OUTLINE:
1Th 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Life Is Good
This is not conjecture, it is a fact. God says so. (Ref: Jas 1:17; 2Ti 2:19-21; Phm 1:4-7; Php 4:4-9)
Jas 1:17 [Amplified]
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].
Life Is Good
This is not conjecture, it is a fact. God says so. (Ref: Jas 1:17; 2Ti 2:19-21; Phm 1:4-7; Php 4:4-9)
2Ti 2:21
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
Obedience Is a Grace Gift
By grace, God has given us commandments and the spiritual energy to obey them. Obedience is a blessing meant to sanctify us. The more we understand this, the more we rejoice, pray, and give thanks (ala 1Th 5:16-18) that “life is good.”
Life Is Good
This is not conjecture, it is a fact. God says so. (Ref: Jas 1:17; 2Ti 2:19-21; Phm 1:4-7; Php 4:4-9)
Phm 6-7 [Amplified]
pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ. For I have had great joy and comfort and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints (God’s people) have been refreshed through you, my brother.
Life Is Good
This is not conjecture, it is a fact. God says so. (Ref: Jas 1:17; 2Ti 2:19-21; Phm 1:4-7; Php 4:4-9)
Eph 3:19 [Amplified]
and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].
Jn 17:3
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent.
Knowing Christ Is Everything
It’s not enough to just know “of” Him, or who He was, historically, or even that He died for the forgiveness of sin. To truly know Him is to know that life is good.
The Truth is immutable (it never changes), regardless of whether or not a person agrees with it.
Familiarity
To become familiar is to lose one’s perspective. It may just be THE greatest disease of all plaguing believers in Christ. When we become familiar with the Word, we lose our “life is good” attitude (Maturity principle: this is tantamount to disobedience).
Familiarity
Don’t just say “life is good” because of this or that thing that exists in your life; say it because you know that EVERY facet of it is truly good because it has been designed BY GOD to be good.
Familiarity
To become familiar is to lose one’s perspective. It may just be THE greatest disease of all plaguing believers in Christ. When we become familiar with the Word, we lose our “life is good” attitude (Maturity principle: this is tantamount to disobedience).
Php 4:8 [Amplified]
Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
Ac 17:28-29 [Amplified]
For in Him we live and move and exist [that is, in Him we actually have our being], as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ So then, being God’s children, we should not think that the Divine Nature (deity) is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination or skill of man.
The “Life Is Good” Attitude
It’s transcendent, not transactional.