Philippians 4:4
"Rejoice in the Lord Always" 

Over the past three Sundays we have been looking closely at St. Paul's epistle to the Philippians.  We began this study by noting that the constant stream that runs through each chapter was the theme of joy.  The word "joy" or "rejoice" occurs 17 times in just four chapters. Let's just take a look at a few of these.   Paul says, "The important thing is that in every way,... Christ is preached. and because of this I rejoice." (1:18).  "But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.  So you too should be glad and rejoice with me."  (2:18).  "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord." (3:1).  "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice." (4:4).  

I. Its okay to be joyful.

            A. Sad Christians.

It's important for us to remember that Paul is writing this letter from prison.  He is writing it to a congregation that is wondering what to think about the fact that their pastor is suffering for the sake of the gospel.  And Paul says, "Rejoice."  It's okay for Christians to be joyful even as they face tough times for the sake of the gospel. 

Sometimes I think we're not too sure if it's okay to be suffer for the sake of the gospel.  Or to be joyful for the sake of the gospel.  Or to be joyful in the midst of our suffering for the Gospel.    We get a little confused about having the same attitude as that of Christ,  an obedient, suffering, servant and being happy about it.  We're a little suspicious about a person who carries the yoke of  Jesus Christ on their shoulders and is happy at the same time. 

The late, great theologian Erma Bombeck wrote about the time she was in church on Sunday and a s small child was intent on turning around smiling at everyone during the sermon.  He wasn't gurgling, spitting, humming, kicking, tearing the hymnal or rooting through mom's purse.  He was just smiling.  Finally, his mother jerked him about and in a stage whisper that everyone could hear she said, "Stop that grinning, you're in church."  And with that, she gave him a spank on the bottom and as the tears rolled down his cheeks she added, "There that's better."    

It's perfectly natural for citizens of heaven to be joyful.  Joy is the constant attitude of those who are n heaven.  St. John gives an inside look of heaven in Revelation, he says, "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of a rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:  Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! (Rev.19:6-7).   

One of the sure signs that we know where we are headed and that we see it clearly is the joy that we have in our heart.  We express our joy over the fact that our Lord God Almighty reigns and we, with the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven - rejoice.

            B. We don't have to be smiley.

All of this however does not mean that faithful Christians have to have a silly smile on their face all the time.  We may be aliens and strangers in this world, but we take our life and our mission here seriously and there are lots of things in this world, in our world that we just can't be happy about.   Paul is not saying that we as Christians must cover up or ignore the unhappiness that surrounds us. Nor is Paul saying that we must learn to somehow find joy in the things that cannot deliver true joy. 

One day a very unhappy man went to a counselor for help.  The counselor said to him, "forget about those things!  The more you think about your troubles the more depressed you get.  Here's what you should do.  Go and hear this famous comedian who is playing in our city.  He keeps his audience in a constant roar of laughter.  That will take away your depression and make you feel happy again."  Then  the man groaned and said, "I am that comedian."   

The truth is that the things of this world that bring us joy can be very artificial and shallow.  Our lips can be smiling even while our heart is breaking. 

II. Rejoice in the Lord.

            A. The Lord in us.

The basis for scripture's call to rejoice is never a call to the things of this world nor a call to separate from the world.    It is always a call to be in Jesus Christ.    Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord."  Here is the reason and the basis for true, everlasting joy.  

I want us to look at Paul's words here from two different angles.  First let's put the emphasis on the little word, "in."  "Rejoice 'in' the Lord.  

This morning, through the miracle of God's grace by the work of the Holy Spirit in Holy Baptism, the Lord came into Siena.  The miracle mind you is not that God, who fills the earth could get that small to come into such a tiny baby.  He gets even smaller than that when He fills the small wafer of bread on the altar with his body.  The miracle of Baptism is that Siena was born sinful and unclean.  And God is Holy.  A Holy God cannot be in a sinful creature.  Therefore, the miracle of Baptism, God has taken away all of Siena's sin so that He may might dwell in her.  That is cause for great joy, for us and for Siena as she learns about the wonderful thing that God has done with simple water because where the Lord is, there is salvation and eternal life.    

And yet, I'm not sure that this is all that Paul means when he says, "Rejoice in the Lord."  We have become familiar with the idea that God is in us through Baptism.  But have we ever taken Paul's words literally and considered that through Baptism, we are in the Lord.  "Rejoice in the Lord."  To be in the Lord means that we are where the Lord is.  It means that the whole time that we are in this world filled with all of it's joys and sorrows we are also with him in heaven at the right hand of the Father.  It means that as the Father looks to the Son, especially as He looks to the Son on the cross, He also sees the baptized in the Son you have died in the Lord, and you have risen in the Lord.   "Rejoice in the Lord." 

            B. Rejoice because of the Lord.

Now let's look at Paul's words the way that we usually think about them.  "Rejoice because of the Lord."  A believer in Christ Jesus has solid cause to rejoice because of what the Lord has done for us.   

Christians are allowed to cry. Jesus cried.  Christians are expected to mourn. Jesus mourned.   The unfairness of life and  losses that we incur effect us emotionally just as they effect unbelievers.  Yet because of what the Lord has done for us our broken hearts are bound up and our tears are dried up.   Listen to the loud voice that John records in his vision of heaven. "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There  will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev.21:3-4). 

For awhile as Christ's life drained out of his body on the cross, it was the devil who rejoiced.  Yet the devil's joy was temporary because Christ rose from the dead and crushed the head that find joy in evil.    Christ's resurrection from the dead means that our sorrow has an end to it.  It means that our tears will stop.  It means that our unhappiness will be changed to happiness.  Because He lives in us and we in him,  we may begin to experience joy in the Lord - now.  Before his resurrection, Jesus said to his disciples, "Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." (John 16:22).  Now Jesus has risen from the dead and we see Him again and our joy has come.   

III. Rejoice Always.

            A. Nothing can take away our joy.

The joy that is now ours is simply that Jesus loves you.  He loves you so much that he would give his life on the cross so that you might live with Him eternally in heaven.  No one can take that joy away from us.  For Paul, it was the Jews who tried to take his joy away.  They could not.  The lashes that Paul received for his faith could not take his joy away nor could imprisonment.  Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always."  Don't let anyone rob you of that joy because they can't. 

On the sermon on the mount, Jesus assures us that no one can take our joy in Him.   "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven..." (Mat.5:11-12). 

            B. Becky

Let me tell you about a little girl named Becky who knew what Paul meant when he said "Rejoice in the Lord always."   Becky was 6 years old.  He home life gave little to be joyful about.  Becky was physically and emotionally abused by her parents.  When her father was at home, he and her mother spent much of their time yelling at each other.  Becky would run to hide in her bedroom for hours.  No one would come to comfort.  There was one bright spot in Becky's life however.  Sunday  School.  Becky love Sunday School and as introverted as she was, she was usually the first one in class.  It was December and the SS was busy getting ready for the children's Christmas program.  Becky was to be one of the sheep.  During the practice, the leader had to continually ask Becky to move back to her place as she would slowly inch her way closer and closer t the manger that held the baby Jesus.  When practice was over the children returned to their classrooms for the closing.  All but Becky  that is.  When Becky's teacher came to look for her, she found Becky sitting on the floor next to the manger.  She had taken the baby Jesus out of the manger and was holding it tightly in her arms.  She was singing the song she had sung so many times before... "Jesus loves me this I know."  In the midst of all that was going on around her, in the midst of all of her pain and fear, and sorrow, and all that would rob her of her joy, Becky knew where true joy is to be found. 

Jesus loves you and you know it.  Now you too may Rejoice in the Lord -  Always.  

Amen.