Rejoice Always

Great morning, Ubly Christian Church! I tell you this because of the good news that is true forevermore! Christ is risen!

[Congregational response] He is risen, indeed.

This statement shouldn't only be reserved for Easter Sunday, but must be proclaimed from our lips day and night. The Christian hope is grounded in the resurrection of Jesus, and you and I, who are united to him, shall live forevermore. Praise and glory be to our God!

And since Jesus has conquered the grave, so too must be your joy.

The topic of joy was so crucial to Apostle Paul that he reminded the church of Philippi that we are to be people of joy. It's who we are because of what God has done for us.

So, for today, we are finishing our series in Philippians and will read the rest of the chapter together. Please read with me Philippians 4:2-23.

If I could summarize this chapter into two words, it would be this:

Rejoice Always! (vv . 4, 10).

The people of God are to be people known for their endless joy. I would even dare to say that joy must be a characteristic of our faith and expressed in all our interactions with those inside and outside the church.

We rejoice because of the Lord. Amen.

I'll give you three reasons to rejoice today, and I promise to be short, sweet, and right to the point. You have to follow along with me as I read Paul's letter.

First reason why you can rejoice is that the Lord is at hand (v. 5).

Yesterday, I officiated a memorial service at the Argyle Hall. Afterward, I went home to pick up my family and head back over so we could eat a delicious catered meal. What reminds me of the Lord's presence is similar to how I held Lewis's hand as we collected our entrees. I held his hand the whole way through. He pointed to what he wanted, and I dished it up. He got everything a 3-year-old could ever want, including the butter bread. Then we sat together at the table and enjoyed our meal. I was at hand.

Likewise, the Lord is near to us. He is closer to us than even the air we breathe. It is this nearness that should give us comfort even in the midst of struggles and difficulties. He is not a God who lets his children go. No! He is here. The Lord is accessible to you and cares about your concerns. Hence, you should not worry, but rather give all your problems to God in prayer.

So rejoice, church. The Lord is at hand.

Secondly, you can rejoice because the God of peace is with you (v. 9).

Not only do we believe his presence is with us, yes. But even more, his divine peace.

Paul says in verse seven, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (v. 7).

When the things of earth captivate your heart and mind, it is God who can protect you with the peace found in Christ.

You can have this peace right now whenever you meditate on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and anything worthy of praise (v. 8).

Remember the last time when you felt stressed, fatigued, restless, and anxious. What do we usually do on those occasions? We give our problems a home rent-free in our hearts and minds because we believe they are ours to solve.

However, that's not true. It's God's problem if you give it to him in prayer. That's how the peace of God comes. We hand it off to the Lord. He's in control and can help us in our time of need.

So why can you rejoice? It is because the Lord is at hand, and his peace accompanies you wherever you go.

God can handle your situation and give you his divine peace.

Lastly, you can rejoice because you can do all things through Christ (v. 13).

Paul ends his letter speaking about his condition. There was a time of plenty and scarcity, but whatever came his way. He knew that God would strengthen him.

Food is good, especially around the Holidays, but you know what's better? The Bread of Life! Christ himself will strengthen us. We need God, and possessing him gives way to rejoicing and praise.

I think of the story in the Gospels about Christ fasting and praying in the wilderness for forty days. When Christ was hungry, Satan tested his faithfulness to God.

The temptation was to turn stones into bread. Satan wanted Christ to rely on his own strength and power. But do you know what Christ said?

He said, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matt 4:4).

Jesus knew that he would be sustained and strengthened by God's word, the Holy Scriptures.

Church, if your joy has been running low. May I suggest that it's time to fill our plates with the nourishing Word of God?

When we read the Bible, it points us back to Christ, who is our joy.

So, for this week of Thanksgiving, I give you one single command.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice."

Good is good all the time.

[Congregation response] And all the time God is good.

Amen.