Do we need some rejoicing? Is there anything to rejoice about? Is there anyone we can rejoice over? You may think that I have lost my mind by even suggesting the thought of rejoicing. We are in the midst of a pandemic, there is great civil unrest, the economy has taken a hit, and recovery may be slow, and every time I get out of my car I have to put on a mask. Yet, from a prison cell, the Apostle Paul is led by the Holy Spirit to tell the saints, in the local church at Philippi, to ‘rejoice’.

To rejoice we all need something to bring us ‘JOY’ which means there is ‘bliss’, ‘happiness’, ‘gladness’, ‘wonder’, ‘thrill’, and ‘pleasure’. Right now we are hard pressed to find these attributes of ‘Joy’ in our present circumstances. We may find ourselves like King David praying that God will restore the “joy of His salvation” to our very souls. King David does remind us that His Lord is in the ministry of restoration when he said in Psa. 23:3, “He restoreth my soul…”. Restoration means to refurbish, repair, renew, rebuild and right know I just want to say, “THANK YOU LORD” for your ministry of restoration.

So what will restore my ability to rejoice? Paul tells the saints in Philippi their foundation for ‘rejoicing’ is in the Lord! In chapter 3:1, “Finally, my brethren; rejoice in the Lord…” and then in chapter 4:4 Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” I want to remind all of us that Paul practiced what he preached! In Acts 16 Paul, and Silas, had been beaten, and cast down into the darkness of the inner prison, their feet were locked stocks. It is midnight and Paul and Silas are having a worship service of praise!

We might asked ourselves,” What was there about their circumstance that cause them to rejoice in worship?” Was it their bleeding backs? Was it the darkness of the inner prison? Was it their fellowship with the other prisoners? Was it the stocks that held their feet? Paul, and Silas, teach all of us that in spite of the circumstances believers can pray, and sing, in worship of our God! May I ask you to notice the first thing they did that night was to pray! Believers who don’t pray will not be found singing and worshipping during the dark times.

To the point Paul tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always:…”. The word ‘rejoice’ means to ‘celebrate’,’cheer’, ‘delight’ and to be ‘pleased’. So Paul is tell us to celebrate Jesus, to be cheerful about Jesus, to delight in Jesus, and to be pleased with Jesus! A ‘rejoicing’ believer is not one who is focused on the events of an unbelieving world but rather finds themselves focused on Jesus. Perhaps right now we need to join with King David and pray, “restore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation.”

HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON – BRO. ED