Rejoice In The Lord Always!

Are we known as a joyful people? Is that the reputation we have, that we’re often rejoicing? Perhaps not. On first impressions, our worship is pretty sombre. In speaking about our faith, most of us are reserved, and we keep our emotions well in check. Even when we have what we call “the celebration of Holy Supper,” we don’t look like we’re celebrating at all, but we’re pretty solemn. Other Christians seem better at joy.

But is the joy really missing? That’s something to ponder. The blessed reality of our sins being forgiven in Christ is good news, and it should bring us a real gladness of heart. Now, someone might say that our personal experience isn’t so important—it’s about God’s glory, not our changing feelings, whether joy or confidence or something else. And perhaps that is true. It’s also true that people have different characters, and we express our emotions in different ways.

Even so, we cannot excuse the sin of a joyless life. That’s right, the sin of a joyless life! For God commands us to rejoice. And He does so, not just once or twice, but throughout the Scriptures. This should be the character of someone who’s been changed by God. Joy is called one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5, because those who know the Lord, those who have experienced his grace, and have been filled with the Holy Spirit, will most certainly rejoice in him. That’s our theme for this sermon on Philippians 4:4:

Rejoice in the Lord always!

1) why do we rejoice?

2) how do we rejoice?

3) when do we rejoice?

1) Why do we rejoice? If you took a quick survey of the people on your street, and you asked each of them what brings him or her the most joy, you’d surely get a wide range of answers. Some have joy when their favourite tennis player (or hockey team) wins. Some might have a surge of joy when looking at their bank balance. Many have joy in the company of their family and close friends, or perhaps when they’re sitting down to a delicious meal with a glass of red wine.

There are many reasons for joy. Yet they’re so often linked to outward things or physical experiences. Which means that joy is simply a passing emotion. Your joy is based on what you have in your possession, or it’s based on the pleasures you’re experiencing at that moment. It’s nice while it lasts, but when the moment passes, so does the joy.

We fall into the same trap when we sometimes find our joy in the wrong places. It’s hard not to be excited by some worldly pleasures. Or you have joy when you get into your favourite leisure activity on holidays, or when you achieve a big career goal. You have joy when you’re surrounded by your grandchildren. You have joy on those days when everything goes well.

But does the joy last? Are you happy for long? So often, our joy deflates like party balloons almost as soon as the celebration is over. We need a better reason for our joy, a more permanent source for happiness. And we know there must be one, otherwise God wouldn’t have told us to “rejoice always.” There can be unending joy for the child of God, a joy through him!

But—and here’s the unexpected twist— God says our joy needs to begin with sorrow. Before ascending to the heights, we need to taste how the depths can be so bitter. For we grieve sin. This is our deadly serious problem.

We know it from the Catechism, which describes repentance in this way: “It is to grieve with heartfelt sorrow that we have offended God by our sin” (Q&A 89). The Bible shows us what our sins have done: separated us from God. It tells what sin deserves: lasting condemnation.

And because of this reality, we should be grieved. Listen to how God calls to sinners in Joel 2, “Turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning” (v 12). Begin with weeping! Be broken in your sins and failures. But then let that true sorrow propel you toward repentance and a change of life. When you see the ugliness of your sin, then run to the Lord for mercy and relief. For He will dry your tears, pardon your guilt, and give you joy.

So here is the source of our true rejoicing. It’s found only through a right relationship with God! Everything apart from him is crumbling. Everything else is disappointing. Yet our God is eternal, He is glorious, He lacks in no way, and never fails. So those who enjoy a living fellowship with Him are given true gladness of heart—a joy that endures.