Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be

evident to all. The Lord is near.

•Last week’s “teaser” – an introduction to the subject of rejoicing.•Christian rejoicing is a marvelous and often mysterious emotion.•We all need to understand it more fully.•It goes beyond happiness•It endures even through the greatest of sadness.•True Christian rejoicing has one source – one root. Let’s explore that root.

•Paul repeats the phrase to emphasize his enthusiasm.•Philippians could be called the epistle of rejoicing:

•Philippians 1:18-19; 2:17-18; 3:1; 4:4,10 – rejoicing is a central theme to the epistle.

•The “where” and “what” of our rejoicing.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.”

What does “in the Lord” indicate?

“Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;”

Psalm 5:11-12 – “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Trusting our shield and refuge

Psalm 32:10-11 -- Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.   Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Psalm 97:11-12 – “Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.”

 

•We must be about smoothing our rough edges.•Rejoicing is accompanied by a gentle spirit.

•Sin leads us to anger, wrath, bitterness and jealousy.•Rejoicing in the Lord brings us to gentleness and peace.

•The universality of sin

•There is no one righteous•No one seeks God•All have turned away•No one does good•All tongues practice deceit and cursing•They do not fear God

Luke 6:22-23 – “Blessed are you when men hate you,  when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.  "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.”

•Happiness depends on happenstance•Joy is constant – in the Lord.•Rejoicing is not with events – but in eternity.•Let the joy of Christ flow through you.•Stand as a beacon of the joy of Christ.•If the people of promise can’t be joyful – who in the world can?