Philippians 4: 4-7

Theme: The all sufficiency of Jesus

OUR INEXHAUSTIBLE SOURCE OF JOY

I was looking in the mirror at my face that other day. I was trying to see how well my glasses were fitting on my face. It was then that I noticed a major wrinkle. I have a crease on my brow right between by eyes. It looks like someone tried to cut my head into with a cleaver. It is a frown mark.

I know that I frown a lot. I have always said that is the natural disposition of my facial muscles is a frown. I find myself defending my frowns to people with equally ugly faces who, nevertheless, think they should correct mine. So, I have compiled a few excuses. It irritates me when people ask me stupid questions, like why do you frown–so I frown! My mother says I am beady eyed and suspicious looking and I was born naturally mean, so I naturally frown. I have bad eyesight and so it is not really a frown, rather it is a squint. I read a lot so, I tend to frown while I am reading. I have to work really hard to think, so I frown while trying to think. No matter What I want in the refrigerator, my son Daniel just got it and ate it, so I frown.

I guess people mean well when they try to correct my frown. However, I must admit that I am equally bothered by those who wear fake smiles, who are just a little too happy, and bounce around like a Cocker Spaniel–it is enough to make a fellow frown.

But, I wonder if sometimes I frown because I worry or I fret or I become anxious about the things of the world? If I am honest, I have to admit that it is true and that is why Paul sometimes bothers me. It is not that I don’t understand Paul, I do. But I am stopped cold by his words, and of course I frown, when I read this command, "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice!" Does he mean even me? Do I have to give up my frown? Is Paul siding with the Cocker Spaniels?

When we examine the spirituality of Paul, we can easily see that it is not some sort of silly emotionalism; naval gazing and getting in touch with our feelings kind of thing. Rather, Paul’s spirituality is guided by the bedrock principle of the all sufficiency of Jesus Christ in the life of the believer. No matter what life throws at us, Jesus is sufficient for us to, not only endure, but to overcome our circumstances. To live a anxiety-ridden life is to deny the sufficiency of God’s grace.

Notice that Paul did not say, don’t worry, be happy. I looked, and I cannot find one verse that commands us to be happy. Happiness is always the by product of something else and there is a time to be happy and a time to be sad. You remember those verses from Ecclesiastes 3

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--

2 A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.

6 A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.

7 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace. (NASB)

Happiness is part of the ebb and flow of life that is affected by our external circumstances. But, joy is part of the internal construction of the Christian. Joy, like love, is something that can be commanded of us.

Joy is the childlike disposition that recognizes that God is in control. Who displays more joy than the child in a good home where he or she is loved and provided for and protected? She falls and bumps her head and cries. But in just a moment, she is up and walking again because she knows if she falls, mommy will pick her up and make it better. There is a carefree quality to the idea of joy. Joy involves slipping the choke hold of this life because we know the all sufficiency of Jesus. Joy is the practical exercising our faith in Jesus Christ.

I think Paul roared with laughter when he wrote this. Why should prison walls, fetters, and chains prevent him from expressing the joy of knowing Christ? So, not only does he command us to rejoice, he says that in the future he will continue to command us to rejoice.

For Paul rejoicing included letting our forbearing spirit be known to all men. The word for "forbearing" is not so easy to translate. It includes the ideas of being reasonable, fair, kind, gentle and good to others. It seems to me that it means to be fairminded and, in general, agreeable to others. Our forbearing spirit bears witness to the nearness of God. Paul probably meant the imminent return of Jesus. Paul always held out hope of his immediate physical return. But, it was also a reminder of the ever presence of God as He leads us and guides us.

Joy is not conducive for anxiety. I realize that there is a difference between being anxious as a lack of faith and medical conditions. Medical conditions may or may not be related to sin in some fashion. But, we can be certain that being anxious about the daily affairs of life is sinful. Anxiety is the opposite of being joyful because it denies the sufficiency of God’s grace to take care of all our needs. All of us at this point may be a bit defensive. Does Paul really expect that God will meet all our needs? In verse 19 Paul said, "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Paul, not only believed that God would supply all your needs, but that his supply was according to the richness of glory in Christ Jesus, an unfathomable depth of richness. Rather than obsessing on our shortfalls, Paul says to pray and give thanks to God. We are to let God know the needs of our heart and to give thanks to him for his supply. Thanksgiving goes hand in hand with our supplication.

When we exercise this kind of joyful living, we will know the peace of God which surpasses all human comprehension and knowledge. What a state of existence! And that brings us back to the state of joy. Joy is not necessarily happiness. Joy may be experienced in the darkest times of our lives. It is that the childlike disposition that recognizes that God is in control, the practical exercising our faith in Jesus Christ. In the exercising of our faith, we know that peace that will guard our hearts and minds.

Externally, there may very well be a frown or sorrow or hurt. But, when we are in Christ, there is always something to rejoice over. God is in control. He owns our destinies. There is no reason for our for heartbreak, sadness, sorrow and hardship to win and dominate our soul. God is the inexhaustible source of joy. And he will give us the peace that passes all understanding.