Rejoice Always

Lisa Edwards • September 7, 2022

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” - Philippians 4:4 


Whenever I read that verse, I immediately feel called out. My stomach drops a little and I have to gulp back the conviction of knowing that, if I stop and think about it, I find that the attitudes I exhibit as I go about my average day are all too frequently less than joyful. When my kids are whining, when my marriage is struggling, when someone delivers news I never wanted to hear… It can be difficult to rejoice in something as intangible as God when my tangible trials are staring me in the face.


To rejoice is simply the act of choosing joy. That may be a simple definition, but it is hardly easy to execute in a world and in a body that are both marred by the stain of sin and selfishness. Every day, we readily discover motivation to complain, to feel self-pity, to be discontent. We try to find happiness anywhere we can, thinking that happiness is the antidote for frustration and depression. But it isn’t. Happiness is a temporary feeling that comes and goes based on our circumstances; what most people are really seeking is joy. Joy is not the absence of negative feelings, but instead the fervent adoration for Who God is that causes everything else to pale in comparison to His love, His mercy, His greatness.


When we see God for Who He truly is, we are better able to praise Him in all situations. This perspective that requires us to keep our eyes focused on the goodness of God rather than the peril of our trials is the key to experiencing truly unshakable joy.


Our ability to rejoice in the Lord exists completely independent of our circumstances, rather than being determined by them. The prophet Habakkuk wrote in chapter 3 verses 17-18, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation”.


No matter what terrible, difficult, or frustrating trials come our way, they can never erase the truth that Jesus’ blood has paid the price for our sin and guaranteed our eternal security. There is no situation on Earth so devastating that it could outweigh the unfathomable might of the victory Jesus has accomplished on our behalf! Our God is the God of our salvation, a truth that, when rightly understood, should cause our hearts to overflow with praise and gladness. This is the basis of our joy, that nothing can compare to the hope we have in Christ. This is the joy that God offers us as Christians, one that determines our attitudes for us, rather than being determined by them.


Joy is not a product of our circumstances because it is a choice we make and an action we take. Paul’s admonition to “rejoice in the Lord always” is a command to choose a joyful heart-attitude in all situations. 


This kind of thinking is antithetical to the world’s idea that joy is something you feel because things around you are going well. The Bible teaches that joy accompanies constant prayer (Romans 12:12). We don’t typically think of situations that we are praying hard over as ones that are also joy-filled. When a loved one is in the hospital, or we don’t know how we’re going to pay our bills this month, or addiction is once again rearing its ugly head… These are the times we find ourselves on our knees praying to God to change our situation. 


An amazing thing about prayer, however, is not its ability to change our situation so much as to align our hearts with that of our Creator. 


As we allow the Holy Spirit to shift our focus from one that is on our circumstances to one that is on what God is doing and has done, the result will be a shift in our heart from an inward focus to an outward expression of joy. 


The most powerful asset we have in our efforts to rejoice always is the Holy Spirit. He accomplishes His sanctifying work in us through trials that give us the opportunity to pray as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).


Joy is often linked in Scripture with suffering. Trials and suffering are used by God to grow our faith and trust in Him, and to develop perseverance in us to run the race He has set before us. James 1:2-3 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness”. Suffering and trials should not be seen as all bad for Christians, though that does not make them any easier to walk through.


The Bible teaches that when we share in the suffering of Christ (i.e. when we endure trials because of our obedience to the Father), we likewise share in His joy and reward. “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings. That you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed… Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Peter 4:13, 19). “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2a), we too can look forward with confidence to the victory over our suffering that God has already achieved and submit ourselves confidently and joyfully to His perfect will and timing.


Jesus’ death and resurrection give us more cause for joy than any other truth in existence; His death because it paid our unpayable debt, and His resurrection because it repaired our irreparable relationship with God.


Because of what Jesus did for us, we can be what we were always meant to be and do what we were always meant to do. He made it possible for us to truly live, not only in this life but also into eternity. It’s no wonder the Gospel is called the good news! This is why the angels proclaimed as they announced the incarnation, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great JOY that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). They were proclaiming to a lost and broken world that God Himself had come down to live among them and to rescue them from their chains of sin, to unlock the prison doors and set them free. What reason could any of us have had to be joyful before when we were trapped in our sin with no way out, trudging through life just awaiting our eternal death sentence? 


Conversely, what earthly trial or tribulation could ever be so great as to steal our joy at knowing Christ risen (John 16:22)?


The shepherds to whom the angels announced Christ’s birth had to be told to fear not specifically because they were being confronted by the glory of God. We see the same thing repeated throughout Scripture; whenever God reveals Himself to anyone, their immediate response is to cower in fear. Nothing highlights man’s sin more than standing next to a perfect and holy God Whose presence cannot abide it. 


But eventually, the Bible says, we will stand “blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy,” (Jude 1:24). That one word, “blameless”, changes everything for us. It changes our trembling to dancing and our fear to joy. The only way we can stand before God is if we are pure, spotless, with nothing to accuse us. But of course, none of us can claim that standing on our own.


The only way for us to be with God is if we are covered in the blood of the Lamb. 


And God, in His great mercy, has provided such a way for us. 


So now when we stand before Him, when He looks upon us and sees not our sin but His Son, there can be nothing for us but everlasting joy.


As we walk through the trials of this world, both the monumental tragedies and the day-to-day difficulties, we can find it hard to actively choose joy as we are called to do. 


Jesus was wise to give us the sacrament of communion, saying “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). He knew that we would need constant reminders of not only His sacrifice, but of what that sacrifice means for us now and how it allows us to be reconciled with God forever. 


We can never experience complete joy until we are in the full presence of God in Heaven. But God is gracious to give us a taste of His perfect joy even while we are on Earth, through His Holy Spirit. 


We experience that joy by abiding in God, drawing close to Him, recognizing His mighty works in our lives, and we experience it firsthand when He leads us faithfully through our trials. 


When we are truly aware of all that God does for us, how He provides for us and protects us, and how He has made a way for us to be reunited with Him, what other response can we have but to “rejoice always”?

Arm Yourselves

June 11, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?

I Believe That We Will Win

June 3, 2025
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?

Who Can Be Against Us?

May 27, 2025
Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17 Nobody can (truly) hurt Christians Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The train of thought is as follows: “No one will be able to harm believers on the future day if they are zealous for good” (v. 13). Indeed, even present suffering is not a sign of punishment but of blessing both now and especially in the future, on the day when God rewards his people with eternal life. -Thomas R. Schreiner Honoring Christ Erases Fear Share your faith with strength and gentleness Embrace balance Be prepared to share The truth of the gospel is a public truth that can be defended in the public arena. This does not mean, of course, that every Christian is to be a highly skilled apologist for the faith. It does mean that every believer should grasp the essentials of the faith and should have the ability to explain to others why they think the Christian faith is true. -Thomas R. Schreiner Be prepared to suffer “I’ve spent a number of years in India and Africa where I found much righteous endeavor undertaken by Christians of all denominations; but I never, as it happens, came across a hospital or orphanage run by the Fabian Society [a British socialist organization], or a humanist leper colony.” -Malcolm Muggeridge Be bold! We will likely suffer as Christians in this world, but that suffering is slight and temporary compared to the eternal inheritance that awaits us. The worst thing that can happen to us is that we die and receive our promised inheritance. Can you imagine how emboldened Christians would be if we only believed what Peter is saying? -Juan R. Sanchez Discipleship Questions: Does the fact that nobody can (truly) harm us comfort you? What would change if we lived like we really believe that? Are you a more confident person as someone who knows Christ? Does your security in Christ embolden you to take some risks in life, knowing that the worst that could happen is death? How equipped / prepared are you to give a reason for the hope that you have? What would grow your confidence and competence in that? Have you considered joining Michael Clark one day for evangelism at the harbor? Well….you should….
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