Think And Rejoice Because You Are “Blessed;”
“…you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”-{ 1 Peter 4:14}.
“Blessed!“{Makarios} means possessing the favor of God, experiencing”spiritual prosperity. It describes a state of being marked by fullness from God…an inner joy, happiness, joy that cannot be touched by circumstances, or taken away… satisfied!
In the middle of suffering for doing what is right for Christ, know He says you are “Blessed!” Not rejected, not abandoned or forgotten but “Blessed!” This is His verdict of you. Remember when Jesus was on the cross “And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.”-{Matthew 27:39-44}. They accused the LORD Jesus, and questioned if God delights in Him let Him deliver Him. And the assumption since God did not rescue Him from death on the cross was because God took no delight in Him! God did delight in Him and He was on that cross for the benefit of…others. They had got it wrong for they did not understand God or His ways! And how often we see someone suffering for Christ and wonder if something is wrong with them if God is “trying to get their attention,” when in reality, God places His stamp of approval on them and says they are “Blessed!”
In what way are they “Blessed?’ He says, “The Spirit of Glory Rests upon you.” What does That mean? “The Spirit of glory,” or the “glorious Spirit ” for such He is. In The Old Testament The “Shekinah” glory was the luminous, shinning, glowing, radiant, brilliant light, signified the PRESENCE OF GOD. Moses saw it on the Mount, that took residence in the temple, that moved to the sky to lead the children of Israel, that moved to the tabernacle, that brilliant light. It marked where the Presence of God was and in Peter signifies the Presence of God, through the Holy Spirit, His power and He “rests” upon you. What does “Rest” mean? The word “Rest,” {Anapauo} means “to give rest, give intermission from labor, by impl. refresh.” The word is used in Revelation 14:13,”so that they may rest from their labors.” Philemon 1:20, “from you in the Lord refresh my heart.” Philemon 1:7-“of the saints have been refreshed.” Mark 6:31-“place and rest awhile.” Matt 11:28″ and I will give you rest.” Luke 12:19 -” take your ease.“
“Take ease, Refresh, Give rest.” Wuest says ” not only is the fact of persecution an indication of a spiritually prosperous life, but also of the fact the that the Holy Spirit is resting upon the Christian. The words “rest upon,” are the translation in a manuscript of 103 B.C as a technical term in agriculture. The writer speaks of a farmer resting his land sowing light crops upon it. He RELIEVED the land of the necessity of producing heavy crops, and thus give it an opportunity to RECUPERATE ITS STRENGTH. The word is used in Mathew 11:28- “will give you rest,” Here our LORD causes the sinner who comes to Him to CEASE FROM HIS OWN EFFORTS at carrying his load of guilty and suffering, taking it upon Himself, allowing the believer in his new life powers to function as a child of God. In the 1 Peter passage, the Holy Spirit rests and refreshes the believer in the sense that He takes over the saints battle with sin and the heretofore futile effort as living a life pleasing to God, by giving him victory over the evil nature whose power was broken the moment God saved him, and by producing in his life His own fruit. The Spirit of glory, even the Spirit of God, IS RESTING WITH REFRESHING upon the child of God, causing him to live a life which pleases God and toward which the world hurls its venom and hate.” Mac Arthur, “REFRESHMENT comes on those believers who suffer for the sake of the SAVIOR and the Gospel. The Spirit gives them grace by imparting endurance, understanding, and all the fruit that comes in the panoply of His goodness,”
It means to REFRESH you by taking over in your suffering, and helping your mind. You are not on your own, but the Glorious Spirit of God rests, refreshes you, empowers you, your mind in times of suffering! What a Promise for the suffering ones! Where is God in time of troubles? ” The Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you!” The word is used in Matthew 11:28 of Jesus who gives “rest,” refreshment.” The Glorious Spirit is resting upon you, refreshing you to enable, strengthen you, in times of suffering!
In The Spiritual Realm Power is a Person- The Holy Spirit! -{Read Luke 24;49}.
In Philippians 3:3 we worship by the Spirit, He will enable us to worship God in our pain and make much of the LORD Jesus to us. He will enable us to Glorify the LORD Jesus.-{John 16:13-14}. He will impart wisdom to us -{Ephesians 1:17}.He will teach and remind us of truth.- {John 14:26}. If we need to speak and share He will give us the words to remind us from His Word .-{Mark 13:11}. If we don’t need to say anything, and be quiet, He will enable us-{Isaiah 53;7, 1 Peter 1:23}. He will empower you, {Phil 2:13}. He will remind you of truth, point you to the Love of the LORD Jesus for you, { Rev 1:5}, and the Father’s care for you-{1 Peter 5;7}. He is our greatest need, and He was sent to meet us including our hour of suffering!
In our hour of suffering He not only teaches, reminds us of truth but shows us that Christ loves us, is for us, is with us and will work all things together for good, including the suffering we are experiencing , and He Himself will intercede, pray for us according to the will of God when we don’t know what to pray.-{Romans 8:26-27}. He is God’s gift to us! He has not been withdrawn from us, will never be, He is with us, eternally, to help us, including in our suffering!
In times of suffering don’t believe the lie, believe the Scriptures,
We are not abandoned, we are “Blessed!”