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Ornaments of Grace (1Th 5:16-18
KJV)
Rejoice
evermore.
(17) Pray without ceasing.
(18) In
every thing give thanks:
for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you.
-----------------------------------
"The position of this
text is very suggestive. Observe what it follows. It comes immediately
after the precept, "Rejoice evermore;" as if that command had somewhat staggered
the reader, and made him ask "How can I always rejoice?" and, therefore, the
apostle appended as answer, "Always pray." The more praying the more rejoicing.
Prayer gives a channel to the pent-up sorrows of the soul, they flow away, and
in their stead streams of sacred delight pour into the heart. At the same time
the more rejoicing the more praying; when the heart is in a quiet condition, and
full of joy in the Lord, then also will it be sure to draw nigh unto the Lord in
worship. Holy joy and prayer act and react upon each
other.
Observe, however, what
immediately follows the text: "In everything give thanks." When joy and prayer
are married their first born child is gratitude. When we joy in God for what we
have, and believingly pray to him for more, then our souls thank him both in the
enjoyment of what we have, and in the prospect of what is yet to come. Those
three texts are three companion pictures, representing the life of a true
Christian, the central sketch is the connecting link between those on either
side. These three precepts are an ornament of grace to every believer's neck.
Wear them every one of you, for glory and for beauty; "Rejoice evermore;" "Pray
without ceasing;" "In everything give thanks." - [Charles Spurgeon.]
----------------------------------- "REJOICE
EVERMORE"
(Phi 4:4
KJV)
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
(Mat 5:10-12
KJV)
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.
(Luk 10:20
KJV)
Notwithstanding in this
rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you;
but rather rejoice, because
your names are written in heaven.
Rom 12:9-17
KJV
Let love be without
dissimulation{Gr=phoniness).
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which
is good.
(10) Be kindly affectioned one to another with
brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another(Gr=above
yourselves)
(11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit;
serving the Lord;
(12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer;
(13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to
hospitality.
(14) Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse
not.
(15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with
them that weep.
(16) Be of the same mind one toward
another.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of
low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
(17) Recompense to no
man evil for evil.
Provide things honest in the
sight of all
men.
--------------------------------
"PRAY WITHOUT
CEASING"
(Luk 18:1
KJV)
And he spake a parable unto them to this
end,
that men ought always to
pray, and not to faint;
(Luk 21:33-36
KJV)
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my
words shall not pass away.
(34) And take heed to yourselves,
lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with
surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life,
and so that day come upon you unawares.
(35) For as a snare shall it come on all them that
dwell on the face of the whole earth.
(36) Watch ye therefore, and
pray always,
that ye may be accounted
worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass,
and to stand before the Son
of man.
(Eph 6:13-18
KJV)
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of
God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day,
and having done all, to stand.
(14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth,
and having on the breastplate of
righteousness;
(15) And your feet shod with the preparation of
the gospel of peace;
(16) Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked.
(17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
(18) Praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with
all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
(Col 4:2-4
KJV)
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same
with thanksgiving;
(3) Withal praying also for us,
that God would open unto us a door of
utterance,
to speak the mystery of Christ, for which
I am also in bonds:
(4) That I may make it manifest, as
I ought to speak.
1Pe 4:7-11
KJV
But the end of all things is at hand:
be ye therefore sober, and watch unto
prayer.
(8) And above all things have
fervent charity among yourselves:
for charity shall cover the multitude of
sins.
(9) Use hospitality one to another
without grudging.
(10) As every man hath received the
gift, even so minister the same one to another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of
God.
(11) If any man speak, let him
speak as the oracles{a fluent orator} of God;
if any man minister, let him do
it as of the ability which God
giveth:
that God in all things
may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom be praise and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
(1Ti 2:1-5
KJV)
I exhort therefore, that, first of all,
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men;
(2) For kings, and for all that are in
authority;
that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all
godliness and honesty.
(3) For this is good and acceptable in
the sight of God our Saviour;
(4) Who will have all men to be saved,
and to come unto the knowledge of the
truth.
(5) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ
Jesus;
1 Sam
12:23-24
Moreover
as for me,
God forbid
that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for
you:
but
I will teach you the good and the right way:
{24} Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for
consider how great things he hath done for you.
--------------------------
"IN EVERYTHING GIVE
THANKS"
(Eph 5:15-21
KJV)
See then that ye walk
circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
(16) Redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.
(17)
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is.
(18) And be not drunk with wine,
wherein is excess;
but be filled with the Spirit;
(19) Speaking to yourselves in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in
your heart to the Lord;
(20) Giving thanks always
for all things unto God and the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ;
(21)
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of
God.
(Phi 4:6-9
KJV)
Be careful for
nothing;
but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known
unto God.
(7) And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
(8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely,
whatsoever things are
of good report;
if there be any virtue, and
if there be any praise,
think on these things.
(9)
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in
me, do:
and the
God of peace shall be with you.
(Col 3:15-17
KJV)
And let the peace of God rule in your
hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one body;
and be ye thankful.
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms
and hym ns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord.
(17) And whatsoever ye do in
word or deed,
do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God and the
Father by him.
(Psa 34:1b-3
KJV)
I will bless the LORD at all
times:
his praise shall continually be in
my mouth.
(2) My soul shall make her boast in the LORD:
the humble shall hear thereof, and be
glad.
(3) O magnify the LORD
with me,
and let us exalt his name
together.
IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN GROWTH DEVOTIONALS
ALWAYS FREE OF
CHARGE
(but not necessarily free
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God Bless
You
In Christ.....brother
bob.......<>< For more information, please visit our home page http://www.nazerene.com YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
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