Sorrowing Yet Always Rejoicing

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

How Do Christians Rejoice in Times of Despair?

Root word of rejoicing is JOY

Happy - Happening

Excitement - Exciting

Entertained - Entertaining

Three Keep Points I want us to take away tonight

1. Joy is a constant consolation in the presence of God

Scripture tells us that Christians always insist on "joy" as one of the fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Matthew 5:10–12 ESV

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

2. Joy is not a short-lived “feeling” but a developed state of mind.

When Paul penned the Philippian epistle, he was old, poor, deserted, imprisoned, in danger of immediate death. and apparently in the lowest deeps of sorrow

Philippians 4:6 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:12 ESV

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Philippians 3:8 ESV

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Trust in God has a power not only to sustain the soul in trial, but to fill it with positive joy.

The sources of Paul’s joy was the assurances of the divine favor and the hopes of eternal glory.

And the same is true for us when we TRULY TRUSTING GOD TODAY.

3. God is ALWAYS in Control

Acts 17:26 ESV

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Daniel 2:20–22 ESV

Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.

Psalm 2:1–4 ESV

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

I am so very glad that political power is not the highest power in the world. This does not mean it’s irrelevant, doesn’t mean it’s unimportant – but it is definitely NOT all there is.

Some people feel their destiny, their happiness depends on having their man in the White House. That’s why they riot, that’s why they want to fight, cancel folk – because for them, there is no higher authority, there is no final source of security and peace and happiness, except the systems that exist on this earth. For them that’s all there is. Why

For them God does not exists

God is not sufficient

But we as Christians know that this is not all there is: Destiny, sovereignty, meaning – they’re all found in something far greater and far more reliable - and that is God, thru our savior Jesus Christ

At hectic times like these I am so thankful I know the living God – I am at peace because God’s gives a peace that surpasses all understanding

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