A complete salvation 8: to be a saint (5): Pass the tests : Rejo

A complete salvation 8: to be a saint (5): Pass the tests <2>: Rejoice in God only and always.

Dear All:

All glories, praises and thanks be to God.

A complete salvation 8: To be a saint (5): Pass the tests <2>: Rejoice in God only and always.

Something special to learn through the tests:

(a) Rejoice in God only and always. Love God Himself more than all the gifts He grant us.

Someone might frown at what one learned so far with bitterness filled in mouth:
"I only have some pleasures to enjoy in the busy life full of worries. It now seems that I will lose it to crucify my old self. My motivations to keep moving on in my life is the pride of self, even to be more clean is because that will show that I am better than others. Self-complacency and self-satisfaction give me the pleasures and motivations. Now you tell me that is my biggest enemy. And I thought that to be closer to God means I will reduce my hardships and now you tell me about the tests. What pleasure left for me and how can I be joyful? Am I supposed to also live a joyful, peaceful, worry-free and easy life as a Christian before I enter the kingdom of Heaven?"

Yes. As a Christian, we should live a joyful, peaceful, worry-free and easy life if we learn to rejoice in God only and always. That is a critical lesson that we need to learn through the tests to become a saint and later a citizen in the Kingdom of God. The light spirits go to heaven; not the heavy spirits full of sins and worries.
"Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)

Real happiness is what everyone keeps on looking for in his or her life. Usually, one would think that he/she will achieve the real happiness if one is more successful, or gets more money, or gets more promotion and power and fame, or has a better wife/husband/kids, or even one self is born with more gifts and better appearance. But according to those who have got these, they still don't have much peace and joy and will find themselves buried in new worries and concerns. The worldly things and pleasures are temporary and meaningless. King Solomon has got all that one might desire for. Yet from what we learn through ECCLESIASTES, after he achieved all of them, Solomon's conclusion is: wisdom, pleasures, toil, advancement and riches are all meaningless.
"'Meaningless! Meaningless!' says the teacher. 'Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.'" (ECCLESIASTES 1:2)
"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (ECCLESIASTES 1:14)

The worldly pleasures not only are temporary, but also bring more worries and sins to us for one will keep on worrying how to get it and get more of it or not to lose it. For example, if we are used to taking pleasures from the pride of self, we will feel hurt when we see others are better. Envy will then be a natural reaction, if taking on actions, it will add sins to us. For another example, love of money brings more sins and worries which is well known.
"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and
pierced themselves with many grieves." (1 TIMOTHY 6:9-10)
The addiction to the worldly pleasure will blind one's eye to see and know God.

Actually, there does exist the real happiness - it is in God. Same as other desires that God sets in the hearts of man and man keep on searching for yet cannot find them by oneself: eternal life, real happiness and always being loved do exist and they are all in God. To learn to rejoice in God only and love God more than anything else He grant us, we will be able to get rid of the sinful nature that used to be impossible to reject. We will always be joyful and peaceful regardless of any hardships, sufferings and loss. It will also prepare a proper character that we must have if we want to live an eternal life with God. All glories, praises and thanks be to Holy Spirit who point out this way to life to all of us.

Joy is one of the character for a real Christian's life. A characteristic fruit brought to us by Holy Spirit is joy and peace. It is a gift granted to us to taste what is like to be with God. All praises and thanks to God. Some sensitive Christians might wonder about where this kind of external joy come from because at that moment, they might be surrounded by troubles and seem no obvious things to be joyful about; some might not distinguish the difference and think that they are simply feel happy and joyful.
"therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." (PSALMS 45:7)
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." PSALMS (34:8)
"You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound." (PSALMS 4:7)

This joy is one of the characteristics of the new spiritual life. It is a peaceful joy that makes one feel safe and sound regardless of the environment. Even in the hardships, the peaceful joy can keep one's heart warm although surrounded by all kinds of troubles. We should build this peacefully joyful character into our spirits by rejoicing in God. And also let this part of the new spiritual life flow out on our faces.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (ROMANS 15:13)
"Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (PHILIPPIANS 4:4)

We should always rejoice in God and rejoice in God only. That is one of the critical lessons that we need to learn through all kinds of tests we have been through or will be through.

Keep in mind that God is the source of all the power and goodness, righteousness, holiness, faithfulness and love. He is almighty to save.
Knowing God should be enough to make us joyful and hopeful, no matter what happened, remember that God do not change:
"Don't be deceived, my dear brothers, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (JAMES 1:16-17)
Rejoice in God's great name and words:
"The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice." (PSALMS 97:1)
"In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name." (PSALMS 33:21)
"For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands." (PSALMS 92:4)
"the percepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart," (PSALMS 19:8)
"Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!" (PSALMS 64:10)
"I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches." (PSALMS 119:14)
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (PSALMS 37:4)
"But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;" (PSALMS 40:16)

Knowing the great love of God and the salvation He grant us and make it possible to us by Himself; knowing Jesus Christ did resurrect and is alive for ever and ever who is the King of the kings, Lord of the lords and holds the keys of death and Hades; should be enough to make us joyful and grateful. Remembering God's great love and Jesus Christ is there for us and reminding yourself of the eternal life ahead (if we make sure we won't be astray to God's law and commands), all the hardships will be trifles.
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 CORINTHIANS 4:17)
Rejoice in God's love and salvation to us:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (JOHN 3:16)
"My (Jesus') command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." (JOHN 15:12-13)
"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (ROMANS 5:7-8)
"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation." (PSALMS 13:5)
"Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (ROMANS 5:11)
"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet apart from my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him..." (JOB 19:26-27)
"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (ISIAH 12:3)
"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasure at your right hand." (PSALMS 16:9-11)

Almighty God is our heavenly Father whom we can always turn to and rely on, who bears our burdens everyday, is our strength and joy.
"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." (PSALMS 68:19)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I (Jesus Christ) will give you rest." (MATTHEW 11:28)
"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he believes in me will never be thirsty.'" (JOHN 6:35)
Rejoice in God who is our strength:
"Sing for joy to God our strength;" (PSALMS 81:1)
"The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;" (ISAIAH 12:2)
"...but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (PSALMS 73:28)
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (NEHEMIAH 8:10)
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (ISAIAH 40:31)
"I (Paul) have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (PHILIPPIANS 4:12-13)

God love us much more than our fathers and draw us near Him with His everlasting love:
"I (God) have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."(JEREMIAH 31:3)
God love and comfort us more than anyone can do:
"a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (PSALMS 51:17)
Rejoice in God who is our comfort:
"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." (PSALMS 5:11)
"When anxiety was great within me, you consolation brought joy to my soul." (PSALMS 94:19)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
"My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice." (PSALMS 34:2)
"You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you." (PSALMS 86:5)
"I (Paul) am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bound." (2 CORINTHIANS 7:4)
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." (2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4)

Rejoice in God who is much more and beyond one can list. (May God forgive one's limitation.)

To be continued ...
Pass the tests<3>:Hold on to the faith in God firmly.

All glories, praises and thanks be to God.
God bless us to rejoice in Him only and let Him be our strength
in Jesus

servant of Christ