Rejoice in The Lord Always - Pastor Karim

Here we discover how a believer can know true joy and deep peace, even in the midst of trials, by living in complete trust in the Lord.

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May the grace, peace, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, today and always.

Pastor Karim

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Thank you, Lord, for this beautiful worship. Thank you, Lord, to continue to minister to all of us, to your words, understanding of your truth, that we might apply it also in our lives to grow more mature in your understanding, mature in your words, mature as human beings. And we pray that this church will be strengthened in all of your ways, Lord. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. So, as I said today, we have a break on the parables, and so the message will be a little bit shorter as well because we have the Holy Communion as well, and to share in remembrance of the Lord Jesus for what he has done and what he is doing, and what he will do, also. Our hope of glory. Amen. So the title of the message today is rejoice in the Lord always. Philippians chapter 4, verse 4 to 7. So today we are going to look together at a passage taken from the epistles, the epistles, yeah, but more specifically on the epistle of Philippians, addressed to the Philippians. This letter is one of the most personal letters from the Apostle Paul, but also one of those that has, on many occasions, lifted me up in times of doubt, weariness, and trial. The Apostle Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison in Rome around 62 AD to the church of Philippi, which he had founded several years earlier during his second missionary journey. So this church is really dear to the Apostle Paul. But although Paul was in prison, this letter is filled with joy, gratitude, and hope. Indeed, joy is one of the central themes of this epistle. Yet this joy is not founded, rooted upon favorable circumstances. It finds its source in Jesus Christ and in the certainty of his sovereignty, the sovereignty of God upon our lives. So throughout this epistle, Paul encourages believers to stand firm in the faith, to live in unity, humility, and love, to follow the example of Christ and to faithfully continue the Christian race despite difficulties and opposition. As he comes to chapter 4, Paul concludes his epistle with several practical exhortations. They are intended to strengthen the church. He caused believers to rejoice in the Lord, to show gentleness toward all people, to replace anxiety with prayer, and to live in a peace of God. Let us now look together at what the Lord desires to teach us through this passage. Here we discover how a believer can know true joy and deep peace, even in the midst of trials, by living in a complete trust in the Lord. Amen. Let's read the passage. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. It's a powerful passage indeed. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Verse four. So I want to start the teaching with one question. Does God want us to be happy? Does God want us to be happy? Let me answer. Happiness often depends on circumstances and is influenced by our emotions and feelings. If we obtain what we desire, we are happy. But if we lose it, our happiness disappears. You see where I want to go. But biblical joy, however, is rooted in something different. It's rooted in faith in God, in his character, in his promises, and in the salvation that has been granted to us through Jesus Christ. Did I answer? God's highest purpose is not simply our comfort or our well-being, but to make us increasingly conformed to Christ. And for what? For his glory, for his name. So this remains true even when we go through trials in this world. Yet it is precisely by pursuing him and living for him that believers discover a lasting joy. One that surpasses temporary pleasures and remains even in the midst of suffering. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Amen. So this is exactly what Paul teaches us in this first verse. While he himself is imprisoned, he exhorts believers to rejoice. Can you imagine? Wow, what a blessing. I would complain, but not rejoicing for others. Only God can do that. Not in their circumstances, not in their emotions, but in the Lord. He rejoices for them in the Lord. This is not a joy passing emotions. In his sovereignty, his goodness, and his promises. That is why Paul, despite his imprisonment and suffering, can say, rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice. So, second question: What does it mean to rejoice always in the Lord? Biblical joy is the spirit-enabled confidence of the believer in God. Flowing from the assurance that we are loved by God, our Father. It is the confidence flowing because we know that God loves us. How Father loves us. This trust leads us to love Him, regardless of what may happen in our lives. Lord, I give glory to you. Whatever things happening in my life, I rejoice. When we rejoice in the midst of our suffering, we reflect Christ. In those moments, God is at work in our sanctification, in order to change us and transform us, so that we may become increasingly conformed to the perfect image of Christ. The word always means at all times, in every circumstance of life, in this world. For this world is not our final home. This is our temporary home. As believers redeemed by the blood of Jesus, we eagerly wait our eternal home with Christ. This is not our final destination. Amen. So yet our joy is not found only in what God is accomplishing in our lives today. It is also found in the hope of the glory to come. The hope of glory to come. As the apostle Paul says, Christ in you the hope of glory. Colossians 1 27. The hope of glory to come, when we will be with Christ for all eternity. Therefore, joy is not found in circumstances, but in the Lord Himself, in his promises, and the firm assurance that we belong to Him forever. Verse 5. Let your resibleness be known to everyone. Yes, even in the midst of various trials of life, preserving resembleness, or in some Bible versions, gentleness is a sign of the powerful and supernatural work of the Holy Spirit within us. How can people rejoice among trials by themselves? I cannot do it. