Rejoice In The Lord
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
6/2/2013 PM
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Text:
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Philippians 4:4
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Psalters: |
242, 164, 28, 268 |
- The seeming impossibility.
- God?s word enters our night and darkness commanding us to rejoice in this valley of tears.
- In the valley of our earthly life there is continual death: pain, suffering, sorrow and crying.
- The joy commanded does not get us out of the valley nor avoid the tears.
- This word is just as impossible in moments of earthly joy and prosperity?
- The reason for this joy is ?in the Lord.?
- Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) gifted with God?s blessing (?Happy?) of salvation (John 15:11; I John 1:4).
- Joy is first a decision about an attitude which arises from a correct knowledge derived from Scripture.
- Knowing all things work for good, we can rejoice amid distress: ?as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing? (II Cor. 6:10).
- This has to be a transcendent joy.
- The only possible reason for this joy is ?the Lord??
- He is the Savior (3:20).
- He. as our Savior, achieved the position of Lordship over us and over all (3:21).
- Thus our joy is a new joy, a sanctified joy, an inner delight in the Lord and His righteousness.
- Our joy and rejoicing has a new object, which enables us to transcend the things of this life.
- Jesus is the object of our joy, so we rejoice in His service, His Word, in His kingdom.
- No man can take this joy from you and no change in circumstances can alter it.
- To joy in anything of this world is to guarantee ultimate failure.
- The manifestation of this joy.
- What it is not.
- But we know a joy which is independent of them all, a joy that abides.
- We see the things of this life as means to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
- When our way is dark and hard, we will weep and groan, but also smile with patience being worked through tribulation and hope through patience (Rom. 5:3,4; James 1:2-4).
- And we will rejoice in the darkest hour knowing that the hour of deliverance is ever closer.