REJOICING IN THE LORD
REJOICING IN THE LORD - - Paul Goodwin
Phil. 4:1-4
Can you read a newspaper and rejoice?
On a typical day the news may include a drive-by shooting --
a robbery that ended in murder of an innocent victim --
race relations worsen into open confrontation.
Lawyers are hired to show people how to tell the truth --
a public school teacher is assaulted by one of the pupils --
three infants burn to death in a home fire started by a smoldering cigarette.
A scam artist takes the life savings of an elderly citizen --
a whiskey or drug-related fiery automobile crash on the highway --
politicians continue to lie and gullible people continue to believe them.
Discouraging, is it not?
Can you experience joy after reading such news?
Yes, but it is a special joy described by the Apostle Paul:
"Rejoice in the Lord alway:
and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4).
Even after reading the newspaper,
we can "Rejoice in the Lord"
because we have also read the Book, the Holy Bible.
"REJOICE IN THE LORD" IS A COMMAND
"Rejoice in the Lord" is more than permission to rejoice.
It is a command and how good of God to issue such an optimistic precept.
I rejoice that God commands me to rejoice!
Is this an unreasonable command?
No. God can rightly command His children to rejoice
because He knows how it will all end.
The basis for our rejoicing is not in the changing circumstances all about us.
Rather our rejoicing is based on the unchanging Word of the Lord who changes not.
The command to rejoice in the Lord is more impressive
when we observe the one through whom it was given.
Paul was an old man in prison,
in the midst of the storm and stress of life,
yet he writes not with bitterness and complaining but with a note of joy.
It is encouraging also to note to whom the command to rejoice was given:
" ...to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi,
with the bishops and deacons ..." (Phil. 1:1).
God wants all the saints to rejoice.
Even the pastors and deacons.
Are you a saint -- a child of God?
Then reroice.
Are you a bishop -- a pastor? Then rejoice.
Are you a deacon -- a servant? Then rejoice.
It is wrong not to rejoice in the Lord.
If we are saved and there is no joy in our hearts,
there is something wrong.
God's children should be the "rejoicingest" people on earth.
OUR REJOICING IS "IN THE LORD"
The sphere of our rejoicing is "in the Lord."
The meaning of the term "rejoice" is more than contentment.
"Godliness with contentment is great gain";
however, rejoicing goes further.
It sings. It shines. It sparkles. It shares.
It is a deep, settled gladness in the Lord .
WE REJOICE IN HIS WORD.
We "rejoice in the Lord" as we rejoice in His Word.
How good of God to give us a written revelation!
The Psalmist said: "Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage forever:
for they are the rejoicing of my heart" (Psalm 119: 111).
How blessed indeed is that person who counts the Word of God as a precious treasure
and rejoices in its precious promises.
The book we call the Bible is a love letter from heaven
and it gets more precious as the years go by.
I still "rejoice in the Lord" when I read and meditate on John 3:16.
Paul has also told us to "rejoice evermore."
We can "rejoice evermore" in the Word of God
because it endures forevermore.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35).
"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:
but the word of our God shall stand for ever" (Isaiah 40:8).
"For ever, 0 Lord, they word is settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89).
I rejoice now in the promises of God's Word
and I will "rejoice evermore" in the fulfilled promises of God's Word.
WE REJOICE IN HIS SALVATION
We "rejoice in the Lord" as we rejoice in His salvation.
May we echo the words of the prophet Isaiah:
"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my soul shall be joyful in my God;
for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness ..." (Isaiah 61: 10).
God's Word has so many joyous things to say about our salvation:
1) We have been born again which makes us children of God.
In love we can look up and call God, "Our Father".
2) Our sins are forgiven and God remembers them no more.
The load of sin's condemnation has been lifted.
3) We have peace with God and are declared just in His sight.
4) We are kept by the power of God.
Nothing can separate us from His omnipotent grasp.
We have God and God has us -- forever.
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God,
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).
5) Our need is met in Him.
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4: 19).
6) Our strength for daily living and service is "in the Lord".
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4: 13).
7) Our future is made bright "in the Lord".
World conditions will grow worse and worse,
culminating in the rule of the Antichrist,
but this wicked world system will not go on forever.
King Jesus is coming back.
He will glorify His saints, put His enemies under His feet,
and inaugurate a golden age of peace and righteousness.
7 This bright hope for the future is not in the UN
nor in peacekeeping missions nor in treaties among nations.
The hope for a bright future is "in the Lord",
Therefore we can and should obey the Bible command: "Rejoice in the Lord",
8) Our inheritance is reserved in heaven for us.
The Apostle Peter writes:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,
and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (I Peter 1:3,4).
Our salvation reaches beyond the millennium into the eternal ages to come where we may truly "Rejoice in the Lord, evermore".
