Sunday July 12, 1992

Philippians 4:4
	Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

	How many of us have encouraged one another with this scripture? It is very familiar to each of us. It is one that is easily memorized and recited, and sung when occasions warrant the uplifting of the heart and spirit, and yet, how many of us truly know this scripture? This is a scripture that has given me comfort, as well as comforting many others in this room, and yet, outwardly, it seems completely beyond the scope of our understanding and knowledge.
	As with all of the truths of God, it can not be intellectually deciphered and categorized. It has to be lived in order for it to be real in us, and yet for that to take place means that we have to undergo those trying times of self-death. Not many of us look forward to the trials and experiences which God uses to put our self-lives to death, and yet that should be the utter longing of our every soul and being because that is the desire of our Heavenly Father in order to more fully reveal Christ in us the Hope of glory.
	It seems that each time this verse is brought forth in my life, by the working of the Holy Spirit, the circumstances and situations are not very pleasant. Invariably it is during times of my being rebellious, or difficult, or self-centered, or just plain sick and tired of life in general. In those moments of self-pity and aggravation, the Lord brings forth this passage of His Word, and my initial reactions are usually less than favorable. Then, after the Word of the Lord begins to sink in, and the miserable state of my self-being is revealed, I usually begin to ask the Lord to make me want to be thankful and rejoice in Him. Eventually, I am brought to the point that I have no other choice but to rejoice in Him, because there sure isn't anything else in my life of any value apart from Him. 
	This includes my family, my job, anything and everything. No matter what I survey, the Hand of the Lord is evidenced in all of it, and I have to thank Him. My wife, my children, my parents, everyone with whom He has joined me including each of you in this room, all are by the grace of God alone, and how can I be anything but exaltingly thankful to Him?
	Then one has to consider what God has done in each of our lives by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. That in itself is beyond any other consideration other than joy and rejoicing and thankfulness! As well, when one includes the work and the guidance and the direction and the protection of the Holy Spirit, one's eyes have to be elevated from the filth of this realm and raised on high to the heavenlies in praise and adoration. 
	By the time each of these truths are recognized, I have usually forgotten what the problem was and find myself lost in His beauty, and that is how it should be. That is the point of this verse before us and that is the focal point of each of our lives as we live on this earth and as we gather together in praise unto Him.
	A closer examination of tis passage of Phil. 4:4 indicates that this is no request asked of the church by the Apostle Paul. It is not an indication of something that is voluntary on our part. We are required to rejoice in the Lord always, because as that is evident in our lives, the true focus of each of our lives will be manifested.
	You see, if we are miserable and self-serving, lost in pity and strife and the cares and worries of this earthly realm, what is being evidenced is that we have not truly come to see Christ as the altogether purpose and reason for our lives. When the cares of this world have our attention and are expressed in our self-sorrow, then we are not focussed on the One who has overcome all that this world could possibly throw in our direction. We have this truth reiterated in John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
	These things caused me to consider why I am so depressed and miserable at times. Why do I get discouraged, when eventually, each and every time I am reminded of these great truths of our Lord Jesus Christ and eventually am turned from sorrow and mourning unto joy and blessing and peace, even in the midst of the worst of calamities? Sometimes it seems that the smallest things will get me down, while the big ones are easiest to give to the Lord and to trust in Him. Why is that? The answer that always comes forth in my life is that I keep looking to myself to be able to handle the smaller situations, which eventually evidence the fact that they are much bigger than anything I could ever have handled, while the big ones, already being out of my league, are immediately given to Him. 
	I don't know how many of you share this same experience, but I always try to do it myself before I give it over to the Lord. When I begin to get down in my being, rather than going immediately to the Lord, I try to do something that will make the change. I try to encourage myself in earthly things which are part of the cause for my being depressed in the first place. It is kind of like throwing gasoline on a fire in an attempt to quell the problem. Everything I do only flames the fires of depression and misery rather than to extinguish it. I don't know if I am being successful in getting the point across, but it is very much part of what the Lord is doing in my life. He is beginning to show me that I must rejoice in Him at all times, rather than to limit it to the occasional gathering together as a fellowship, or as a family, or even at certain designated times in the day. I must be so consciously focussed on Him, that everything I do and say os from Him and not part of this world.
	This is especially being evidenced in the division between work and home. It is much easier to point to the Lord at home, where Laura and I and the kids share the full freedom to give expression to Christ. We may not always do so perfectly, but we have prayed and continue to pray that He alone will be the focal point of our family. This becomes especially evident during those times when Laura and myself may have a selfish disagreement, and Rebekka will say something like, "Shouldn't we pray together to let the Lord take care of this problem." God bless our young people, each and every one of them for they do put things in the proper perspective at times. Therefore it is easier to address most of the situations, at home in the focus of how Christ can take care of it.
