Shout For Joy!

Philippians 4: 4

 "Rejoice in The Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" The wellspring of joy is our Lord's most wonderful gift.  

Two Sundays ago we received a revelation of our Father's joy. I believe there's a need for the expression of joy in the church. Some obsess on the negative side of life and fail to see good things. There are plenty of good and wonderful things happening all around us. We are to see them as reasons to celebrate and come into His presence rejoicing. The more we draw near to our Lord the more we'll experience His abundant and overflowing joy!

 When we open our hearts to the fullness of the Spirit this joy well burst forth in our midst in praise and worship. 

 Joy and the Scriptures

 Duet. 12:18, "...you are to rejoice before the LORD in everything you put your hand to..." 

 That is, we are to recognize God's hand upon all the affairs of our lives. He is the source of our lives. He is the creator all things and we share in His abundant provisions. "And whatever you do, whether in word and deed, do it all in the name of The Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3: 17)

 Neh. 12:43, "...for God made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off."

 Psalm 68:3, "Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice."

 In the natural we look for reasons to celebrate. We look forward to special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, and other special days on the calendar. Why? Because we have a basic human need to socialize and celebrate life. We are made that way. We are made in the image of God and a huge part of this image is joyfulness.

 Today is a special day on the Lord's calendar. Today is the Lord's Day! A day to rejoice and be glad in it! We are blessed above all people! We're saved, forgiven, filled with Holy Spirit, our names are written in the Book of Life and we have a home reserved in heaven! Rejoice!

 Joy and the Church

 Do you not realize there's a direct correlation between Church and joy? The Church Gives Cause for Rejoicing!

 Do you not know you who are members of Christ body, gives cause for great rejoicing? Yes, you heard correctly, the church gives reason to rejoice! 

 Philippians 4: 1, The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church saying, "Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown..." 

 The church has a special place in His heart. It goes a little deeper than merely attending the place of worship. He is intimate in his relationships; there's affection in Paul's hearts for the brethren.  

 Some folks content themselves to church attendance but not the Apostle Paul. He's relational. There's attachment here; there's a bond between the Apostle and them. Hear what he is actually saying:

 "The brethren are not only beloved but are fervently longed for by a heart which goes out towards them, who are the joy and crown of the apostle. 

 They're not just faceless church members; he singles them out individually. He calls two women by name. He says, "I exhort Eudia, and I exhort Syntyche...help those woman, for they laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers..." (V.3)

 He is emotional about them... and there's a similar expression in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, 19

 "For what is our hope, our joy, or our crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy." 

 His relationship with them gives Paul cause for great joy and it comes through in time of rejoicing! The Apostle gave his life for the church in the same manner Christ did. He gave the whole of his life for them. His joy was that they accepted and lived for Jesus according to His gospel which was preached to them. 

 For this reason it is the crown and the reward for his faithful service and devotion. 

 Joy and Peace

 A peaceful heart is a joyful heart! The two go hand-in-hand. And let me say that peacefulness produces gentleness. 

 What or who is the source of this quality of life? It is The Lord. See it is here in verse 5. "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."

 You may say, "It easier said than done" Or, "It alright for you to say but if you had to go through what I going through you'll singing with a different tune." 

 Is that so! The Lord knows better; He said we are to "rejoice under all circumstances". It's a command; a divine imperative. Not circumstances decide whether there be joy, but in The Lord, in living fellowship with Him, the believer can and must rejoice under all circumstances.  

 We All Have Reason to Rejoice

 Last Sunday we heard from Missionary, Bill & Bev Pharand. Bill told us His story of being handcuffed and taken to prison by the authorities in Genuine, Africa. We heard him say that "He rejoiced to have suffered a little bit for Christ." 

 The circumstances were very similar to that found in Acts chapter five. The Apostles were persecuted. They were thrown in a public jail and sometime after they were flogged and released. Then the authorities ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 

 It says, "The Apostles left the Court, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."   The Apostles were disgraced...humiliated and yet they rejoiced!

 Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, there’s the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you...and say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven..." 

 Is it that Christians shun public witnessing for fear of being humiliated or disgraced? So some keep their faith to themselves...they follow the cultural norm which say, "Keep your religion inside your church or you'll be humiliate." and so many keep quite. Neighbours and friends lose out. 

 The consequence of failing to share Jesus is a "guilt complex" and the shame of it is carried it in the heart and it affects Christian's joy". 

There's a blessedness that comes from being insulted for Jesus sake and there's a reward which is joy in the Holy Spirit.

 The solution to this spiritual dilemma is death to self. We must die to self in order to rid ourselves from shame of omission. We must recover what is lost. We must take back what the devil has stolen. The light of Christ must once again shine in the darkness and then His light will then shine upon us!

 Chapter 4: v.4

 Joy and Goodwill

 Next to joy, forbearance, or rather: goodwill, fairness. This quality must be obvious and seen by all in everyday life and deeds. Therefore, the church is exhorted to joy and reasonableness and fairness towards fellowmen.

 It simply means we are to get alone in the home, in the church and in the work place. In other words, "work together in harmony and forbearance. Be plight in all your conduct, be respectful and preferring others above ourselves. It leads to happiness and contentment.

 4:v.5 No anxiety! There must be no anxiety or worry about anything. Worry is a joy killer! To care is a virtue, but to arbor cares is sin, for such anxiety is not trust in God, but trusting in oneself which results in mental anguish.

 The cure for anxiety is prayer to God and commitment of our way unto The Lord. "In everything by prayer and supplication (adoration and entreaty) with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."

 Every single need you have must be brought to God. When you bring those needs to him you must come thanking Him for blessings already received, for His unfailing promises, and for the loving care of the Father who provided in the past who will provide for you in the future.

 Joy and the Holy Spirit

 Finally, be filled with the Holy Spirit! I like the way Rodman Williams express joy in relation to Holy Spirit. He said, 'Wherever the Holy Spirit is received, there is an upsurge of joy. Sometimes the joy is so great as to be almost uncontainable. There's a holy exuberance in The Lord." 

 Its obvious Acts 2, the Day of Pentecost, gave cause for great rejoicing in The Lord. 

 The Holy Spirit filled the 120 followers immediately began to speak the "wonderful works of God." Some mock and said they were drunk thinking, "They had too much wine". However, it was not fruit of the vine but fruit of the Spirit, not an artificial joy that last for the moment but a real joy that sprung up from within their innermost being.

 It didn't matter whether they were received or mocked, honoured or persecuted, living in freedom or thrown in jail they rejoiced in The Lord! 

 Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:11)

 Note that joy comes from Jesus (my joy) and the promise is twofold: the joy is to be "in" the disciples and their joy is to be "full." It's not only a promise of indwelling joy but also a promise of being filled with joy. 

 Looking ahead we can say that the Resurrection was the coming of joy, even great joy, but only at Pentecost and thereafter, did the disciples know the fullness of that joy! Many who have received the gift of the Spirit testify that one of the immediate effects is an intensity of joy. God by the Spirit floods our whole being with joy.

 This joy, regardless of the ups and downs in the life of faith, continues as a wellspring ever bubbling up and overflowing. This joy is the Lord's joy. It's everlasting! No one can take it away from you!