Final Instructions: Rejoice always

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Philippians 4:4-7

Theme: Rejoicing always is not an emotional high, but the abiding attitude that takes pleasure in knowing that whatever one encounters, including trials, is God’s will.

Date: 05/01/2022 File: Final_Instructions_02.wpd File #: NT13-05

Do you know what the shortest verse in the New Testament is? The obvious answer is John 11:35: "Jesus wept." It is the shortest verse in our English translations of the Bible. But the shortest verse in the Greek New Testament is 1 Thessalonians 5:16: "Rejoice always." It’s two words with a mere fourteen letters. It is a little verse with big implications.

The word rejoice is a call to joy. The term was a watchword among early Christians. More than a term of worship, it was a word of salutation. We typically greet one another with "Hello" or "Goodbye." But the early Christians often greeted each other with “Rejoice!” What an encouragement it would be if we entered and departed one another's presence with a call to rejoice.

In this passage Paul exhorts the saints to rejoice. It is a command, which makes it clear that joy is an attitude and a behavior that believers are to actively cultivate in their lives. In these verses, Paul gives us some clues as to how we can live one day at a time for Christ. They are "things to do" in our daily walk with Jesus.

I. REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS

1. as the Apostle closes out his letter to the Thessalonian believers he instructs them to rejoice always

a. joy in Christ was especially important to Paul

1) he had never gotten over the fact that Jesus had saved him

2) Paul considered himself the worst of all sinners and bluntly says so in a letter to his ministerial protégé’ Timothy

“The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:14–17, NIV84)

b. this was a man who hated Jesus of Nazareth — considering him a blasphemer and false messiah

1) Paul had mercilessly persecuted the Church ... believers were in prison because of Paul; believers had been fined and their property confiscated because of Paul; believers had been executed because of Paul

c. all that changed when Jesus appeared to Paul while he was on his way to Damascus — Jesus saved him and called him into the gospel ministry at the same time, and the 1st-century world would never be the same after that

1) from that moment onward, I doubt that there was ever a moment in Paul’s life where he did not rejoice in what Christ had wrought in his life

Illus. In Charles Dickens classic story A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge has awoken on Christmas morning after the spirits of Christmas past, present, and future have visited him. Scrooge wakes up a changed man. “I don’t know what to do!” cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath; ... . “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-body! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!”

2) I think this describes Paul the moment he regains his sight — dancing on air, rapturously glowing, merry as a new groom, staggeringly happy

2. Paul never got over the fact that Jesus had redeemed him, and he rejoiced always

a. in vs. 12-22 the Apostle Paul is giving the Thessalonians believers some imperatives ... things that we really, REALLY, ought to be doing as believers

b. rejoicing in the Lord ... giving thanks ... worrying less and praying more ... loving what is good and abstaining from what is evil ... all of these are commands

1) these are to be part of our spiritual to-do list

3. the Christian life begins with being transformed into a new creation in Christ

a. at it’s very heart, Christianity is not about being being good or turning over a new leaf; it’s not about spiritual self-actualization; it’s not about adopting a superior morality; it’s not a commitment to one religion among many religions

1) Christianity is about going from spiritual death to spiritual life after your whole-sale surrender to Jesus who is God’s Christ

2) think about this: “The Christian church is a society of sinners. It is the only society in the world in which membership is based upon the single qualification that the candidate shall be unworthy of membership.” — Charles Morrison

b. your salvation is a supernatural event that gives you a heart of flesh the mind of Christ, and a life giving Spirit

1) none of us deserve to be called God’s children, but by grace we’ve been adopted into the family of God

c. when our inward being is transformed our outward doing is transformed, and becomes ever more Christ-like as we grow in the faith

4. because we have been changed, because Christ dwells in us, because heaven is our home believers are to rejoice in the Lord always

a. when you reflect on your new birth in Christ do you feel light as a feather, as happy as an angel, as merry as a school-boy, as giddy as an intoxicated man?

b. does grace and mercy make you go whoop, whoop!

