Rejoice in the Lord!

21st Sunday after Pentecost, 10/25/20 Philippians 4:4-13 Rejoice in the Lord! I. He guards your heart with peace. II. He guides your life with his word. III. He gives you strength for daily living. “There’s no joy in Mudville.” Most of you will recognize that memorable line from the famous poem, “Casey at the Bat.” Casey is the hometown hero who strikes out, ending the game, with his team losing. The fans, who had been certain of a victory, were crushed. Their hope of a joyful victory celebration ended with a mighty swing and a miss. “There’s no joy in Mudville.” There isn’t much joy in Centerville either these days, or just about anyplace else you happen to be in our country. It seems as if millions of our fellow US citizens are wringing their hands over the election which will take place Nov. 3. No matter how the election turns out, there are going to be millions of disappointed and even distraught people. There’s no joy. And now people are beginning to wonder if they’ll be able to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas as they usually do with their loved ones. Health experts are already sounding the alarm for Thanksgiving. Keep your celebrations with others to a minimum. Don’t invite people into your home from all over your area and the country. And I imagine the advice for Christmas will be much the same. And for many, it will throw a wet, smelly rag on their celebrations. There’s no joy. In fact, people are beginning to expect that there will be no joy in any aspect of their lives. It’s so difficult and depressing to be disappointed repeatedly, so lower your expectations. Expect that there won’t be any joy and you won’t be disappointed. Do any of those scenarios sound familiar? That’s a lousy way to live. We need joy in life, but where can you find it? St. Paul has the answer for you in this morning’s sermon text from Philippians 4. Listen again to the opening words, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Rejoice in the Lord! There you have it. Our joy, Christian joy, daily—even eternal—joy is in the Lord. Let’s see what Paul means with that and, as we do, may the Holy Spirit fill your heart with his divine joy! Part I. Security has become a huge issue in our modern world. It seems as if almost every issue we’re currently facing is fraught with insecurity. Just wait to see what happens to your investments after Nov. 3. Spending time in the presence of other people during this pandemic makes many people feel uneasy at best and downright terrified at worst. They don’t feel safe doing so. And watch your mobile devices like a hawk. It’s getting blasted daily by despicable people who want to rob you. But insecurity is nothing new. It’s as old as sin itself. That’s what sin does—it makes us feel insecure. It’s the feeling that in our most critical and important relationship—our relationship with the holy God—we’re on the outs. Our sins have separated us from him, and the worst of trouble awaits us. So, what can we do about it? Thankfully, there’s nothing we can do. We don’t have to, because our God has done it all. Paul tells us, “The peace of God, which transcends all understand, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s peace is the answer to our insecurities. But just what is God’s peace? It’s the spiritual truth that our God has nothing against us, in spite of our sins. It’s the certainty that our God is not against us; he’s on our side. But how can I be sure of that? In Christ. Yes, my sins should forever banish me from God’s presence. Yes, my sins bring with them the eternal condemnation of hell. But Jesus took all my sins away. He suffered and died for them. He reconciled me to God. He and did the same for every other sinner. For you as well. You have peace with God. Paul declares that God’s peace guards your heart and mind. The words he used had in mind soldiers standing guard at a gate, not letting any harm come near. That’s your peace by faith in Jesus! So, rejoice in the Lord! He guards your heart with peace. Every fear you have at this moment in your life vaporizes with the peace of God. There’s nothing that can separate you from his love. Even if our economy crashes, if our nation falls to another world power, if another lockdown isolates you from all that you enjoy in life, you still have peace with God and nothing can take it from you. Even the fear of death can’t rattle your heart when the peace of God guards it. It’s all OK, because when we die, we live—with our Lord and Savior in the heavenly mansion he has prepared for us. Still afraid? Then do as Paul encourages. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Confess your fears in prayer to your God and receive the eternal assurance of your forgiveness and peace through Christ. And then rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord! Part II. Is it just me, or would you agree that our world seems to sink to a no low each day in the way that people speak and act? And I’m not simply referring to the atrocities that people commit against each other. I’m including the fact that common decency is hard to find. People seem to say and do whatever they please with no concern for how it affects others and certainly no concern for what the holy God expects out of them. But what can we do about it? Be the person your God has made you. Your God calls on you to avoid the world’s moral trash and to rise above the fray. He made you to think, feel, talk and act differently than the world does. It’s been that way with you ever since he made you his own dear child by faith in him. So act like it! Would you like a little more direction? Listen to Paul’s advice-ladened words, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.” Consider what God calls good and noble and right and pure. See things from God’s perspective. After all, he has re-created his image in you by faith in him. Don’t get swept up in the world’s sea of sin! Swim against it with the power God gives you. And then you’ll find joy in this life and the ability to rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord! He guides you with his word. Do you realize how difficult this is—to train our hearts and minds on things that are lovely, pure, and right according to our God? It’s so much easier to become thoroughly fed up with others and abuse them with our words and with terrible feelings about them in our hearts and minds. And that’s because our hearts are sinful by nature. But God created you to be a new person when he brought you to faith in Jesus. He washed your heart clean and, by the power of Christ’s resurrection in your baptism, he gives you the ability to rise above the fray and to think and act in ways that are truly lovely and admirable. And when that’s your frame of mind and your frame of heart, you receive joy from the Lord. So, rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord! Part III. Even so, how much more can you take as you live each day in this world? How much more bad news can you be expected to process properly and react to responsibly? What’s more, the problems that you face seem so much larger than you are. Even if you thought you had the power to do something, would it make any difference? It sounds to me like you could use a little attitude adjustment. Would you admit that’s true? Then take these words of Paul to heart, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Content?! Is there a single person here this morning who can honestly say that they’re content with life as we’re experiencing it right now? If Paul were here, he would be. He had learned the secret of being content in any and every situation. So, Paul, how about letting us in on this secret. Are you ready? Here it is: it’s in the Lord. It’s in Christ. As Paul leaned on the Lord in every situation, he found that the Lord always gave him the strength to face what was in front of him. It didn’t always turn out the way Paul had hoped. Sometimes he was in need. But he was able to deal with it because the Lord strengthened him. And so, we too, press on. I have no idea how things are going to turn out in our world. I suppose none of us do. But we know this: no matter what, our Lord will give us the strength to endure it and to come out on the other side of it. Ultimately, our Lord brings us all the way over to the other side of life—life with him into heaven—and every trouble in our lives will be left behind. And there’s your reason to rejoice. It’s in the Lord! He strengthens you for daily living. So, enough of the long faces, the weariness that overwhelms you, the apprehension about the days ahead. Instead, rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord! I will say it again: Rejoice! May the Lord himself fill your heart with the joy that only he can provide. Amen.