Rejoice Evermore

Temple Baptist Church

1 Thessalonians 5:16

(Temple 4-3-16)

 

Introduction: 

 

A. Rejoicing is an outward expression of inward joy. 

 

1.  As the joy of the Lord is your strength, rejoicing in the Lord is an encouragement to others.  Hebrews 10:25 says, “And exhorting one another.”

 

2.  You cannot exhort one another with a sour or otherwise pitiful look on your face.  Smile awhile and give your face a rest!

 

3.  You cannot exhort one another with a lackluster spiritual life.  Apathetic is pathetic!  Lukewarm is despicable in the sight of the Lord and a discouragement to the encouraged and unfaithfulness is a discouragement to the faithful.  You cannot exhort one another if you are lax in faithfulness or worship.

 

B.  In these Laodicean days in which we live, there is little spiritual emotion shown. 

 

1.  I remember in past years the spontaneous “popcorn” testimonies of God’s people as they were grateful to the Lord and happy in the Lord.  We often hear the expression “It is better felt than tell’t!”  Others need to see us during our trials still rejoicing in the Lord.

 

2.  It is important that we maintain an outward expression of our inward reality.  Our rejoicing is a visible sign of spiritual heath and thankfulness.  Our rejoicing should be visible because it is valueable!

 

C.  We are saved and heaven is our home.  God is with us and for us.  We are in His hand and cannot be touched without His permission.  God has lead us and fed us.  We certainly have more than we deserve and are blessed in so many ways.  We have read the final chapter of the Bible and know that it ends or should I say eternity begins right.

 

D.  In Philippians 4:6, Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to “rejoice in the Lord alway.”  The word “always” is singular in number and it means in each and every instance of life, there are things that we can rejoice about.

 

E.  In our text, the Holy Spirit uses the word “evermore” coupled with the word “rejoice.  As we are to consistently rejoice in each instance of life, we are also to rejoice continually for the duration of life. 

 

F.  “Alway” is an interesting word.  It is a word not found in the spell correct of this computer.  Every time I type “alway”, the word processor corrects it to “always.”  “Always” is found 62 times in the Bible while “alway” is found only 23 times.  When the Bible makes a distinction between the spellings, it behooves us to take a closer look at the wording.  Always means all of the time and in every instance or circumstance.

 

1.  We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Propitiation.  1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  (The act of delivering from sin!  Atonement: the final, eternal covering!)

 

Romans 5:10-11  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  (11)  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.  (Atonement is an Old Testament truth as the animal sacrifices were a covering until the Lamb of God would come to take away our sin.  This is the only place in the New Testament were the word “atonement” is used and it is preceded by the definite article “the” which means one of a kind!  Salvation is not “do,” it is “done!”)

 

Luke 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

 

2.  We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Presence.  Matthew 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, (lo means to behold, see, or understand) I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

3.  We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Providence.  Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

 

4.  We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Provision.  Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

Matthew 6:31-33  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (32)  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  (33)  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

5.  We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Protection.  Psalms 4:8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

 

6.  We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Promises.  2 Peter 1:3-4  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  (4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 

7.  We can rejoice because of the Lord’s Peace.  Isaiah 26:3-4  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  (4)  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

 

Conclusion:  Our spiritual state has much to do with our mental state and our mental state has as much to do with our general outlook on life.  As a “merry heart” doeth good like a medicine, a positive state of mind makes our outlook on life positive.  God STILL controls everything and He ALWAYS loves His children!