Rejoice in the Lord!

Did you know that depression, sadness is at an all time high in not only the U.S. but the world? Based on data from 2021, the report showed that 57% of teenage girls had “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” that year—the highest level reported in the past decade—and as many as 30% had seriously considered suicide. (The suicide rate is up almost 60% from a decade ago.) People are sad, down in the dumps. Whether it be the state of the economy rising inflation, cost of living, political uncertainty and unrest. Uncertain job security, family problems, bullies, whatever it is people have a hard time finding joy in their life.

The reason that is the case is because we look for joy in all the wrong places. We base our joy on our circumstances. we base our joy usually on things that don’t matter, things that are not eternal.

What are you trying to find joy in: children —> being a superstar athlete

valedictorian—>doctorate or degree—>lots of money—>big house and property

notoriety in job—>possessions—>hobbies

What is the most important thing in your life? CHRIST???

Paul writes in 3:1 and says...

REJOICE IN THE LORD

Philippians 1:4–5 “always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Philippians 1:18 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,”

Philippians 2:2 “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”

Philippians 2:17–18 “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

Philippians 4:10 “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.”

Paul is saying find joy in the things that God finds joy in. The things that really matter. The things that are eternal. furthering of the gospel, Christ being proclaimed, Christians having the same mind of Christ, rejoice in our Lord jesus Christ.

Rejoice in spiritual things, not the things that don’t matter, money prestige, power, circumstances, pride, etc. Brothers and sisters it does not matter what kind of day you are having it doesn’t matter whether people like you or not, God loves you and there is always a reason to rejoice in the Lord. Even in our darkest of days. Do you remember where Paul is when writing this letter? Prison, you don’t think he had every reason to be sad, depressed, and in despair but instead he rejoiced in the Lord and the things that really matter.

But Christ must be the most important thing in your life. What is your most important thing? What do you spend all your time on or with, what do you poor the most energy into, where does most of your money go to? Where all that stuff goes so does our heart. that's what is most important to us.

In order to rejoice always in the Lord you have to be fully wrapped up in Jesus. He has to be the center of your life. He has to be whats most important. Look what Paul says after this.

True spiritual people are those who glory in Christ & put no confidence in the flesh. Paul had more reason to boast in his flesh and who was than anbody but notice what he says in verse 7

Philippians 3:7 NASB95

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

I count all things to be loss, I count them but rubbish. All his religious and human accomplishment mean absolutely nothing. the word rubbish = trash = refuse. It doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. I give it all up for what is more valuable, profitable, what is more important and that is gaining Christ.

surpassing value of knowing Christ. Whats valuable to you? Everything pales in comparison to knowing Christ. He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot loose. He doesn’t just want to know (knowledge of Him, relationship) v. 9 found in him - make Christ his permanent address - to be absorbed completely into the nature, work, fellowship and presence of Christ

gaining the righteousness of Christ

Being right with God, does that matter to you. Only happens in faith in Christ. You can not be good enough. There is none righteous no not one. I want you to think of what Paul lost. position, good standing, friendships, family, love, safety, life

Gaining fellowship with Christ

Philippians 3:10–11 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Here is where we want to put on the breaks. I’m all in for the good stuff but suffering. I don’t think so, I draw the line at suffering. Why? It’a hard, it’s uncomfortable, it hurts, it’s just tto much.

You will never be closer to Jesus than when you suffer for Him and with Him. You see when Chrsit suffers we suffer and when we suffer Christ suffers Romans 8:17–18 “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

is it harder or easier to follow Christ when we suffer?

when we do suffer were are closer to Christ because we learn obedience thru the things in which we suffer thru just like Christ Heb. 5:8. I think this ties into what happens to Jesus in Philippians 2:9 “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,” suffering leads to glory.

Are you rejoicing in the Lord this morning? Do you count all things as rubbish to knowing Christ and having fellowship with Him.