Always Rejoicing
Key Passage: Philippians 4:4
Date: June 7, 2024
Turn your Bibles to Philippians chapter 4, if you would please. I appreciate so much the people that are involved in our music ministry. Our ladies did a great job and great truth in that. Philippians chapter 4 will be there, and then we’ll turn over to First Thessalonians chapter 5.
It is just one book in between those. You find Philippians 4, then turn back a couple of pages. You’ll find 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. And I want to help you this morning—not me, but the Lord through His truth and the Spirit of God can help you. Now, I mean that.
The holiday seasons are upon us. How many had some turkey on Thanksgiving? Anybody having turkey on Thanksgiving? Anybody—this was some of my family. Anybody wanted some ham? They had ham. You wanted ham? Have I got some of those, yeah. How many ate too much on Thanksgiving? That’s all of us. If your hand wasn’t up, you need to come to the altar for lying. And had you some pecan or pecan, whatever, some pie, amen?
Yeah, I had too much of that for sure, all of it. I liked it. We think in commercials and all that, so many make us think of the holiday season as the most joyful time of the season. And there’s a lot of truth to that. But can I say, it’s going to downtime during the holiday seasons? More suicides happen in the holiday season than any other time.
And problems come, and sometimes family issues arise. And disappointments for some that don’t have family; they’re hurting. And all these things are part of the season. The Lord has just been working in my heart about that. I’m burdened about that a little bit, to be honest with you. And I want our people—I want you to have a great holiday season.
And I believe the truth that we’re going to study from Scripture this morning can help us all, every one of us, have a good holiday season. God wants you to have that. I want you to have that. Holiday seasons can be mixed emotions, you know. It’s kind of like the guy whose mother-in-law drove his new truck off a cliff. That’s what you call mixed emotions, you know.
And I can tell those jokes because my mother-in-law is in Florida. You know, I’m all right as long as she’s not listening on Facebook. But holiday seasons can be a mixed bag. And this truth can help you end the holiday season on a good note. So let’s all—young people too—let’s all just focus on this thing. We’ll start in Philippians 4, just a very short verse.
In verse 4, in fact, if you were in my dining room at the house, you could look on the wall and see the first part of this verse. My wife painted—it looks like stencils, but she painted it on the wall. It looks wonderful. This verse, Philippians 4:4. Would you please stand just out of respect to the Word of God as we read that, Philippians 4?
In verse 4, God’s word. The Bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, rejoice.” Now, I’ll go a couple pages over to Philippians. Excuse me, you are already there. First Thessalonians, chapter 5, and verse 16.
By the way, don’t necessarily think, “Well, pastor’s going to beat me over the head with this thing. I’m supposed to always be up here.” Just hang on for a little. We’re going to try to learn. And you may already know, we’re going to try to get something, I think, this morning. First Thessalonians 5. Look in verse 16. First Thessalonians 5:16. It’s a long one. It’s a long one for sure. Are you ready? Take a big, deep breath if you’re going to read it. Here we go: “Rejoice…”
“…evermore.” I mean, if you’re in Bible memorization, you better get that one quick. Amen, you know. John 11:35, we say it’s the shortest verse in the Bible, and it is in English. Some will argue that in Greek, it’s probably the second shortest one right there. But just simply, “Rejoice evermore.” Would you pray and ask the Lord to speak to your heart as I ask the same? Would you do that? Lord, we need help.
Lord, we don’t come acting like we’ve got it all together. We don’t, Lord. Father, we’re all just your sheep, me included. We would be your sheep, though. Father, you’re a shepherd and you feed us. So, Lord, as sheep, we come to you today, and Father, would you make us to lie down in green pastures this morning? Father, would you do so? Father, would you send your Spirit making this truth real to us? I yield to you, Lord, in that. I can’t do an effective job, but you can. Would you use me in that, Lord, please?
And Father, we’ll brag on you, praise you for what you do. We ask for this in the name of Jesus. We pray. Amen. Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated. By the way, the title for this morning is “Always Rejoicing.”
Sometimes we think super Christians just wake up in the morning with a big smile on their face. We think super Christians just wake up beaming. I mean, we think super Christians don’t even have to set an alarm clock; they just wake up on time and they’re happy. Man, super Christians—I mean, they never frown. They always have a smile. They’re always on top side. They’re always just beaming with joy. But can we be honest with you? There are none. There never has been, never will be. So if you have that image on, you might as well take it off because we know the truth: there are not. Now, there’s a super God and a super Jesus, but the honest truth is, folks, there are no super Christians.
