:5). Let us yearn for lost souls and rejoice at their recovery! Christ says that the angels in heaven rejoice over a single soul that gets back into the fold of God.

*Rejoice for the privilege of suffering for Christ!

Luke reports, "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name" (Act.5:41). Peter and John suffered humiliation and shame for Christ, and they rejoiced that they did. Suffering for Christ is virtuous and greatly rewarding.

*Rejoice for being in Christ!

Luke records, "And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing" (Act.8:39). Nothing inspires greater joy and rejoicing than being saved in Christ. This government official was extremely joyous for having heard the word, believed in Christ, and having been baptized. He couldn't contain his joy. He traveled back home rejoicing for such a great salvation. It is also a similar story for the jailer. Luke says, "And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house" (Act.16:34). Becoming a child of God calls for rejoicing.

*Rejoice in your spiritual authority!

Luke tells us about the one time mission of seventy disciples of Christ. He says, "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name" (Lk.10:17). The believer in Christ functions by the authority of Jesus Christ. The power in the name of Jesus Christ works wonders. Demons bow when we exercise the authority of Jesus' name. The demonic forces are subject to us in the name of Jesus Christ.

*Rejoice for having your name in the book of life!

The Lord Jesus Christ says to the seventy disciples, "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Lk.10:20). The moment we believe in Jesus Christ, God registers our names in heaven. We become candidates or citizens of heaven. Paul tells us that our citizenship is in heaven.

We have immense reasons for rejoicing in Christ. Isaiah says that with joy we shall draw water from the wells of salvation. There is something called 'the joy of salvation," and Habakkuk says, "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Hab.3:18). Let's count our blessings and rejoice in the God of our salvation.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter