Young People's Group

Rejoice in the Lord Always

by Mitchell Tan
February 20, 2019

THE PRACTICE OF REJOICING IN THE LORD

The apostle Paul is a good example of one who practised rejoicing in the Lord. Despite his harsh circumstances, he still was able to practise this principle of life and ministry. When he wrote Philippians, he was incarcerated in a horrible prison. And yet, his faith in the Lord Jesus was most alive. Long before he wrote Philippians, rejoicing was already very much part of his life (Acts 16:25). There was a special sense of rejoicing in the person of the Lord despite his predicament.

1. CHOOSING TO PRACTISE REJOICING IN CHRIST BEING PREACHED IN WHATEVER WAY

“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”
Philippians 1:18

Paul chose to focus on the Lord and His gospel being preached rather than on himself. There were those who were preaching Christ for the right reasons. But there were also those who did it for the wrong reasons. They preached from self-ambition and in pretence (Philippians 1:16). They wanted to preach Christ so as to add further sufferings to Paul. Despite this, he chose to focus on the Lord Jesus being preached whether it was for the right reasons or wrong ones. He chose to rejoice. It does not mean that he was endorsing wrong preaching though.

2. LOCATING OUR PRACTICE OF REJOICING IN THE LORD FOR ALL THAT HE IS

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord”
Philippians 3:1

His source of rejoicing was found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was in the sphere of who He is and what He has done. Paul had explained in the earlier chapter of Philippians of how the Lord Jesus became a bondservant and came as man, He humbled Himself and was obedient to the point of death (Philippians 2:8). And God highly exalted Him that at the name of Jesus every knee would bow and confess that He is Lord. Paul rejoiced in knowing that Jesus Christ is indeed Lord.

3. HAVING FAITH TO PRACTISE REJOICING IN CHRIST JESUS DESPITE EVIL WORKERS

“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh”
Philippians 3:3

There were false teachers who taught falsehoods that focused on placing confidence in the flesh. On the contrary, Paul challenged the Philippians to exercise faith by seeking to worship the Lord and to serve Him in the right manner. The focus was not on having confidence in the flesh but on having faith in the Lord Jesus. They were to worship God in the realm of the Spirit. They were to rejoice and glory only in the Lord Jesus. They placed their full trust in Him and not in what they did.

4. HAVING CONTINUITY IN PRACTISING REJOICING IN THE LORD DESPITE RELATIONAL ISSUES

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4

Another situation that arose was the problem of unresolved difficulties among servants of God. It was easy for people to lose that joy in the process of dealing with such difficulties. There was a strong encouragement by Paul to continue the practice of rejoicing in the Lord. The word “always” speaks of having continuity. It is through the grace of God that they can find a deep sense of joy. They were to really get down to practise rejoicing in the Lord and in all things. Young people, let’s also seek to practise rejoicing in the Lord as our way of life and ministry.

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