Jump Start # 3533

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

    It sure seemed like an odd statement when I read it for the first time. I immediately thought, “No, that’s not true.” The statement: “Most Christians seem to handle pain better than pleasure. They handle bad news better than good news.” There was no statistical numbers to support that claim. There was no footnote referencing some detailed study of this. Just an observation. We handle pain better than pleasure. But the more I thought about this, the more I was agreeing with that statement.

Consider our sermon topics and class choices. We study the book of Job. We preach about the valleys of the shadow of death. We talk about persecution. We mention the outer man is decaying. We talk about death. We have done a good job of preparing ourselves to weather the storms in life. Sorrow and suffering takes us to praying. Jesus, the suffering servant. The apostle Paul, beaten and struck down so many times. Fear, worry, doubt—we deal with that trio all the time. I know I have. But, how many times do we talk about the sunshine of life? How rare to preach, “Things are great in your life.” Oh, we sing, “I’m happy today, oh, yes, I’m happy today,” but we feel a bit guilty admitting that.

Here are some thoughts:

First, we feel like something is wrong if something is going right in our lives. Money in the pocket, health in the body, the kids are doing well, job is doing well, marriage is great, we feel ashamed to admit those things. Somewhere there must be some pain in our lives. You aren’t doing right unless you have some trouble. That mindset, not based upon the Bible, but how we perceive things, keeps us from rejoicing. Could that be a reason so many of us walk around with frowns all the time. To be smiling, to be happy, simply isn’t right in our thinking.

It’s like a child that was standing in the pew, smiling at all the people sitting behind her. The child’s mother looked over with a stern look upon her face. She pulled the child down and slapped her little leg. The child started crying and the mother said, “Now, that’s the way we ought to be.” Really?

Second, running through so many Psalms is the idea of rejoicing and gladness when one came to worship. I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord, (122:1). The Psalmist declared, “You have put gladness in my heart” (4:7). You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness (30:11). Or, so bluntly, “Be glad in the Lord” (32:11). Nearly 50 times in Psalms gladness is expressed.

It’s hard to count your blessings without a smile on your face and thankfulness in your soul. It’s ok to be happy. It’s ok to smile in worship. It’s ok to rejoice. Everyday does not have to be gloom and doom.

Third, maybe our lack of teaching on spiritual gladness has left people feeling guilty about this topic. Paul told the Philippians that he learned the secret of living with humble means and living in prosperity. What is that secret? Have we learned that? Do we have to apologize for doing well financially? I’ve known brethren who were very successful businessmen. Some had nice sports cars, but they would never drive them to the church building for fear of what others might think. It’s ok to drive a junker to the church house, but don’t drive a luxury car. Why? Why must we hide prosperity from others? Why are we afraid that some will judge us because we have done well? Do we fear that we are showing off? Do we fear that because we’ve done better than others or have been blessed in different ways that it is wrong to have nice things? Can the preacher have a Vette? Can the preacher be a millionaire? Those thoughts trouble many of us.

We handle pain better than we do pleasure.

And, because of that, we create artificial boundaries where we feel everyone needs to be. And, through the years, this has been exhibited in comments such as: “The preacher can’t make more than most of us.” Why? Who said that?

Learning to do well with prosperity—what a great topic for a series of sermons or classes. The principle “to whom much is given, much is required,” and good stewardship fits well into a discussion like this. Abraham was rich. Lot was rich. Job was rich. Joseph of Arimathea was rich.

The issue is not how much you have, but rather, what has you. We do better with pain than pleasure. We need to work on that. We need to learn to do well with both. We need to learn to glorify God in both.

Pain and pleasure—what a contrast. In both, there are powerful lessons to be learned and great opportunities to serve.

Roger

Jump Start # 3193

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

This is one of the most popular verses in Philippians. Everyone loves this verse. You find it posted on Facebook, cross stitched on pillows and printed in greeting cards. However, many get this verse wrong. The apostle is not saying, “be happy.” Just be happy, is the creed of our culture. Do whatever it takes to be happy, just be happy. That thought, just be happy, has led many to walk away from marriages, it is used to justify immoral behavior and has caused far too many to feel safe and secure because they are happy.

Paul says, “rejoice,” and it’s not open ended. I can rejoice if someone puts a box of chocolate on my desk. I’d rejoice if my Dodgers were playing in the World Series this year, but they are not. Rejoice, not be happy. And, it’s not just rejoice, but “rejoice in the Lord.” This is a spiritual connection. Chocolates have nothing to do with the Lord. Playing a baseball game is not “in the Lord.”