A. THE WORLD OFFERS SUBSTITUTES AND CHEEP IMITATIONS TO TRUE JOY

1. we live in a fast-paced society that keeps too many of even God's people on edge

2. most Americans have bought into the secular agenda that has convinced us to worship our work, work at our play, and play at our worship

a. the result is that we meet ourselves coming and going in an attempt to be happy while all the time missing out on true joy

1) the difference between joy and happiness is substantial

2) we often assume that the fleeting feeling of happiness, giddy laughter and contentment in the comforts of life is akin to the joy we experience in Jesus

a) now, let me quickly say, I have nothing against happiness — which is “a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience”

b) that’s a nice place to be ... it’s just so temporary in most cases

b. in our culture too many settle for the false and temporary euphoria found in drugs and alcohol, in sexual pleasures, in material acquisitions, the acquisition of power, or personal relationships

3. the Biblical meaning of joy, in contrast, is not a fleeting feeling with worldly roots

a. it’s not something we can produces ourselves; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit

b. joy is the deep-down confidence that God is in control of everything for the believer’s good and His own glory, and thus all is well no matter what the circumstances

ILLUS. The best personification of Biblical joy is the story of Job. He was stripped of every good thing he had on this earth, but never lost his faith in God. Job knew his experience was unfair, and did not sugarcoat his pain. His conversations with God were frank, yet he never forgot who God was. In spite of all that has happened to him, Job turns his eyes toward heaven and says, Job 33:4 says, “the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

c. that’s the difference between worldly happiness and heavenly joy

1) though our lives seem to be falling apart, and we may have every right to fly the victim flag, we instead choose to place our lives in the capable hands of the Father

4. in his letter to the Philippian believers Paul says our joy is in the Lord

a. the only sure, reliable, unwavering, unchanging source of joy is God

1) that is why Paul commands believers to rejoice in the Lord

b. so deep was the apostles' knowledge of God's character and purposes that even suffering for Jesus Christ was a cause of joy: "So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41)

c. throughout his writings Paul tells Christians ...

rejoice in hope

rejoice in hope of the glory of God

rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope

rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ

rejoice with those who rejoice

rejoice together

rejoice in the truth

rejoice in the Lord

rejoice in the Lord always

5. do you think the Apostle has a theme in his life?

B. JOY IS TO BE EXPERIENCED ALWAYS

1. the word joy in this verse is a present tense imperative ... it’s calling believers to the continual and habitual practice of rejoicing

a. sometimes the trials and pressures of life make it almost impossible to be happy

1) but Paul did not tell his readers to be happy

2) he encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord

b. the Apostle Paul is our best example in seeing what it means to rejoice always

1) Paul had inner joy even when external circumstances such as persecution, imprisonment, and the threat of death were against him

ILLUS. Most of you are aware that Paul’s letter to the Philippian believers is nicknamed The Epistle of Joy. Paul repeatedly uses the word rejoice in the letter. Never forget that, at that moment, the Apostle is under house arrest, chained 24-7 to a Roman guard. He has no freedom to come and go, and is facing a trial before Caesar of which the outcome is uncertain. Before that, Paul had been imprisoned two years at Caesarea by Governor Felix. Paul has spent the last four years of his life under arrest, in prison or being escorted from one prison to another.

2) and yet the Apostle reeks with joy

2. surely there are many circumstances in which Christians cannot be happy

a. but we can always rejoice in the Lord and delight in Him

ILLUS. In spite of the inconvenience of being chained to a guard, Paul carries on a rather active ministry, with many people coming and going, and lots of letters being written and received. This is how the Acts of the Apostles ends: Paul is in the heart of the Roman Empire, declaring the gospel openly, with the full knowledge of the Roman government — and he rejoiced!

b. other New Testament authors understood this

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4, ESV)

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,” (1 Peter 1:8, ESV)

3. so then ... on your spiritual to-do list jot down rejoice always!

II. WORRY AND ANXIETY ARE AN UNREASONABLE RESPONSE TO THE WORLD FOR BELIEVERS

1. joy is to be a central part of the Christian experience

a. anxiety and worry are all too frequently the reality

2. many people in our society, including many professing Christians, are so fearful and fretful right now that their normal physical and psychological functioning is disrupted and they find themselves unable to re-engage with the world

a. I understand that sometimes we have good reason to worry and feel anxious

b. the last two years have certainly been a season of fearfulness and worry

1) unfortunately, much of the Church has been just as fearful and just as worried over the pandemic as have been the lost

c. honestly, it’s not been one of the churches finer moments

ILLUS. N. T. Wright, New Testament scholar and Anglican bishop, writes, “When COVID-19 hit, it seemed many of us were taken by surprise. Do you think the Western church has been living with comfort and security for so long that we have forgotten how to deal with darkness, suffering, and crisis? Absolutely!”

