“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NKJV).
Revivals in all of history have always been marked with overflow of joy among believers. The reason for this is not too far-fetched. Revivals are often linked to the manifest presence of God, wherein is the fullness of joy. Joy originates from God and never because of any human condition. People can be joyful even amidst unspeakable hardship and physical pains. This paradox of joy is the theme of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, which is often regarded as the happiest book of the Bible. There are a total of about eighteen times “joy” and its associated terms like rejoice and gladness were mentioned in the book. Paul wrote the letter from prison which is hardly a place to find joy or reason for rejoicing. Most people in prison would rather complain and bemoan their fate than rejoice. Paul was different! Amidst severe physical pains and the harsh conditions of the primitive prison environment, Paull wrote to the Philippians affirming that he prayed constantly for them with joy. (Philippians 1:4). Usually, it is those who are free that pray for those in prison, but here we see Paul, a prisoner praying for those at liberty with exuberant joy. This could only have been possible because his joy is ensconced in a strong faith in Christ. Joy that springs from faith is hardly influenced by the physical conditions of the believer, but rather depends on the inner convictions of the individual concerned.
Joy originates from God and never because of any human condition.
Joy, in the mind of Paul is not an experience that is determined by the external circumstances of people which are short-lived and unstable. On the contrary, he presents joy as a reality that is rooted in the unchanging nature and promises of God. This joy flows from knowing that through faith in Christ, we become objects of God’s unfailing love. The Prophet Jeremiah speaking of the quality of love God has for His children declared, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you”(Jeremiah 31:3). The heart-knowledge of this love of God is the fountain head of the joy of believers. Therefore, it does not matter what is happening in the world, our focus is to remain focused on God and leaning on His infallible promises. God loved us before He redeemed us, and haven been redeemed He guarantees us eternal hope that transcends our present predicaments and travails. We therefore affirm with Paul, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”(Romans 8:37-38).
Our guaranteed security in Christ is the reason we rejoice and rejoice again. God has secured us far beyond the reach of our enemy the devil. He has settled us in Christ far above all principalities and powers. Our lives are now hidden with Christ in God and Satan can only gaze at us with regrets. These truths are the reasons we rejoice. This joy of the Lord that we relish is designed to serve as a powerful witness to the world. To this end, Paul exhorts us, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or laboured in vain” (Philippians 2:14-16). Our radiant joy in Christ should attract others to Him, as it demonstrates the profound difference that a relationship with Him makes in one’s life. We must ever be reminded that joy is a natural by-product of a life that is attuned with the Holy Spirit. As we grow in our relationship with God and let the Spirit take more control of our lives, we will invariably experience deepening levels of this divine joy. May it be so with you in Jesus’ name.
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