The rejoicing in the Lord is built upon our salvation through Jesus. Rejoicing in the Lord is not about paychecks, vacations, ballgames on TV, but kingdom, righteousness, hope and promises in Jesus. That’s the point of the rejoicing.

The life of Paul fully illustrates this concept.

First, Paul kept a heavenly view of life. In the first chapter of Philippians, he understood that it was far better for him to depart and be with the Lord. To “depart” would mean “to die.” Being with Jesus and that heavenly view, kept Paul focused upon what is really important and what really matters. Set your mind on things above is what Paul told the Colossians. The heavenly mindset will keep one going and focused even in the worst of circumstances, such as jail, as Paul experienced.

Second, Paul included godly people in his life. This is paramount to our rejoicing. The world can pull our spirits down. The world is negative and toxic. Surrounding our day with such people will only hurt our souls. There was Paul and Barnabas, the encourager. There was Paul and Timothy, his son in the faith. There was Paul and Titus, the refresher of his soul. Quality people. Righteous people. It’s a lot easier to rejoice when you have the right people in your life. It’s a lot easier to stay on course when you are receiving encouragement, instruction and hope from those who are also Heaven bound.

Third, Paul did not let the past destroy him. He had a past. We all do. And, with all of us, it’s not pretty. There were things said, that should never have been said. There were things done that we wish we could undo. For Paul, he sat out to destroy Christianity. He chased down brethren and had them locked up in prison. His past forgiven, he still carried the scars and the memories. And, that’s enough for some to sit on the sidelines of life and declare that they are not worthy of anything good. Paul was not like that. His passion that was once against Christ, turned and was for Christ. He did not allow the past to destroy him.

Fourth, Paul was set to finish his spiritual journey. We remember well in Timothy, “I have fought…I have kept…I have finished.” There isn’t much rejoicing for the one who quit. There isn’t much to feel good about when one has dropped the ball, turned his back, and let others down. Paul stayed with it. Paul could rejoice. Even in a prison, he could tell those on the outside, “rejoice in the Lord.”

Now, there is so much doom and gloom these days. Prices are high. Shelves are empty. The country seems to be crazy at the moment. In so many places, the church is struggling and even dwindling. One could sure get the impression that Satan is winning these days. In some sections, especially in many larger cities, it looks like the church is drifting into the dark ages. How easy we could conclude, “just not much to rejoice about these days.” That’s true when you look around us. There are many things that are wrong.

However, when you look to the Lord, there is much to rejoice. God hasn’t abandoned us. God hasn’t changed his promises. God hasn’t given up on us. Heaven is still there and God is still on the throne. Kingdoms come and go, but God is still there. Hard times pass, and God is still there. Sin becomes popular but God is still there.

Rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord always. This world is not our home. Someday, before long, we will be in the land where the roses never fade.

Hold you head up…get down to the church building to worship…and REJOICE.

Roger

Jump Start # 2227

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

Our verse is a very well known passage. We hear it often in sermons. It is interesting that an apostle in prison tells brethren who have freedom to rejoice. We’d expect it to be the other way around. There are some layers we must peel back here.

First, rejoicing and happiness are not the same. We tend to use those words interchangeably. Happiness is based upon what is happening. There are many things in a day that happens which does not bring happiness. Changing dirty diapers would be high on the list. Paying bills is up there. Stuck in long lines of traffic. Waiting in waiting rooms for what seems to be hours. Getting shots, whether you are a little one or a big one, is no fun. Cable going out during a ballgame you are watching. Getting pulled over by the police. Stepping in a puddle of water and getting your foot wet. Those happenings do not bring happiness. Joy is not based upon what happens. The problem with happiness is that it is based upon the exterior things that are beyond your control. Rain during an outdoor wedding. You can’t do much about that. It happens. Joy is internal, not external. It’s based upon who you are, not where you are. It’s based upon being forgiven by Christ and walking with the Lord in fellowship. This is why a tired, old apostle, in a Roman prison, could tell others to rejoice. He was rejoicing. The prison wasn’t nice. The conditions weren’t good. What was “happening,” wasn’t worth bragging about. But on the inside, he was one with the Lord and he knew that he would be with the Lord very soon. This is why we can have a joyful outlook and a joyful spirit while awaiting chemo treatments, or going to a funeral, or having to deal with the hassles of insurance forms. Our joy doesn’t change because of what happens to us. The insides are not affected by the outsides.

