Rejoice Always, Part 3

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon as the third part of a series on 1 Thessalonians 5:16, "Rejoice always," defining joy as a pleasant affection rooted in the anticipation or possession…

Martin refers to previous 'homey illustrations' used to define joy as a pleasant affection in anticipation or possession of a suitable good, though he does not repeat them here.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks. This is the third morning that we're trying to grasp what does the biblical injunction mean, rejoice always. We have sought to define joy as that pleasant affection of the soul that we experience either in the anticipation of or the possession of some suitable good. And I've used some very homey illustrations to illustrate this.

1:33 - 2:07 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces the sermon as the third part of a series on 1 Thessalonians 5:16, "Rejoice always," defining joy as a pleasant affection rooted in the anticipation or possession…

He uses the image of a '32-toothed like this' (presumably a wide smile) and an 'effervescent spirit' to caution against a superficial, unbiblical understanding of constant joy.

That's the general duty set before us. However, lest we misunderstand what the apostle means and bind our consciences to some thought that we should always be going around with a 32-toothed like this, and forever having this effervescent spirit, we must balance this command with other principles, and this we sought to begin to do last week. And I demonstrated from Scripture that this joy, this rejoicing, which we are admonished to experience at all times, may coexist with other dispositions of the soul or may actually be replaced at times by grief.

3:11 - 3:56 Read in full sermon

Driving home: It's my thesis this morning that the grief of true repentance will actually replace joy at the deepest level of the heart for a period of time. And the only reason it replaces joy at the deepest level is that it might, l…

The grief of true repentance is likened to a bulldozer clearing the heart at its deepest level, making way for joy in the Holy Ghost.

It's my thesis this morning that the grief of true repentance will actually replace joy at the deepest level of the heart for a period of time. And the only reason it replaces joy at the deepest level is that it might, like a bulldozer, clear the heart at its deepest level for joy in the Holy Ghost. There is the grief of true repentance. The moment I started working on this, this text, Rejoice Always, I could not help but have my mind revert to a text over which I poured much about five years ago and many times since then when I preached through the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5 and verse 4.

7:08 - 7:51 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The path to true rejoicing always lies through the crucible of holy mourning.

True rejoicing is described as a 'plateau' from which one can survey present and future possessions, while the path to it is a 'dark, foreboding valley of holy mourning.'

Would I attain to a state of true rejoicing? Look at it as a plateau from which I can look out at all my present possessions and look up and be amazed on to my future possessions and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Would I come to that plateau of true rejoicing? There's only one pathway to it.

8:34 - 8:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Take your sinful condition so seriously that it breaks your heart, leading to true repentance and fleeing to Christ.

Sin is described as blinding us to reality, making us rejoice in things that are actually destroyers of our souls, like looking at a bitter enemy as a friend.

Well, you see, James recognized that one of the terrible effects of sin is that it so blinds us to things as they are that we rejoice at things that we think are suitable good which indeed, and in reality, are destroyers of our very souls. That's how sin has so perverted us. That we look at that which is our most bitter, destructive enemy as our greatest friend. And so if joy is that delightful affection of the soul in the possession of or the anticipation of some suitable good,

10:39 - 11:21 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not treat life as a lark if you have never known an hour of true holy mourning for your sin.

He uses these common phrases to describe the carefree attitude of some young people who have never known holy mourning for sin.

Life's a lark to you. Oh, once in a while, mom and dad grind your socks and get to you and make life a little miserable with their don'ts and their do's. But for the most part, life's a lark. The world's your oyster.

15:44 - 15:55 Read in full sermon

The point: Acknowledge that if you are not in Christ, you have no right to joy, only the sentence of wrath.

The image of a criminal sentenced to the electric chair dancing a jig for joy is used to highlight the absurdity of an unconverted person having joy when under the sentence of wrath.

Found as one who is in him, accepted in the beloved. You have no right to joy. For what do you possess? You possess the sentence of wrath.

