Always Rejoicing In The Lord Series

Introduction:

“Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure is, there is your heart; where your heart is, there is your happiness.”

Augustine

Happy birthday song to Herod Story

(a comic additional story)

Proposition: A happy church is the church that knows the will 0f the Lord and lives it out.

Interrogative Sentence:

Transitional Sentence:

Outline:

The word “Rejoice” in the book of Philippians means two things; 1) Be glad, and 2) A matter or subject of boasting.

Rejoice in …

I. KNOWING THAT THE LORD IS NEAR, 4-7

A. Rejoice in Him (“He is always with you”)

Illustration:

The comfort of knowing the presence of someone you love is near.

B. Reach out to others (“gentleness to others”)

· Tell them that God is near

· Encourage them by making them feel/experience the presence of God through you.

C. Reach up to God in prayers

· Pray, present all your request to God

Rejoice in …

II. KEEPING THE GODLY THINGS ONLY, 8

Illustration:

The Frog Experiment-Boiled To Death

“Deterioration is never sudden. No Garden “suddenly overgrows with thorns.”—Chuck Swindoll, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life

A. Think of excellent things

B. Think of praiseworthy things

Illustration: “I Dreamed of Africa” Movie

Kuki Gallman (Single-mother) and Emmanuel (Son, went to Africa to start a new life. Got married there, son grew-up and became interested in snakes but he was told by the mother not to take in any poisonous snake in his collection. But Kuki accidentally discovered a poisonous venom-spitting snake were among his pets. He was again warned and scolded to let it go. But the young man was stubborn. When he is already 16 years and about to leave to have his college at Stanford University, an accident happened. While he was doing his routine of extracting venom from his pets, the venom-spitting snake got wild and bitten his hand. That bite causes his life.

The point: Throw away anything that is poisonous. Sin is poisonous. Anything that has a shade of deception, disobedience, dissension or even doubt in God is venom-spitting snake waiting its chance to bite us to death.

Rejoice in …

III. PRACTICING WHAT YOU KNOW YOU MUST, 9

Read James 2:14-26

A. Things that you see (Exemplified)

B. Things that you hear (Expound)

Conclusion:

Circumstances in life cannot take away Christian’s gladness of being in Christ. He is always near. He is always with us as He promised. Every thought, word, and deed done in His name prove your Godly character and is eternally and heavenly worthy.