And God here is not saying that we must always be on a super high. He’s not saying that. In fact, if he were saying that, the Bible would contradict it. The Bible says in Romans 12:15, “Weep with those that weep.” Does it say that or not? So if I’m always supposed to be [happy], I could not… Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, Matthew chapter 5, He said, “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” If the Bible in Philippians 4 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16 means I’m always supposed to be smiling, I would never be mourning.
In fact, the Bible says about our Savior, Jesus Christ—the reason for the season. It says over at Isaiah 53 that He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. So you say, “Preacher, over here He says rejoice always, and again I say rejoice, rejoice evermore,” but then over there it says, “Blessed are they that mourn.”
That’s a key part of that verse. Back over in Philippians—that’s going to be our main one, Philippians 4. There are two letters that are very, very important in Philippians 4:4. If you look right there, not even a word, just two letters are very key here. You back over there, Philippians 4, amen? You’re there? Good, good. Verse 4, help me out, what are the first two letters? “Rejoice.”
You see, God knows you and I live in the body of flesh. He understands that. He knows that. And it is not saying, “Be happy all the time, every second of the day, just on a super high with a smile on your face.” He knows you’re not like that. Nobody’s like that. But He is saying, when you’re not there—maybe you’re down here—you’re always rejoicing. You don’t get stuck in the mulling grubs. You’re always working at this thing. You’re continually getting back up.
You’re saying, “Hey, I was there at one time. I just had fullness of joy.” The Bible uses that phrase: “In Thy presence is fullness of joy.” So, Psalm 16:11, He says over there, “In Thy presence is fullness of joy.” He said, “You get your prayers answered, that your joy may be full.” So what I’m saying is sometimes your joy is not quite full. Problems arise, circumstances arise, deaths arise, and sicknesses arise. It’s hard to be smiling when you have the stomach virus. Somebody want to say amen there? Let’s live in reality here. But He’s saying, He’s saying, you are always continually rejoicing.
Listen, it’s the honest truth. The only ones that will fully understand this are myself and Brother Dylan. He passed it for years; he’ll understand. But a whole lot of preachers—I guarantee you, probably 75% of preachers—well, maybe not. I don’t know how many pastors. They fight this thing on Monday. And on Tuesday, if you ever hear of a pastor that resigns, he either resigned on a Monday or a Tuesday. You say, “Why is that?” Because preachers, we have dreams. We’ve been praying all week long, preparing all week long, visiting all week long, and calling all day long. And we envision—I mean, we’ve got to bring chairs out every Sunday to fit them all in here. You’ve got to have a wheelbarrow for the offering plate, you know.
I mean, the altar—I mean, it was full all over the place. Thirty people got saved, ten people got baptized, and, you know, a hundred people got born again. You know, I mean, just whatever. We’ve had big dreams. And Sunday rolls around, and a lot of times our dreams are just smashed. “Where is so-and-so? Where is so-and-so? Where is so-and-so?” And problems here and problems there. And here’s the thing: a pastor must rejoice.
Now, praise the Lord for that pastor. The devil gets him a little bit on Sunday night or Monday or whatever, but by the time Tuesday rolls around, he’s back up top. Praise the Lord for a pastor like that. I’m not saying me; I’m talking about all across America. But praise the Lord for the fellow that grows a little bit, and maybe now by Monday night he is on top side. And praise the Lord for a pastor maybe he’s a little bit higher than he was, and it can all shift around, and by Monday morning he’s back on top side. And if he keeps growing, he might even get back up on top side by Sunday night before he goes to sleep.
Now, I’m not saying it’s like that, no, probably not, but pastors are human. And I’m talking about across the world, actually. And people are human too—the people in the church. And God’s saying you’re always working on this thing: “Rejoice evermore.” “Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say…” Why? Because you’re going to have to continue to work at that thing. Because Uncle Joe didn’t talk to you, and you haven’t seen him in four years, and you saw him at Thanksgiving, and he didn’t say a word to you. It’s going to happen.
Problems arise, and sickness, viruses do come to all of us, and financial problems, and relationship problems. So what God’s saying is, God’s people must always be working at rejoicing. You’re continually working at that thing. You’re working to get your joy full. That’s what He’s saying. Now, let me show you what it is not. Here’s what He is not saying. I don’t want you to do this. Problems happen. And here’s what happens. Here’s what happens: We go into this thing. You ever go to one of these parties? They call them Pity Parties.