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, it would be impossible for us for what to respond in such a manner through the difficulties, injustice that many of us encounter. In fact, it is one of the fruits of the Spirit produced when God is at work within our lives. But also our testimony before men has also an important impact on the way we represent Christ and his gospel. If we see believers always complaining, sad, going through our difficulties, what is our testimony in the world? We glorify God not only through our words, but also through our manner of living and acting toward people. It is often in the most difficult moments that we really see our faith. You have faith. Show me. Amen. This is our submission to Christ and our belonging to him, which are made evident and visible to people. If you have the opportunity to read the book of Job, it's a wonderful book. The fact that the Apostle Paul adds, the Lord is at hand, reminds us that the hope of Christ's return, our hope, the perspective of his second coming, when he will return to judge the world and fully deliver his people. This was a constant reality for the first Christians. This is the hope they were longing for every day. I will see the Lord. But no one knows the day or the hour of his return, right? As Jesus teaches, Matthew 24, but concerning the day and the hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. And again, but know this, we have to know this. That if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would have not have let his house be broken into. Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Are we ready? Wow, that's just not all capital letters. However, we are called to live in expectation of that meeting, remaining faithful until the end. Like the Apostle Paul himself, we must persevere in the faith until the end of our race. Paul could therefore declare to Timothy to give him hope. He was suffering from persecution, isolation. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day. And not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Amen. So this is the hope of the believer to live for Christ today while awaiting his glorious return. And to do so with the joy that this firm conviction brings. This is our hope. He said also, verse 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. The Apostle Paul himself, in chains and prison, and probably living under terrible conditions, continues to encourage, to strengthen believers through words of brotherly love. Like a spiritual father speaking to his children in the Lord. He is the one who planted this church and who knows the surrounding difficulties, both politically and socially oppressive. This constant persecution existed because believers were united together in Christ. Do not be anxious about anything. Shows that all these things are temporary. Do not be anxious, don't worry. Afflictions and suffering are temporary. The best is yet to come. And deliverance is near. God's providence is also a never ending fact among his people. It's never ending. As Jesus always reminds us of not being worried about. Borrow, right? Do not be worried. I will take care of it. Then comes this powerful call to prayer toward God. When Paul says, Let your request be made known to God, he calls us to pray in the midst of our weaknesses and afflictions. But not only that, for he also speaks of prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings, which place the believer in three different positions before God. Prayer is a direct dialogue with God. Something that should be practiced in simplicity and at any moment. It should not be seen as a task or as a duty, but rather as a way of life. Okay, let's pray. Alone, together, any moments, any situations. Let's pray. Other religions are praying all day. What about Christians? But supplications, or even some translations, petitions is something stronger, is different. It speaks of a fervent and earnest prayer addressed to God in our needs. It may be accompanied by tears or lamentations, showing our complete dependence upon Him and our involvement with the body and the life. This is a supplication. The King David was well known for this kind of supplications. Among all the Psalms he wrote praying and seeking God for forgiveness and even essential spiritual needs to move forward in his life. This also reminds us of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying with such intensity that his sweat became like great drops of blood, falling down to the ground as he perfectly submitted himself to the will of his father. This is a supplication. And thirdly, thanksgivings are an attitude of gratitude. Attitude of gratitude toward God. They consist of thanking God, of course, for his blessings, for his person, for who you are, for his promises, fulfilled and not fulfilled yet. All promises for his salvation and for everything that he accomplishes in our lives. Thankfulness toward the Lord, our Creator, our Father. Here we can see this attitude of heart and dependence upon God. The action taken in order to maintain this relationship with our Creator. Of course, through the work of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. The one who is the comforter of our souls, who leads us where Christ desires us to be, and what he desires us to do. Be and do. Jesus says to his disciples, when the helper comes or the comforter, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. John 15, 26. So I have good news today. We are not alone anymore. God is with us. Amen. Wow! Guides us according to his holy will, spirit, and perfect sovereignty. So that everything accomplished in us may glorify him, the one true God of all things in heaven and on earth. