I Can

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Php 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Php 4:12 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. Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Some of the most popular verses in the Bible

Several people would state verse 13 as fav, as it is mine

I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me

As we approach the end of another year

We participate in an hear about several traditions

Of course there are the parties, some of them wild

Eating black-eyed peas and hog jowl

Cabbage, all supposed to bring good luck

Happy New Year will be said and heard for at least the first few days or weeks

And the ever popular New Year’s resolutions

Modern resolutions are usually things like, lose weight, quit smoking, get out of debt

But did you know that early Babylonian’s most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment

Times have changed

Unwanted tradition, writing wrong date on checks

I’m real bad about that

Least popular tradition of this time of year

Very painful one, tradition of depression

These last few months of the year

Thanksgiving - New Years can be the hardest for some to go through

Family is the focus of these holidays and this can be very hard on people that have lost loved ones

Mrs. Jessie Lee, hates fall

So these holidays are depressing

Many are going through that as we speak

Maybe you are or someone you know

Questions like What happened? Why? What do I do now? How will I get through this?

Plague people of all sorts

And not just this time of year

And not just people that have lost loved ones

Many people, even Christians battle depression

And it can be so hard to find the good in any situation

But we must focus on the good

Reminds me of a story about a newlywed farmer and his wife

Mother-in-law visit demanding an inspection

Genuinely tried to be friendly

Hoping for non-antagonistic relationship

To no avail, nagged at every opportunity

Demanding changes, offering unwanted advice and generally making life unbearable

Walking through the barn during forced inspection

Mule suddenly reared up kicked mother in head killing instantly

Shock no matter their feelings toward her

Funeral few days later farmer stood near casket and greeted folks

Pastor noticed whenever a woman whispered to farmer

He would nod and say something

When man walked and talked he would shake his head no

And mumble a reply

Pastor later asked farmer what that was all about

Explained women would say what a terrible tragedy

And I would nod and say yes it was

The men would ask, can I borrow that mule

And I would shake my head no and say

Can’t, its all booked up for a year.

There is always a sunny side of life

But sometimes it can be to difficult to find

To find the joy in certain situation

But we can get through tough times

Only with God’s help

I can get through this God, because of your strength

The book of Philippians is Paul’s joy letter

The purpose

To thank the Philippians for their gift

To send along some instruction on Christian unity

To mainly strengthen these believers

How? By showing them that true joy comes from Jesus Christ alone

The concept of rejoicing or joy appears 16 times in these 4 short chapters

Leads us to the key verse of the book “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice”

I. I Can Rejoice - REJOICE!

A. Rejoice in the Lord

Paul tells them to rejoice, in the Lord

This is the 13th time joy or rejoice appears

But the 1st time said in the Lord

This signifies the sphere in which the believer’s joy exists

Our rejoicing shouldn’t depend on circumstance in life

Its related to our unchanging relationship to our Sovereign Lord

Unchanging in the fact that God never changes

Our perception or level of happiness may change based on our sinful lives, our part of the deal may change, but God doesn’t.

B. Rejoice, Are you Happy?

Happiness evokes visions of

Unwrapping Christmas presents

Sunset stroll on the beach with a loved one