Satan always has an open invitation for you to go to this party—the pity party. And then when you get over there, you start thinking about, “Well, man, my pumpkin pie, it fell on Thanksgiving. And Aunt Josie, as much as she talks—I hate to admit it—her pumpkin pie was better than mine,” whatever it may be. And, you know, it’s funny how Satan can send you an invitation to a pity party about the least little bitty thing. Yeah, I appreciate a couple of you being honest about that. The least little bitty thing. And Satan says, “Come on, man, I’ve got it all laid out. I got a party hat for you. I got a cake made for you, got candles on the cake. Come on, buddy, come on. Yeah, you know how bad you got it. Did you see how they treated you? They didn’t even say hi to you.”
“Can you believe your husband did this or said this, or your wife?” I mean, he’s just good at it. And he’ll coax you on over there. And before you know it, over there, you’re blowing the whistle at the pity party. I mean, you’re enjoying it for a long time. Satan has your thumb in your mouth. And here’s the problem: when we just wallow in it, for the next three days, we’re not rejoicing in the Lord. We’re over there having a party, and Satan’s loving it.
Listen, I understand there might be some theological things somebody would say, but, friend, it’ll help you, and it’s in God’s Word: If you’re always rejoicing in the Lord—that’s what God’s saying. God’s people must always, always be working at this. Get back up and try to get my joy through the Lord and from the Lord. And being right with God, I’m trying to get my heart, my mind, and my emotions right, because I don’t want to rejoice in the Lord always. He’s teaching you: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Always. It’s a key. Now, that is what you guys say. You have to say, “Oh, what in the world am I doing over here in this party room? Why in the world?”
Out of love to God, you say—by the way, God said, “Serve the Lord with gladness”—and you say, out of love to God, “I am canceling my pity party, Satan. I’m going to leave you over there, and I’m going to come over here, and out of love to God, I’m going to rejoice in the Lord.” Can I say this? Out of love to other people—your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends—you say, “I’m not going to have this pity party. I’m going to get over there where God told me to, and I’m going to work at this thing, and I’m going to rejoice in the Lord.” What is He saying? Oh, friend, always. It’s a continual thing. Always. Joy in the Lord.
First thing we just want to emphasize are those first two letters of the verse. What are the first two letters of the verse? “Rejoice.” Now let’s look at something else. What’s the next thing in this verse? He says, “Rejoice in the Lord.” Do you know why that is? Because if my rejoicing is based only on this here, this changes a lot.
I mean, He’s good sometimes, bad sometimes. You heard about the police officer. He was kind of hanging out in the shadows. He wasn’t trying to give a ticket; he was just kind of watching things and had his little radar gun going, you know, and he was just kind of enjoying it. But he saw a car go by, and he looked at his gun. He’s in his car: 22 miles an hour. He thought, “Man, that’s just dangerous. I’m not going to give him a ticket, but I need to pull them over and find out what?” 22 miles an hour. Sure enough, he turned his lights on and got up there, caught up to the car. It was a car full of older ladies. I mean, little old ladies just driving along, you know. She put her window down, and he went up there, and she said, “Sir, I was going the speed limit.” And he said, “Ma’am, you’re only going 22 miles an hour.”
And she said, “Well, sir, I wasn’t speeding. I mean, what’s the problem?” He said, “I’m not giving you a ticket, but 22 miles an hour is a little slow, and it’s dangerous on this road here.” And she said, “Well, officer, I’ve seen that sign up there that the speed limit was on. It’s 22.” And he said, “Well, you know, it’s not the speed limit. You need to go a little faster,” and so on and so on. He was about to leave. He thought, “What can you do? It’s the holiday season.” He knew those three other ladies in the car were just like statues—not moving, not saying a word. He thought, “I need to at least check.” He looked and he said, “Man, the whole time I’ve talked to you, those ladies haven’t said a word. They’re just like they’re frozen.” He said, “Are you ladies okay?”
The lady that was driving said, “Officer, I don’t understand it. That’s kind of been weird. They’ve been like that ever since we got off Route 119.” If rejoicing just comes from down here [from circumstances], we’re in for a roller coaster ride. And that’s why the Bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord.” You see, here’s the thing too, let me just say: If I’m putting my rejoicing all on, “Well, I rejoice if my spouse is such and such,” then you’re putting something on your spouse they can never handle, and you’re not being fair to your spouse.