"REJOICE IN THE LORD. ALWAY" Must we wait until the Lord returns to "rejoice in the Lord"? No. The time of rejoicing is "alway". "Rejoice evermore" (I Thes. 5:16) is for the here and now .. This everlasting, never-wears-out joy is based on the spiritual and not on the carnal. Carnal joy is brief. The pleasures of this wicked world system, of which Satan is the god, cannot provide joy "in the Lord" that will not pass away. "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (I John 2: 14-17). "The lust of the flesh" -- "the lust of 9the eyes" -- "and the pride of life" (whatever form they may take) are temporary and will soon pass away. The pleasures of sin last only a short time at the most. Moses recognized the "pleasures of sin" are short-lived. Of him it is written: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:24, 25). Money or anything money can buy will not bring enduring joy. Solomon, perhaps more than any other man, rejoiced in the things money and power can provide, but even he found that pleasures of his own creation ended in emptiness. "And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I 10had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (Eccl. 2:10, 11). The natural world can and does give a degree of joy, even legitimate joy. 1) There is joy in youth, when there is vigor, dreams, bright hopes of the future and usually with few if any bitter memories. 2) There is the joy of good health when the circulatory system is free-flowing; the nerves even and steady; the movement of the lungs is smooth and satisfying; the brain is clear and active; eating is a pleasure and digestion is no problem; sleep is a sweet experience; and work and exercise are enjoyable. 3) There is the joy of success. A thriving business is established; a long sought after position is reached; retirement is near; and you have a reasonable degree of financial security. There is a degree of joy in all these things. As long as these blessings endure, we can rejoice in them and we should thank God for 11them. But these pleasures do not last long. This means if the only joy we have is based on fleeting pleasures, then our rejoicing will also be fleeting. "Rejoice in the Lord, alway" is a command easy to obey when the sun is shining and all seems to be going favorably. Can we rejoice, however, in days of difficulties? For instance, can we rejoice in times of persecution? Yes. We not only can but our Lord and Savior admonishes us to do that very thing. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matt. S: 11, 12). It is not natural to rejoice in time of persecution. Such rejoicing is supernatural and is experienced only by people whose lives are 12centered in Christ. If you can truthfully say, "For to me to live is Christ", you can and will rejoice in persecution for Christ's sake. It is not enough to resign to persecution; we are to rs;ioice in it! "Rejoice in the Lord, alway". You exclaim, "That is a human impossibility!" You are right. But what 'is a human impossibility can become a divine reality when one surrenders to Christ. R EJOICE IN THE MIDST OF SORROW Can we "rejoice in the Lord" in the midst of sorrow, sickness, disappointment? What a blessing Goy) it is to tell you emphatically, "We can!" I was a student at Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Arkansas. It was nearing the Christmas break. I was rejoicing about going home to be with my family I had not seen in several months. However, the day before I was to leave campus I developed a bad case of 13"strep: throat. Lhe doctor would not let me go home. "Stay in your room or I will have to put you in the hospital," he convincinly told me. I was sick and lonely -- alone in an empty dormitory. I had a small radio and as I lay on my bed I began to listen to Christmas music. Still sick and lonely, I began to meditate on the meaning of the birth, life and death of Christ. With a disappointed heart I "rejoiced in the Lord". I remember another occasion when I had sorrow and joy at the same time. My mother, near ninety, was at the point of death and· gasping for breath. Then the hour came. Mother lay still. Mother was dead, and I was glad she was released from a weak, frail body and was happy and resting in the presence of the Lord. Someone asked me ifl cried at my mother's funeral. "Yes," I answered, "I wept for joy when Amazing Grace was sung by the congregation." Yes, there were many reasons 14for me to "rejoice in the Lord" even at a loved one's funeral. REJOICE IN THE LORD WHEN FACING TERMINAL ILLNESS The first thing Laverne said as I walked into her hospital room was: "Bro. Goodwin, my world has fallen in today." I asked, "What happened?" She told me, "The doctor says Ihave cancer and only a few months to live." "Laverne," I asked, "would you like to hear the bright side?" "Is there a bright side?" she exclaimed. "Yes, there is and I'll like to tell you about it." Laverne lay still and quiet as I told her of God's love for her and explained the way of salvation. "You can receive Christ now," I said, "as you lie on the bed. He will forgive your sins, change you on the inside and give 15you a peace and calmness you have never known before. When you die, as we all must, you will go to be at rest with your Savior. Then", I added, "in the day of the resurrection God will give you an undying body that will never be subject to pain, disease or death." I'm glad to report Laverne received Christ as her Savior and rejoiced in her salvation. From that day she was possessed with a calmness that amazed me, her family and her friends. It appeared the only thing that troubled her was when other people were troubled about her physical condition. The bright side for Laverne was "in the Lord".