	It is more difficult for me, however, to do the same at school, where one can teach anything but Jesus Christ, and one can say anything except the truth of Jesus. There, I have had a tendency to limit the effectiveness of Christ in my life by trying to do things to the best of my ability, and not allowing my utter focus to be centered on Him. Rather than giving Him the freedom to do all things, I have hindered Him to an extent by only giving the major problems to Him and trying to take care of the little things on my own. Rather than approaching everything in prayer, I have been guilty of trying to take control, or rather losing control by my own self-indulgence, thereby creating situations that only His grace alone can conquer. Then, when the discouragement of those self-proclaimed failures infest my being, I bring them home, and allow them to be evidenced in spite and hurtful communications that only tear down rather than upbuild our home in Him. These are the times that I should be more utterly focussed on Him rather than upon myself. These are the times that I should be rejoicing in what He has accomplished and will accomplish to His glory in my life and in the lives of those who belong to Him. These are the times and situations that require the utter peace of God to be established, not just at home, but at work, both with family and with all those who are in such desperate need of Him.
	The truth of the matter is quite simply held in the following quote, "The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our disposition, not our circumstances." When we are disposed to see Christ as the focal point of our lives, then we cannot but evidence a life of joy, and happiness and peace. But, when we concentrate on the circumstances surrounding us, and look at the lack of our own ability to be able to handle those circumstances, then we get discouraged and miserable, and continue to sink into the greater depths of despair and depravity apart from Christ. The only thing that will draw us forth from that cesspool is to be focused on Him, and thereby have His beauty draw us forth and cleanse us from the filth of which this world consists, and thus find our joy in Him once more. 
	In line with this consideration, it is necessary to go to the scriptures in order to confirm the reality that we are to consciously be rejoicing in our Lord and Savior at all times in our lives, each and every moment of our walk on this earth. It is this joy in the Lord that should characterize us as being in Christ. It is this unending joy and peace in Christ that will draw forth those of this world to desire to know what is different about us, and thereby open the door to share Christ's Love with them.
	We have been told that in the world we will have tribulation. This is not a new idea put forth just in the New Testament. In Habakkuk 3:17-19 we are told that even in the famines to come, the people of God will be found rejoicing, not in the reality that there is no food to be had, but in the fact that our God is a saving God who brings forth salvation at all times, even when all seems hopeless. "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall the fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 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 hind's feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places."
	Even though all around us may seem to be in utter harsh and arid turmoil, God is our strength and our salvation. He will make a way for us. He will turn the dust of self into the life of Christ, giving beauty for the ashes of despair. In those times, when our parched lips are tempted to curse God for the desert regions through which we are travelling, do we? Or do we rather rejoice in the fact that He is leading us forth from the bondage of Egypt, of this defiled world into the milk and honey of a far greater inheritance in Christ? When we can see the Hand of God at work in us, through us, and unto us, how can anything but springs of joyfully refreshing waters of praise tumble forth from our dried lips?
	You see, the difficulty with droughts and famines rests in the fact of the source of our sustenance. When we look to this world for our livelihood, for the supplies of our life, we will find but dust and bitterness. All about us will fail and fall into decay. There is nothing of this world which can feed and nourish anything but self-pity and wickedness. That is the only result that can proceed forth from eating the refuse of the world's fare. But, as we feast on the well-springs of the Word of God, and as we dine at the table spread for us by the Father through Jesus Christ, then our lives will manifest the source of our joy and feasting. We will give evidence to the fact that we belong to God and that He is the One who more than meets our every need with the provisions of His storehouse of life.
	Acts 5:40-41 recounts another area of our lives which necessitates the continued rejoicing in our Lord Jesus Christ. So often we may be afraid to let it be known that we belong to Christ Jesus, the One and Only true Savior of all mankind. We may be timid and fearful that the knowledge of our belief in Christ will become known to those about us. We may not participate in the things of this world, but we would just as soon not create any problems because we are known to be Christians. We are afraid of what the others may think of us or do to us. We may lose their good favor and acceptance and may be criticized and ostracized for our belief in Christ. We are afraid that they could make our lives miserable if they knew that we were Christians, so we just tend to remain quietly aloof in the presence of our work-mates and "worldly friends." This passage, however, reveals how the Apostle Peter and the other apostles responded to a threat much greater than simply bad feelings or unkind words and thoughts. "...and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his sake. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."