A. LANGUISHING IS THE POST-COVID SYMPTOM AFFLICTING PEOPLE

1. languishing is the name clinicians have given the emotional reaction to the overall experience people have endured these last two years

a. languishing is not a state of depression though it can lead to clinical depression

b. languishing is not even a sense of hopelessness

c. languishing is a state of joylessness and aimlessness; of emotional stagnation

ILLUS. Some psychologists say that languishing is, right now, the “middle child” of mental health — that place somewhere between full-blown depression on one end of the well-being scale and flourishing on the other. One author writes, “Languishing is the absence of well-being.”

d. I think if Paul could speak to us today he’d be saying it’s something that the believer must push through to find that place of joy that our faith in Christ is meant to provide

2. in difficult times it is more important than ever for the Body of Christ to rediscover joy

a. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is a command not a hopeful wish

b. the Christian who remains in sadness, the Christian who continues to languish, is breaking the clear command of Scripture

1) it means that, in one way or another, the believer mistrusts God — His power, His providence, His forgiveness

2) the child of God has no right to go around with a sour puss

3) the child of God has no right to be a cantankerous individual

c. if you are a child of God, you are to rejoice evermore!

III. JOY IS THE REASONABLE RESPONSE OF THE BELIEVER TO THE WORLD

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” (Psalm 94:19, NIV84)

1. joy is not a simplistic, sentimental way of dealing with life

2. it is an effectual, spiritual attitude given by God to believers that helps to sustain us in difficult times and increases our happiness in good times

a. the hard truth is that for many people, even Christians, joy doesn’t come easily, especially when facing so many changes to our cultural milestones today

b. but as we learn to accept the gift and work to make it part of our daily lives, something incredible begins to happen: the joy of the Lord becomes our strength for the days ahead

A. HOW TO CULTIVATE A JOYOUS LIFE

1. 1st, Be Born Again

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,” (1 Peter 1:3–8, ESV)

a. you can never know real joy outside of a relationship with God through Christ

b. the salvation of the Lord brings into the believer’s life the coming of the Holy Spirit, and with his coming brings the fruit of the Spirit which includes joy

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” (Galatians 5:22, ESV)

c. do you see it? One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is joy

1) there is only one way I know you can have the Holy Spirit in your life and that s to be born again, and when you’re born again, there will be rejoicing

2. 2nd, Pray and Give Thanks Continually to God

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, ESV)

ILLUS. Henry Ward Beecher, the great abolitionist of the mid nineteenth century, once said, “The strength and the happiness of a man consists in finding out the way God is going, and going in that way too.”

a. you ll never rejoice always if your not spending time in fellowship with God through prayer, thanking him for all the blessings you ve received, and finding out what His will is for your life and then doing it

b. like the Apostle Paul, have you never gotten over the fact that Jesus saved you?

3. 3rd, Concentrate on the Good, and Noble, and Righteous, and Beautiful Things of Life

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8, ESV)

ILLUS. An elderly Catholic Friar in a Nebraska monastery, reflecting on his life, wrote: “If I had my life to live over again, . . . I would relax, I would limber up, I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take more trips. I would be crazier. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. If I had to do it over again I would go places, do things, and travel lighter. If I had my life to live over I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I'd pick more daisies.”

a. positive thinking is no replacement for genuine faith in Christ, put focusing our attention more on the good and less on evil, more on the noble and less on the crass, more on the righteous, and less on the wicked, more on the beautiful and less on the ugly can go a long way in making life happier and allowing joy to come to the surface

4. 4th, Be Busy Doing God’s Work

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9, ESV)

a. when you and I are busy ministering to the needs of those around us, two things transpire in our lives:

1) we have less time to worry about those things bring anxiety to our lives

2) the blessings we receive by doing for others causes joy to rise to the surface because we know we re doing something significant for another that has eternal significance

One of my favorite Peanuts cartoons shows Charlie Brown and Linus having one of their frequent philosophical discussions while leaning on a brick wall. Charlie Brown asks, "Do you ever think much about the future, Linus?" Linus responds, "Oh, yes . . . all the time." Charlie Brown turns to Linus and asks, "What do you think you'd like to be when you grow up?" In the last frame Linus responds: "Outrageously happy!" Outrageous happiness — the Bible calls it JOY! Do you have it? Rejoicing always is not an emotional high, but the abiding attitude that takes pleasure in knowing that whatever one encounters, including trials, is God's will.