If you’re always proud because your spouse isn’t this or that… Friend, the Bible doesn’t say rejoice in your spouse; it says rejoice in the Lord. That way you can give your spouse what they need instead of you always trying to depend on them to give you what you want them to give you. Can I say, young people—young people over there—if you’re basing your rejoicing on your parents, you’re putting something on your parents they cannot live up to because you are human beings. You’re putting pressure on them, and you’re going to be on a ride because you’re putting the pressure on somebody made of flesh and blood, just like you’re made of flesh and blood. And friend, the Bible says I’m to rejoice in the Lord. Here’s a good thing about that: Jesus Christ is saying, help me out. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday. So if I’m rejoicing…
…I can always be rejoicing. Remember what Jesus said? Remember that? The demons were subject to His disciples when they were sent out. They came back and said, “Woo, man, we got power! We could command the demons, and they were leaving! Woo, we got power!” And what did Jesus say? Jesus said, “Be careful.” He said, “If you’re rejoicing in that, that’s going to change. You better rejoice that your name is written in heaven.” That doesn’t change. See, help me out here a little bit. When I’m down a little bit, maybe troubles and trials are down here, I can always have a born-again Christian and say, “Woo-hoo, I’m going to heaven one day! Amen, come on! I’m going to heaven one day! Come on!”
Man, if you can’t rejoice about anything, praise the Lord, you’re not going to have arthritis, you’re not going to have electric bills, you’re not going to have… Woo-hoo, I’m going to heaven! Yeah, I can rejoice in the Lord because He’s the one that gave me salvation; He’s the one that keeps me safe. Somebody this week wanted to argue about eternal security and said, “I think you can walk away from your salvation.” I gave my salvation to the Lord a long time ago when I got saved. It’s not in my hands; it’s in His. And I can rejoice in the Lord because of that. Hey, I like this verse. It’s a wonderful verse. It’s Isaiah 38:17. It says, “Behold, God has cast all my sins behind Thy back.”
When I read that verse, I think about the Lord when I come to Him—to Jesus Christ—confessing my sin. I mean, the Lord says, “All right, man, let me see here. Yep, yep, but I’ve wadded it up.” All my sins, all my problems. And the Lord says, “Hey, he came and confessed that.” And the Lord said, “Let me just toss that sin back there.” He said, “I remember his iniquity no more.” Hey, I can rejoice in that: my sins are forgiven. Yeah, that’s what it’s talking about. Hey, I’m going to heaven. My sins are forgiven. I’m a child of God. I mean, I’m part of the royal family. Hey, the Bible says, 1 John 3:1, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God.” He’s my dear man. That’s what He’s saying. I’m always working at that: rejoicing in the Lord.
Now, yes, sometimes it means I can rejoice in the things God’s given me—not a prayer, but when you realize God gave them to you. Always rejoicing in the Lord. You say, “What does this mean, preacher?” This is what it means: When your mind goes continually to the negative, and it’s just always, always going to the negative, negative, and your mind just keeps going there. And you say, “Wait a second, bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” And you say, “No, I’m not going to have the pity party. I’m going to work at this thing of rejoicing in the Lord,” and you make your mind get on the things of God and the things of the Lord and keep your mind state. You’re working at it. What do I mean? You’re continually working this thing. Always. So here’s your thing. If it’s always supposed to be smiley…
No super Christians. But it means I’m always working at this thing: rejoicing in the Lord always, always. And here’s the thing: You say, “Preacher, you don’t know my circumstance. You don’t know my family. You don’t know what happened over the holidays. You don’t know what Uncle Joe said. You don’t know my past. You don’t know my abuse. You don’t know all that.” Wait a second. The Bible will not command me and you to rejoice evermore if I could not do it. And by the grace of God and the power of Jesus Christ, I can always be rejoicing in the Lord. Always.
Now, first of all, re—what are the first two letters of the verse? “Rejoice,” right? Then the next thing we said: “Rejoice in…” Yeah. Now let’s get one more word. We’re going to go home because you have turkey left over to eat. Amen. We all do, amen. Here it is. Here’s the last saying: “Rejoice.” Look at that verse, Philippians 4. “Rejoice in the Lord.” What’s the next word? Yesterday, many of you know, many of you know, Brother Chad’s mom passed away. I preached his mom’s funeral yesterday.
