Rejoice in the Lord Always

TEXT:  Phil. 4:4-9

INTRODUCTION:

A.      IN THIS PASSAGE PAUL DISCUSSES ATTITUDES THAT ARE IMPORTANT

          TO THE CHILD OF GOD.

B.      FIRST “REJOICE IN THE LORD.”  THE OTHER ATTITUDES MENTIONED

          WILL LEAD TO THE JOY WE SHARE.

I. “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS.”

A.      “JOY” – THE HAPPY CONDITION OF THE SOUL.

B.      A CHRISTIAN’S JOY CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FROM HIM ( John 16:22 ).

C.      IT IS AROUSED BY THE HOPE OF SALVATION ( Rom. 5:1-2 ).

D.      WE ARE JOYFUL BECAUSE OF & IN SPITE OF SUFFERINGS

          ( Phil. 2:17-18;  Acts 5:41;  1 Pet. 1:3-9 ).

II.     “LET YOUR FORBEARANCE BE KNOWN UNTO ALL MEN.”

A.      THE GREEK WORD MEANS “GENTLENESS.”

B.      WE ARE TO BE GENTLE AS GOD IS GENTLE TOWARD US ( James 3:17 ).

III.    “IN NOTHING BE ANXIOUS.”

A.      ANXIETY IS A MARK OF WORLDLY PEOPLE ( Matt. 6:31-32 ).

B.      GOD HAS PROMISED TO CARE FOR US ( 1 Pet. 5:7;  Matt. 6:25-30 ).

C.      ANXIETY THEN IS A SYMPTOM OF A LACK OF TRUST IN GOD

          ( Matt. 6:30;  Heb. 11:6 ).

D.      THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL SHOULD BE FOLLOWED ( Phil. 4:11-13 ).

E.      THE OPPOSITE OF ANXIETY IS PEACE AND CONTENTMENT

          ( vs. 7;  Rom. 8:31ff ).

IV.   “FINALLY, BRETHREN, THINK ON THESE THINGS.”

A.      “WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE” – Real ( John 17:17;  Psa. 1:1-2 ).

B.      “HONORABLE” – Worthy of honor, venerable.

C.      “JUST,” “RIGHTEOUS” – State of being right or just ( Rom. 12:9;  Matt. 5:6 ).

D.      “PURE” – Pure from defilement or contamination ( Col. 3:2 ).

E.      “LOVELY” – pros, toward – phileo, to love.  Pleasing, agreeable, lends to love.

F.      “OF GOOD REPORT” – “Uttering sounds or words of good omen.”

                   Opposite of murmuring.  Looking at the bright side ( 1 Cor. 10-11 ).

G.      “IF THERE BE ANY VIRTUE” – Moral excellence ( 2 Pet. 1:3, 5 ).

H.      “ANY PRAISE” – Whatever is praiseworthy.

I.       “THINK ON THESE THINGS” – Allow the mind to dwell, meditate.  Why?

          1.       The consequence of this kind of thinking – bring us closer to God..

          2.       Proverbs 23:7;  Luke 6:43-45.

V.    WE ARE TO IMITATE PAUL IN HIS GOOD LIFE.

A.      PAUL WAS ANY IMITATOR OF CHRIST ( 1 Cor. 11:1 ).

B.      PAUL’S TEACHINGS WERE INSPIRED ( Gal. 1:11-12 ).

C.      GOD WILL BE WITH US ( vs. 9 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      WHAT KIND OF LIFE DO YOU LEAD?  IT REFLECTS YOUR ATTITUDE.

B.      IS IT A LIFE OF JOY OR MIRTH?