“Rejoice in the Lord
always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 HCSB)
One of my favorite Christmas carols is,
“Joy to the World.” You seemingly cannot
sing those words in a sober tone. It is
a carol that is exhilarating in both its tempo and especially the truth it
conveys. No matter the circumstances
that I find myself in—and the situation may be one of strife, struggle,
shortage, sorrow—the clouds are driven from the mind and the heart beats steady
and strong as I raise my voice, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come…” and it is in the person of
Jesus that we know the presence of joy.
Jesus is joy!
That is the focus of Philippians—and that
is all the more remarkable when we consider the context. Paul is not writing from a beach chair in the
Bahamas
In Jesus there is joy. Listen to this keynote found throughout
Philippians—the glad tune of glorious triumph trumpeted on every page, and lifting
lyrics that fill each line of text.
If Paul could know joy in that prison,
then I must heed his call to rejoice in the place where I am today. There is joy in the journey, for Jesus walks
with us—even into the valley of death’s shadow.
The Apostle shares how we can know this joy in knowing Jesus.
First,
there is THE PRAYER THAT
UNDERGIRDS JOY as presented in Philippians
1:1-11. Our first encounter with joy is
in the expression of intercession, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of
you, always praying with joy for all of you in my
every prayer” (1:3-4).
We are reminded that CHRIST
IS OUR MEDIATOR. The inexpressible
privilege of coming boldly to the throne of grace is because of the work of
Christ on the cross that purchased that right of access, and His resurrection, ascension
and on-going mediation on our behalf that takes our prayers and presents them
in acceptable form to God. Now, that is
a joyful promise to contemplate!
Too often our prayers may not have the joy they
might have, because they degenerate into griping about what we don’t have,
rather than gratitude about what we do have.
I will be candid—had I been in Paul’s sandals, with shackles around my
ankles, it is more likely I would be more concerned about myself than about
others—and I would have no joy, either.
What does Paul do?
He gives thanks to God for the Philippian church—God’s work in them and
through them. Their partnership in the
Gospel was fuel in the old preacher’s tank that kept him moving on in his
mission—and the progress of the mission was what mattered most—not the pains
and problems of the missionary.
How can you
have such a sunny disposition while sitting in the stench of a dungeon? Spend time with Jesus in prayer, if you want
joy. Prayer will give you an eternal
perspective on life with its problems and possibilities. It did for Paul. Praying about the problems of others has a
way of causing us to forget our own.
This
triggers another thought as Paul puts pen to parchment and exclaims THE PROCLAMATION THAT UNDERSCORES JOY found in
1:12-30. Paul’s enthusiasm for
evangelism was effervescent:
“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened
to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel, so that it has
become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to
everyone else, that my imprisonment is in [the cause of] Christ. Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained
confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly. To be sure,
some preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out
of good will. These do so out of love, knowing that I
am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the others
proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in
my imprisonment. What does it matter? Just that in every way,
whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I
rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice” (1:12-18)
By putting Paul in a prison behind a closed cell
door, God had swung the door of opportunity to share the Gospel wide open! This joyful proclamation has one focus: CHRIST IS OUR MESSAGE. Even if some preachers were selfishly
motivated, if the Gospel was being shared correctly, Paul would be content with
that.
It wasn’t that Paul’s circumstances were pleasant—they were
decidedly difficult. He was awaiting
trial—and might be sentenced to death.
That was a real possibility.
Still, he knew that would usher him into the presence of boundless
joy—to be with Jesus in Heaven forever. Thinking
of that caused him to affirm, “I have the desire to depart and be with Christ — which is far
better.” (1:23b)
But, he concluded that there was still a bit more
work to do. He was fine with that. He became convinced that for the time being
his departure for the final stage in his voyage home would be postponed, and
that he would visit the Philippians, to bring them joy through his ministry. “Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and
continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith” (1:25).
There is joy in the proclamation of Jesus, but Paul also
points us to THE PATTERN THAT
UNDERLINES JOY in 2:1-30.
You may be wondering how do
you cultivate such a contagious spirit of celebration? Paul has told them it is to be found in the
content of their message and the character of the mindset with which they
proclaim it: “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus” (2:5). CHRIST IS OUR MODEL. Following this imperative, Paul provides the
illustration as he takes us from the humiliation of Christ in His incarnation
and birth in a stable, His identification with sinners in His ministry among
them, His intervention for them in dying on the cross to bring salvation, but
then to His exaltation in His victorious resurrection and the promised visible
return to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords! There will be exultation in His
exaltation. The cross leads to the
crown; suffering ends in glory!
Things looked bleak on that
skull-shaped hill the day Jesus was crowned with thorns. All hope seemed dead when His body was placed
in a tomb. Grief would give way to
gladness, however, on the third day!
