WBC VIDEO NEWS PRESENTATION: http://signmovies.com/?tab=news&vid=20130403rejoice
On the eve of the full institution of fag marriage in this evil country, Westboro Baptist Church is rejoicing. You see, rebels, your dastardly deed which demonstrates your total reprobation—the imagination of the thoughts of your heart are only evil continually – means that our Lord Jesus Christ is soon returning to redeem us from this filthy generation and destroy this world. Why do we rejoice?
For God’s people, the joy of the Lord is their strength: safety, stronghold, refuge, protection (Neh. 8:10). A defining attribute of God’s elect in the earth is their joyfulness; the fruit of the Spirit is joy (Gal. 5:22), and that joy can no man take from us (Jn. 16:22). It is the duty of God’s people to serve Him with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart; in fact, service to God doesn’t count if it’s not done joyfully (Deut. 28:47; see also Ex. 35:29, 2 Cor. 9:7, Heb. 10:34, on cheerful/willing/joyful giving). There are at least nine distinct things from God in which His servants rejoice.
- Above all, we rejoice in His salvation (Ps. 35:9; Isa. 25:9; Isa. 61:10; Zech. 9:9). We rejoice because our sins are forgiven (Mt. 9:2), and because our names are written in heaven (Lk. 10:20). We will rejoice with our brethren before the White Throne (Rev. 4, 7 & 20), and rejoice exceedingly when the marriage of the Lamb and New Jerusalem is come (Rev. 19:7; Isa. 65:17-19).
- We rejoice when communing with and seeing the faith of our co-elect on this earth (Php. 2:29; 1 Th. 2:20 & 3:6-9; Lk 1:44). We find great joy in the love of the brethren and it refreshes our bowels (Phil. 1:7) and our spirit (2 Cor. 7:13). There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repenteth (Lu. 15:7); we have no greater joy than to hear that our co-elect walk in the truth (3 John 1:4); and we joy when beholding the stedfastness of the faith of God’s people (Col. 2:5).
- We rejoice in the preaching of the truth of God. The receiving of the preached word is joy to the preacher and hearer (1 Jn. 1:4; 2 Jn. 1:4, 12; 3 Jn. 1:3). We receive the word with much joy (1 Th. 1:6); there is joy and peace in believing (Rom. 15:13); the words are the joy and rejoicing of our hearts (Jer. 15:16); and Mt. Zion, from whence the words flow, is the joy of the whole earth (Ps. 48:2; see also 1 Sam. 52:7; Rom. 10:15).
- God’s people rejoice when God delivers them from their enemies. Our mouths are filled with laughter and our tongue with singing when God delivers His people (Ps. 126:1-2; Ps. 9:2). Happy art the people saved by the LORD (Deut. 33:29; 1 Sam. 18:6). God’s people rejoice and give thanks when delivered (e.g., Ex. 15 & 18:9; Lev. 23 [delivered from Egypt]; Esther 8:17 [delivered from Haman]; Judges 5 [delivered from Sisera]; 2 Chr. 23:13 (delivered from evil Queen Athaliah]; Jer. 30:19 & 31:4 [delivered from Babylonian captivity]). We give God thanks in the great congregation, because he rescues our souls from destruction (Ps. 35:17-18).
- God’s people rejoice in affliction & reproaches. We rejoice when we are partakers of Christ’s suffering (1 Pet. 1:8 & 4:13), and when men revile and persecute us, and say all manner of evil against us falsely for Christ’s sake (Mt. 5:11). We are exceeding joyful in all our tribulation (2 Cor. 7:4); and full of cheer, knowing Christ has overcome the world (Jn. 16:33). If we be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are we (1 Pet. 4:14), and when we are reproached for righteousness’ sake (1 Pet. 3:14). (Also see Lk. 6:22-23; James 1:2 & 5:11; and 1Pet 1:6.)
- God’s people find joy in obedience. He that keepeth the law, happy is he (Prov. 29:8). When we know these things–our duty to God and each other–and do them, happy are we (John 13:17). Paul rejoiced in the obedience of the church at Colosse (Col. 2:5); and was glad at the obedience of the elect in Rome (Rom. 16:19), for happy is the man that walketh in his ways (Ps. 128:1-2). The congregation of Israel rejoiced when King Hezekiah restored things to proper obedient order in the house of God (2 Chr. 30). When the temple was restored after the Babylonian captivity by obedient people, they shouted aloud and wept with joy (Ezra 3:12-13). We eat our bread with joy, and drink our wine with a merry heart, when God accepts our works (Ecc. 9:7); and those that are upright in heart shout for joy (Ps. 32:11).
- God’s people rejoice when they are corrected and perfected by God, because happy is the man whom God correcteth (Job. 5:17); whom the LORD loveth he correcteth (Pr. 3:12); whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (Heb. 12:6). We gladly rejoice in infirmities (2 Cor. 12:9-10, 13:9), because the trying of our faith is more precious than gold (1 Pet. 1:7), and perfects faith (Eph. 4:12; 1 Th. 3:10).
- God’s people find joy in the fulfillment of His promises (1 Ki. 8:56); happy is that people whose God is the LORD (Ps. 144:15), and whose hope is the LORD his God (Ps. 146:5). Though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Pet. 1:8).
- God’s people rejoice when they see His righteous judgment on the wicked. We make a joyful noise because the LORD cometh to judge the earth righteously (Ps. 98; 96:11-13; 67:4; 9:2). We rejoice when God avenges the blood of his servants, and renders vengeance to his adversaries (Dt. 32:43). The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, because He is a God that judgeth in the earth (Ps. 58:10-11). Zion is glad and rejoices at the LORD’s judgments (Ps. 97:8). When God carries away the scattered wicked in a whirlwind, we rejoice in the LORD and glory in the Holy One of Israel (Isa. 41:16).
So, don’t you wish you lived in the land that flows with milk and honey like us unworthies at Westboro Baptist Church?