WEBVTT 00:00:06.959 --> 00:00:12.720 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:21.839 Please take your Bible with me to the book of Philippians, chapter four. 00:00:23.199 --> 00:00:25.359 Philippians chapter four. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:35.840 You don't have to be part of a local church for long before you hear the phrase, no church is perfect. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:45.280 Sometimes that comment is followed by a particular punchline that we think was originated by Charles Spurgeon. 00:00:45.679 --> 00:00:50.560 If you find the perfect church, make sure you leave it because you'll ruin it if you stay. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:55.520 Thank you for laughing, some of you. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:03.039 That sentiment is based on the reality that churches are simply gatherings of sinful saints. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:14.959 We're at different stages of maturity, struggling to follow Christ as faithfully as we can while still battling the sin in our hearts. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:20.079 We're battling the spiritual forces of this dark world. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:46.879 Imagine putting hundreds or maybe even thousands of people ranging from infants crawling on the floor to seniors in high school, all together in the same room and expecting them to form a perfect union of people together, it won't work. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:57.280 If you've ever read that book, Lord of the Flies, where there's a bunch of boys put on an island, it just it just fails miserably. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:02.879 It's because we are sinful people, all put together. 00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:13.199 And as we in our spiritual lives are striving to move from one degree of maturity to the next, there's there's conflict. 00:02:14.159 --> 00:02:21.360 It's impossible to form a perfect assembly of sinful people still fighting sin. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:33.280 Just as there are sinless people, there are sinful, I'm sorry, there are sinful people, there are sinful churches. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:43.759 And because all people are sinners, all churches are in one essence or another sinful. 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:49.199 Even the churches the Apostle Paul started were flawed. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:58.879 Near the end of the first century, the church of Ephesus was criticized by the Lord himself, saying, You're in danger of having left your first love. 00:03:01.759 --> 00:03:07.599 The church in Corinth seemed to face issues with various kinds of sin and sinners constantly. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:16.960 Even the church in Philippi that we've been looking at together faced challenges both from the outside of the church and from the inside. 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:21.360 They faced opposition first to the gospel of Christ in chapter one. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:41.360 The Apostle Paul told them, Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you, that you're standing firm together in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in any way by your opponents. 00:03:43.919 --> 00:03:49.199 He adds that God graciously gave them the privilege of suffering for the gospel. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:52.879 So they're engaged in conflict. 00:03:54.159 --> 00:04:11.199 It was the gospel against Roman culture, Christ versus Caesar, the I Am versus the Roman Emperor, it was idols versus the living God, it was Christians against the world, and the church is caught in the middle. 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:14.639 And that's not the end of it. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:28.959 Because when you pull all of those layers back, you see at the beginning of Philippians chapter 4, well, actually go back to chapter 3 and chapter 4, there's fighting going on inside the church. 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:33.920 There were some inside the church that said they were Christians but were not. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:38.160 They were idolaters attempting to lead genuine believers in Christ away. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:41.600 Some were attempting to lead Christians into Judaism. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:48.879 There was also conflict between genuine believers in the church, two women who had served with Paul. 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:59.839 So, with all of these indications of conflict, one wonders why there is so much emphasis in Philippians on rejoicing. 00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:15.199 A whole bunch of sinners in a sinful world, a whole bunch of sinners in a church, all trying to work together to spread the gospel and to get along together, and there's just so much fighting and so much conflict and so much sin. 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:23.040 So why all of the information in Philippians about rejoicing? 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:41.839 Maybe you're aware of how much rejoicing there is in Philippians, if you're not, the root word for, from which we get rejoice, rejoicing, joy, the root word occurs some 23 times in these four chapters. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:43.519 That's a lot. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:54.399 So that certainly suggests at least that the apostle Paul was intending to communicate something about joy to this church. 00:05:55.759 --> 00:06:01.360 Five of those twenty-three times are structured as commands. 00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:08.720 He says in chapter two, verse 18, likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:13.600 That word, the three words should be glad, is the Greek word for rejoice. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.360 The root word. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:17.920 He says it again in chapter 3, verse 1. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:20.639 He says, rejoice in the Lord with me. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:25.680 Then chapter 4, verse 4, rejoice in the Lord always. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:27.439 And again I say, rejoice. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:32.319 Five times in three verses, he gives commands to rejoice. 00:06:32.560 --> 00:06:37.920 The Lord's people in that ancient city of Philippi were commanded to rejoice. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:40.160 But why? 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:43.040 What was he getting at? 