Rejoice In The Lord

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