Sermon Central
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Rejoice In The Lord
Contributed by Barnabas Park on May 9, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: "Rejoice in the Lord" is a vital safeguard for believers, strengthening their faith and anchoring them in God’s truth. It is not just a choice but a divine calling—an essential posture of worship and a defining mark of Kingdom people, living with purpose to fulfill God's mission.
“Rejoice in the Lord”
“Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” (Philippians 3:1, ESV)
“That’s about it, friends. Be glad in God! I don’t mind repeating what I have written in earlier letters, and I hope you don’t mind hearing it again. Better safe than sorry—so here goes.” (The Message)
Today's passage begins with the word “finally” (???p??), but this does not mean Paul is concluding the letter. Rather, it signals a change in topic—from talking about his plans to send Timothy and Epaphroditus to the Philippian church, to addressing a new subject.
Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord! To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” The exhortation to “rejoice in the Lord” is something Paul has said before and will say again. He emphasizes that repeating this message is not burdensome for him and is, in fact, for their safety. Because rejoicing in the Lord is so important, he commands it repeatedly and insists that it is for their protection.
(This is similar to a parent telling their child to drive carefully every day—it may be repetitive, but it is essential.)
What we need to pay attention to here is not just the call to rejoice, but the command to rejoice in the Lord. Human beings naturally seek joy through satisfaction, but Paul urges us to find that joy and satisfaction in the Lord. If we don’t find joy in the Lord, we will inevitably seek it in something or someone else. So why is rejoicing in the Lord so important?
1. We are to rejoice in the Lord because we are worshipers.
In reality, what we most delight in and enjoy reveals what we truly worship.
If someone finds the greatest joy in accumulating wealth, then wealth is their idol. The idol might also be health, beauty, pleasure, hobbies, entertainment, self-righteousness, or even other people. In this sense, all addicts—whether addicted to alcohol, gambling, soap operas, sports, or the internet—are idol worshipers.
However, if we are truly worshiping God, then we are confessing that we delight in Him more than anything or anyone else. Therefore, to offer worship that pleases God, we must confess the sin of not delighting in Him and resolve to find our greatest joy and pleasure in Him. (We should pray for this.) A true worshiper is someone who delights most deeply in God.
As worshipers, we know that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” If a husband says he loves his wife but doesn’t want to spend time with her and instead seeks joy and satisfaction in another woman, then his claim of love is false. Likewise, if we truly love God with all our being, we will enjoy being with Him (through worship and prayer), listening to His voice (the Word of God), and speaking to Him (in prayer).
We cannot say we love God wholeheartedly if we are constantly finding satisfaction and joy in things other than Him.
The Apostle Paul says that although it would be far better for him to depart and be with Christ, he desires to remain in the world for two reasons: for the progress of the Philippians’ faith and the joy of their faith (Phil. 1:25). We understand the importance of growing in faith—but why is the joy of faith so important? Because when believers cease to rejoice in the Lord, they cease to live a life of love for God and begin to live a life of idolatry.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism used in the Presbyterian tradition says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” To enjoy God forever is to love Him; when we fully enjoy God, we glorify Him and worship Him. What we most enjoy reveals what we truly love and worship. If we delight in something more than we do in God, that is idolatry. A true worshiper is someone who finds their greatest joy in God.
2. Rejoicing in the Lord is a defining characteristic of citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Romans 14:17 says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
This joy is how we, as people who possess the kingdom of heaven even now, bear witness to Christ. As saved believers, we must echo the confession of the prophet Habakkuk: “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines... though the flock be cut off from the fold... yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:17–18)
