Rejoicing in Death

Friday 18 November
READ: Phil. 1: 20-21
MORE LESSON: Psa. 116: 15

When a child is born into the world, it cries and the people around rejoice. If a child is born and it doesn't cry, the nurses and doctors spank the child till it cries and after the child begins to cry, people around begin to rejoice. So when a baby is born, the baby cries and everybody laughs. The reverse is the case when a man dies, the people around begin to cry. However, the man at this point has two options. Either he rejoices as the people cry or he enters into eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth. What each man will do at the point of death is dependent on where he is going after death.
Paul said, I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death: Phil 1:20-21. It is important to consciously live and prepare with the intention that one doesn't want to be ashamed when death comes. It is necessary to live with the consciousness that you want to laugh and rejoice when death comes even if people in the world are mourning. When a man is born again and lives for Jesus Christ, there is no sorrow in his death. He will rejoice in death; this is the reason the Bible says, I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope: 1 Thess 4:13.
Christ can be glorified in a man's life when he lives and even when he dies. If a man lives his life to the glory of God, Christ will be magnified in his life even in death. Death, for believers, is not a sorrowful event. It is merely a transition. The important thing is what will happen to the man after death. A child of God, after death, enters into a world of eternal rejoicing. A man who didn't live for God leaves the earth and then begins a life of eternal sorrow. You can rejoice over death by living your life according to the will of God. The first step is to give your life to Christ and then to dedicate your life to fulfilling His will on earth. You will rejoice in life, rejoice in death and rejoice in eternity, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that you will rejoice in life, death and rejoice in eternity, in Jesus’ name.
* Declare that you shall live for Christ Jesus and that death will be a gain for you.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, anything waiting to spoil the day of my joy and celebration, I destroy by fire today, in the name of Jesus.