Philippians 4:4 - Homilies By T. Croskery

Christian joy a duty.

"Rejoice in the Lord." This sentence is the keynote of the Epistle. The world holds that believers have no joys.

I. BELIEVERS OUGHT TO REJOICE .

1 . Because it is a commanded duty. "Rejoice in the Lord."

2 . Because , if commanded , it is provided by the Holy Spirit , for it is part of the Spirit ' s fruit. ( Galatians 5:22 .)

3 . Because joy is characteristic of the Christian. The early Christians "ate their meat with gladness and singleness of heart" ( Acts 2:46 ). This joy is not inconsistent with sorrow. The apostle himself was "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." ( 2 Corinthians 6:10 ). "Rejoice with trembling."

II. THE NATURE OF THIS JOY . "In the Lord." The world rejoices in the creature, but the believer rejoices in the Creator of all things.

1 . Because the Lord is .

2 . Because he is the Portion of his people .

3 . Because of all the manifestations of his power, wisdom, and grace .

4 . Because the believer hopes for the glory to ( Romans 5:2 .)

III. THE BELIEVER IS TO CHERISH AN ABIDING JOY . "Rejoice in the Lord at all times." In dark days as well as bright days. A permanent habit of joy is reasonable, when we consider

IV. MARK THE EMPHATIC REPETITION OF THE COMMAND . "And again I will say, Rejoice." This attests its importance.

1 . Joy is the spring of energy. "A weary heart tires in a mile." A cheerful Christian is usually a very active one. "The joy of the Lord is his strength."

2 . It kills the taste for sinful pleasures. It excludes the heart everything it cannot harmonize with itself.

3 . It enables the believer to confront persecution. The early Christians" took joyfully the spoiling of their goods."

4 . It enhances the charm and influence of Christian life.— T.C.