Always Rejoicing

Always Rejoicing!
by Don Vess

1 Sam 30:6 KJV- And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

It may not have happened to you yet, but there will come a time in your life when you will have to encourage yourself in the Lord. There may not be another person who will stand with you. You may feel as though you are all alone. But let me assure you! You are NEVER alone! You may feel like David did when he penned the 23rd psalm.

Ps. 23:4- “Yea though I walk through the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod, and Thy staff, they comfort me.”

Several points to remember:

1. Joy does not depend on circumstance.

Paul had made his second Missionary journey with Silas; and they had followed the Spirit’s leading that Paul had in a dream when he saw a man from Macedonia appearing to him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”

 They had visited a couple of cities in the province of Macedonia when they ended up in Philippi. Paul preached the gospel there and a woman named Lydia was saved and baptized and she urged Paul and Silas to come and stay at her house so he could continue ministering there. One day, as they were going to prayer a slave-girl followed after Paul saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.”

Paul recognized the spirit of divination that was speaking through her became annoyed by it and turned around and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very moment.

All was well and good except that she was a slave girl, and her masters made a lot of money off of her “gift.” When they saw that their cash-cow was gone they falsely accused Paul and Silas on trumped up charges and they tore their robes off them, had them severely beaten with rods and they were thrown into the inner prison and had their feet fastened in stocks.

It could have been a much tougher night for Paul and Silas if they had only stopped to think of what had just happened to them. They could have just cried all night and complained about how unfairly they were treated and planned their revenge against those who had done this to them. But they didn’t!

Acts 16:25-34 NASB- …BUT about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and SUDDENLY (prayer and praise will bring about a suddenly in your life) there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 And when the jailer had been roused out of sleep and had seen the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that all the prisoners had escaped.

But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here!” 20 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  This is a question every believer in Jesus Christ should be able to answer.

31 And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the Word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And they took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately, he was baptized and his whole household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, AND REJOICED GREATLY, having believed in God with his whole household.

What a time of rejoicing that must have been to have seen the manifestation of God’s power in such a powerful way, then have the gospel preached and not only be saved himself, but his whole household (children, grandchildren, in-laws, servants, etc. What a glorious time!

2 Joy grows from experience.

Rom. 5:3-We can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they will help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.

Now Paul is writing back to Philippi and to the church there and I’m sure the former jailer and his household were members of that church. And Paul is saying--- Phil. 4:4-13 NLT- Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!  5  Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Rejoice! Again, I say it, “Rejoice!” 1 Thess. 5:16 KJV- Rejoice always. The NLT says, “Always be joyful.”

How is that possible?

Ecc. 3 says there is a time for everything: Verse 4 says, “There is a time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”

Paul also says, Romans 12:15 NKJV- Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn.

Ps. 30:4-12 NLT- Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise His holy name. 5 For His anger lasts only for a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. 6 When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!” 7 Your favor, O Lord made me as secure as a mountain. 7 Then You turned away from me and I was shattered. 8 I cried out to You, O Lord! I begged for mercy, saying, 9 “What will you gain if I die, if I sink into the grave: Can dust praise You? Can it tell of Your faithfulness? 10 Hear me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. Help me O Lord.” 11 You have turned my mourning into dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 That I might sing praise to You and not be silent! O Lord my God, I WILL give you thanks forever!

3. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength to rejoice in every situation and circumstance.

Galatians 5:22 lists joy as one of the fruits of the Spirit, right after love is listed and right before peace. True joy can only be obtained and maintained by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul said, “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

Here is Paul’s secret to maintaining his joy. Verse 13- “For I can do EVERYTHING THROUGH CHRIST, Who gives me strength.” Paul’s strength wasn’t found in his situation or his circumstance, it was found in the person of JESUS CHRIST.

4. Prayer and Praise are the twins of Victory.

As Paul and Silas were in the Philippian jail, they practiced what they had been preaching. They didn’t get caught up in their current circumstances or their seeming impossible situation, they turned their thoughts to what Jesus had said Matt. 5:11-12 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of Mel REJICE and BE GLAD, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Grk. Chairo (khah-ee-ro)- To be calmly happy or well-off. To be glad! The word rejoice in English was borrowed from the French word rijois in the 14th century. In English it means: To give joy to: Gladden or To feel joy or great delight. to give joy to, or gladden.

Paul is writing back to Philippi where he faced a tragedy turned to triumph, only now he is in jail again! But he knows from past experience that it could be worse! At least he has his parchments and ability to write. He knew a little bit about rejoicing in tribulation!

Paul knew the power of prayer and he knew the power of praise!

He tells them to rejoice in the Lord always, and Again I say, REJOICE! And he reminds them that the Lord is coming soon. Then he says--- 6  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  7  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. But you can’t just pray about something and just go on your way. Paul continues: 8  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Isa 26:3 NLT- You will keep in perfect peace  all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

5. Make rejoicing a practice in your everyday life. 

Then Paul says, 9  Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. 10  How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me.  11  Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  12  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  13  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.