Christian Joy

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice”   Philippians 4:4

 

Sermon notes on Philippians 4:4, Keystone Chapel, Ames, Iowa, Nov 16, 2008

Introduction

Christian joy. The world has always hungered for the joy they see in Christians. In the third century a man penned these final words to a friend:

"It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians—and I am one of them."

If you know Philippians, you know that joy is a significant theme. But the letter is primarily about Christian partnerships and it addresses the kinds of problems people run into when they live and work together, even when they are working for a noble cause like advancing the gospel.

What problems? Here are some of the problems Paul touches upon:

• The problem of anxiety
• The problem of pride
• The problem of rivalry among Christians
• The problem of people caring only about satisfying their fleshly pleasures
• The problem of false teachers
• The problem of self-centeredness and selfishness
• The problem of grumbling and complaining

With all those problems, how can anyone be joyful? It’s a good question. So let’s pull up a chair next to the apostle Paul and see if we can get a better understanding of what he has in mind when he says “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Four points: First, the focus of joy; second, the meaning of rejoice; third, the importance of Christian joy; and fourth, the time for rejoicing.

The Focus of Joy

First, the focus of joy. What is the focus of Christian joy?  For many, the focus of joy is having a lot of money and things. Or finding physical pleasure in food and drink and sex. Or excelling in a sport or hobby or job of some sort. But people who’ve journeyed as far in life as you have, people at your age and stage of life, know that you can’t find lasting joy in any of those things. Am I right?

So where is lasting joy found?  Paul tells us: “Rejoice in the Lord.” Real joy is found in the Lord Himself, in Jesus Christ. Not possessions, not physical pleasures, not a certain position in society. Real joy is found in a person--in Jesus Christ.

Paul calls him “Lord.” The word lord means “master.” And what kind of master is he? Some masters are cruel and uncaring. Some are harsh and domineering. What kind of Master and Lord is Jesus?

In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul extols the humility of Jesus, as well as his transcendent glory.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Rejoice in THIS Lord Jesus Christ, the one who left heaven behind and became a man, even a servant for our sake. Rejoice in this one who became obedient to the point of death. Rejoice in him, in his sufferings and death, and also in his resurrection and ascension to the Father’s right hand. Rejoice in this Lord, who paid the penalty of our sin with his own blood, so that we might have forgiveness and a right standing with God. “He became sin who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor 5:21).

Real joy doesn’t depend on having the best set of circumstances. Jesus had all that in heaven, but that’s not where his joy was fixed. Some things are more important to him that having the best circumstances. He found joy in communion with the Father and in doing his Father’s will. Jesus’ overarching daily joy was to please his Father in heaven. “I always do what is pleasing to my Father in heaven.”  “My food is to do the Father’s will.” Real joy, the joy of Jesus, is found in a relationship with God. Is that the focus of our joy?

Meaning of "Rejoice"

Second, the meaning of rejoicing. What exactly is Christian joy?

According to one definition, the primary sense of the word rejoice is “to shout or be animated with lively, pleasurable sensations.” The Old Testament uses various words which suggest joyful movement and pleasurable sensations like shouting for joy (Ps 66:1) and springing and leaping for joy.

·         Sometimes there is a sense of triumph and exaltation.  “I rejoice at thy Word like one who finds great spoil” (Ps 119:162).

·         Sometimes the word used conveys the idea of a smiling and cheerful countenance, suggesting freedom from care.  “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Ps. 110:2).  “Delight yourself in the Lord” (Ps 37:4).

·         Sometimes joy is expressed through the use of rich sensory words:  “O, taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Ps 34:8).  “My soul is feasted as with marrow and fat and my mouth praises thee with joyful lips when I think of thee upon my bed and meditate on thee in the watches of the night” (Ps 63:5-6)

What does it mean to rejoice in the Lord?  It means delighting in him, exalting in him, finding pleasure and triumph and freedom from all burdens and cares in the Lord himself.

Importance of Joy 

Third, the importance of joy.  What is Christian joy so important? Paul repeats the command to rejoice three times, twice in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice;” and a third time in Philippians 3:1, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.”

The importance of joy is evident everywhere in Philippians. 

In 1:5, Paul makes his prayer for them “with joy.” 

In 1:18, Paul says that whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached, and in that I rejoice.”

In 1:25, Paul ministers to them “for your progress and joy in the faith.” 

One of Paul’s ministry goals—I was surprised the first time I noticed this but it’s right there in Phil 1:25—one of his goals was to encourage the growth of joy in the hearts of his friends. He described his ministry as being “for your progress and …joy.” Isn’t that fascinating? John Piper observes, “So all preaching and teaching that aims to make people holy aims to increase the joy of faith.”

Charles Spurgeon gave four reasons why Christian joy is important: 

Why should Christians be such a happy people? (1) It is good for our God; it gives him honor among men when we are glad. (2) It is good for us; it makes us strong. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). (3) It is good for the ungodly; when they see Christians glad, they long to be believers themselves.  (4) It is good for our fellow Christians; it comforts them and tends to cheer them.

The Christian’s joy is good for everyone involved: Good for God who is glorified by it; good for ourselves because joy gives strength to weather the hardships of life; good for the unsaved because by it they are attracted to the Savior; good for other Christians because it lifts their hearts when they see our faces shine, no matter what our difficulties.

Jonathan Edwards, the great Puritan theologian wrote, “The happiness of the creature consists in rejoicing in God, by which also God is magnified and exalted.”

The Time for Rejoicing

Fourth, the time for rejoicing. When should we rejoice? The answer: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” The verb in Philippians 4:4 suggests constant rejoicing, “Be rejoicing in the Lord always.” Go on constantly rejoicing in the Lord.

·         In the dark days when there is pain and adversity, rejoice.

·         In the bright sunny days full of blessings, rejoice in the Lord.

·         When people thank you for your service, rejoice.

·         When people overlook you or take you for granted, rejoice in the Lord.

·         When gain a friend or lose a friend, rejoice in the Lord.

Does this mean we are never sad? No, Paul definitely does not and cannot mean that. He wrote in Romans 9:1-3 about the pain in his heart over the lost condition of his fellow Jews, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.” Jesus wept over Jerusalem and cried at Lazarus’ graveside. Jesus is called by Isaiah “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.” He said to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.”

And yet, Jesus is the gladdest person in the universe. Hebrews 1:9 says of him, “Thou has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, thy God has anointed thee with the oil of gladness beyond your comrades.” Wouldn’t you love to see the radiant face of Jesus right now? I think we will be amazed by his joy when we see him.

Yes, the Spirit of God is grieved by sin. Yes, God’s wrath against sin is great. But there's nothing gloomy about Jesus. He never grumbles and complains or gets exasperated. He's never worried or depressed. Paul described himself as “sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (2 Cor. 6:10), and that perhaps is the best way to think about the Lord Jesus, sympathetic to our sorrows but always triumphantly joyful. 

The prophet Habakkuk resolved to rejoice in the Lord when all else came up empty: "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and theire be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:17-18).


Sorrow and tears have their day, but they do not have the last word. “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Ps 30:5). And one day sorrow itself must give way to the pure joy of heaven when God shall “wipe away every tear their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4).