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:47.680 Those are the questions I want to uncover with you this morning. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:51.360 Our text begins in Philippians chapter 4, verse 4. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:57.279 And this section or paragraph is only a couple of sentences long. 00:06:57.360 --> 00:07:01.279 So if you want to follow along as I read it, we'll get it into our hearts and minds. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:04.720 We're going to spend a couple of weeks here in this section. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:09.839 Philippians chapter 4, verse 4, it says, Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:12.879 Again I will say, rejoice. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:18.560 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:21.519 The Lord is at hand. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:40.079 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:41.199 Amen. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:45.600 These are short and direct statements to the point. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:55.759 And that's led many teachers and commentators to think that they're merely rapid fire statements that God's people need to hear. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:00.079 Sort of unattached from what came before and what comes after. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:01.680 They kind of stand alone. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:09.279 The argument is that chapters 4, verses 4, 5, 6, and 7, you could just kind of lift out and put anywhere. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:10.800 You could put it at the end of the book if you want. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.639 They stand all by themselves. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:18.160 That's a possible argument, but I don't buy it. 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:29.519 Paul could be filling out his piece of parchment with some general spiritual statements that Christians everywhere need to hear. 00:08:30.240 --> 00:08:34.399 But I don't think that is why these few lines are here. 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:40.559 I think there's more going on here than it might at first appear. 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:47.840 So to help us understand that, I want to begin not in chapter 4, verse 4, but in chapter 4, verse 5. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:55.519 I want to start with the phrase at the end of verse 5, which is the Lord is at hand. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:08.960 Everything that we're going to look at today and next time centers on that single phrase or sentence. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:12.399 But two questions come to mind about that statement. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:14.799 The first is, what does it mean? 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:18.720 And the second is, what is it doing here? 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:22.000 Let's think about the first question. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:23.679 What does it mean? 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:29.360 Does it mean that Jesus, the Lord, is near in space? 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:34.000 That is, he's on the front row instead of the back row? 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:44.559 Or does it mean that he's near in time, that his return is closer than it was before, that he's coming soon? 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:50.080 It's very possible that the Apostle Paul may have borrowed from the Old Testament. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:57.440 For example, it says in Psalm 145, verse 18. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:05.759 Yahweh is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:10.000 We have this sense of nearness being communicated. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:13.360 Or Psalm 34, verse 18. 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:20.879 Yahweh is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:28.000 Or Psalm 119, 151, you are near, O Yahweh, and all your commandments are true. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:39.360 So the Old Testament hymn book teaches the people as they sing to trust and believe that God is near. 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:47.679 But even those statements from the Psalms are grounded in the Torah, in the law of Israel. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:59.519 In Deuteronomy chapter 4, verse 7, it says, For what great nation is there that has a God so near to it as Yahweh our God is to us? 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:03.360 Whenever we call on him. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:10.480 God's people in the old covenant knew that Yahweh was near. 00:11:11.039 --> 00:11:26.000 For them it meant that he was not far off and distant, but close enough to hear them, to respond to them, to save them. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:37.360 And his nearness was unique when it was compared to the gods of the nations around them who were far off and distant and not involved personally. 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:46.399 Now, the New Testament doesn't have these same kinds of statements, but there are several statements about God's nearness. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:51.279 For example, James chapter 5, verse 8 says, You also be patient. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:56.320 Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:58.639 Literally, it's near. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.759 It's drawing near. 00:12:02.559 --> 00:12:14.720 James continues there to remind his readers that God is like a judge who's standing at the door, about ready to open the door, come through, and issue judgment. 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:20.000 Hebrews refers to the day drawing near. 00:12:20.799 --> 00:12:24.799 Peter refers to the end of all things being near. 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:39.360 And Romans 13, 11 says that salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed, referring to the completion, the fullness, the end of all that God is doing in our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:46.639 And finally, Revelation, the book of Revelation says twice that the time of those events is near. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:53.840 So God's nearness could be his closeness to us. 00:12:54.639 --> 00:13:03.360 Meaning he is able to hear and and respond because he's not far off, he's close to us. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:09.039 It could also be that his return is near in time. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:14.080 So which is it in Philippians 4:4? 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:16.399 4-5, I'm sorry. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:20.080 Can we say both? 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:23.759 I think it's both. 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:25.120 Think about it. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:27.279 Look back at chapter 3, verse 20. 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:37.120 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.840 That seems to point to the nearness of his return. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:47.600 We're looking, we're watching, we're waiting, and we're doing that because it's near, it's soon. 00:13:51.039 --> 00:14:02.000 But a few sentences later, in chapter 4, verse 9, we read, the God of peace will be with you. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:06.879 That seems to be an indication of nearness in space. 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:09.840 That is, he's present with us. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:18.000 So I'm not sure that we can separate these statements of nearness in time and nearness of space in this text. 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:20.480 I think they have to go together. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:29.120 God is present with us through his spirit, and his return is near. 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.279 It's close in time. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:47.039 So we have to understand as we look at chapter 4, verses 4 through 7, that all of that is centered on the Lord's nearness. 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:49.360 We're going to come back to that. 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:50.559 But why? 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:54.960 Why do we begin there and skip over the elements in verse 4 and verse 5? 00:14:55.200 --> 00:15:02.480 It's because that phrase, the Lord is at hand, is like a hinge on which something turns. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:08.879 So there's what comes before, and there's what comes after, and the hinge point is the place that it swings on. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:12.399 Both the door and the wall are connected through a hinge. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:19.519 So the door is not the hinge, the wall is not the hinge, but they're vitally connected through the hinge. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:26.480 That means that rejoicing in verse 4 is connected to the Lord's nearness. 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:34.240 Our reasonableness in verse 5 is connected to the Lord's nearness. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:44.000 And so also on the other side of the hinge, our concerns or anxieties in life are connected to the Lord's nearness. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:50.960 Our prayers in verse 6 are linked to the Lord's nearness and so on. 00:15:51.200 --> 00:16:00.399 We've seen then that the Lord's nearness can point to him hearing his people because he's near and he can respond to them because he's near. 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:07.120 We've seen that he responds in salvation and rescue, but it also might point to his judgment. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:13.919 But it also has this sense of hopefulness because our God is near. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:28.000 Hope you follow me here because this hinge is the basis for what comes before and what comes after. 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:37.519 So for the remainder of our time this morning, I want to consider what comes before the hinge, which is specifically verse 4 and verse 5. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:40.639 Rejoicing and reasonableness. 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:44.159 Let's start with verse 4 and rejoicing. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:53.759 We hear the apostolic command to rejoice twice in this verse. 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:56.639 Rejoice, he says, in the Lord. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:58.000 Always. 00:16:58.799 --> 00:17:02.240 In case you missed that, again I say, rejoice. 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:02.799 Right? 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:08.799 He's already said once in this book, to write the same thing to you again is no problem for me, and it's good for you. 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.720 So he does that. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:15.359 But what do we make of this command? 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:23.119 This word for rejoice in a command form occurs 17 times in the New Testament. 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.599 In only 15 verses. 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:28.240 That's not very many times. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:34.079 There's only 15 verses in the New Testament that command us to rejoice. 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.880 But that needs a little refinement. 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:42.960 Because in the in the Greek language of the New Testament, that term can be a term of greeting. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:46.319 Much like our hello. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:49.440 It can even function as our goodbye. 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:53.279 For example, Matthew chapter 26. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:57.599 Judas comes to Jesus in the garden the night he betrayed him. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:06.000 Jesus walks up to Jesus and says, Rejoice, rabbi! It's a greeting. 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.519 It's a greetings. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.200 Hello, Rabbi. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:14.319 It's the same word as rejoice here in Philippians 4:4. 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:22.799 So we need to remove from all of our instances of the command to rejoice those elements that are like hello and goodbye. 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:26.319 The word is used that way six times in the New Testament. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:35.519 That means we're now down from 17 times to 11 times in the New Testament, where we're commanded to rejoice. 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:42.319 Four of those 11 are in Philippians. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:52.160 Thirty-six percent of the New Testament commands to rejoice are in these four chapters. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.359 That's a big deal. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:09.119 But I think those other instances of rejoice, the ones outside of Philippians, help us understand what's going on here. 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:13.200 Let's just briefly, quickly consider some of them. 00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:15.759 Matthew chapter 5, verse 12. 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:19.759 There's a parallel in Luke's gospel as well in Luke chapter 6. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:24.799 Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount, rejoice and be glad. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.319 Wonderful, Lord. 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.200 Why? 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:31.279 Because your reward is great in heaven. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:35.519 For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:43.039 Okay, that's not necessarily what we were expecting. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:46.319 That's the first rejoice commandment in the New Testament. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:49.680 Rejoice when you are persecuted for the cause of Christ. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:56.640 Later in Luke chapter 10, Jesus sends out his apostles on a mission trip. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:00.799 They come back and they are so glad and excited. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:14.559 Jesus tells them, Do not rejoice that the spirits, the demons, are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:21.119 Don't rejoice because you have spiritual power in this world. 00:20:21.680 --> 00:20:26.319 Rejoice because you have eternal life with your names written in heaven. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:30.319 Another one, Second Corinthians chapter 13. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:33.759 Finally, brothers, aim for restoration. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:37.039 No, nope, nope, back up. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:40.079 Finally, brothers, rejoice. 00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:44.319 Aim for restoration. 00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.640 Comfort one another. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:48.319 Agree with one another. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.920 Live in peace. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:53.920 And the God of love and peace will be with you. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:00.799 Sounds a lot like what we find in Philippians chapter 4. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:05.119 Yodi and Syntheci should agree in the Lord. 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:11.680 Later on, the God of peace will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:14.559 And right in the middle, just rejoice. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:17.519 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 13. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:22.960 Insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, rejoice. 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:26.640 Sounds a lot like Matthew 6. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:30.480 Peter pulls a lot from the Sermon on the Mount. 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:36.000 Rejoice whenever you share Christ's sufferings. 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:42.960 That you may also rejoice and be glad when he returns. 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:59.119 Rejoice always. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:07.119 Implying that whether or not someone returns evil for evil or good for good, rejoice. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:13.279 Encapsulate all of those, put all of those together. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:16.240 I think we can do this in four short statements. 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:28.160 Rejoicing as a command in the New Testament says that we are to rejoice for suffering persecution, for suffering like Christ. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:35.200 Whenever we suffer as human beings like Jesus, rejoice. 00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:45.440 Rejoice that your names are written in heaven, inscribed eternally. 00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:53.200 Rejoice in restoration and in relationships with others. 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:59.279 And again, whether it's evil for evil or good for good, rejoice. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:08.559 Rejoice that you have the privilege and the honor of being like your Lord when you suffer. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:17.839 Because that's forming in you a distinct desire for the Lord's return so that you can rejoice at his coming. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:30.319 These eleven commands to rejoice in the New Testament all share one or both of two key characteristics. 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:41.839 The commands to rejoice come in the context of unpleasant or painful circumstances, or they come in the context of strained relationships. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:47.359 Let me say that again. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:58.160 The commands to rejoice in the New Testament come in the context of unpleasant or painful circumstances, or they come in the context of strained relationships. 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:02.240 Now let's return to Philippians 4:4. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:08.160 Rejoice in the Lord sometimes. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.519 No. 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:15.680 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:19.119 And again, I will say, rejoice. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:26.400 But Lord, we've already heard in chapter 1, verse 28 that our community actively opposes the gospel. 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:31.200 So we're supposed to rejoice even in frightening circumstances? 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.200 Yes. 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:40.240 For great is your reward in heaven, for you suffer like the prophets and like the Lord. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:53.279 But Lord, even when my life and my service may be ended in sacrificial offering to you, like the Apostle Paul in chapter 2, verse 17, yes, for great is your reward in heaven. 