Second, it’s interesting that Paul had to remind the Philippians to be joyful. You’d think it ought to be something that they were by nature, but it’s not. Paul in prison, in Rome. Things looked bleak. Life is hard. Things can get confusing. And all these exterior things can keep us from forgetting who we are on the inside. Forgiven. Heaven bound. Declared to be one of God’s children. Blessed by the Lord. Included in the mighty work of God’s kingdom. Those are things that the weather doesn’t change. Those are things that sick days, traffic jams, piles of work to be done, bills to be paid, never touch. There is much to rejoice about. With God, we see this world from His perspective. We see what really matters in life. We see that Satan is soon to be defeated once and for all. Why tell the Philippians to rejoice? Because we forget these spiritual treasures. We get caught up with what is happening at the moment and fail to look deep within us at the blessings of God.

Third, being joyous changes your outlook and your attitude. You tend not to be bothered so much with superficial things that are temporary and do not last. So, there is long lines of traffic. Use the occasion to pray. So, you are waiting and waiting in the waiting room, use the occasion to read God’s word. While paying your bills, be thankful to God that you have a job and the money to pay those bills. As you pay them, it reminds you to consider not only how generous God is, but are we being generous? It makes us think of others who we could drop a note to, or send a text to. Cheer someone up. Put some sunshine in someone’s day. The joyful look opens your eyes to a wonderfully big world that you can help others with. Being joyful, makes you thankful. Being joyful makes you be helpful.

Fourth, being joyful is a choice that one must make. We leave the house and we can be grumpy, bitter, sour, discouraged, mean, annoyed, or we can be joyful. It’s a choice that we make. Many wake up and the weather determines their mood and spirit for the day. A sunny day and they might be cheerful today. A dark gloomy day and that’s the spirit that they will carry. The joyful person doesn’t need to look outside the window to determine what he will be like. He looks within. He sees how God has been good to him. He realizes that he is blessed and that God is counting on him today. So, on the darkest of days, the child of God can be joyful. People at work won’t understand. They may even ask, “What are you so happy about?” They do not understand that it’s joyfulness not happiness that is radiating through our hearts, smiles and outlook.

Finally, being joyful doesn’t mean someone has to be on vacation, lazy or taking a day off. A person can be up to their eyeballs in work and have a schedule full of things to do and still be joyful. A person can be sitting in a Roman prison and be joyful. It’s not the location and it’s not what we are doing, but it’s the state of our heart as we are connected to the Lord. So, for the young couple in a small apartment. Don’t assume that you can never be joyful until you get your own house and have some room. If you can’t be joyful in an apartment, you’ll probably never be joyful in the largest house you can afford. Here is a person who has an entry level job. He doesn’t make much and the work day is long. He assumes that once he moves up, makes more money, gets his own desk that he will be joyful. That probably won’t happen. If he can’t be joyful now, he won’t be joyful later. Here is a young couple with lots of babies. They demand all kinds of time and attention. The parents are constantly worn out and tired. If we can just hang on until they are all in school, then we will be joyful. Most likely not. They may be better rested, but joyful? No. If you can’t be joyful now, you won’t be when they are in school. Here is a man who is soon to retire. He has the days numbered. He dreams of travel, sleeping in and finally doing whatever he feels like. Then, he believes, he will be joyful. Nope. If he can’t be joyful now, he won’t be later.

Maybe Paul was telling the Philippians to be joyful because the days would come when some of them would be in prison. The persecution would be worse before it got better. If you can’t be joyful now, you won’t be joyful then. Paul was joyful. He was the example. He was showing them that it’s an inside concept. What happens on the outside doesn’t change the inside.

Oh, if we could only get this. Nothing worse than a bunch of grumpy Christians shuffling into the church building to worship on Sunday morning. They are cranky, crabby and spreading their misery. It’s cold they say. Yep. It’s raining outside. So? It’s too early. And in the background of my mind are the words written from a prison, “Be joyful.” We get to worship the King! We get to put a smile on the face of God.

Joyful…yes. Joyful…always. Joyful…it’s up to you.

