• "Rejoice in the Lord Always"
• Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent
• December 19, 2004
• The Reverend Stephen C. Scarlett

In the epistle, St. Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say rejoice." (Phil. 4:4f., BCP 95). To rejoice in the Lord is not the same as being happy in the sense that people typically think of being happy. In fact, the Bible tells us to rejoice in circumstances that would make us very unhappy. For example, Jesus said,

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven (Luke 6:22 KJV).

1 Peter says "Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (4:13 KJV). James says, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (1:2).

An example of this is found in Acts 5:40-42. The apostles were arrested for preaching. Acts tells us, "When [the authorities] had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And [the apostles] departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for [the name of Jesus]."

So, then, we are to rejoice when people hate us and speak evil about us; when we are suffering and going through various trials. This raises at least two questions: Why? and, How? What is the reason for our rejoicing? And how are we actually able to do it?

The "why" question is the easier one to answer. We are to rejoice because we have a hope in Christ that transcends our circumstances. When things go bad, Jesus is still with us and we still have the hope of eternal life. The presence of Christ in our lives causes all things to work for good. Virtue and holiness are produced through trial. If we see things from the perspective of eternity we will realize that we have, as Jesus promised, "a joy that no one can take from us" (John 16:22).

This stands in contrast with worldly happiness. Many people are "happy" when life is going well. But when the visible circumstances take a turn for the worse their sense of happiness departs because it was rooted in the temporary circumstance. Worldly happiness can only be maintained when circumstances are favorable in the world. But we can rejoice in the Lord always.

We can also rejoice in the good times. In prosperity we can learn to give thanks, to be generous, to lay up treasures in heaven. And we can learn to be just a little distrustful of temporal bliss because it is, well, temporary. In the good things of life we should learn to see a glimpse of eternity; we should learn to look through the gifts to the ultimate giver of all gifts (James 1:17).

Of course, it is easier to talk about rejoicing in good and bad times than it is to experience a constant sense of joy. When trial comes upon us, we may not naturally rejoice and when times are good we may become forgetful, unthankful and unfaithful.

The epistle gives instructions concerning how to rejoice. It says, "Be [anxious] for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall [guard] your hearts." It is through prayer that we are able to rejoice.

Notice how the exhortation to rejoice is connected with the instruction to pray. We are to "Rejoice in the Lord always." And we are told, "in everything" we are to pray. As we learn to pray in every situation; as we commit all the joys, pains, sorrows and anxieties of life to God, we experience God's presence in every situation. We come to rejoice in the Lord always.

Our closing blessing at the Eucharist comes from the epistle. We leave the altar with the peace of God that passes all understanding. We go, in the words of the hymn, "on our way rejoicing." Why? Because we have offered ourselves to God in Christ, "by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving." And the consequence is that we experience joy and peace in Christ.

The life of prayer extends out from the altar into daily prayer. There is Morning Prayer, through which we begin the day in Christ. There is conversational prayer through which we live in constant communion with the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. We can learn canticles and hymns and Psalms. As Colossians says, "Sing songs and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (3:16). There is Evening Prayer, through which we look back on the day and offer confession for our failures and thanksgiving for graces given.

Through the life of prayer we cultivate the experience of God's presence. As we come to experience the presence of God at all times in all circumstances through prayer, we learn to rejoice in the Lord always. The experience of joy and peace are fruits of the life of prayer. Prayer bridges the gap between time and eternity. Prayer prepares us for the coming of Christ, giving us a taste in the present moment of the joy that will be ours, world without end.

This is why the Bible exhorts us in many passages to pray constantly. Romans says, "Continue steadfastly in prayer" (12:12). Ephesians says to pray "always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (6:18). 1 Thessalonians says, "Pray without ceasing" (5:17). Colossians says, "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving" (4:2).

If we understand our faith, how the presence of Christ in us and our eternal hope do not depend upon temporal circumstances, we will know why we are to rejoice. And if we commit ourselves to the life of prayer; to daily habits of adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication; if "in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving" we let our requests be made known to God, we will learn how to "Rejoice in the Lord always."

"Rejoicing" Passages.

Luke 6:22 - "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."

Luke 10:17 - "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

Luke 15:6 - "And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

Luke 19:37 - "And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest."

John 4:35 - "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."

John 14:28 - Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

John 16:20 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."

KJV Romans 5:1 - "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Romans 12:15 - "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."

2 Corinthians 7:9 - "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

Philippians 1:18 - What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice."

Phil 2:16 - "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me."

Col. 1:23 - "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:"

1 Th. 5:16 - "Rejoice evermore."

1 Peter 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:"

1 Peter 4:13 - "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

Rev. 12:9 - "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."

Rev. 18:20 - "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her."

Rev. 19:6 - "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready."