BE JOYFUL Philippians 4:1-9
One
of the most joyful and celebratory months in the Church calendar is December,
when Christians all over the World look forward to celebrating the birth of
Christ. Growing up in India, I found Christmas to be one of my favorite
Christian festivals. It is the season of Joy. What brings absolute Joy is not
the festivities, gifts, or good food, but rather a promise kept. It was about
the birth of the promised Savior of the World. That is the Good News of
Christmas.
In the Christmas narrative we read each year, what
the angel said to the frightened shepherds who were tending their flocks in the
mountains at night. Luke 2:10-12, "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be
afraid. I bring you good News that will cause great Joy for
all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he
is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a
baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Where does true Joy come
from? Is Biblical Joy a seasonal thing we reflect on only once a year during
Christmas? Or has it become an integral part of the followers of Christ? What
is Biblical Joy and how do we grow in it? In the past weeks, we have been
dwelling on themes like "Being Thankful in all circumstances, hopeful in
afflictions, and faithful in God's service and the service of one another,
which leads us to another theme of Being Joyful. Philippians 4:1-9.
I. How do we define Joy?
The
dictionary defines Joy as an intense feeling of pleasure and happiness. It
suggests that we derive intense pleasure when good things happen to us, which
makes us joyful. Most people in the US believe that the more things we have,
the happier we will become. If that is the case, the Americans should be the
happiest people on earth. "The USA this year fell to its lowest-ever place
on the World
Happiness Report. Finland
remained the happiest nation for the eighth year in a row, while Mexico and
Costa Rico ranked among the top 10 for the first time.
Researchers
found that belief in the kindness of others, as well as actively caring about
and sharing with others, has a strong effect on happiness, according to the
report. "Happiness isn't just about wealth or growth — it's about trust,
connection and knowing people have your back," Jon Clifton, the CEO of
Gallup, said in a statement."[1]
The
Biblical Joy, however, is different. It is not always based on feelings or external material
things; it is an attitude that needs to be cultivated and grows over time in
Christians. People pursue happiness in the wrong places, whereas Joy cannot be
pursued; it is a gift from God and a byproduct of knowing God and seeking His
Kingdom and righteousness first.
II The Joy Of The Lord
Sometimes we have a wrong
picture of who God is; we assume Him as a grumpy old guy sitting in Heaven,
policing everyone and ready to punish us the moment we do something wrong. We
see him as someone who doesn't know how to have fun and who kills all Joy. But
the opposite is true. God is the source of Joy, and He wants His children to be
filled with Joy.
Psalm 16:11, "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with Joy
in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." The Psalmist
would rather spend a day in the courts of God than a thousand elsewhere. Ps 84:10. Biblical Joy is not something we run after, but it is God's gift
to his followers. Ro 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit."
Biblical Joy is an abiding sense of
happiness and contentment rooted in spiritual realities rather than in temporal
circumstances. In the OT. Joy is frequently linked with God's providence.
Miriam led the Israelites in joyful singing after they crossed the Red Sea: "I
will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has
hurled into the sea." Ex 15:21.
The Hebrew word for Joy, "simchah,"
appears in various contexts, including religious festivals, victories in
battle, and the worship of God. Nehemiah 8:10 states, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the
LORD is your strength." This verse highlights the sustaining power of
divine Joy in the lives of God's people. Unlike fleeting happiness, biblical Joy
is enduring and can be experienced even in the midst of trials and suffering.
Biblical
Joy can persist in the harshest of circumstances because it depends on God and
his promises. Matthew 5:11-12, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you,
and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be
glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who were before you."
When
the Jewish leaders incited persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled
them from that region, they shook the dust off their feet as a warning, and the
disciples were filled with Joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:50-52. We have
Jesus himself as an example who endured the cross, scorning its shame for the
Joy that was set before him. Hebrews 12:1-3.
In the N.T, Joy is associated with the coming
of Jesus Christ and the salvation He brings. Remember what the angel of the
Lord said to the shepherds? "I bring you good News that will bring great Joy to
all people. Good News was about the birth of Mary's child, Jesus, which
means "The LORD Saves." Jesus exemplified Joy through his
teachings and ministry. To the grieving disciples, Jesus promised to send the
Holy Spirit, who would be in them and produce the fruit of Joy. Who can
experience this pure Joy and remain joyful throughout their lives?
III. Being Joyful in Christ
People can be happy sometimes based on
circumstances, but cannot be Joyful all the time. Only those whose sins are
forgiven, and those who will abide in Christ, who is the true wine, will bear
fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is Joy. For Christians, Joy is a gift from the
Lord.
To remain joyful is a discipline that we
are called to cultivate and grow in. We grow in our Joy through trials and
temptations. James 1:2-3 encourages believers to, "Consider it pure Joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever
you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the
testing of your faith produces perseverance." The Apostle Paul, who
himself was familiar with harsh physical beating, intense persecution, and even
imprisonment, rejoiced in his sufferings.
Colossians
1:24, “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my
flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the
sake of his body, which is the church.” Rejoicing in suffering
doesn’t automatically happen. No one particularly enjoys pain, yet Paul chose
to rejoice not once but several times so he could encourage us to do the same.
Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice
in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The
Lord is near. Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Being Joyful in the midst of challenges
and hardships is very difficult.
When we go through
painful situations and sufferings, we have a choice to make: we can either
blame everyone, ourselves, or even God. Or we could choose to rejoice in the
Lord, not once but over and over again, realizing that Jesus is very near to us
in our sufferings. We may be going through incredible hardships like no other,
without any reason.
Let’s remember, perhaps
we may be being considered like Job in the OT, where God said to Satan, “Have
you considered my servant Job?” Job 1:8. Or when we suffer for the sake of
Christ, can we rejoice like the disciples who rejoiced in their persecution
because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name of
Christ. Being joyful is something we can grow in over time as we remain closer
to God, in whose presence there is fullness of Joy.
