Rejoicing in the Lord

Rejoicing in God begins with recognizing that He is Lord, and trusting in Him in all circumstances of our lives. Believers are to agree in the Lord, though they may have different priorities, ministries, perspectives, or emphases.

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9

Sermon Notes:

1. Sometimes we may not feel like rejoicing, but as we sing and pray in praise to God, our emotions will follow.
2. We must trust in the Lord and decide to rejoice in Him.
3. God proves our true faith in times of trial and adversity.
4. Rejoicing in God begins with recognizing that He is Lord, and trusting in Him in all circumstances of our lives.
5. Believers are called to agree in the Lord together. This unity is necessary for peace, while disunity is a thief of joy in the Lord.
6. We are not to seek recognition for our service to God; rather we're to rejoice that our names are in the book of life.
7. Believers are to agree in the Lord, though they may have different priorities, ministries, perspectives, or emphases.
8. Because this is God's world, He has an answer for every problem that we will face until we reach eternity.
9. Every problem we face is an opportunity for rejoicing that results in growth in our callings before God.
10. Our rejoicing expresses the same thing that our faith does, namely that we trust that Jesus is Lord.
11. Recognizing Christ's Lordship further means that our reason-ableness (gentleness) should be demonstrated before others.
12. We're called to be magnanimous, friendly, forbearing. Our demeanour is to be the opposite of insisting on our own rights.
13. If God is on the throne, we don't need to insist on everything being done our way.
14. We can't use personality as an excuse for ungodly character.
15. If we insist on our way and our rights we don't believe in the Lordship of Christ properly.
16. God is near us by His Spirit. He's closer to us than we are to ourselves (Psalm 145:18).
17. Ignorance of the providence of God is the cause of all impatience; and this is why we doubt that God cares for us.
18. Thankfulness, prayer, and rejoicing are to replace anxiety.
19. Fostering cares and anxiety is sinful because it's based on trust in ourselves rather than on proper trust in God.
20. We are to cast our anxiety on God in prayer, with thanksgiving.
21. Prayer prevents our concerns from becoming sinful worry, and prayer leads to confidence, thankfulness, and rejoicing.
22. If Christ is Lord, we have no right to be anxious (1 Pet. 5:10-11).
23. Prayer is not about me changing God; it's about God changing me. – C.S. Lewis
24. If we ask anything according to His will, we know He hears us.
25. Our tendency to skip prayer and to rationalize about our problems never gets us through to a place of peace.
26. We're to commit all our plans to the Lord, trusting His guidance.
27. Jesus shows that He is Lord of everything, even nature itself.
28. You are free to practice the Christian virtues seen in Paul's example.
29. Doctrine and practice need to be always together in our lives.
30. If you don't believe rightly you'll never live rightly. If you don't practice rightly, you won't have the peace of God.

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on all that God has done in the life of the church. How is this a cause for rejoicing? How do we manifest this rejoicing?
2. How is recognizing Jesus as Lord of your life a necessary precondition of rejoicing in all circumstances?
3. Do we respond to life's problems with faith and obedience, or with worry and despondency?
4. What are specific actions we should take when facing anxiety?
5. List several reasons for which we should be thankful to God.
6. What is the basis of our thankfulness even in adversity according to Romans 8:28?
7. What is the example we are to emulate in Phil 4:8,9?
8. Where do I seek recognition for my service to the Lord?
9. How does recognizing the Lordship of Christ form the basis for a magnanimous, friendly attitude toward others?

Sermon Notes