Be Of Good Cheer!

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19

"Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil." Psalm 90:15

Jesus told us that in the world we would have afflictions or tribulation but we were to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. The word of God tells us on numerous occasions to be strong and of good courage. "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). To be strong and of good courage in a midst of trials and tribulations is a choice that person makes no matter what is going on about him! Because of our faith we God we make a conscious choice to believe God and to be strong and of good courage that He is and will move on our behalf! God’s word is unchanging:

"But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!" 2 Chronicles 15:7

"Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. 2 Chronicles 32:7

Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Isaiah 35:4

Fear occurs when there is an absence of faith. Fear occurs when unbelief enters in and says that God is not God and that there is an enemy or problem that God cannot handle. But it’s nothing but a lie from the pits of hell for there is nothing that is bigger or greater than God. Those who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits and they will not be fearful. They shall be dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit just like Jesus did and trust the Holy Spirit to be and do all things for them. God’s word is unchanging:

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Luke 4:18

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Luke 5:17

And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him. Mark 1:13

Yes, the power of the Lord and angels are not just a pie in the sky but real benefits of God given to and for His people. Angels minister to the heirs of salvation bringing them real help that they need including healing, wisdom, and miracles. God’s word is unchanging:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Luke 1:18-21

Yes, the angel told Joseph a just man "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Many of God’s people suffer things needlessly because they don’t avail themselves of the miracle working power of the Holy Spirit or the services of angels who are there to minister to them in their hour of need! Many Christians to their own demise rely only on the own understanding and the written word of God and ignore the supernatural help that is available to them constantly. Yet God’s word is unchanging:

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness." And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-18

-- Josephine Melrose (JosephineMelrose76@hotmail.com), October 03, 2003