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Today is Sunday May 16, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Chronicles, chapters 14-16. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-may-16

Title: Bible Study: Rejoice in The Lord, Always
As Christians we can rejoice in the fact that we know we have a great God on our side to shield us, comfort us, and correct us when we obey and follow our Lord Jesus Christ. No matter how faithful we are to God, at times, circumstances or even day to day life can cloud our minds to the point that we do not even realize He is always with us. Of course when that happens even more circumstances come our way until we realize that we have forgotten about God or that He is in control of the situation. We are to rejoice in the Lord always, through joy, happiness, mourning, pain, financial difficulties, marital problems, loneliness, and everything in between. When we rejoice in the Lord in every aspect of life we not only receive His blessings, we also go through a lot let suffering. God never places things before us that we can not handle.

David went through one trial after another before he became king, through it all he never failed to praise God or seek His guidance in the steps he took. Often the phrase, and David enquired of God, is written in the Scriptures. “And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? And wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand. So they came up to Baalperazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baalperazim. And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire. And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.” - I Chronicles 14:9-17. David was prosperous and successful as a king and feared by all nations knowing that he was the king of God's people.

During the forty years that Saul reigned over Israel, the Ark was ignored, but when David became king, he was deeply concerned that the Ark, above which God's presence dwelt. He knew that the nation's success was dependent upon God's presence being in their midst. Soon after establishing his capital in Jerusalem, David united the nation for a glorious time of praising the Lord while bringing the Ark of God from the house of Obededom to Jerusalem. To demonstrate his reverence for God, and in recognition that God was the Supreme Ruler, David humbly laid aside his kingly garments and dressed in a plain linen ephod, a garment the priests wore when ministering before the Lord. “And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it. And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:..And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it....And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD....And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. ” - I Chronicles 15:1-4,12,15,27. In doing this, David was publicly acknowledging his submission to the authority of the supreme King and expressing adoration and praise to his Lord as Almighty God and the true King of Israel. This time David carefully obeyed God's Word, telling the priests to sanctify themselves and bear the Ark of God upon their shoulders as Moses commanded according to God's Word. God's work must be done in His way not in our own, if He is to be glorified. It is only as we serve the Lord according to His Word that we enjoy His presence and receive His blessing.

There is only one true God, oh people might try and create other gods and worship them as if they were God, but all they are doing is deceiving themselves and sending themselves right to hell, if they have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Even before Jesus came the people knew they needed to be saved, David encouraged the people to rejoice in their salvation in public, recognizing that there is only One God who saves. “Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” - I Chronicles 16:23-29. When we rejoice in the Lord always we will not only send joy to God we will become strengthen and able to handle tougher situations. We can not be afraid to show the world that we follow Christ. So, we are called Jesus freaks or something worse. I rather be a Jesus freak than act like a fool to please the public. It is only when we rejoice and praise God that He acknowledges and blesses us. There is a song called the never ending song, it's endless, the more you sing it the better you feel,
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
And Again I say rejoice.
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.

Keep repeating the verses over and over again.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and let's have a great week knowing Jesus is with us.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina