1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

In this short portion of scripture we find some important heart attitudes that make all the difference in our spiritual lives. The first is to rejoice always. We’ve got to set our hearts on the eternal perspective. It’s easier to rejoice in difficult circumstances when our hearts are set on eternity because we remember that whatever is going on here, we are soon to be with our Father. The second is to pray without ceasing. We must have our hearts inclined toward the Father. As we talk together, our relationship increases, following Him is easier, and I am filled with more joy. The third is to give thanks in everything. During hard times it’s often hard to give thanks, but we can thank God that He is bigger than our difficulties. There is much in life that can be difficult, but our salvation, hope, and confidence is in Jesus and cannot be taken from us. Victory is already ours.

Let’s keep focused on our Father and remember to practice living out the Word. Let’s anchor our souls in the eternal and choose to measure our lives by that standard because that’s where life is.

Matthew 28:5-7

But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead. Matthew 28:5-7

Can you imagine what it would be like if Jesus had not risen from the dead? Everything would end with us visiting His tomb and imagining His great suffering and death. And then we would go home without victory over death and Hell. Good Friday is the day that we remember the suffering, shame, and death of Jesus. But we are not without hope! We know that Easter morning is coming. It’s the day we remember that Jesus didn’t just suffer and die, He conquered death and Hell and, in so doing, granted to us the opportunity for salvation, an eternity in Heaven, and victory.

So rejoice! Christ has risen, He has ascended on high, He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit, He has given us victory, power, love, acceptance and a new covenant that is ours to live out and enjoy. Let’s rejoice because our Savior is risen; He is risen!

Do you get it? The Christ who died for you has risen, and the same Spirit that rose Jesus Christ from the dead abides in you if you choose Him. Meditate on the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. Ponder the truth and let your mind expand to bring this incredible reality into the center of your thinking. We are conquerors. We are victors. We are Christ’s and He is ours. All He has established of resurrection life is ours. Let’s rejoice!! He is Risen!!

Psalm 8:3-6

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. Psalm 8:3-6

How painful for our Heavenly Father when mean chose sin instead of obedience in the Garden of Eden! It was Satan’s absolute deathblow to us and caused us to be separated from our heavenly Father. Forevermore our sins had to be covered by blood sacrifice. We see this in the Old Testament in all the rituals and sacrifices and specifications that men had to perform in order for sin to be covered. It’s hard to imagine all the mess and find the worship of God in it, but a Holy God cannot be in the midst of sin.

I know that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ this month, but we must remember the price that we were purchased with. The ritual of sacrifice is not required of us because Jesus took care of it all with His own blood. Our sin still requires blood, only now it’s our acceptance of the blood of Jesus that enables us to be in relationship with our Holy God. What a value He places on us! Let’s rejoice in the fact that our great and Holy God loves us! But let’s never forget what it cost. Let’s be sobered by the fact that our sin cost so much while we rejoice in the overwhelming love of our Father who gave His Son for us. Let’s remember the amazing value that God places on us and the incredible privilege of our redemption.

Ephesians 3:14-19

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

A couple of weeks ago we had what we called a Family Sunday. We stepped out of the comfort of our usual order of service for an interactive time of prayer, games, and fellowship. Our goal was to build relationship, unity, and teamwork in the family unit and in our larger church family unit. In this day and age, the importance of the family has been devalued. The Biblical precedent of passing down wisdom and knowledge has largely been lost in our culture. We are called to step into that role and be a family unit that is supportive and a blessing to each other.

We’re all related. We all share in the same riches, grace, love and blessings and are all anchored in the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We’re filled and continuing to be filled by the Holy Spirit with the fullness of God. We are so rich! But all of these blessings transpire in the middle of God’s family. The is where we all belong , we are all needed, and we are all valued. We are God’s keys to unlocking the Kingdom for those we serve. Praise God for His grace. As we sow into future generations, we’ll see everything of God’s kingdom released and growing.

Colossians 3:15-16

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15-16.

Peace is a choice. Worry, fear, and unrest come because we choose not to believe God. He hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. He can be trusted and has your best interests on His mind and heart. When we choose to believe Him, His character, His Word, and His promises are yes and amen to us. As we grow in grace, we also grow in thanksgiving and appreciation for His body of believers. This heart of thanksgiving and peace reflects the heart of God. Let’s choose to believe Him. As we do, let’s watch the peace of God rule in our hearts.

Genesis 2:7

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.” Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-23

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel.
Genesis 4:1-2

These verses are about the first family. If you read on you’ll find that in this family is where the act of murder comes on the Biblical scene. Family can be a difficult thing, or it can be a joyful, refreshing part of life. There’s nothing like a family for giving joy and laughter and there’s nothing like it for inflicting pain. The devil hates family and works to destroy it wherever possible. But God’s purpose for family is that within it He would be honored and loved. There’s just no way to comprehend God’s design for family unless we truly know Jesus and His Word. I’m not talking about who does what work within the home, I’m talking about honoring God and His Word in our hearts so that what He has purposed for us is embraced. God’s plan is to heal, and that means healing for our families as well. Once we begin to live out His purposes for us, we will begin to see His purposes realized within our homes and families.

Today we choose to celebrate family - both our individual family units and our church family. God designed the church family to be a mirror to individual family units. We are to be bonded together, loving, supporting and helping each other, but most of all rejoicing in the presence of God and enjoying fellowship with each other. Let’s embrace His wholeness and allow His love to pour through us to one another so that we all would be bonded, joined and functional in a way that would cause the world to know Him and us to rejoice in Him.

1 Timothy 2:1-5

Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-5

Praying for our leaders is a directive from the Word. We need to pray for those who are in authority over us. It doesn’t matter what our party affiliation is or if we agree with the politics of the person, we still need to pray for them. In fact, it isn’t just about what our authorities will gain or lose if we pray, God assures us that there’s something in it for us as well. When we pray for our authorities, we reap a life of peace, godliness, and reverence. God approves of our prayers and He loves thanksgiving in all men. Let’s be a united body of believer and pray for our president. Let’s pray that he’ll have a close and intimate walk with God, through His Son, Jesus Christ. And let’s pray that he’ll make Godly decisions, that he would be open to Godly council, and that the enemy would have no influence over him.

We also need to be praying for each other. We need the church to be a real, living body of believers. We know that God wants us to touch the world as Jesus did and through Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we can. But, as the scripture says, first comes supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. As we live out this directive, let’s rejoice in the Lord and know that God loves answering prayers that are in accordance with His heart. Let’s pray for the nation, pray for the church, and believe for a great and powerful release of God’s abiding and transforming presence.