I talked to his dad yesterday. He’s 85. They’ve been married 66 years. Yeah. For the last three years, he was in a nursing home, and pretty much, besides when he—the husband—had surgery or whatnot, pretty much every day he would go visit her in the nursing home. Even the nursing home staff loved their love story. They all did, because he would go pick her up and push her in a wheelchair through the nursing home almost every day. Everybody loved it. Here’s the thing: He just lost his mate of a lifetime—66 years. She’s gone. Now, not permanently, because of Jesus, he’ll see her again. But here’s the thing: When I came into the funeral home yesterday, you know the first thing he said? He said, “Thank you for coming.”
I began to tell me a little about her passing, and God gave him assurance that it was going to happen and so on. But I talked to him a good long time. He shed a few tears; he got teared up a little bit. I talked several times yesterday, and I was so pleasantly pleased that even though he just lost his mate of a lifetime, he was rejoicing. He was not, best as I can tell. Now, the battles will come, I understand. But he wasn’t over in the corner having a pity party. He was working at it. I’m not saying he was going, “No, it wasn’t like that.” But he wasn’t dwelling on how bad it is. He was working at it. That’s what God’s talking about: “Rejoice in the Lord always,” even if you just lost your mate of a lifetime.
And if you did get hurt, and even your physical heart hurts so bad, you’re just in such pain, but you’re working at it. You’re not just settling there and saying, “Well, let me go have a pity party. Nobody knows what I’m going through.” No, no, you’re working at that thing. That’s what He’s talking about. And, friend, it’s going to have to be all the time because you live in a sin-cursed world. Even though you’re saved, you have a new creation, you still live in the old flesh, and you have that battle, and you’re going to have to always be working at this thing: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” You’ll think…
I think about my old preacher brother of the house. He used to say, “I thought when I got older, I’d have a more peaceful ministry. I wouldn’t have so many battles.” He was a little disappointed when he got older; there were still battles. But he had to work at it. And I’m saying that to say: You say, “Well, I’m in my senior years. I thought I could enjoy life.” You can’t. But you’re still going to have to battle it. It doesn’t matter if you’re a young person in here. It doesn’t matter if you’re 13 or 15 or 12 or 67 or 67. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if you’re middle-aged, if you have children or not at home. It doesn’t matter. You’re always going to have to work at rejoicing in the Lord all the time. And it becomes a way of life. You just rejoice evermore. I’ll give you three keys to this spiritual battle. It’s spiritual warfare. Let me give you three keys real quickly. We’re pretty much done.
Your thoughts are key. If you’re going to obey God’s Word, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” If you put your mind in neutral, I guarantee you it’s going to go to all the bad things. Because you’re still… Boy, when we go to heaven, I’m so thankful; I’ll lay this robe of flesh down. Hoo, praise the Lord for that! Until then, I’m going to have to battle my mind, my thoughts. It’s a battle. I’ve already quoted the verse from Corinthians: “Bringing into captivity every thought.” By the way, it doesn’t say you control the thought, but once it comes in—bringing into captivity everything that comes across your mind—now you’re responsible for what you do with it. Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and you’re always working. “No, I don’t want my mind dwelling on the bad thing about my child, about my parents, about my spouse, about my uncle…” No, I’m going to try to get my mind thinking on the right things. Your thoughts are key. Number two of three keys…
Is this little thing—they’re so big. Help me out, what’s that called right there? Yeah, that’s huge. James 3 basically calls your tongue the steering wheel. Now, it uses a ship there, you know, the thing on the back for control of the helm. But probably more easily for us is just the steering wheel when you’re driving a car. The Bible is talking about that: the control mechanism is your… See, because here’s the thing: If I’m going to say something, I have to think it. And I’m going to say, “Tennessee Vols won yesterday.” Thank you. I lost some people there, you know. I have to think it first, and then I say it. I hear it again.
It’s always bad when I go back and listen to my sermons and I hear the way I sound. I don’t like to do that. It doesn’t always sound the same when you hear it coming from yourself. But whatever you say, you hear it. And once you hear it, it gets back in your mind again. And so you’re tempted to start thinking about it again. And it grows, and it just becomes a monster. So if I say, “I’m not standing at the party, Satan. I’m leaving the party. I’m going to go over there to your lane. I’m getting out of the mulling grubs. I’m going to obey the Bible. I’m going to work. I’m going to rejoice in the Lord,” then you’re going to have to turn your little steering wheel and stop talking about all the negative things. If you need to deal with it, deal with it. And then start talking about the love of God and the answers to prayer and the grace of God and the good things He’s giving—the house He’s giving them, the car He’s giving them, the spouse and the children. You’ve got 10,000 things to thank God for that He gave you. Your tongue is key. Your thoughts. Your heart is key. I’m just going to throw this one in here.