	The apostles were threatened and beaten by the Sanhedrin Council and it was demanded that they forthwith quit talking about Jesus Christ and the difference that He had made in their lives and the fact that He is the Only means of salvation to God. These threats were emphasized with physical beatings, and yet the apostles left rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the very name of Jesus Christ. This brings forth the evidence of the further persecution of the early church by Rome, when Christians were fed to the lions and were burned at stakes for the public enjoyment of the gathered witnesses. What was evidenced in those horrible deaths was not fear, but peace and assurance that our God was in charge and counted them worthy to suffer for His sake. When they died, even those horrible deaths it was with praises unto God upon their lips - springing forth from their mutilated bodies. Oh the Grace and the Beauty of God that those martyrs evidenced as they never saw the torments of this world as worth anything in the light of the face of Jesus Christ. What joy they must have experienced as they were allowed to be with their, with our Lord in the heavenly places of His eternal Love. This world could not take away their joy and rejoicing, and even added to it by the treatment that they received. They were enabled to rejoice in the Lord because their entire focus was upon Him. As a direct result of their sufferings for His sake, multitudes more accepted Christ. They had to know why those apostles, why those Christians were willing, and even rejoicing in death rather than to deny this Jesus of Nazareth, Whom to know is Life eternal!
	How many of us, today, can truly count ourselves among those who would rather receive the torments of this world and the reproach of this defiled realm, rather than to deny Christ, even in our quiet non-commitment? Where is the joy of counting ourselves worthy to receive the reproach of this world for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ? When we read verses of scripture like Mt. 5:11-12 and Lu. 6:22-23, what happens within our hearts? In Matthew we have the follwing recording of the Words of our Lord, "Blessed are ye, when man shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward." And in Luke, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." Is there a call to know Christ in greater life, to know what it means to count it all blessing to suffer for His sake? Do we desire to learn to rejoice even in the persecution of this world in order that Christ can be further glorified in our lives to those around us? Or, would we rather sit comfortably at home as Christians, and noncommittal in the world? There is no more easy way to become discouraged and depressed than to deny the Lord in our lives! When He is set aside in any area of our beings, then we are miserable because we are denying the life which is now ours in Him. But, when that true life of Christ is evidenced, even in areas of witnessing to those who would persecute and torment us for His sake, then we find peace and comfort, in the most turbulent of times through the Holy Spirit. He is the One who kept the apostles and the early church alive in Christ, even though they were being continuously persecuted for His sake. It is in Him that we are able to rejoice at all times in Christ Jesus.
	Along these lines, let us consider what the result was of the rejoicing of the Apostle Paul and Silas in the jail at Philippi. In Acts 16: 23-25 we read, "And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." Paul and Silas did not moan in their captivity. They did not cry out "Oh woe is me." Rather they were heard singing praises unto God for the peace of God was upon them. They were in physical torment and yet they were singing praises to God on high, and the other prisoners heard them and must have been filled with wonder at the events as they unfolded. When the earthquake came at midnight and the prison doors were openned, none of the prisoners were gone, rather they remained because that is where God intended for them to be. As a direct result, the jailor and all his household believed on Jesus Christ. That gloriuos result made every welt of the whip, every smack of the beatings, every endurement of physical hardship worthwhile. Thus it is whenever the result is that one person comes to know Jesus, that one family is brought to Christ, that one household receives the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. When Paul and Silas were finally released from that prison, they were rejoicing more fully in the Lord for the great work that He had accomplished, and it was through the fact that they were able to sing praises and rejoice only in Christ Jesus.
	This is one of the truths of ministry in Christ Jesus. We are called to lay our lives down for the brethren, to make ourselves available at all times for the sake of those who need to receive the Love of Christ. Again the Apostle Paul recounts this truth in Col. 2:24-25, "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you to fulfill the word of God:"  The Apostle Paul and every true minister called to shepherd the flock of Christ must be willing to joyfully lay upon themselves the reproach of this world in order to minister unto those who are in desperate need of the Word of God. There is no place for self-pity or any consideration of depression and self-indulgent behavior. That which belongs to God must be cared for in the joy and the peace of God. All the suffering must be born with the knowledge that God is in charge and we are to recognize Him alone in each and every situation. As that truth becomes evidenced in the church, then the entire body will rejoice in the fullness of the glory of God as He is manifested through the church unto all those in dire and desperate need of His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, this is nothing which any human being can do of one's own strength, because every attempt to do so will be met with only a greater exhibition of human frailty. Only in Christ can true joy be manifested and experienced as He lives His life in us unto others. It is the very peace who is Jesus Christ who will make Himself known unto us and unto others as we continuously focus our complete attention and desire upon Him alone. It will be at that time that the words of the Apostle Peter will be emblazoned upon our hearts as recorded in I Peter 4:12 and 13:
	Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."