REJOICE AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD

READING: Matt 5:3-16

I. WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING, ETERNAL MEDIATOR IN CHRIST.

A. He knows and understands all trials and temptations we face.
1. Heb 4:14-16
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold
fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need.

B. Christ will always be there for us.

1. Heb 7:24-28
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to
make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher
than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the
people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the
law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

II. THE LORD WATCHES OVER HIS OWN.

A. The righteous are His.
1. 1 Peter 3:12-16
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of
the Lord is against them that do evil.
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be
troubled;
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh
you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that
falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

B. God, in all His Divine power, will not let trials destroy us.
1. 1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a
way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

C. We are blessed to be in fellowship with God, Jesus Christ, and our fellow Christians.
1. 1 John 1:3-10 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these
things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of
him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have
fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as
he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth
us from all sin.
III. WE HAVE THE JOY OF BELONGING TO GOD.
A. By God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice.
1. Rom 5:8-11
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the
atonement.

B. Happily, we now have a re-alignment of priorities.

1. Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in
the Holy Ghost.

2. Gal 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh
with the affections and lusts.

C. We now find joy in emulating the sufferings of Christ.

1. James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that
the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect
and entire, wanting nothing.

2. 1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory
shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

D. Our Savior will preserve us.

1. Jude 24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty,
dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

IV. WE HAVE SURE, ETERNAL PROMISES OF HEAVEN

A. Certain qualifications apply.
1. Matt 5:3-16 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven .
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you
falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth
good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that
are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven.
 2. Matt 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure
is, there will your heart be also.

3. Matt 6:25-33
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for
your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither
do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall
he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be
clothed?
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all
these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

B. We have a set appointment.

1. 1 Thess 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall
we ever be with the Lord.

2. Rev 21:4-7
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these
words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that
is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Invitation: Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Christ as the Son of God, Be Immersed for the
remission of sins, and then grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, remaining faithful
until death.

If you are a Christian and have sinned publicly, then you are invited to remove your
separation from God by public repentance so that prayers can be offered with you and
for you.