Go! And Rejoice Always - Philippians 4:4 Series

Go! And Rejoice Always

Philippians 4:4 (NLT) – “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

Introduction: A Command That Seems Impossible

If I were to stand before you today and say, “Be joyful—always,” some of you might smile politely, while others might think, “Dean, that’s easier said than done.”

Because, let’s be honest—joy seems hard to find in a world that feels broken.

Our news feeds are filled with fear, our workplaces with pressure, our homes with busyness, and our hearts often with anxiety.

And yet, Paul writes this remarkable command from a prison cell:

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

This is not the shallow happiness of circumstance. This is deep, soul-rooted joy in Christ—a joy that sings in the dark, that worships in the storm, and that stands firm when the world shakes.

The title of today’s message in our “Go! And…” series is:

“Go! And Rejoice Always”

Because in Christ, joy is not optional—it’s essential. It’s a witness to the world that our God is greater than our circumstances.

1. The Command to Rejoice (Philippians 4:4)

Let’s read the verse again in the New Living Translation:

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!”

Paul repeats himself because he knows how quickly we forget.

The Greek word for “rejoice” is ?a??? (chairo), meaning to be glad, to delight in, to take great joy. It carries the sense of an active choice, not a passive emotion.

Paul isn’t saying “be happy if you feel like it.” He’s saying choose joy, because joy is not rooted in how life feels but in who the Lord is.

When Paul wrote these words, he was chained under Roman guard, awaiting trial before Caesar. Yet his heart was free, his mouth was full of praise, and his joy was unstoppable.

Habakkuk 3:17–18 (NLT): “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!”

Habakkuk uses the Hebrew verb ?alas (?????) — “to exult, to jump for joy.”

This is joy in spite of circumstances. It’s the decision to praise when everything else screams “panic.”

Habakkuk’s fields were empty, but his faith was full. His joy was not in the harvest but in the God of his salvation.

And that’s where Paul’s joy came from too—not from his situation, but from his Saviour.

The Prison Singer

There’s a true story of two missionaries imprisoned in a foreign land.

Every night, they were beaten and left in darkness. But one evening, one of them began to sing:

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…”

The other joined in. Soon, the entire cell block was echoing with praise.

When they were released, one said, “Those nights of singing were the sweetest fellowship with Christ I’ve ever known.”

That’s what Paul meant—joy in the Lord transcends pain.

You may not always be happy, but you can always rejoice, because Jesus is with you.

2. The Source of Joy – “In the Lord”

Notice Paul’s phrase: “in the Lord.”

This is not positive thinking or self-help optimism. This is Christ-centred joy.

Our joy is anchored in the unchanging character of Jesus—His love, His promises, His presence, His power.

John 15:9–11 (NLT): “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

Jesus Himself is the source of overflowing joy.

The Greek word for “overflow”—pleroo (p?????)—means to be filled to the brim.

Joy in Christ is not a trickle; it’s a flood.

And notice what it’s rooted in—obedience and relationship.

When we walk with Jesus, our hearts align with His, and His joy becomes ours.

John Piper wrote, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

When our satisfaction is in Christ, joy becomes our natural response.

That’s the secret of Philippians 4:4—joy is not found in freedom from suffering, but in fellowship with the Saviour.

3. The Power of Joy – A Testimony to the World

Joy is not just a personal blessing—it’s a public witness.

In a dark world, joy shines bright. It tells the world, “My God is faithful.”

Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT): “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

The Hebrew word ?edvah (???????) means “gladness, delight.”