Roger

Jump Start # 2053

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

Philippians has been called the “rejoicing” book of the N.T. The words ‘joy’ or ‘rejoice’ are found 14 times in this short book. The interesting contrast is that Paul is writing this book from a Roman prison and he wants the Philippians to have the same joy that he does.

There are some things we need to remember.

First, joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness is based upon what happens. That’s where the word comes from. It is based upon circumstances and is our reaction to things around us. Joy is a choice that is internal and not based upon external circumstances. This is why an apostle in a Roman prison could talk about his joy.

Second, happiness is short lived. We are happy for short moments. Joy is a state of blessing. We are joyous because of who we are in the Lord. Joy tends to be more lasting and makes us more content. The kids sing in VBS, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart.” Joy runs deep and brings peace and satisfaction. Because a person doesn’t have a smile on their face is no indication that joy is lacking. However, a spirit that is always complaining, always negative, always seeing the wrong side of things, may very well be lacking joy. The joyous heart has counted it’s blessings and is thankful. The joyous heart knows that he is forgiven, Heaven bound and walking with the Lord.

It is a blessing to be around joyous people. They have a special way of helping you remember what you have overlooked. In the darkest moments, they find the sunshine of Christ. They have a special way of encouraging and motivating us when all seems lost. They are doing things that we know we ought to be doing. Their prayers are filled with thankfulness to the Lord. They are so happy to be a part of a congregation. They love everything about worship. They love the singing. They love the preaching. They feel the prayers are so rich and deep. They love the people.

And, sometimes we stand there thinking, ‘I didn’t like the preaching today.’ Or, ‘I thought the singing was slow today.’ Yet, here is this joyous disciple, so thankful and so glad to be able to worship with others today. It makes us hold our head down. It make us wonder, what are they seeing that I am missing?

The singing may have been slow, but they were so thankful to be singing to the Lord. I read an interesting story the other day. A man told his preacher that he was leaving and not coming back to that church. All through worship he saw people playing with their phones, some were sleeping, others were chit-chatting or in and out multiple times. No one seemed to care. He was fed up and he was through with that place. The preacher begged the man to do one final thing before he left. He asked him to fill a glass of water to the top and to walk around the auditorium one time. The man carefully did that. The preacher asked him how many people were on their phones? He didn’t know. How many were sleeping? He didn’t know. Why, asked the preacher. He said that he was watching and focused on the water in the glass that he couldn’t see all the others. With that, the preacher talked to him about being focused upon the Lord. When our eyes are intently watching the Lord, we can’t see what others were doing. The man stayed.

Consider some things that we ought to be joyful about.

First, we are Christians. That’s huge. God took us in when we weren’t at our best. He didn’t look at us like football teams when it comes to draft day. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God includes us. God has adopted us. God has named us as His children. God has granted us the inheritance. Words cannot describe what all that means.

Second, we are engaged in the greatest work the world has ever known. Man has been involved in some amazing things. Massive bridges have spanned large bodies of water. Rockets have blasted deep into space. Man has been able to transplant organs into another body. Huge wars have ended as leaders signed treaties of peace. The blind have been able to read because of brail. It is amazing all the accomplishments that man has made. Yet, the greatest work, one of the longest works, is the building of the kingdom of God. The Lord allows you and I to be a part of this work. It is His kingdom. And the work must be done His way. But what a blessing that God trusts us with this. He has put His perfect word about His perfect Son into our imperfect hands. He has allowed us to use His word to change lives and give hope to people who have run out of hope. Our greatest work is not getting to our jobs, but it is being lights for Jesus. It is living as disciples of Him. The first place many will ever see God is in our lives. Our words, our work, our attitudes can be the very bridges that people cross to learn Jesus. People that would have been lost eternally, are turned and saved and their families are saved because of what God has allowed you and I to do. Rejoice.

Third, where we are headed. We are Heaven bound. Heaven is our home and our destination. His home, one day, becomes our home. How blessed and how thankful we are for that. It won’t be a weekend tour. It won’t be a quick walk through. The destination, our journey, ends not at the cemetery, but in the home of God. There we will be forever. There we will be with no other place to go. There we will be with all the righteous of all time. Heaven isn’t owed to us. We don’t deserve it. We don’t earn it. It’s God’s promise and gift. No matter what happens today. No matter how bleak things are here. No matter how tough things are, someday all of this will be behind us and we will be with the Lord. It simply will not matter then. Once we are there, all will be fine.

