ministry encouragement

she shall rejoice ~ our citizenship is in heaven – Rejoice! | letter 134 on assurance & joy

Isaiah 53:11: He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied...

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven . . . 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. . . 11 . . . for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

she shall rejoice

Proverbs 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Darkest night
Hottest fire
She shall rejoice
Under His tree
With great delight
Yea, rejoice!
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

In heav'nly place
With eye of faith
A song of joy
Her soul's travail
Already visible
Fruit sweet to taste

With great delight
Banqueting
Under His tree
With Him she sups
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

Desert flight
Driest bones
She shall rejoice
Under His tree
With great delight
Yea, rejoice
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

In heav'nly place
With eye of faith
A song of joy
Her soul's travail
Already visible
Fruit sweet to taste

With great delight
Banqueting
Under His tree
With Him she sups
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

Noxious blight
Barren womb
She shall rejoice
Under His tree
With great delight
Yea, rejoice
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

In heav'nly place
With eye of faith
A song of joy
Her soul's travail
Already visible
Fruit sweet to taste

With great delight
Banqueting
Under His tree
With Him she sups
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

Fruitless vine
Widow's grief
She shall rejoice
Under His tree
With great delight
Yea, rejoice
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

In heav'nly place
With eye of faith
A song of joy
Her soul's travail
Already visible
Fruit sweet to taste

With great delight
Banqueting
Under His tree
With Him she sups
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

Broken heart
Empty arms
She shall rejoice
Under His tree
With great delight
Yea, rejoice
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

In heav'nly place
With eye of faith
A song of joy
Her soul's travail
Already visible
Fruit sweet to taste

With great delight
Banqueting
Under His tree
With Him she sups
Fully satisfied!
Graced in Christ!

Habakkuk 3
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Song of Solomon 2:3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

* * *

Is your citizenship in heaven?
Are you living like it is?

By the power of Christ in you . . .

Have you begun to learn to be content in whatever state you find yourself?
Have you been able to rejoice in the Lord always?
Have you known the peace of Christ guarding your heart and mind?

* * *

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.

The sorrows of the mind
Be banished from the place;
Religion never was designed
Religion never was designed,
To make our pleasures less,
To make our pleasures less.

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
The men of grace have found,
Glory begun below.
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow,
From faith and hope may grow.

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.

The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.

(from Isaac Watts' "We're Marching to Zion")

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Related:

the laborer's lamentation and affirmation (the precursor to my posts on assurance and joy)
Letter 1 on assurance and fighting for joy
Letter 11 on assurance and fighting for joy (the Lord is at hand! - Philippians 4)
Letter 13 on assurance and fighting for joy (strengthened for endurance and patience with joy)
Letter 15 on assurance and fighting for joy (Joy is a gift of God, more than a feeling)
Letter 16 on assurance and fighting for joy (our prayers, His wise denials and joy)
a conversation with Jesus about misplaced joy ("do not rejoice in this" - letter 73 on joy)
disappointment ~ appointment | letter 119 on assurance & fighting for joy

Rejoicing in Winter?
As the Visible Disappoints
Advent #1 WHY HAS JESUS COME? that we might have life & life more abundantly
Advent # 5 WHY HAS JESUS COME? So we might draw near to God | Even a Vapor
Psalm 131 ~ Lord, calm my soul; Lord, wean my soul in this mephitic air | W.H. Hewitson
even in my disappointment - still blessed by my Father
How long wilt thou mourn? I Samuel 16:1 - Through many disappointments & deceit, To Zion ascend, go up to the mercy seat
Though the waves arose
Habakkuk Hope: "Joy and Peace in Believing" by William Cowper
Where do you go when the world is unlovely? (Psalm 84 & the theology of Biblical counseling)
Yes, it's spring, but for those who are in winter today: Isaac Watts' Psalm LXXI

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Photo credit: An edited version of the public domain photo found here http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apple_orchard.jpg.
occupy ~ do you seek your own – or the things of Christ? does His Spirit occupy?

Philippians 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's...

Romans 15:3a For even Christ pleased not himself...

Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...

do you seek your own –
or the things of Christ?
does His Spirit occupy?

do you have Christ's mind?
does His Spirit occupy?

is your heart circumcised?
are you yourself denying?

united with Him, fully alive
to God's will freely resigned?

like Christ, broken bread and poured-out wine,
a vessel honorable, fully sanctified?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Jesus Christ...

the form of God
Lord Jesus Christ

reigned in glory
heaven occupied

His glory throne
laid aside

became a man
a body occupied

from divinity's height
a womb occupied

humiliation
manger occupied

of palaces worthy
yet the lowly occupied

the highest King
lowest place occupied

the name above every name
servant's rank occupied

do you seek your own –
or the things of Christ?
does His Spirit occupy?

do you have Christ's mind?
does His Spirit occupy?

