Rejoice!
Philippians 4:1-7
I do not know about you, but I am ready for this election to get over with.
I do not say that to minimize the tremendous privilege we have in America to cast our ballots and have a say in who represents us in local, state, and national offices.
Here is what I am tired of: the fearmongering.
In the months leading up to an election, the rhetoric keeps increasing.
I do not know how you can keep your sanity if you are staying up to date with things.
I have already voted early, but if there was a candidate that came out right now that said they would not send me another email or text or air another TV ad, they would have my vote!
They are pulling your strings.
Every side wants to make it seem like the country, no, the world will end unless they get in office.
We have 250 years of history that prove no matter what idiots we elect, the country can keep going.
“Well, my opponent will raise your taxes!”
“But my opponent will kick your puppies!”
“Is that so, well, my opponent wants grandma to starve!”
“Oh yeah, my opponent wants to give you a thousand papercuts and throw you in pickle juice!’
It is ridiculous!
Yes, there are differences.
Yes, they matter.
But at the end of the day, I cannot control what happens in an election.
I can do my part, but the rest is up to a bunch of other people that I don’t trust!
You just have to give it to God and get on with your life!
For a little bit here this morning, let’s get our mind off all of the craziness going on.
I have a very simple message this morning.
REJOICE!
That’s it.
I used to hate sitting in class when I understood something after 5 minutes and the teacher had to try to convince some numbskull in the back to first pay attention and then to comprehend something beyond their intelligence.
Some of y’all may feel like that this morning.
You get it.
We need to rejoice.
Please don’t get up and leave, you will distract those that haven’t got it yet.
Quickly, our text this morning is from the book of Philippians.
It is a thank you note from Paul to a church that was very solid and very good to him.
In fact, the only real problem he addresses is in verse 2 – two women for at odds.
I’ll leave that alone for today.
The rest of the book is essentially positive.
This section is overwhelmingly positive.
You see Paul’s heart in vs. 1
Php 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
I think he likes this church!
In verses 6 and 7 he instructs them on having the peace of God.
They were to not be anxious, but trust in God in all things.
They should pray to God in all things.
They should be thankful to God.
Doing these things would fill their hearts and minds with the peace of God.
I like that, by the way.
God’s peace in your heart – your emotions are at peace
God’s peace in your mind – your thinking is at peace.
Sound good, don’t it?
No politician can give that you!
It only comes from having peace with God through salvation and surrender.
But, if you haven’t guess it yet, I want to focus on verse 4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Notice how he had to repeat it?
He knows human nature.
He knows it far more difficult for most people to be positive than to be negative.
Rejoice!
It is a verb that means to fill yourself or others with joy.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines it this way when applied to ourselves:
To experience joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations; to exult.
It is more than passing amusement.
I can give a dog a treat and they are happy for a moment, but they do not have joy from it.
No, they want another treat immediately.
I don’t have to eat a key lime pie to rejoice, but it can cause me to rejoice for a while.
You see, to rejoice – be full of joy – is a choice.
It is an action.
It is something that can will ourselves to do.
How do I know that?
Because if God is telling us to do it, we can do it!
Listen, this is not just fake, bubbly, happiness.
This is deeper than just putting on a smile or acting a part.
You are filled with joy and it cannot stay contained.
It comes out on your face.
It comes out in your words.
It comes out in your actions.
Now, of course, one of the biggest keys to this is that we are not simply to rejoice, but to rejoice in the Lord.
I may not be able to rejoice about my football team, my bank account, or the crowds at Walmart, but I can always rejoice in the Lord.
Quickly, let me give you a few reasons to rejoice in Scripture.
We are keeping this simple this morning.
It’s a simple topic, but it’s not always easy to do.
So, here are some things you can use as kindling to get your fire started.
This is what I call a “concordance sermon” – we are going to take our points from the appearance of the word rejoice.
Rejoice that you are saved
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
That ought to be enough right there – that Christ saved your soul and you are promised a home in heaven.
I am not saying it ought to make you hoop and holler and run a lap around the building, but I am not opposed to it either.
There is no greater gift in this world than the gift of salvation.
We should never get over it.
Rejoice in the God’s truth
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
You hold the word of God in your hands.
That ought to make you rejoice.
God gave inspired men to write it and preserved it through the centuries.
You don’t have to worry about part of it being missing or it going obsolete.
It will not break and it will not fail.
You have the truth.
You have everything you need to know how to live, to die, and to live again.
Rejoice when you receive a blessing
Php 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
Paul was rejoicing that the church at Philippi was able to send aid to him.
Note this is not just because he got something.
He is excited on their part.
Do not just rejoice in the blessing, but be sure to rejoice in the blesser!
This could be from another person, but ultimately everything good we receive traces back to God’s hand.
Rejoice because others are rejoicing.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
You should be able to rejoice when something good happens to someone else.
Rejoicing is contagious.
If you can’t catch it, you need to get a check up on your heart.
Something is going on in your soul.
Rejoice because of the great things Christ has done and is doing
Luk 13:17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
God is going great things in your life – I guarantee it.
He is doing great things in this church.
He is doing great things in this community.
Every answered prayer, every comforted heart, every move of God’s hand ought to make us rejoice.
Rejoice in the Lord’s protection
Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
That hope is tied to the deliverance from the mentioned tribulation.
You can be in way better hands that All State
The hands that shaped the world are holding on to you.
You can rejoice in all the times God intervened on your behalf that you will not know until you get to Heaven.
Rejoice that you suffer for Christ
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
We talked about this last week.
The Christian life is not all fun and games.
But even in the darkest moments we can still rejoice.
Like Paul and Silas in the jail at Philippi, we can sing His praises in the worst of situations.
Rejoice that Christ came to us.
Luk 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
We are a month early on this, I know, but it is reason to celebrate all year long.
Christ left glory and came to earth to save us!
Rejoice that Christ rose again.
Jhn 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
He died to pay for our sins.
He rose again to defeat death.
We need not fear that His payment is not enough.
He rose again in victory!
We serve a risen Savior!
Rejoice when someone gets saved
Luk 15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
Luk 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Luk 15:5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
Luk 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
There is nothing greater than this.
It is the greatest thing to happen to you.
It is the greatest thing that happens to anyone.
Rejoice when a sinner is born again – Rejoice the more when you have a hand in it!
Rejoice because the Gospel work continues
Php 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
I saw David Pugh on Friday.
His church, Bible Baptist in Bridgeport, is doing great.
They were getting ready for a big outreach during trick-or-treating.
He was excited.
Now, I could get jealous.
I could try to throw a wet blanket on him.
You know what the best thing to do is?
Rejoice with them that rejoice!
Jake was telling me that they have a Bible study during the week with a bunch of men that are hungry to know more about the Bible.
I rejoice in that!
Rejoicing is contagious.
It ought to rub off on you.
Rejoice at impact you have made
2Jn 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
This is not about us, but how God uses us.
You are touching lives.
You are making a difference.
From giving a coat to Homeless No More, to praying for the radio ministry, to encouraging someone at church.
You never know when the smallest act you perform God will intervene and it will snowball into something spectacular.
CONLUSION
- Spend some time rejoicing this week.
- Make a list if you need to.
- Encourage others to rejoice.
- Share yours.
- Bring out theirs.
- Be saved to understand truly what it is to rejoice.