“There is a marvelous medicinal power in joy. Most medicines are distasteful; but this, which is the best of all medicines, is sweet to the taste, and comforting to the heart.” (C.H. Spurgeon)
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Joy! The Christian Duty
Philippians 4:4-9
1. The Command – Philippians 4:4-9
REJOICE IN THE LORD
Rejoice – Feel or show great joy
A) To rejoice in the Lord is a delightful thing
- We should be joyful – saved from eternal damnation, separation from God
- For God so loved the world
B) You cannot be too joyful
- Jonah 2- go to chapter – what is to be like to be around a grumpy person? A happy person? Joy is contagious
- Luke 15:10 tells us angels rejoice over 1 sinner who repents
- Forbearance – noun – patient self control restraint and tolerance LAW not enforcing a right as not collecting on a debt-Matthew 18:21g
C) The world loves misery-Don’t be like the world – newspapers, news, gossip
- Romans 12:2 Be not conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind – don’t be anxious
- Christians are a people who have repented – repentance in the greek carries the notion of change of mind
D) This rejoicing is a demonstrative duty because it is for your benefit
- Joy is like a candle when lit it you don’t need a trumpet to announce light has come. The candle proclaims itself by its own brilliance
- Matthew 6:16,17 wash your face
E) Isaiah 61:10 read passage reasons to be joyful
2. The Sphere of this Joy
A) “in the Lord”
- Ephesians 6:1 Children obey your parents in the Lord
- I Corinthians 7:39 Marry in the Lord
- True rejoicing come “in the Lord”
B) Seek No Joy outside the Lord – the sweets of this world are poison
- Men can find joy in career, accomplishments, trophies, sports
- Women find joy in being a help meet
C) God is to be the great object of our joy – we cannot have to much joy in the Lord
- Psalms 37:4,5
- Psalms 43:4
D) Don’t rejoice even in great success in the work of God
- Luke 10:17 –
E) If the Lord is your Joy it will never dry up
- Psalms 16:11 ESV “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
3. The time commanded – always!
A) When you cannot rejoice in anything but God
- Job 6:10
- Romans 8:28
- I Peter 5:10
B) Take care to rejoice in God even when you have other things to rejoice in
- Matthew tells us seek first the kingdom of God
C) If you are not rejoicing in the Lord start Now!
D) Rejoice when you are alone
- I Thessalonians 5:16 rejoice always
E) Rejoice when in company
- Acts 2:46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper and shared their meals with great joy and generosity
4. Emphasis laid on the command
A) Paul wanted the Philippians to be joyful for what they had done for him – God wants his people to be joyful
B) Paul knows it can be difficult so he stress’ even more the command of God to rejoice
C) Paul spoke from experience so he was preaching and testifying at the same time
- Paul was a prisoner
D) Don’t – Anxiousness steals our Joy
- Matthew 6:25
- Do –
a) Let your forbearance be known
b) In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known
E) Verse 8,9
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