is your heart circumcised?
are you yourself denying?

united with Him, fully alive
to God's will freely resigned?

like Christ, broken bread and poured-out wine,
a vessel honorable, fully sanctified?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Jesus Christ...

uncomely root
by men despised

by His own
brushed aside

man of sorrows
tears and strong cries

the garden's kiss
by friend thrice denied

mocked and scourged
suffering occupied

bearing reproach
burned outside

silent Lamb
weakness occupied

made a curse
the cross occupied

propitiation
for His bride

suffering Servant
with joy occupied

by His own rejected
Lord of glory crucified

put to grief
crushed for our crimes

obedient Son
the tomb occupied

the work finished
His Father glorified

do you seek your own –
or the things of Christ?
does His Spirit occupy?

do you have Christ's mind?
does His Spirit occupy?

is your heart circumcised?
are you yourself denying?

united with Him, fully alive
to God's will freely resigned?

like Christ, broken bread and poured-out wine,
a vessel honorable, fully sanctified?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Jesus Christ...

His own will set aside
with His Father's will occupied

the Glory of God manifest
meekness and majesty collide

the Gospel of God manifest
justice and mercy abide

in His furnace be refined
that His glory in you may shine

with things too profound
may we not be occupied

may our souls be like a child
with only Christ be occupied

may our souls be weaned
with Christ be wholly satisfied

"Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
more than all in Thee I find!"
~ Charles Wesley ("Jesus, Lover of My Soul")

do you seek your own –
or the things of Christ?
does His Spirit occupy?

do you have Christ's mind?
does His Spirit occupy?

is your heart circumcised?
are you yourself denying?

united with Him, fully alive
to God's will freely resigned?

like Christ, broken bread and poured-out wine,
a vessel honorable, fully sanctified?

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Jesus Christ...

II Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Do you know Christ's grace?

Do you have Christ's mind?

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Matthew 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. (ESV)

II Corinthians 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

do you seek your own –
or the things of Christ?
does His Spirit occupy?

do you have Christ's mind?
does His Spirit occupy?

is your heart circumcised?
are you yourself denying?

united with Him, fully alive
to God's will freely resigned?

like Christ, broken bread and poured-out wine,
a vessel honorable, fully sanctified?

Related:

Christ's Advent Hymn ~ "Trinity's Counsel, Divine Design"
Can two walk together... Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit...
"if I would but cease struggling ... I might be happy" (Edward Payson)
Psalm 131 ~ Lord, calm my soul; Lord, wean my soul in this mephitic air | W.H. Hewitson
O, this cross! ~ We are but vessels
Fourth Sunday of Advent (2007): The Magnificat
Happy Mother's Day (2007): Mary's "Kingdom Availability" and "Kingdom Vision"
A Song of Surrender: Aaron Shust's "Give It All Away"
Bible Reading:The Good Shepherd Recovers All, Disadvantages Himself & Is a Good Theologian
Atlanta: What Is Poverty? Jesus' Poverty: The One Who Wast Rich beyond All Splendor
What Is Success? What Is Making a Difference? Part 1: Jesus and Success
What Is Success? What Is Making a Difference? Part 11 ... from Oswald Chambers
What Is Success? What Is Making a Difference? Part 14-Being Faithful Wherever God Places Me
What Is Success? What Is Making a Difference? Part 15: What we learn from Jesus
A Hymn for "Shelf" Times..."Lord, We Know That Thou Art Near Us"
(9) Kingdom-Obsessed People don't seek "great things" for themselves
The Feast of Christ the King: (10) Kingdom-Obsessed People crown Him Lord of all
Bible Reading: Esther/(11) Kingdom-Obsessed people don't act like Queen Vashti
My love affair . . . whose trumpet, whose glory & incomplete joy
Lenten Reflections: Climbing (the minister's descent)
Lenten Reflections: What HE Gave Up ~ Does His grace get you amazed?
I keep seeking (the minister's confession)
tangled
the gall of bitterness (receiving glory from one another ~ ministry's temptation)
Save me from the mouth of the lions! (the minister's battle with pride)
but made Himself of no reputation ~ O, for grace to be a doorkeeper! (Philippians 2, Psalm 84)

Scripture quotations unless otherwise indicated are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Federico_Barocci_-_The_Nativity_-_WGA01293.jpg / CC BY-SA 3.0 / {{PD-Art|PD-old-100}}

Work found at http://www.artbible.info/art/large/209.html / {{PD-Art|PD-old-100}}
Mary's Song ~ Holy Child, hidden in my womb | letter 131 on assurance & fighting for joy

Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart...

35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also)...

