Rejoicing (Philippians 4:4)

The Point (vs.4) (Rejoice)

Rejoice = to experience joy and gladness in a high degree, to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations, to make one full of joy.

The LORD wants the Christian to be filled with joy and gladness.

John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

John 16:20–24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

People, problems, pain, pondering, and predicaments shouldn’t take away our joy, but it often does. So how to we have consistent joy in our lives?

The Person (vs.4)(in the Lord)

There is nothing “in Him” that is not an occasion for rejoicing. There’s nothing our souls want, our hope desires, our happiness needs, that is not laid up in Christ. There is absolutely no true joy that exists outside of Christ. True rejoicing is never found in the world, in wickedness, in wrath, in wants, but only Christ.

Salvation = Exodus 18:8–10 “And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.”

The world (Egyptians)

The king of Egypt (Pharoah)

Luke 10:20 “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

1 Samuel 2:1 “And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, Mine horn is exalted in the Lord: My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in thy salvation.”

Stuff = Deuteronomy 26:7–11 “And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey. And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God: And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.”

Rejoice in the things that God has given you!

Scriptures = Psalm 119:162 “I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil.”

Shadows = Psalm 63:5–7 “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, And meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”

Remember that in the darkness, the child of God is overshadowed by the wings of the Almighty! HE’S GOT YOU COVERED!

The Period (vs.4)(Alway)

Alway - throughout all time, continually without variation. Just as God doesn’t change throughout all time, our joy shouldn’t change. True rejoicing doesn’t change due to circumstance.

Hebrews 12:1–2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Habakkuk 3:17–18 “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labour of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no meat; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”