When you start doing something for others, it’s so helpful. I was trying to think, but I can’t remember exactly what it was. My wife and I were—I’m not sure—we were just maybe battling down one day, it was my day off. Satan always tries to tackle your day off, you know. It was summertime, and we just wanted to be on the top side, you know. I mean, something about it. Maybe it was because we got arrested—we were in jail the night before. At least that got you paying attention. You know, I don’t know. It must not have been a big thing because I can’t remember what it was. But I said this: I said, “Hey, hey, babe, how about the neighbor across the way, the mom and dad? They had health issues, and their grass at the time was… oh, I had to walk. Some of it was.” And I said, “How about let’s go cut their grass?” We like doing that type of work. She drove the riding mower, and I walked in front of it, pulled anything out of the way—saw an axe and everything else—and shot a couple of snakes, and we called a couple rats and ate them later on. (He said, “You just made me sick.”) We got it done, and it took a long time. But we forgot about whatever we were down about. And our joy was more full when it was over. By the way, if you want to get some joy, give some joy out. God blesses the givers. Luke 6:38, check it out. Three keys: what you’re thinking about, what you’re talking about, go do something for someone.
Here’s the thing: What book of the Bible did we read from first? The one we’ve been referencing, 4:4. What book of the Bible was that? Philippians. God used a man named Paul to pen that. Hey, he’s the one that God said, “I want you to put down there: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, rejoice.’” Can I tell you where Paul was when he wrote that, penned it? He was in jail, stuck in a prison cell. By the way, it wasn’t nearly as nice as the jail cells we have in our day and time. Probably remember Timothy’s prison, kind of the dungeon. And yet, he was the one God used while he was in prison. By the way, not for shoplifting over the holidays either. It was for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. It would be easy for him to have the mulling grubs and complain, “I’ve got it so bad.” But he’s the one that God used: “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
What was that second book? Tell me, what was the second book we read from? First Thessalonians. Can I talk about the church at Thessalonica? Paul and his missionary team went there to start that church. It was in that place, and there was such severe persecution. I’m talking about beating Christians. I’m talking about blood, losing teeth, and black eyes. And even, I imagine, some killed. Paul and his missionary team went there and were leading people. These young Christians said, “Paul, they’re going to kill you. You better get out of town.” And Paul said—brave Paul—he said, “You’re right. I need to leave town. They’re going to kill me.” It was just the hand of God and these willing young baby Christians that God used to start that church. And yet God said, “Paul, I want you to write to those Christians that are getting persecuted and getting beaten, broken legs and broken arms and bloody faces. I want you to write to those Christians, ‘Rejoice evermore.’” Now, it seems like if God wanted them to rejoice when He was in prison, and He wanted those persecuted Christians to rejoice, it seems like you and I could rejoice evermore.
Help me out. “Rejoice in the…” Would you bow your heads and close your eyes? You say, “Preacher, I’m going to work at this thing. I’m going to work at it. When I get the invitation from the devil, I’m not going. I’m going to talk about it, complain about it for three weeks. I’m going to deal with it if I need to, but I’m going to try to get my joy back full.” God spoke to my heart about that. I have love for the Lord and love for others. I don’t want to hurt those people I love. I’m going to work at this thing. God spoke to my heart about that. If that’s you this morning, “I’m going to work at it.” Just let me see a hand in that preach. You’re going to work today. God bless you. God bless you. I see many, many hands. “Preacher, I’m going to work at this thing: Rejoice in the Lord.” Oh, anybody else? “Preacher, God spoke to my heart, and I’m going to work at it.” God bless you. God bless you. It seems like there ought to be a great host of us, even more. But I’m going to work at this thing: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Just lift it up. That’s right. You’re going to work at this thing. Going to work at this thing. Oh, God bless you. God bless you. Thank you so very, very much. Thank you so very much. You can put your heads down.
Here this morning, Richard, there was a time in my life when I did accept Jesus as my Savior. I know that heaven is my home. I’ve settled that. I know for sure I’m going to heaven. I’m a child of the King. My name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I know that. I know that I’m saved. I know I’m saved. I know I’m saved. I know I’m saved. Yes, I’m going to heaven. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. Many, many hands. Thank you so very much. Thank you so very much. You can put your hands down.