Rejoice! We are the most blessed people! We have an enormous job to be busy doing! We have a destination that is truly out of this world. Rejoice.

Roger

Jump Start # 1442

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

  The other day I was on my way to my dad’s house to help him do some things. Passing through a small town, I followed an SUV that had been on some dusty roads. The back window was very dirty. Someone had written a message with their finger on the dirty window. Most times, the message is “Wash me.” But this one was different. The hand written message read, “Smile More.” Smile more. I wonder if that was a message intended for the driver or was it for folks like me who happened to be following him. Smile more.

That message written in dirt stuck with me. We don’t smile as much as we probably ought to. I smile when I walk into the church building because I am with people that I love. Smiles and hugs are the norm where I worship. I was preaching in another place this summer and someone told me how refreshing it was to see a preacher smile in the pulpit. I understand that some subjects can be serious and a smile just wouldn’t fit, but we are preaching the good news and it’s hard to share good news with a frown. Being with my kids and grandkids is reason to smile.

Smile more—I expect we don’t do that because we don’t see anything to smile about. There is an ugliness to life that many see more than the blessings. Crime, disease, death, disappointments, broken vows, broken hearts, meanness—that’s all some see. Work is drudgery. Home life is stressful. Church is out of touch. The few moments of laughter and smiles comes from comedy shows on TV, and that doesn’t last long. How sad to live this way. How sad to think that I cannot find anything in a day to bring a smile to my face. Even in dark moments, there are blessings to be seen and things to be thankful for.

Smile more. I sense Paul having a smile on his face when from a Roman prison he told the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord. What a strange twist of events, that the prisoner was telling the free people to rejoice. The man who was facing death was telling those who were full of life, to rejoice. That should tell us that our exterior circumstances do not have to dictate our feelings, moods or even the smile upon our faces. I’ve gone to encourage some who were very, very ill and have left feeling as if they encouraged me more than I encouraged them. Paul could say “rejoice,” not because he wanted the Philippians to have what he didn’t. That’s not it at all. Paul understood that it is who you are, not where you are that is the basis of this great spiritual and eternal joy. Paul was a Christian. No Roman prison, no Roman official, no dark day could take that away from him. He belonged to Christ. He was forgiven, blessed and now walking in the ways of the Lord. Nothing could top that. Nothing could take that away.

Sometimes Christians can look like the most miserable people on earth. Long ago preachers would say that some looked like they were weaned on dill pickles. On top of that sad look upon their faces, many seemed grumpy on the insides. They just didn’t seem to be a happy lot.

In the last Proverb, which describes the virtuous woman, there is an expression that she smiles at the future. Smile more, is how she lived. Most can smile at the past. Get some grown adults together and let them start talking about growing up and the smiles, laughter and stories fly. Open up a photo album and the  smiles come. Many can smile at things today. But to smile at the future, as the virtuous woman did, now that’s something. How can you smile when you don’t know what the future brings? Who is going to win the election? Where is the economy going? What about wars? What about the kids? There is so much to worry about. Don’t you think her world was even worse? Childbirth was a leading cause of death, for both the mother and the infant. Wars were often. Living was more surviving than getting ahead. Medical treatment was primitive. Communication was talking face to face with someone. News was slow and limited. Yet, in her world, she could smile at the future. I expect the reason was because she trusted the Lord.

That’s the key to putting smiles back on our faces, the Lord. Casting all your anxiety upon the Lord, for He cares for you—that ‘s what Peter tells us. Do not be anxious is what the Lord told us. God is upon the throne.

It’s rather hard to convince someone of Jesus when we are frowning at them. The invitation to come to services doesn’t go over well when we have a pained look upon our faces. Smile more. Aren’t you forgiven? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Heaven bound?

Smiles are one of those things that affect others. Imagine smiling during a meeting at work. Co-workers would wonder what’s going on. No one smiles at those long and boring meetings. Imagine walking into your home today with a smile upon your face. Imagine a smile for everyone you meet today. You’ll find many smiling back. That’s the way smiles work. It’s a simple way of spreading a little sunshine to others.

Now we shouldn’t have to say this, but we best. Some smile, but it’s at the wrong things. They smile at the misfortune of others. They smile at bad things. Disciples know and understand that’s not the way to go. Smile, but smile at the good side of life.

Of all place, the back window of a dirty vehicle, spreading a message of joy, smile more.

How about you? Smile more!

Roger