Rejoice in the Lord

 Bible Text: Phil 4:4-7

Are you really happy? Many feel sad in self-pity as they have neither good-looking appearance, nor talents, nor good health, nor wealth, nor jobs, nor careers, nor friends, etc. How can we still have joy in such situations?

We are usually joyful and happy when we have whom or what we love, desire or dream of in this world: a life partner, a good friend, a scholarship, a degree, a good job, promotion, a new house, a new car, a new modern or high-tech device, an overseas holiday, and so on. It is not a sin when we enjoy what God has given to us, but if our joy is based on anyone or anything in this world, we shall be disappointed because it will not last long. Life in this world is not as simple and easy as we think, and many things in this world may easily take away our temporary joy: tiredness or illness, disharmony and arguments in family, difficulties, troubles or trials in life, stress at work, a broken relationship with others, hypocrisy or a double life exposed, misunderstanding, hatred, envy, covetousness, selfishness, hot temper, etc.

Moreover, you and I shall learn by experience that neither anyone nor anything in this world can give you and me a true and lasting joy, happiness and satisfaction. King Solomon was known as the wealthiest and wisest king, but he shared his experience, “all was vanity and vexation of spirit” (Eccl 2:11). The Lord Jesus confirms, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).

It is a great blessing when you and I have a pure joy from God, our Creator, a joy that does not derive from anyone or anything in this world, but from God Himself, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…For the kingdom of God is… righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom 14:17; cf. Gal 5:22), the “joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22). God’s love produces godly joy, “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth” (1 Cor 13:5) and we may rejoice in Him and in His truth and even “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” including testing and trials (James 1:2) by God’s strength and power (Col 1:11).

A joyful heart in all situations is very precious and vital for you and me. Why? Whether you and I believe it or not, a heart full of worries, stress, sadness, complaint, bitterness, anger, envy, vengeance, etc., is very harmful to our health: losing good appetite and sound sleep, having headaches, having problems with our hearts, livers, bones, stomach, nerve system, digestive system, etc., but a joyful heart is a good remedy, “for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh 8:10), and “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Prov 17:22).

How can you and I Rejoice in the Lord always?

Seek God and His Word First: God is the Source of all blessings including joy, you and I must seek Him and His Word first, “For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy” (Eccl 2:26) and “Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee” (Ps 40:16; cf. Matt 6:33). Then, when you feel bored or sad, instead of seeking temporary pleasures in this world to soothe your sadness away by watching TV, reading novels or magazines, going out with friends, etc., just confine yourself in a room, wholeheartedly seek God in prayer and read His Word, and surely as the Lord is living and true, He will fill your heart with His joy, the joy in His holy presence, “in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps 16:11), and “I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil” (Ps 119:162).

The apostle Paul was in prison for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. He had nothing interesting there, but he had the joy of the Lord and encouraged the believers in Philippi to rejoice in the Lord, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil 4:4). The worries, stress, and problems in this world easily trouble our joyful heart, so you and I have to come to the Lord in prayer in all things, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7). Praise the Lord!

Die to Self and Look unto the Lord: Seeking God and His Word first requires you and me to die to our “self” so that we will not look at ourselves or others but “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). A selfish person who only thinks of himself feels lonely and sad when he is ignored. A person who only wants to promote himself is not happy when he sees others smarter, nicer, richer, or more successful, and popular, not to mention when he is criticized or despised. A person who only wants to do his own will is disappointed when the things happening to him is contrary to his expectation. A person who only wants to do what he likes regardless of others, even the Lord and His Word, will never be joyful as he is living against his Creator, the Source of all the blessings. A joyful heart is a heart that is delivered from the bondage of self and sins by the Lord Jesus Christ and His Truth (John 8:32, 36).

Keep a living fellowship with God: Acknowledging the Lord Himself, a living Divine Person, is our Source of Life, blessings and joy, you and I shall easily count all things but loss and rubbish (Phil 3:8) in order to maintain a living fellowship with Him. The Lord is holy and is Light, and sin and worldliness always separate you and me from His holy presence, so we have to separate ourselves from sin and worldliness to maintain a living fellowship with Him. Thank God and praise the Lord that the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ is able to keep you and me clean all the time when we keep walking in His light, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Rejoice in the Lord always and rejoice evermore (Phil 4:4; 1 Thess 5:16): This is God’s command for you and me in the present tense, denoting, “Keep on rejoicing in the Lord” always. Why? Because the Lord, the Creator and Maker, loved you and me so much that He has called, chosen, saved, justified, sanctified, protected, guided and taken care of us while we are only undeserving sinful creatures! Failing to do this command is sin before God. How do you feel if the ones you love are not joyful when they see you and meet you? How do you feel if the ones you love are not happy to read the letter you have written to them? Many a time we have grieved the Lord our God when we fail to rejoice in Him or to read His Word with joy. It is more serious to those who criticize and cast doubt on God’s Word! May God help you and me rejoice in Him all the time because we enjoy His presence, His Word, His salvation, goodness and mercy, “I rejoice at thy word…my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation… I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy” (Ps 119:162; 13:5; 31:7), and because our names are written in heaven, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).

The prophet Habakkuk chose to rejoice in the Lord although all the material blessings were taken away, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places” (Hab 3:18-19). Here, Habakkuk trusted that the LORD would make his feet like hinds’ feet that could jump and run freely and swiftly and that the LORD would make him to walk upon his high places. Many lives are crushed and tied down by their own worries, stress, afflictions, temptations and trials, so they cannot freely do the Lord’s service swiftly! It is a great blessing when your heart and mine are lifted up high by the Lord to maintain a constant fellowship with Him above our stress, sadness, loneliness, worries, troubles, problems, difficulties, illness, afflictions or trials in life. Truly, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:5-6).

Conclusion

A joyful heart is vital for our spiritual and physical health, but neither anyone nor anything in this world can give you and me true lasting joy in all situations, except the living and true God, our Creator and Maker. God commands you and me to rejoice in Him always, and failing to obey Him is sin. May God help you and me seek Him and His Word, deny ourselves, look unto our Lord Jesus Christ, trust in Him, and rejoice in Him always. May God fill our hearts with His peace and joy and keep our hearts in His blessed presence in heavenly places while we are serving and labouring for Him in this troubled and sorrowful world. Amen.