Maybe you are here this morning and you say, “Be honest with you, preacher, I couldn’t raise a hand. I don’t know that I can rejoice in the Lord about all those things concerning heaven, because I don’t know that heaven is my home. I don’t have that security.” I mean, you don’t know it. I don’t know that. “Preacher, I’m not assured. I’d have a hard time rejoicing in the Lord because I don’t know that I’m a child on the way to heaven. I’m not sure of that.” I’m not going to call your name. I love you. I don’t want to embarrass you. I love you. I love you. I’d like to pray for you. You say, “Preacher, be honest with you, I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know that.” If that’s you this morning, anybody like to lift a hand? “Preacher, I don’t know.” Just slip it up. Don’t be embarrassed. Don’t be shy. Just slip it up. “I don’t know that heaven’s my home.” Oh, friend, God loves you. God loves you. He has provided a way where you can be assured of heaven for all eternity. Oh, I can rejoice in the Lord always because honestly, if I got what I deserved, you know…
I’m going to heaven. God’s been so good to me. I don’t deserve all this grace, this goodness. I’m a child. He’s forgiven me. He loves me. We’re close. Oh, I can rejoice in Him. Hey, let’s just work at this thing all this holiday season, when it’s all over. Christmas is all over, New Year’s Eve is all over. They’re saying, “I’m going to rejoice, rejoice.” Let’s work at this all this season, our life long, but this season: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Would you stand, please? Our heads are bowed, our eyes are closed as we stand. We’re going to have a word of prayer.
While they play, as soon as we say amen, would you come down to the altar and just say, “Lord, I want to work at this thing”? Would you let Him know that? “Lord, I have love for You and my love for others. Be what they need. I’m going to work at this thing: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always.’” We’d just come spend some time with Him. Maybe you need to come pray. Maybe you’d like for someone to pray with you; there will be men down front. Whatever the time, would you come get close to the Lord during the invitation? Let’s just be obedient to Him. Father, Lord, we love You. Lord, I’m so thankful. It’s such a blessing to understand I don’t have to be just smiling all the time, but I have to rejoice all the time. That’s so helpful for me, Lord. Father, help us as a church family, as individuals, just to dedicate ourselves and determine that all this holiday season, and this season especially, Lord, help us determine we’re going to rejoice in the Lord always. Father, give our people just [understanding] of what You’re speaking to their heart about. Help us be obedient. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Would you come as our instruments play? Just be obedient to the Lord. Would you come as our instruments play? Just be obedient to the Lord. Oh, let’s work at this thing: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” As we go away from everybody else, God spoke to your heart. Just be obedient.
Just be obedient to the Lord. “Rejoice in the Lord.” You say, “Preacher, how can I win against the devil? He’s trying to get my heart, my mind, my thoughts in a negative way, and maybe being critical. How can I win? I want to fight against the devil.” First step is submit yourself, say, “For the Lord.” First thing, you submit to God. What’s submitting to Him? “All right, Lord, I’m going to work at this thing of rejoicing.” That’s submitting to the Lord. Then you resist the devil; he’ll flee, but it starts with submitting. How do I submit? “All right, Lord, I need to work at this thing. I’m going to work at it.” You’re going to work at it. You’re going to work at it all the time. Oh, I’m going to be working at this thing. Middle of the night, I’m going to wake up and work at it. Morning time, I’m going to work at it. Nighttime, I’m going to work at it. “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
I mean, you say, “Preacher, I think the Lord is worth rejoicing in.” Anybody like that, amen? Amen. Amen. So glad you are in the house of the Lord on a Sunday morning. And what a great truth the Word of God has for us. I hope that sticks with us—me too—all holiday season. And no worry about everybody else. Don’t be the police in your house saying you’re not rejoicing in the Lord, and they’re going to rejoice as they hit you in the nose. That’s written to me and you as individuals, amen. “Rejoice in the Lord always.” And what a great, great truth. Glad you’re here this morning. Looking forward to being back in God’s house tonight at 6 o’clock. I’m thankful for everyone that’s here with us, every person. Thank you so much for being with us in the house of the Lord. We’re glad to have you, and praise the Lord for you.
Original File: Always Rejoicing - Pastor Paul Chisgar Sunday a.m. 12119