Rejoice in the Lord
We can rejoice in the Lord always by trusting him and placing our lives in his hands, even in the midst of affliction.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of rejoicing in the Lord, even amidst trials and afflictions, as exemplified by Paul in prison. He highlights that true joy comes from trusting God and allowing our circumstances to reflect the power of the gospel. Wilkerson encourages believers to respond to hardships with faith, demonstrating that Christ can be preached through our reactions to suffering. He shares a testimony of a church elder who, despite chronic pain, exemplifies unwavering devotion to God, serving as a powerful witness to others. Ultimately, the message is about trusting God in difficult times and allowing His presence to shine through us.
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"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). These are Paul's closing word to the Philippians. He wasn't saying, "I am in prison and these chains are a blessing. I'm so happy for this pain." I'm convinced Paul prayed daily for his release and at times cried out for strength to endure. Even Jesus, in his hour of trial and pain, cried to the Father, "Why have you forsaken me?" That is our first impulse in our afflictions, to cry out, "Why?" And the Lord is patient with that cry.
But God has also made provision so that our "what ifs" and "whys" can be answered by his Word. Paul writes, "Knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel...Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Philippians 1:17-18). He's telling us, in other words, "I am determined God's Word will be validated by my reaction to this affliction. I have set my mind that I won't disgrace the gospel or make it seem powerless.
"The fact is, Christ is being preached by my calm countenance, by my rest in the midst of all this. Everyone who sees me knows that the gospel I preach takes me through these hard times. It proves that the Lord can take anybody through any situation, any fire or flood, and his gospel will be preached through the experience."
Here is the message that I hear through Paul and Abraham: We don't have to do something great for the Lord. We only have to trust him. Our role is to place our lives in God's hands and believe he will care for us. If we simply do that, his gospel is being preached, no matter what our circumstances. And Christ will be revealed in us most especially in our difficult circumstances.
Sam, an elder in our church, once told me, "Pastor David, the way you respond to hard times is a testimony to me." What Sam didn't realize is that his life is a sermon to me. He lives with chronic pain that allows him to sleep no more than a few hours each night. Despite his constant, raging pain, his devotion to the Lord is a testimony to all of us. His life preaches Christ as powerfully as any of Paul's sermons.
So, is Christ being preached in your present trial? Does your family see the gospel at work in you? Or do they see only panic, despair and questioning of God's faithfulness? How are you responding to your affliction?
Sermon Outline
- Rejoice in the Lord Always
- God's Provision for Our 'What Ifs' and 'Whys'
- The Message of Trust in God's Word
- We Don't Have to Do Something Great for God
- Our Lives Are a Sermon to Others
Key Quotes
“We don't have to do something great for the Lord. We only have to trust him.” — David Wilkerson
“Our role is to place our lives in God's hands and believe he will care for us.” — David Wilkerson
“Christ is being preached by my calm countenance, by my rest in the midst of all this.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- I will trust God in my affliction and place my life in his hands.
- I will respond to my affliction with calmness and rest in God, even in the midst of hard times.
- I will remember that my life is a sermon to others and that Christ is being preached through my experiences.