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Rejoice Always, Phil 4:4

The Preacher Leave a comment

There is a direct command in scripture that is often overlooked by even the most zealous Saint. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Phil 4:4).

It is a discriminating command. In matters of the Lord of what does an alien sinner have to rejoice? All spiritual blessings are “in Christ” (Eph 1:3), and only those that have obeyed the Gospel are in the Lord (Gal 3:26-27). Those that have obeyed the Gospel are the only ones that have reason to rejoice (Acts 8:37).

The command is discriminating in that it also excludes rejoicing in the flesh (Phil 3:3,7). It excludes rejoicing in the wisdom of the world (1Cor 1:20-21). It also excludes rejoicing in one’s own works (Titus 3:5; Is 64:6). We are to work God’s righteousness (Acts 10:34-35; Rom 10:1-3).

By the words of some one is led to wonder if Christians are aware of this command to rejoice.

Let us see about what it means to rejoice always in the Lord.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

“ALWAYS” tells us it is a perpetual command without regard to external conditions. The Apostle Paul wrote this by inspiration while imprisoned in Rome for his faith. This epistle has been called the epistle of joy, for it contains the words “joy,” “rejoice,” or “rejoicing” some sixteen times.

The command is without regard to Adversity or Prosperity. “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me” (Phil 2:17-18). Paul is able to rejoice in adversity because it was in service to Christ. “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God” (Phil 4:18).

The command is without regard to being Loved or Hated. “The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” (Phil 1:16-18). Paul is able to rejoice despite the haters because Christ was being preached. “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2Cor 12:15).

The command is without regard to Weariness or Strength. “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:12-13). Paul’s life in the Lord is marked by great adversity (2Cor 11:22-29), but it was from his pen the Holy Spirit wrote, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal 6:9).

The command is without regard to Arrest or Among Friends. “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Phil 1:12-14). Paul could rejoice in his arrest and detainment because of the increased boldness of others to speak the gospel. Peter and John could rejoice for being beaten for the name of Christ. “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41).

The command is without regard even for Your very life. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” (Phil 1:21-24). The life that one lives in the Lord prepares him for the appointment of death (Heb 9:27). “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Rev 14:13). There is comfort in the death of faithful saints (1Thess 4:13-18). For them “to die is gain.”

The command is without regard to Sickness or Health. Paul could rejoice in the highs or lows of his physical life because of the grace of Christ. “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2Cor 12:9-10). There was rejoicing for Epaphroditus despite his sickness because he didn’t regard his life to supply those things that were lacking from the church at Philippi. “I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful” (Phil 2:28; cf, 25-30).

Rejoicing in the Lord always brings about many gratifying results. It is the means by which hope can be seen in the midst of adversity (cf. 1Pet 3:14-15). Rejoicing can put to death the PLAGUES of the mind. Rejoicing and negativity cannot coexist nor be done at the same time.

Rejoicing in the Lord always is the means by which our light can shine in this dark world. Our rejoicing in the Lord becomes a beacon of attraction to the lost and our religion will radiate a wholesome influence upon the lives of those around us. 

Rejoicing in the Lord always can do us no harm, but rather only bring about good, and in many ways will preserve our health and effectiveness.

Rejoicing in the Lord always is easy when we remember that our names are written in the heaven as we obey the Gospel of Christ. “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life” (Phil 4:3; Acts 2:38-41; Heb 12:23).

Agape,

Spencer

Never Growing Weary

The Preacher Leave a comment

Years ago, four of us hiked the Brooks-Range in search of Dall Sheep in Alaska. For 3 days under the midnight sun, we hiked the mountain sides with full packs loaded with supplies nearly has heavy as my 130# self. It was excruciating yet exhilarating all at the same time. I had little experience with that level of exhaustion that came partly from the exertion and partly from the altitude. Each night as we bedded down from our 16-18-hour exercise, we looked forward to what we might find on the next. It’s a memory that remains vivid some 34 years later.

Have you ever noticed that there are different kinds of tired? There’s the kind of tired that comes when you hate what you’re doing, and the kind of tired that fulfills you when you’re doing something you love. There’s some sort of psychological cause behind the fact that a person will take himself to the breaking point when he is engaged in the activities he loves (hiking the mountains of Alaska) and is exhausted with much less effort in the thing he despises (splitting logs for the wood stove at home, a chore I wish to forget). We need no more illustrations for every person can see this upon examination of his own life.

The Holy Spirit knows this about us, that we can endure great hardships where faith, hope and love abide. He inspired Paul to write in Galatians 6:9:

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

When we are directing our physical bodies toward the hope that we love, the joy of this gives the body energy to make the work seem light. In our love for Jesus we can experience the feeling He described in Matthew 11:30;

“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Think hard about this principle, for it will be profitable to you. Every activity with which we engage our physical bodies that is out of force, fear or necessity and does not arise out of love and service is immediately met with resistance from within and produces loss of energy resulting in a tired body and mind.

Seldom do we complain of fatigue about long nights spent in play but be asked to work night shift and suddenly the head can’t wait to hit the pillow. What do we learn from this? That one will endure any hardship if he loves the reason that he does the work. Money doesn’t give endurance, the real pay comes out of the love to serve our Savior, Christ Jesus. Force can win for a while, but love will give us the strength to endure. And love Him we must, for without it we shall miss the peace and joy that comes from above.

God gives us plenty of reminders, in His word, that we can endure hardships, face persecutions and afflictions that come from living an obedient life in Christ. For He is with us and has provided us a hope, a reward in Heaven. [cr Heb 11:6]

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” [Mt 24:13]

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” [1Cor 15:58]

Christ doesn’t expect us to endure anything He Himself hasn’t already done. He led the way through the example of His own suffering for our sake; “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” [Heb 12:3]

We can do it, endure this life with unlimited energy, when we continually remind ourselves of our primary love and service to our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Rewarder Christ Jesus.

“be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” [Rev 2:10b]