[Biblemat] S:> Rejoice!

[Ethan R. Longhenry]

http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/outlines/index.html

                             Rejoice!

I. Introduction
   A. Acts 8:26-39
      1. Eunuch converted
      2. Went on his way rejoicing
   B. 1 Peter 3:1-7
      1. Christians "rejoiced" at their deliverance
      2. Despite trial and persecution
   C. Galatians 5:22
      1. "Joy" listed as manifestation of fruit of the Spirit
   D. 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4
      1. Paul commands Christians to rejoice always
      2. Feels compelled to repeat the command!
   E. These Scriptures, among others, make it quite clear that joy and 
      rejoicing are to be part of the life of a Christian
   F. But why are we to rejoice?  
   G. Why does God feel the need to command us to rejoice?
   H. Let us spend some time looking at our need to rejoice today

II. The Need to Rejoice
   A. Why, then, should we rejoice?
   B. We rejoice out of gratitude for what God has already done
      1. Such was the attitude of the eunuch in Acts 8:39
      2. We have been delivered from darkness (Colossians 1:13)
      3. We have been transferred into the Kingdom of God's beloved 
         Son, whom He was willing to sacrifice that we may have 
         forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13, John 3:16, 
         Matthew 26:29)
      4. We have the creation to supply our needs (Genesis 1)
   C. We rejoice out of gratitude for what God is doing
       1. We have association with the Father and the Son 
          (1 John 1:3-7)
       2. We have the benefits of the association of fellow Christians 
          (Hebrews 10:24-25, 1 John 1:5-7)
       3. We have a Mediator who sympathizes with us (1 Timothy 2:5, 
          Hebrews 4:15-16)
       4. We can have boldness to approach the Father in prayer 
          (Hebrews 10:19-22, 1 Peter 3:12)
      5. He who is for us is stronger than those who are against us 
         (1 John 4:4)
      6. We continue in hope (Romans 12:12)
   D. We rejoice out of gratitude for what God has promised
      1. We have eternal life promised if we obey Him (John 3:16)
      2. This salvation is reserved for us in Heaven (1 Peter 1:3-7)
      3. This will be a place of joy, peace, and exaltation 
         (Philippians 2:5-11, Revelation 7:16-17)
      4. God cares for us and will preserve us if we remain obedient 
         (1 Peter 5:7, Romans 8:31-39)
   E. Our joy, therefore, is based in the wonderful things that God 
      has done, is doing, and will do for us
   F. This joy ought to be natural
      1. After all, are we of all people not most blessed?
      2. Has not God given us every spiritual blessing in Christ 
         (Ephesians 1:3)?
      3. Do we not have the salvation that is more valuable than 
         anything else in the world (Matthew 13:45-46, 
         Matthew 16:25-28)?
      4. It should be our natural reaction, therefore, to be happy 
         people!

III. The Need for the Command
   A. If rejoicing were so natural, however, why does God feel the 
      need to command it?
      1. Indeed, why does Paul feel the need to repeat the command 
         in Philippians 4:4?
      2. Shouldn't joy be automatic?
   B. We know from life, however, that oftentimes Christians can 
      become discouraged
      1. They may not feel as if they're doing that well in their 
         spiritual walk
      2. They may have endured suffering or persecution
      3. Brethren or others may have discouraged them
      4. They may just be weak
   C. For whatever reason, Christians are often not the happy people 
      they ought to be!
   D. Hence the need for the command-- we must decide to be happy!
   E. We cannot control life's circumstances-- but we can control 
      how we react to life's circumstances! 
      1. What will our attitude be when things do not look so good?
      2. Consider Acts 5:41, Acts 16:25, 2 Corinthians 6:10, and 
         1 Peter 1:3-9
      3. Christians can, even in dire or difficult circumstances, 
         be joyful and happy!
   F. Remember Romans 8:31-39
      1. Great comfort-- no external force can separate us from the 
         love of God!
      2. We are the only ones that can do that
      3. There is no thing you can experience that is so negative 
         that you cannot maintain the joy of being a Christian and 
         one of the saved
      4. There is no trial or temptation so great that it entirely 
         obscures Heaven from us
      5. We simply need to choose to be positive!
   G. We can choose, therefore, to be positive or negative
      1. Importance of Philippians 4:8
      2. Where our mind is, there will our attitude be also!
      3. There is plenty of negativity always around us
      4. Anyone can be a downer!
      5. Let us instead strive to build up in joy!
   G. An attitude of joy and rejoicing, therefore, is not 
      automatic-- it must be trained, desired, and worked for!
   H. What will our choice be?  

IV. Conclusion
   A. We have seen that we have every reason to rejoice in Christ
      Jesus!
   B. We should indeed be happy people
   C. Maybe not everything works out as we would like, but even in 
      the worst of times, we can know that God is on our side and 
      we can have joy in that
   D. We choose, however, whether we will be joyful or negative
   E. Let us rejoice today!
   F. Invitation/songbook

Ethan R. Longhenry/ disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com
Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio
 (http://www.norwalkchurch.org)
Website: http://www.deusvitae.com
AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ#: 28317056
MSN Messenger ID: deusvitae at hotmail.com
Yahoo! Messenger ID: discipuliiesus

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