To Rejoice Is A Choice Series

To Rejoice is a Choice

Philippians 4:4-9

Rev. Brian Bill

April 5-6, 2025

Recently, I had two very joyful experiences. Ever since I graduated from Moody Bible Institute, I’ve wanted to return and be a guest lecturer in a class. After 40 years, it finally happened as I was asked to give a senior pastor’s perspective on worship ministry in a church. Much of what I shared are things I’ve learned from Pastor Chad.

It’s very funny that I was asked to speak to a class of gifted musicians because I’m not musical at all. While my grades were good in my Bible and Theology classes, I barely passed my required “Music Appreciation Class.” The students found this pretty funny as well. I almost had a panic attack when I realized the class was held in the exact room where I almost failed my only class at Moody.

My second experience with joy happened when I journeyed up to Wisconsin to hang out with my dad last Saturday. We ate cheese curds (they should be called “joy curds”), shared funny memories while driving through our old neighborhood, walked around Farm and Fleet, spent time in a cemetery, and enjoyed thick malts at Mullen’s Dairy Bar in Watertown.

It’s fair to say Moody and Wisconsin are my happy places. In the just-released 2025 World Happiness Report, Finland remains the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, while the United States sank to its lowest ever, coming in at 24th. This ties into what Pastor Chris shared last weekend about how contentment levels have cratered while anxiety levels are crushing us. I appreciated his main point: God will provide exactly what we need, exactly when we need it, to the extent we need it. Until Jesus is enough, we’ll never have enough.

In Philippians 4:4-9, Paul challenges us to develop three attitudes. These attitudes must be demonstrated in three actions. And when we act, God gives us two assurances. Here’s our main point today: In your journey to joy, remember you have a choice to rejoice.

Let’s read our text together: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Attitudes to Develop

1. Be joyful always. The first attitude to cultivate is to make the choice to rejoice. Look at verse 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” The word “always” means, “at all times, perpetually.” Spurgeon writes, “Well then, that begins at once, certainly. So let us now begin to rejoice in the Lord.”

Because many of us are more like Eeyore than Tigger, we push back on being joyful when our life is filled with junk. Many of us don’t think we have a choice to rejoice, so we need to hear this command again and again. This is reinforced in Philippians 3:1: “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord…” The command to rejoice is in the present tense and the active voice. It can be translated like this: “Go on being glad in the Lord.”

Let’s make some additional observations.

• Joy is the theme of Philippians. The call to rejoice is stated or implied 16 times in this brief book.

• Joy is different than happiness. How many of you remember the earworm song, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”? It’s not that easy, is it? Happiness is situational and often superficial, while joy is sustained and secure. To say it another way, happiness is often linked to what is happening. You might not have anything to be happy about today; but if you are redeemed by the Lord, there are always reasons to rejoice in the Lord.

• Joy is centered in the Lord, not in circumstances. People change, situations change, bad news comes, but the Lord remains the same. Psalm 32:11 says: “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” Joy is not tied to a place but to the Person of Jesus. When I find it difficult to rejoice in my situation, I can always rejoice in my salvation.

• Joy is possible 24/7. We are to rejoice in the Lord “always.” This is reinforced in 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Rejoice always.”