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus. Amen. So the peace of God is a gift. And it is very significant here. The Apostle Paul often speaks about peace many times while being imprisoned. The picture here is that our of our guard protecting a sea. Since Philippi was a Roman colony with many soldiers, and the Philippians believers will easily understand this image that surpasses all understanding, he says. Because you are facing a military invasion in your city, but you have the peace of the Lord. Don't worry, everything will be fine. You see, the context is even stronger. Paul teaches that the peace of God stands guard over our hearts and minds, protecting us from anxiety, fear, and worry. This passage reminds us of what the Psalmist says. Psalm 121, verse 7 and 8. The Lord will keep you from all evil. He will keep your life. Wow, this is so powerful. So, in the same way, God watches over his people. This is a promise. Are we holding to that promise? God is guarding our hearts and minds to the peace which is found in Jesus Christ. For this peace is not the peace of the world that the world gives. As Jesus teaches his disciples and says, peace I live with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. You see, this is eternal peace we are talking about. What is Jesus talking about? What is being described here is an inward, lasting and above all supernatural peace. It is the peace that is manifested in the life of the believer when he submits himself to the Holy Spirit, when he does not live in the darkness of the world, when he sets himself apart to read and meditate upon the word of God, the peace that illuminates the soul and is nourished by the living water. The Apostle Paul also says and tells us that this peace surpasses all understandings. It must not be confused with the purely human understanding, influenced by material things, circumstances, outward comfort. This is not peace. This is illusion. The peace of God surpasses the reasoning and values of this world. It is understood and experienced through the work of the Holy Spirit, leading him to live according to the values of the kingdom of God rather than those of the world. It is possible. It is something that neither money nor education nor human wisdom can provide, but only a grace of God. It is a gift. Yes, the heart is the place where the peace must dwell, from which our thoughts will arise. If our hearts remain in Jesus, then our thoughts will also directed toward Him. Provided that we keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus. This is the promise of God for those who belong to Him. A peace that the world can neither give nor take away. A peace that guards our hearts and our minds in Jesus Christ. Amen. So to conclude my message today, I would like to quote this first verse from this chapter. So we've seen verse 4 to 7. So it's the first one of the chapter, which falls right with a deep sense of truth and conviction. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm, thus in the Lord my beloved. This verse said all and summarizes what we have been looking at today. We must stand firm in the Lord with love for one another, joy and unity, facing all circumstances together as living testimonies of the truth while waiting for his glorious return. Amen. So what can we learn and apply from Philippians 4:4 to 7? First of all, joy is the response of a thankful heart toward God. Paul says, With thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. Joy is the response, knowing that God loves us. So we give this response. We are dependent to our God, to our Father. And we are thankful with all our hearts. Joy is found in the hope we have in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord is at hand, the Lord is coming. The Lord is coming. What kind of crown would you like to have? Would you like to say, Come, faithful servant? Or I never knew you. Our hope is in the Lord, not in this world. What this world can provide us temporarily. Joy produces gentleness and kindness toward others. You see, Paul, he was imprisoned, but he was rejoicing for them. Are we in prison here? No. Maybe prison of our minds, yes. But physically, we are not in prison. So even more. Let's produce gentleness and kindness. Joy is a testimony that we belong to Christ. You see a lot of joyful people in this world? I don't think so. Maybe some happy people, but joyful people in the Lord. It's quite rare today. He says, rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice. I have counted. He's saying rejoice. It depends on the version, but between 18 and 20 times out of four chapters. So it's really the center of this epistle. Amen. Let's close in prayer. Heavenly Father, Almighty God, Sovereign God, we thank you for your word, for your grace that allows us to know you, worship you in the spirit and the truth in this place, Lord. We know that you are merciful and compassionate. We ask you to open our hearts and fill us with your supernatural peace, which produces overflowing joy through the work of your Holy Spirit. Keep us in your narrow path and continue to sanctify and transform us into the image of your Son Jesus Christ. We thank you for your Son Jesus, our Lord and Savior, as the head of this church. To you be all the glory, all the honor, all the praises, for you loved us first. We all pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen. Hallelujah.