Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
New Living Translation
There are many different things that we experience in our life that brings us joy, in spite of that, there can be many different things that can rob us of that joy. In addition, what gives you joy might not bring another person joy. This kind of joy is subjective based on somebody’s opinions or feelings. This kind of joy is also relative, “not permanently fixed, but having a meaning or value that can only be established in relation to someone’s feelings and will change according to circumstances or context”.
In the Bible, having joy or being joyful also means to “rejoice”. For a Christian, the joy that the Word of God teaches us which we should be experiencing in our relationship with Jesus is not based on how we feel or our emotions.
“3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:3-5.
The Bible also teaches us that our joy does not depend on our situation that we might be confronting, its circumstances and or its consequences.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
To someone who does not have a relationship with Jesus or is immature in his or her relationship with Him, they would think that what was previously stated about a Christian’s joy is strange or bizarre and contrary to the way they are.
The apostle Paul in Philippians 4:4 very simply says that we as Christians should always be full of joy. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” However, the difference between this kind of joy in a Christian’s relationship with Christ is very different to what the world’s source or basis of what gives them a temporary and a joy that is subject to change. Paul qualifies the joy that Christians are to have and tells us the basis or origin of our joy, it is “in the Lord”.
This means our joy as Christians does not depend on our situation, the circumstances or its consequences. This also tells us that our joy is not based on how we feel or our emotions, but it is based on the fact that we know who Jesus is through God’s Word and our relationship with Him.
The many realities of life that we face can make it challenging to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” However, whatever the situation or how we feel, God is still the same, He does not change. We are the ones who have the tendency to change.
The word “Rejoice” (joy) in Greek means a deliberate, intentional action, which demonstrates your state of heart to others. The state of the heart or attitude of a believer in Christ is because of whom Christ is in that believer. Joy is that aspect of Christ’s character or the fruit of the Spirit being exemplified in the believer.
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.”
Galatians 5:22-23
Paul lists joy in Galatians 5:22 as the second fruit of the Spirit after love. “The fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23) is the kind of Christian character that glorifies God and makes Christ real to others.” This means that the joy we experience or our rejoicing in the Lord is not only for our benefit but it also benefits those around us, those whom we speak to in person or on the phone or write to in a letter or message on social media.
A great example of a Christian’s joy being on display in a painful and difficult situation, so much so that it positively and eternally influenced those around them is found in Acts 16:22-26 when Paul and Silas were in prison in Philippi.
“22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:22-25
You cannot sing if you are overwhelmed about the seriousness of your situation. Singing in Paul’s and Silas’ context was not a “spiritual” exercise or method of blocking out, or mentally ignoring the situation, but it was an outward expression of who Jesus was in the lives of these two men.
After a violent earthquake, Paul’s intervention stopping the attempted suicide of the jailer, Paul and Silas were taken to the jailer’s house, their wounds were attended to and they were fed (Acts 16:26-33). Most importantly we see the results of Paul and Silas’ expression of joy when bound in chains, the jailer “… was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God — he and his whole family.” Acts 16:34.
This holiday season we will probably confront difficult situations and or the lack of time and patience to do everything that needs to be done. We will probably encounter people and their attitudes. We also might be challenged with sickness or even the heart felt pain of a departed love one, but in spite of this, can we and will we “Rejoice in the Lord always” because of who Jesus is in our lives?
Pastor John