REJOICE IN THE LORD WHEN FACING DEATH Can we "rejoice in the Lord" as we face death? Millions of martyrs have proven we can. The following is an eyewitness account of the martyrdom of Jerome of Prague in the year 161416. I quote from The History of the Christian Churchby William Jones (third edition, 1832, page 422): With a cheerful countenance, and more than stoical constancy, he met his fate; fearing neither death itself, nor the horrible form in which it appeared. When he came to the place, he pulled off his upper garment, and made a short prayer at the stake; to which he was soon afterward bound, with wet cords and an iron chain, and enclosed as high as his breast in fagots. Observing the executioner about to set fire to the wood behind his back, he cried out, "Bring thy torch hither. Perform thy , office before my face. Had I feared death, I might have avoided it." As the wood began to blaze, he sang a hymn, which the violence of the flame scarce interrupted. 17Thus died this prodigious man. We who have Christ as our Savior can "rejoice in the Lord, alway" because final and complete victory lies ahead. Death is not a defeat, but a victory. Death is but a servant to take us home. "Absent from the body ...present with the Lord." In the presence of Christ we will be happy and at rest and our works do follow after us. Later there will come the "shout" and Christ "the King of Kings and Lord of Lords" will return to the earth to put His enemies down and inaugurate a Golden Age of 1000 years of universal peace and righteousness. We read of that age: And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 18neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:4). " ...for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Isa. 11:9b). This wonderful age, however, will erid in rebellion. Satan and his crowd will make their last attempt to thwart the eternal purpose of God. They will be defeated and cast into eternal hell. Then we will enter that eternal land of purity and delight. Sin will never be allowed to enter that fair land. "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book oflife" (Rev. 21:27).
THE NEW JERUSALEM GAZETTE will not be filled with gruesome news stories. The last report filed by John the Journalist, also known as John the Revelator, contains this 19encouraging observation: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying. neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev. 21:4). Before that glorious time comes, the winds of adversity may blow, the night get dark, the pantry get low, yet we are enjoined to "Rejoice in the Lord alway". "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall the fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my Salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17,18) This kind of joy is tough and strong and 20enduring. Listen to the Psalmist: "Be glad in the Lord.....and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart" (Ps. 32:11). "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the .Lord" (Phil. 3: 1). l,ET US PRAY: Heavenly father, I thank You for present joys -- even in a troubled and troubling world. I rejoice in Your promise of future joy. Help me share the joyful news of salvation with others that they too may "Rejoice in the Lord". And, Lord, may my joy be contagious. In Jesus' name. Amen. 21GOOD NEWS FOR YOU Dear friend, there is a vast difference between the saved and the unsaved. If you are unsaved, you will not, you can not rejoice in the Lord since you do not know Him in a personal relationship. There is a bright future for the saved, but there is no bright future for the unsaved. Only death, judgment and eternal hell await them. Reader, are you saved? Have you been born again? Are you a child of God? Are you at peace with God? If the answer is "No", do not despair. There is good news for you! In order that you may better understand God's love and God's provision for you, let us now observe the condition of a lost person and the need of that lost person. 22Man is a sinner. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). God's glory is His holiness, His perfection. All of us fall far short of perfection. Comparing ourselves with others we may decide we are good, but when we stand by the side of Jesus Christ, we know we are sinners. God loves sinners. Even though we are sinners, God loves us and gave His Son to die in our place that we might live forever. See Romans 5:8 and John 3:16. All our sins were laid on Christ. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53 :6). Christ who is the Son of God, the Creator of the world, left heaven and came to earth (John 1:1-3,14). He was begotten of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18- 23). Jesus lived as a man, lived without sin, and then died for sinners. He who knew no sin 23suffered the wrath of God against sin for us. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened (made alive) by the Spirit" (I Peter 3:18).
Christ is the Savior of sinners. Sin is deadly. "The wages of sin is death." The payoff for a life of sin is death, eternal death, which is hell. Unsaved friend, recognize that sin is first of all against .God and secondly against man. Repent toward God for your sinful course of life. Turn from your sins and look to Jesus Christ as your one and only Savior. The precious promise is:
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
"Believe" means to trust. So, commit yourself without reservation into the hands of Him who died for you and rose again the third day. Ask Jesus now to save you and believe in your heart that He will do what He promises. 24Then you will have peace with God and cause to rejoice in the Lord. As you allow Christ to be the Lord (Master) of your life, as you learn to walk with Him day by day, you will find yourself able to "rejoice in the Lord" in this life and forevermore.
Grace Missionary Baptist Church
Sounding Out The Word Ministry
Houston, TX 77039