00:24:55.279 --> 00:25:05.359 But Lord, even when I follow Paul's example and I've lost everything for your sake and I've been rejected by my own countrymen, yes. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:10.799 For then you know the surpassing worth of Christ Jesus your Lord. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:22.079 But Lord, even when there's division in the church and we can't get along with one another like Yodia and Syntichi, yes. 00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:27.279 Rejoice as you aim for restoration and love one another. 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:35.599 You can rejoice because, like Yodia and Sinti, conflict doesn't define who you are. 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:38.319 Your names are written in heaven. 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:55.279 At the very least, you can rejoice, not that the demons are subject to you, or not that life goes easy for you, but that your citizenship is in heaven and you can rejoice with Christ at the revelation of his glory. 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:57.599 Rejoice always. 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:03.920 Friends, the command to rejoice is counterintuitive in the New Testament. 00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:08.559 It's a shift in perspective and a change in worldview. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:19.359 The command to rejoice is a command to recognize where your true homeland is and who your true Lord is and what ultimately matters. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:29.200 It's a command to rise above the present, to lift your eyes to the heights of heaven, and to take on the viewpoint of Christ. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:40.720 It's to face life with the psalmist of Psalm 88 to rejoice. 00:26:43.119 --> 00:27:00.240 When you do that, living moment by moment in the realization that your Lord is near, that his coming is at hand, and that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds, then you can rejoice. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:09.440 True and lasting joy comes in the presence of Christ, and he is near. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:24.960 This speaks directly to the Philippians in their trials, to their concern about the potential deaths of Epaphroditus and Paul, and even to Yodia and Syntache in their contentions. 00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:27.200 Rejoice always. 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:30.240 Again, I will say, rejoice. 00:27:32.640 --> 00:27:40.960 There is no circumstance in which the believer in Christ cannot rejoice. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:51.359 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:58.559 Reasonableness means something along the lines of gentleness. 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:01.839 It's a synonym for meekness. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:08.960 It was used in the ancient world often for those who were in government roles or in military roles. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:23.759 So it speaks of someone who is powerful or who is strong, but who exerts their strength and their power in controlled, reasonable, gentle ways. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:26.000 So think about it. 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:38.160 When we tell a child to be gentle with a pet, it's because that child has a strength that could hurt or injure the animal. 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:44.720 It takes strength of character to control power. 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:48.799 It takes strength to control strength. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:54.799 And it's that controlled power, that controlled strength that is spoken of here. 00:28:55.519 --> 00:29:06.319 Rejoicing in the Lord enables us to relinquish our desires for self-vindication, for vengeance, and the need to be right. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:13.039 And so we can rejoice even in painful circumstances because Christ is near. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:19.039 And his nearness means we don't have to worry about being in control. 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:28.240 Instead, we can be reasonable, gentle, under control. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:34.880 We can restrain our strength and power because the Lord is near. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:42.640 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:48.720 That's the character of Christ, my friend. 00:29:50.400 --> 00:30:01.599 He is the model of self-controlled strength, the pinnacle of which the gospels tell us while he was hanging on the cross, he could have called legions of angels. 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.119 That's power. 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:06.799 But he didn't. 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:33.359 Friends, you have the capability of hurting, harming, and injuring through your physical strength, through your intellect, through your quick wit, through your convictions, through your perceptions, by the sharpness of your tongue. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:44.880 Instead of letting others know your capabilities and strengths in those areas, let them know the strength of your character through your gentleness. 00:30:46.400 --> 00:30:50.960 Let your reasonableness be known only to your family. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:52.960 No. 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:02.799 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:06.640 Rejoicing and gentleness go hand in hand. 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:15.599 As you face your opponents of Christ, rejoice and be reasonable instead of taking up the sword to fight. 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:23.039 And in your rejoicing, confound them not with the strength of your reaction, but with your gentleness. 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:29.359 This appears to be a finger being pointed right at Yodia and Sintiki. 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:38.880 They too needed to rejoice and show their gentleness to one another, to the church, and to the community. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:46.720 They needed to restrain themselves and show that they could consider others more significant than themselves. 00:31:49.039 --> 00:31:53.359 The primary reason that we do that is not because there's a command to do it. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:32:02.079 The primary reason we do that is because Jesus himself is the pinnacle of rejoicing and gentleness. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:04.720 Consider with me, Hebrews chapter 12. 00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:07.279 Familiar passage to most of you. 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:23.839 Therefore, since we are surrounded by this incredible cloud of witnesses in Hebrews chapter 11, let us also, just like they did, lay aside every weight, every sin that clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:24.960 How do we run? 00:32:25.359 --> 00:32:42.480 Looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:47.200 Wait, think about that as you near Good Friday. 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:53.519 He saw enduring the cross as an opportunity for joy. 00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:58.880 Despising the shame and seated at the right hand of God. 00:32:59.920 --> 00:33:02.000 Second Corinthians chapter 10. 00:33:06.400 --> 00:33:18.240 I, Paul, myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness, same word, gentleness is the same word as reasonableness in Philippians 4.5 of Christ. 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:22.480 Meekness and gentleness are both aspects of strength under control. 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:35.039 And so he says, I attempt, I endure, I try to have the meekness and the gentleness that belongs to Christ that he exhibited. 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:42.640 And we've already been told in the book of Philippians and chapter 2, verse 5, to have the mind of Christ. 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:56.480 This is Christ-likeness, rejoicing always, and having our reasonableness, our gentleness be known to everyone is having the mind of Christ. 00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:59.680 It's living out Christ-likeness. 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:04.319 Your Lord is near. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:20.639 And his physical return is very near. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.840 So be like him. 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:33.920 Rather than assert your righteousness and rightness and demand your way and trust your way to the Lord who is near. 00:34:35.280 --> 00:34:38.639 Show his gentle reasonableness to everyone. 00:34:40.159 --> 00:34:42.719 Rejoice always. 00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:48.159 Of course, that requires, right, that we first come to him by faith. 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:54.000 Because there's no way to be able to do these things without first having his spirit within us. 00:34:54.639 --> 00:35:08.400 We have to first acknowledge that God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord because he went to the cross and he was buried and he rose again on the third day. 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:17.519 And when we believe in him, when we've done that, the commandment to rejoice and to display our gentleness is not hard. 00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:24.239 The commandment is not hard, my friends. 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:29.280 Because our citizenship is in heaven. 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:32.960 And our Lord is near. 00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:38.400 And he's given us his spirit between now and then. 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:43.039 It's not hard because he is near to us. 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:45.519 He hears our calls for help. 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:47.280 He is ready to give aid. 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:52.719 He is ready to subdue the desires of the flesh and to promote the fruit of his spirit. 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:59.599 It's not hard when we entrust God with our lives so that we rejoice no matter what. 00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:04.400 It's only difficult when we demand our way instead of his. 00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:11.119 And when we do that, it makes it impossible to rejoice. 00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:14.719 And the world does not see our reasonableness. 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:30.079 So in these ways, our Lord has designed his people to confound a world that seeks vengeance and seeks retribution. 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:38.639 It takes the emphasis off of us as human beings, as sinful human beings, and it places it on Christ. 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:58.159 Rejoicing and reasonableness are ways that we reflect Christ first to one another and then to a watching world that says our citizenship is in heaven. 00:36:58.480 --> 00:37:03.440 And from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:05.920 So we rejoice with him. 00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:06.639 Let's pray. 00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:14.559 Lord Jesus, we entrust ourselves to you as our faithful creator, knowing that you do all things well. 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:19.599 Lord, we are we are weak people. 00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:26.880 We know that the flesh is so strong. 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:35.920 Our spirits are willing to rejoice, our spirits desire to be reasonable, to be gentle, to come in line with you. 00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:41.519 So we ask that you by your spirit would subdue what is earthly in us. 00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:48.960 And that you by your spirit would strengthen all that is Christ-like. 00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:59.440 For those who are looking for a new citizenship. 00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:05.519 For those who desire the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. 00:38:06.639 --> 00:38:13.760 May all who are around us look at our strangeness of rejoicing always and be drawn to it. 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:16.159 That they might see you. 00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:26.320 May you, as has already been prayed, be our vision in all things. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:31.760 For it's to you we look, and it's for you we wait. 00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:33.440 Amen. 00:38:35.760 --> 00:38:39.519 That concludes this sermon from Faith Evangelical Free Church. 00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:46.639 Our mission is to declare the Word of God and disciple believers into mature, devoted followers of Jesus. 00:38:46.880 --> 00:38:50.880 You can learn more by visiting our website at faithfree.com.