Joyful Celebration

Introduction

Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Walk into many churches today and one would be tempted to wonder if this verse is really true. We walk into the singing time and there is no gusto to our singing. Prayer time rolls around and it seems as if the sky is falling all around us. The center of all our conversations is about what we have to do. Where is the delight in God’s presence? Where is the joy and laughter that comes from a heart set free from the weights of sin and hell?

Is it true that there is joy in God’s presence? Is it true that there is pleasure in being with God? I must admit too often I let the cares of the world pollute my joy, but when I am able to spend sweet time with God in the mornings, there is pleasure in that relationship. I delight in knowing that God is listening to me and it is amazing how he continues to speak with me through his word every day in new and fresh ways.

Tonight I want us to open our bibles to the book of Philippians to start with. We are all familiar with the main theme of Philippians being rejoicing. If you go through and highlight how many times the words: joy, rejoice, rejoicing, gladness you will see that the theme runs throughout the book. I want us to focus on one of those verses:

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” We like to make a distinction between happiness and joy but the line between the two is actual not that well defined. If you look up the word rejoice the definition is to feel happiness or joy, be glad. So joy is a feeling. You cannot sit there in your pew with a dour angry or sad face and say, “I’m rejoicing” Its a lie. The experience of rejoicing involves a feeling. But it is more than just a feeling.

Notice the word Rejoice is a command. If something is commanded, that means that you have a choice. Rejoicing is a choice to feel joy. As we see in the book of Philippians, that choice may not be based on circumstances. Philippians is a prison epistle. That means Paul wrote this while he was in jail. His circumstances were not too happy, but Paul still found happiness in something else. He found it in his God and in his relationship with the Philippian believers. A few weeks ago I spoke of the difference between affections and emotionalism. Religious affections are emotions driven by the will and the mind. This is what true rejoicing is. When all else seems dark, I look and behold the beauty of my God and choose to find happiness even then.

So if rejoicing is a choice to feel joy in God and his people, it is a spiritual discipline. It is a habit we need to practice in our relationship with God to experience more of his grace.

What Graces does Rejoicing provide

Great joy to everyone around us Luke 2:10 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” The angel was basically telling them, Don’t be afraid rather choose to rejoice because I am brining you a message of Joy for all people. Then they went abroad to everyone they could find. Joy is infectious. If one person gets it really good, it spreads to every one else.

Strength Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Joy also provides strength for us to continue enduring trials each day, to continue fighting the fight of faith, to continue laboring for the Lord. Most of our battle is lost when we lose heart. We may feel physically weak, but if our heart is lifted up, we can keep on going. When we feel physically weak and we need soul rest, we lose heart; we burn out and quite.

Cheerfulness Proverbs 15:13 “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Proverbs 15:15 “All the days of the afflicted are evil: But he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” Joy makes a cheerful countenance. You cannot have a hidden joy that doesn’t show up on your face apart from some tragic accident. It shows up in the eyes, it shows up on the lips and how you carry yourself.

Spiritual health Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.” I think the primary application of this passage deals with spiritual health. When there is joy in our relationship with God, it makes all things about our spiritual walk seems to work right. It isn’t a chore to get up and have quiet time with God. I don’t struggle to know what to pray. Obedience seems just a little bit easier. I’m excited to talk to people about Jesus.

I think there is also a scientific application here as well. There are physical health benefits to choosing joy. According to Dr. Miller and Dr. Shields MDs laughter and joy can stimulate circulation, relieve tension and stress, boost your immune system, improve your mood for sure, prevent heart disease. It also has social benefits. Laughter promotes emotional connection between people, improves moral and brings people closer. I am not a medical doctor, but I do see a correlation in this verse between happiness and health. Notice the opposite phrase says that a broken spirit dries the bones. We are embodied souls. That means that whatever happens internally has an effect externally and vice versa.

Connection to other Spiritual Disciplines

Connection between Joy and Obedience Luke 11:28 “But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

Connection between Joy and being in the word John 15:10–11 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

Connection between Joy and praying John 16:24 “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

Connection between Joy and Fellowship Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

Expressions of Joy

Singing Psalm 27:6 “And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.”

Shouting Psalm 5:11 “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”

Praise Psalm 63:5 “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:”

Clapping Psalm 98:8 “Let the floods clap their hands: Let the hills be joyful together”

You know what all these verses have in common: noise. This joy yes is brings gladness to the heart, this joy lightens up your eyes, this joy makes you feel better; but it also escapes out of your lips.

Conclusion

So what does this look like. This looks like a person praying on their knees praising God for all of his benefits. This looks like a congregation singing with all their heart to God the hymns of the faith. This looks like someone not afraid to be heard praising God out loud even cheering when he does something good in their life. This looks like a person weighed down by grief but chooses to sing though weak voice that God is always good. This looks like the person who is always being beaten down by life, but seems to always be happy because they love God so much.