Christian Rejoicing

Scripture Philippians 3:1

Sermon preached at Gospel Light Christian Church, Singapore
by Pastor Dr Paul Choo
on 13 December 1992

Philippians 3:1 "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe."

Introduction: This topic has been preached in 6/1/91, but failure on our part to obey God's command to rejoice in the Lord prompts me to write the same things to you which to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Christianity promises joy which is something supremely desired by all men. So when someone becomes a Christian he desires and expects joy. The resulting danger is that if he does not understand what constitutes and produces real Christian joy he may fall for one of Satan's masterly counterfeits. Christendom has been filled with so many of his counterfeits that few Christian know what true Christian joy really is! So it is our duty to rejoice in the Lord and thereby demonstrate to other Christians what true Christian joy really is, and more importantly proclaim to the world who our God really is.

Rejoice in the Lord: Most Christians focus on the word rejoice and forget that it must be in the Lord. Man was created to admire beauty and majesty, and admiration is the highest form of joy - so men find much happiness in admiring the beauty of nature, music, art, food, fragrances and morality. Of these, moral beauty is the most highly admired by men since the moral nature of man is the highest part of man. If we are to have the highest joy we must therefore admire the most perfect "object", namely God who is beautiful in all his attributes (eg His power, His perfection, His wisdom and especially His moral perfection) and His works (eg in Creation, providence and especially at Calvary).
As we admire the beauty of man's works we must "look" beyond these works to the One who created men with such varied and vast potentials, and Who created so many objects for our pleasure. If our rejoicing is in the beauty of the "event" we may not appreciate it (eg a persecution), if we do, our rejoicing may soon cease because our appreciation of it soon ceases, or if our appreciation is in a person our rejoicing will cease when that person somehow disappoints us (something that so often happens!). But our rejoicing will remain if it is centered on the infinitely beautiful and unfailing God.
A Privilege and a Duty: Rejoicing in the Lord is an exclusive Christian privilege (ROM 14:17, GAL 5:22) because only Christians have tasted His wonderful salvation and have been given spiritual understanding to know God (through the Bible) and so "look" beyond the physical event to the Hand of God that makes and directs all things.

Besides being a Christian privilege, rejoicing in the Lord is also a Christian duty - "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice (PHI 4:4), "Rejoice evermore" (1 TH 5:16). This is a command no different from "Pray without ceasing" (1 TH 5:17) or "Thou shalt not kill" (EXO 20:13). Paul sets the example himself by rejoicing as he writes this epistle to the Philippians from prison (PHI 1:18, 4:10) and singing whilst in prison (ACT 16:25). Failure to rejoice in the Lord would be an ingratitude for all that He has done for us and a shame to all that He is. Christian rejoicing also strengthens us to serve Him (NEH 8:10) and prevents us from being depressed and useless for God - therefore Paul tells the Philippians that to exhort them to rejoice in the Lord was "safe".

True and Counterfeit: Many things can give happiness - flesh-pleasing pleasures (eg music, food, human fellowship) produce immediate happiness. Though these are God-given blessings to be enjoyed (so long as they do not go beyond godly limits) they must not be substitutes for rejoicing in the Lord, nor must they be allowed to distract us from "looking" beyond the physical event to the Lord. They should rather be enjoyed in a manner and magnitude that reminds us of the Lord and helps us consider Him. Counterfeit joys produce counterfeit fruits of joy which manifest as momentary, superficial, frivolous happiness. True Christian rejoicing in the Lord manifests itself in a peaceful, calm, confident, purposeful, contented, energetic, bright and thankful disposition that persists with minimal fluctuations through the ups and downs of life.

Conclusion: In all things - blessing or trial - we must rejoice IN the Lord.