Galatians 4:19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

Holy Child, hidden in my womb
He has regarded my state lowly
Ponder, O my soul, ponder Him

Holy Child, silent in my womb
According to Your Word, let it be
Rejoice, O my soul, joy in Him

This grace to me is given
To the least of all the saints
That I might preach Christ's riches
Unsearchable from heaven

Holy Child, hidden in thy womb
Israel's Consolation and Glory
Ponder, O mother, ponder Him

Holy Child, silent in thy womb
Your own soul will be pierced
Worship, O mother, worship Him

This grace to you is given
To the least of all the saints
That you might preach Christ's riches
Unsearchable from heaven

Holy Child, hidden in my womb
May I bless my Lord night and day
Ponder, O my soul, ponder Him

Holy Child, silent in my womb
Though the sword may pierce
Worship, O my soul, worship Him

This grace to me is given
To the least of all the saints
That I might preach Christ's riches
Unsearchable from heaven

Holy Child, hidden in my womb
Through sorrow and adversity
Worship, O my soul, worship Him

Holy Child, silent in my womb
Uphold me in my integrity
Bless, O my soul, ever bless Him

This grace to me is given
To the least of all the saints
That I might preach Christ's riches
Unsearchable from heaven

Though the way be hard and grievous
Holy Child, hidden in my womb
May my tongue bless and never curse

Set a watch over my heart and lips
Holy Child, silent in my womb
May I not speak like a woman foolish

This grace to me is given
To the least of all the saints
That I might preach Christ's riches
Unsearchable from heaven

In the sharpest providence
Holy Child, hidden in my womb
Send grace sufficient to trust

Bless Him, O my soul, only bless
Holy Child, silent in my womb
Rejoice and do not curse Him

This grace to me is given
To the least of all the saints
That I might preach Christ's riches
Unsearchable from heaven

Holy Child, hidden in my womb
Never leave or forsake me
May Christ in me be formed

A vessel for Your glory
Make me pure and holy
A steward trustworthy

This grace to me is given
To the least of all the saints
Though sorrowful, may I rejoice
Unspeakably from heaven

Holy Child, hidden in my womb
In summer's sun and winter's gloom
Keep me faithful and ever true

Holy Child, silent in my womb
In fallen world, this darkened tomb
May Your love ring, Your light consume

This grace to me is given
To the least of all the saints
Though sorrowful, may I rejoice
Unspeakably from heaven

Throughout all your pilgrimage
Cling to Christ, your confidence
Remember God's good purpose:

This grace to you is given
To the least of all the saints
That you might preach Christ's riches
Unsearchable from heaven

This grace to you is given
To the least of all the saints
Though sorrowful, always rejoice
Unspeakably from heaven

* * *

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

Psalm 141:1 LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. 2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. 5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. 6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. 8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. 9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

Job 1:21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong...

Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ...

II Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

I Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory...

"Whenever it looks like he is buried for good, Jesus is doing something awesome in the dark." ~ John Piper

Related:

Magnificat
Fourth Sunday of Advent: The Magnificat
Happy Mother's Day: Mary's "Kingdom Availability" and "Kingdom Vision"
the story of Christmas ~ the story of Holy disruption
The story of Job: bad luck, God's sovereign will or ?
Lenten Reflections: He answered nothing...But Jesus still answered nothing.
Lenten Reflections: the servant's tongue
O, this cross! ~ We are but vessels
"And they cast him out." (John 9) ~ Providence is not surprised
"Blessed is the Man that endureth Temptation" by Joseph Hart
As the Visible Disappoints
Embittered, pricked in heart? Go into the sanctuary of God (Psalm 73)
Psalm 131 ~ Lord, calm my soul; Lord, wean my soul in this mephitic air | W.H. Hewitson
Where do you go when the world is unlovely? (Psalm 84 & the theology of Biblical counseling)
In hope against hope believe, Blessed are all who believe

My other letters on assurance & fighting for joy including:

Letter 1 on assurance and fighting for joy
Are you a radiant Christian or a drunken old woman? (letter 82 on assurance & fighting for joy)
"But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish." Isaiah 9:1-7 | letter 92 on assurance & joy
Nehemiah's Song ~ "even here, even in the night seasons, even in the ruins" | letter 106 on joy
Fear not, little flock (Luke 12:32) | letter 123 on assurance & fighting for joy
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest (Hebrews 3:7-4:13) ~ Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion | letter 128

Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Work found at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antonello_da_Messina_036.jpg / CC BY-SA 3.0 / {{PD-Art|PD-old-100}}

naphtali_deer

About me...

Christian hedonist in training. Pressing on to know more and more of the joy of the LORD. Pleading with God to rend the heavens and revive and refresh my own soul, as well as His Church, to His praise, honor and glory.

Thank God. He can make men and women in middle life sing again with a joy that has been chastened by a memory of their past failures. ~ Alan Redpath

More about this blog...

My other websites

tent of meeting: Prayer for reformation & revival

(See also Zechariah821. Zechariah821 is a mirror site of tent of meeting, found on WordPress)

deerlifetrumpet: Encouragement for those seeking reformation & revival in the Church

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