The following is inspired by one of Charles Spurgeon’s sermon outlines.
This is the second part in a two-part series. Read the first entry here.
As if he wanted to make certain that his readers got his point, Paul echoes the command to rejoice once more:
“…again, I will say, Rejoice.”
(Philippians 4:4b)
Why does Paul repeat this exhortation? Five reasons:
1. To show His love to them.
He is intensely anxious that they should share his joy.
2. To suggest the difficulty of continual joy.
He twice commands, because we are slow to obey.
3. To assert the bossibility of it.
After second thoughts, he feels that he may fitly repeat the exhortation.
4. To impress the importance of the duty.
Whatever else you forget, remember this: Be sure to rejoice.
5. To allow of special personal testimony. “…again I say, Rejoice.”
In other words, Paul himself rejoiced. He was habitually a happy man. In fact, this letter to the Philippians is especially joyous. Let us sweep through the narrative and look it through.
The apostle is joyful throughout:
He sweetens prayer with joy. Phil 1:4
He rejoices that Christ is preached. Phil 1:18
He wished to live to gladden the church. Phil 1:25
To see the members like-minded was his joy. Phil 2:2
It was his joy that he should not run in vain. Phil 2:16
His farewell to them was, “Rejoice in the Lord.” Phil 3:1
He speaks of those who rejoice in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:3
He calls his converts his joy and crown. Phil 4:1
He expresses his joy in their kindness. Phil 4:4, 10, 18.
The calendar of the world has only a few days in the year marked as festival days; but every day of the Christian’s calendar is marked by the hand of God as a day of rejoicing.
In case we didn’t get it the first time, let us rejoice today!
“There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.“
John Calvin
Suzette says
November 7, 2011 at 5:54 amJust remembering the love and faithfulness of our great God is cause for tremendous joy. No matter what events or circumstances impact our daily lives, Jesus is faithful to get us through them. Some may take longer than others, but He will never let us down. That, in itself, is reason to rejoice!
Small Shot says
November 7, 2011 at 7:09 amWhen things seem out of control and I could scream…..
I WILL rejoice in the Lord.
He is my Strong Tower and my Rock.
Thank you for this comforting and fortifying reminder.
Pat G says
November 7, 2011 at 7:19 amWow! Check it out brethren!
I just did a search on the Blueletter Bible page for “rejoice”
exact matches.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=rejoice&t=KJV
“rejoice”
occurs 192 times in 183 verses in the KJV
1. (Lev 23:40 — Neh 12:43)
2. (Job 3:22 — Psa 51:8)
3. (Psa 53:6 — Psa 105:3)
4. (Psa 106:5 — Ecc 11:9)
5. (Sgs 1:4 — Lam 2:17)
6. (Lam 4:21 — Jhn 4:36)
7. (Jhn 5:35 — Jam 1:9)
8. (Jam 4:16 — Rev 19:7)
Look how many times Paul says to rejoice!
Act 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Rom 15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
1Cr 7:30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
1Cr 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
2Cr 2:3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is [the joy] of you all.
2Cr 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
2Cr 7:16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all [things].
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, [thou] barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Phl 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Phl 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Phl 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Phl 2:18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
Phl 2:28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
Phl 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is] safe.
Phl 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Phl 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.
Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
1Th 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
Pat G says
November 7, 2011 at 7:38 amPraise Songs especially touch my heart.
Ever sung to yourself in your mind songs?
Jesus Loves Me reached me as a very young child.
I still sing it especially during unsettled times.
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
The Center For Church Music, Songs and Hymns
http://www.songsandhymns.org/
Rejoice the Lord Is King
http://www.songsandhymns.org/hymns/detail/rejoice-the-lord-is-king
http://www.songsandhymns.org/hymns/lyrics/rejoice-the-lord-is-king
Lyrics
Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o’er earth and heaven,
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus given;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
He sits at God’s right hand till all His foes submit,
And bow to His command, and fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Rejoice in glorious hope! The Lord and Judge shall come,
And take His servants up to their eternal home.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!
Pat G says
November 7, 2011 at 8:15 amGod rejoices in song!
His Heavenly choir rejoice in song!
From the Church Music Site in part:
“… God sings! Think of it, the great Jehovah, or Yahvah, singing!
Can we really believe it? Is it possible to conceive of Deity breaking into song: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, together, singing over the redeemed? God is so happy in the love which He gives to His people that He breaks His eternal silence, and sun and moon and stars with astonishment hear God chanting a hymn of joy. Zephaniah 3:17 declares these glorious words:
He (God) will rejoice over you with singing…”
Then in Matthew 26:30 we read these dramatic words:
And when they had sung a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Christ, our perfect example, led His disciples in a hymn. Our glorious Jesus, in His most desperate hour, sings.
Old Testament
But not only does God sing, He surrounds Himself with song. In Isaiah 6:1-3 we read that song is always present (even right now!) in heaven:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said [sang]:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts:
The whole earth is full of His glory!’
and in the New Testament, Revelation 4:8 repeats Isaiah 6:1-3
Debi C. says
November 7, 2011 at 11:53 amThank you, Pat, for sharing the results of your scripture search. I truly am blessed by it. I have a sadness in my personality that just comes with my personality, so the scriptures you shared I am especially drawn to like good medicine. Thank you so much! God bless YOU today with joy and peace.
Sincerely, Debi C. in Portland, Oregon
steve mackey says
November 7, 2011 at 3:16 pmI’m amazed at Jesus. Because of the joy set before Him, he endured the cross (Heb. 12:2) The apostle Paul while bound and imprisoned rejoiced because of the gospels effect on the palace guard and local believers(Phil 1: 12-18). What an amazing attitude to have, in what appears to be in a worldly or carnal sense, – a hopeless situation.