Just remember this, when life gets tough and threatens to sap all your
joy. Jesus has conquered and is
coming. That is cause to celebrate! This is the good news—glad tidings—we proclaim!
You can’t do that
effectively with a long face!
“Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you
may be blameless and pure, children of
God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you
shine like stars in the world. Hold firmly to the message of
life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t
run or labor for nothing. But even if I
am poured out as a drink offering on the
sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same
way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.” (2:14-18)
The manner of the messenger
will either undercut or underline the message.
How can we offer people the gladness of grace, if what they hear from us
is the grouchiness of grumblers? A dark
disposition brings no light. Such an
attitude is more suited to a funeral than the promise of life. You did hear, didn’t you? Jesus is alive!
Epaphroditus was such an
ebullient evangelist. Though Paul could
not personally go to preach to them at the moment, he could send his
colleague. It would be a joyful time in
the ministry of the Word, “For this
reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him
again and I may be less anxious. Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy
and hold men like him in honor, because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was
lacking in your ministry to me.” (2:28-30)
Why would someone joyfully pay such a painful price and even
stare death in the face and laugh?
Because, there is THE PRIZE THAT UNLEASHES JOY, described by Paul in 3:1-21. He begins the chapter with the same chorus,
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” (v.1a). Paul did, despite his circumstances
and we can because CHRIST IS OUR MARK.
“Brothers, I do not consider
myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching
forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s
heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, all
who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about
anything, God will reveal this also to you. In any case,
we should live up to whatever [truth] we have attained. Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe
those who live according to the example you have in us.” (3:13-17)
Paul once had a standard of legalism that he pursued with
great zeal. He was full of rage—his face
was hard and his actions were hateful. He
thought that he could earn his way to Heaven.
“I’m going to gain God’s approval” and he gritted his teeth and fought
to do that. He thought he was gaining on
it, but then he met Jesus and that changed everything! Paul the proud zealot came to understand that
his self-righteousness, far from being a credit
to commend him to God, was a debit in his life ledger, actually condemning him,
for he would never measure up to God’s impeccable standard (see 3:1-7).
He could not measure up in religion, but he would
in a relationship! Through knowing
Christ, Paul’s life was transformed. A
joyous grace empowered him, shaped him, and he entered this relationship and
attained this righteousness the same way all of us may—indeed must—by faith!
Paul’s great goal was to know Jesus in
ever-increasing ways, and in that process the Apostle would become like the One
with which he was consumed. This is how
we grow. This is our heavenly
calling—the mark for which we aim. At
last, we will measure up! We will be
like Jesus in a glorified state in Glory
Land
All’s well, that ends well!
Joy springs up today as we anticipate the fullness of joy in that
eternal tomorrow.
I
understand that we are not home, yet. We
are weak in the flesh—and the Tempter is strong. The Devil and his minions in the world will
try to rob us of joy. We must know there
is THE POWER THAT UNDERLIES JOY offered in 4:1-23.
“So then, my brothers, [you are] dearly loved and longed for
— my joy and crown. In this manner stand firm in the Lord,
dear friends.” (4:1) When we start to
sag, the Lord gives strength to stand, CHRIST IS OUR MIGHT.
We
can affirm with Paul, “I am able to do all things through Him who
strengthens me.” (4:13) He did not say
that he was able to do all things in his own puny power, but that he could by
virtue of the Omnipotent Lord, who was with him and in him working through
him—and he would do it joyfully!
He closes this prison letter with a call to praise, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will
say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4) If Paul
could rejoice in the circumstances he was in, then we have no excuse! Really, he saw himself not as a captive to
circumstances, but as a captive to Christ—and cheerfully so. Even in such a place, he testifies, “The Lord
is near.” (4:5b).
You enter
His presence in prayer, “Don’t worry about anything, but
in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
(4:6-7)
You experience His presence in peace, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise —
dwell on these things. Do what you
have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will
be with you.” (4:8-9)
You enjoy His presence with provision, “I rejoiced
in the Lord greatly that once again you renewed
your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked
the opportunity [to show it]. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned
to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both
how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all
circumstances I have learned the secret [of being content] — whether well fed
or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to
do all things through Him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by sharing with me in my
hardship.” (4:10-14)
Paul would go on to give gratitude to the Philippians for
their generosity (4:15-17). They would
reap what they had sown. As they met
needs with joy, they would have their needs joyfully provided. “But I have received everything in full, and I have an
abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you
provided — a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply
all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God
and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
(4:18-20)
Joy
to the world, the Lord is come!
He
will never leave us, nor forsake us. One
day—perhaps very soon—He is coming to take us into joy unspeakable and full of
glory, where the half has never yet been told!
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