REJOICE

copyright(c)2015 Daneille Gray Snowden
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Philippians 4:4

^" Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!"

Let's take a quick look at the word REJOICE -

RE: in the  Latin, used with the meaning “again” or “again and again” to indicate repetition.

REJOICE: To experience joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations; to exult. [KJBP]

Sometimes, days get pretty tuff and quite long. Pain and sickness can be a true 'downer' for most all of us! 
Then there is heart break; even the individuals closest to us are capable of inflicting  painful afflictions to our souls.
Financial, and emotional struggle can bring a person to the 'dumps' as well.

Yet, the Apostle Paul writing from a prison; commands the Philippian church (and the Church today) to REJOICE! Anointed by the Holy Spirit; applying it to his own struggles he tells us even in our sufferings to experience God's Joy!

But, the sentence doesn't end with just the word rejoice; it tells us where (and basically how) to rejoice: IN THE LORD!  [Rejoice in  : to have, possess  (Webster).]  Take hold of JOY, found IN JESUS and HIS PRESENCE! Picture this; you are alone in the Presence of the Great King of Kings. God's love, peace, strength, and joy emanates from His Thrown; this is when we reach out and POSSESS this Joy! Possessing this makes you now the owner of God's Joy in you!

Many times, depression is not dissipated because we seek temporary joy in - financial success, good looks, health, notoriety, etc...  Those things are not wrong in themselves; but are only temporary and do not possess the ETERNAL TRUTH of the JOY (happiness) found in Jesus being our true Lord (ruler).

This word (rejoice) is used 74 times in the New testament, 9 of which are in the book of Philippians.
Remember;  Paul was a prisoner when he wrote this personal letter. It's theme being suffering and joy.

"Ancient Rome's attitudes toward life and death were bleak. Humans had no option other than to simply accept the ultimate futility of their aspirations and wishes." (link) The Philippian church  was struggling to follow Christ and they lived in a society filled with false gods and perverse living. Sound familiar?

From this place of extreme  suffering, Paul actually reflects that cultural background. YET- with one crucial difference: he offers joy from this place.

The Greek term for rejoice is chairo: to be cheerful , or calmly happy to describe a behavior and attitude or to greet or bid farewell.

Our behavior is [REMEMBER: COMMANDED] to be cheerful when we greet others and bid them farewell!   {I.E.- "hello" in Italian is "ciao"}   "It’s not optional. Rejoicing in the Lord is commanded. If we are rejoicing in the Lord we are living in obedience to God’s Word."
  [Kevin A. Pierpont]


I have a friend who has been crippled her entire life. I have watched her walk with an extreme limp, but wear the biggest smile. As I sit with her in a crowd of people, it's her laughter that resounds above others. Even today, as she suffers with so much pain and in a wheel chair; she is the one hugging others as well as filling the place she is in with an abundance of joy.  

Oswald Chambers said…

"The Bible nowhere speaks about a "happy" Christian; it talks plentifully of joy. Happiness depends on things that happen, and may sometimes be an insult: joyfulness is never touched by external conditions, and a joyful heart is never an insult."

 

 

When the emotion of depression tries to jump on you and stomp your spirits down. The best response is to REJOICE IN THE LORD! It may take some effort, fortitude and much determination; yet as you do; I can tell you from experience the Presence of our mighty God will lift your heart to great strength found in His Joy! 

 

Psalm 33:1  Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.