"Are you obeying these commands?"

     You might respond: "Well, I am joyful most of the time, but not every moment. There are times when I am dampened by harsh circumstances and afflictions that come my way." What about this? How can it be possible to constantly rejoice at all times and in all conditions, even through suffering and pain? Let's look at what Philippians 4:4 says again:

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice."

     What does it mean to "rejoice"? The Greek word for "Rejoice" means to be "cheerful, glad, continually happy, joyful, and calmly happy." How often are we instructed to "rejoice"? "Always." The word "always", as we all know, means at all times and in all conditions. No matter what - Christians are to "rejoice."

     How can this be? Do you know of anyone who is obeying this Scriptural command? Who could possibly be cheerful at all times? Do you know anyone who is? Yet in I Thessalonians were are told to "rejoice evermore." This should be accomplished in every Christian's life. "Then why isn't it?"

     Most people in reading Philippians 4:4 emphasize the word "rejoice." Christians are exhorted to "Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice." Yet as important as the word "rejoice" is in this particular Scripture, there is another word that is equally important and cannot be overlooked. It is the word "LORD!"

     Remember what we are instructed to do in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord..." In fact, this Scripture can be likened unto a scale. It only balances out if "rejoice" is on one side, and "Lord" is on the other.

     What does it mean when we call Jesus Christ "Lord"? It means that He is supreme in authority over our lives. He is the controller of all the circumstances and situations that come our way. He is the possessor and owner of all that we are and all that we have. Simply spoken, "He is Master of Everything that pertains to us."

The fundamental question we need to ask ourselves is this:

     Is He in Total Control of our lives? Does He possess and own us and everything that we have? Are we "yielding" control of our lives to Him? Is He sitting on the "throne" of our lives or are we still maintaining "control" of that throne?

     This is a very important point for this is the very reason why many Christians are not continually happy. Jesus is simply "NOT Lord" over every area of their lives. If He was, there would be no reason for anyone not to "rejoice", even in the worst of circumstances! JESUS IS LORD! Why Not "Rejoice evermore"?

     Following along these same lines, throughout the Scriptures we read of the people who were "glad in the Lord." Who are they? They are the "righteous." They are the "upright in heart." Look at what Psalms has to say on this:

Psalm 68:3 "But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice."

Psalm 64:10 "The righteous shall be glad in the LORD...and all the upright in heart shall glory."

Psalm 32:11 "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart."

     Who exactly are the "righteous"? They are the just and lawful ones. They are the friends of Holiness and the enemies of Sin. They are right in conduct and character.

     Who are the "upright in heart"? They are the godly and pure ones. They are straight and correct in their thinking and walk in a manner which is pleasing unto God. They are the ones who "exceedingly rejoice" before God. They "shout for joy" with "joy unspeakable" because they are in right standing with Him. Look at what we are told in Job:

Job 27:8 inquires "For what is the hope of the hypocrite...?"

Job 27:10 asks "Will he delight in the Almighty?"

Job 20:5 answers "That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment."

     The "hypocrite" is the godless, profane, irreligious, and impious one. (Remember the Lord talking about the Pharisees and Saducees?) He is the one who is soiled with Sin. He professes Christianity and pretends to be holy, yet secretly practices Sin in his life. The "wicked" is the guilty one. He is guilty of Sin. He is morally wrong. He is ungodly. He is hostile toward God.

     Look again at what it says in Job 20:5, "...The triumphing of the wicked is short..." In other words, all the shouting for joy, the singing, and the rejoicing of the "wicked" is "short." It is soon over. It cannot and will not last. "The joy of the hypocrite" is "but for a moment." It is as the wink of the eye. It is for a very short space of time.

     Because the "hypocrite" is not right with God, his joy is temporary. The wicked man has no real happiness in God because of his ungodly state. Therefore, both the "hypocrite" and the "wicked" are miserable, and know nothing of the continuous Joy that the righteous man shares.

     Suppose one has sinned and "played the Hypocrite" but desires to be restored to the Joy of his salvation. What should he do?

The Book of Job offers some helpful guidelines.

Job 22:21-23 "Aquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from His mouth, and lay up His words in thine heart. If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles."

     This is a Call to repent of all sin. "It is a Call to turn back to the Lord and His instruction in His Word!" It is a Call to once again submit to the Will of God for one's life and make Jesus Lord of all.

     Job 22:26 gives the blessed result - "For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty..." Then the Lord Jesus will once again be your "exceeding joy."

     Is it really possible for a Christian to "rejoice evermore" even in the face of adverse circumstances? Can we "rejoice in the Lord always..."? Not only "can" we do so, but we "must", for it is a Command from God.

      The Scriptures tell us that the "righteous" and the "upright in heart ... exceedingly rejoice" before God. They also tell us that we are to "rejoice" not in our circumstances but "in the Lord."

     When we know of a surety that there is No Sin separating us from God, we can "rejoice." When we know that Jesus Is Lord over every area of our lives, we can "rejoice evermore." Nothing can hurt us or harm us when Jesus Is Lord! What confidence we can have, knowing that Jesus has Everything Under Control.

     Yes, unlike the hypocrite, we can "rejoice" at all times and in all conditions because our rejoicing is in the Lord. Even in the face of adversity, financial setback, sickness, suffering, or persecution, we can "rejoice" because Jesus Is Lord over our lives and is working all things together for our good. He is using even adversity to mold us and shape us after His Will. He is using all of our circumstances to make us "able ministers" so that we in turn can minister to others.