16:47 - 16:57 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If you have efforts to somehow push men over the wall into the Christian profession by trying Jesus, you've tried dope and it didn't give you much joy or gave you some, Jesus will give you a bigger thrill. Disgusting.

Martin critiques the modern evangelical approach of presenting Jesus as a 'bigger thrill' than drugs, arguing it's a disgusting perversion of the gospel call to repentance.

So there is the grief of true repentance to which God calls all the unconverted. May I say to you that if you have efforts to somehow push men over the wall into the Christian profession by trying Jesus, you've tried dope and it didn't give you much joy or gave you some, Jesus will give you a bigger thrill. Disgusting. God doesn't call us to try another thrill. He calls us to face our sin with such seriousness that it breaks our hearts, brings

18:31 - 19:10 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God's first work in conversion is to put men out of their fool's paradise who are satisfied with the creature without himself.

He quotes an unnamed Puritan (likely Thomas Watson or John Flavel) who beautifully reconciles Christ's words about mourning with Paul's command to rejoice, explaining mourning's necessity to cure vain rejoicing and drive men to Christ.

One of the old Puritans has said it so beautifully. And by the way, if anyone ever says to you, well, the Puritans, they were all right for another age, but we've got to speak to our age. They've just never read the Puritans, that's all. I've just settled that with my whole heart.

21:18 - 21:32 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God's first work in conversion is to put men out of their fool's paradise who are satisfied with the creature without himself.

The Puritan quote describes those who find joy in worldly possessions without God as being in a 'fool's paradise,' which God's first work in conversion is to drive them out of.

God's first work in conversion is to put men out of their fool's paradise who are satisfied with the creature without himself. You see, you who have joy because you have a nice home, a nice wife, a nice car, a nice job. He says you're in a fool's paradise to have any joy if you're severed from vital relationships. So God's first work is what?

22:42 - 23:06 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God's first work in conversion is to put men out of their fool's paradise who are satisfied with the creature without himself.

The joy that follows true grief is described as the 'joy of the kiss of reconciling grace planted upon the cheek that is wept with the salty tears of brokenness and repentance.'

But all the while, joy is in the making and we are providing everlasting comfort for ourselves for God is ready to ease us as soon as our need requires and our care will permit. All the while, true grief is working. Joy is in the making. The joy of the kiss of reconciling grace planted upon the cheek that is wept with the soul of the world.

23:36 - 24:04 Read in full sermon

Driving home: You have the power to forfeit your joy, but you have no power to reclaim it.

He criticizes the idea of simply 'chucking them under the chin with a verse and tell them, be happy in Jesus' when people are heavy with sin, emphasizing that joy is not at our disposal.

May you restore the joy of salvation. And he waits before God in brokenness until the Spirit makes real to him afresh the wonderful sense of cleansing and the consciousness of renewed and restored fellowship that he might have solid grounds for joy. Again, you see, this exposes all this idea if the people of God are lying heavy beneath the pressure of sin and the rest, we just chuck them under the chin with a verse and tell them, be happy in Jesus. No, no.

27:48 - 28:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of thinking there is something inherently holy in a somber face and heavy heart, as this misrepresents God to the world.

The analogy of a sour, joyless servant reflecting poorly on his master is used to illustrate how a Christian's lack of joy can misrepresent God and the gospel to the world.

And so the general tenor of the life should be the joy of the Lord, which is our strength. It's this that not only is our strength, but commends the gospel. What would you think of a man who said he was working for a Mr. So-and-so and you never saw the master, but you saw his servant and he was all, he was always heavy, joyless, sour.

30:06 - 30:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of thinking there is something inherently holy in a somber face and heavy heart, as this misrepresents God to the world.

The devil is depicted as letting Christians climb the 'hill of the truth' (understanding holy mourning) but then pushing them 'down the other side' into an unbiblical somberness.

You'd say, man, what kind of a master he got that makes a guy look like that? That's a terrible commendation of the character of his master. And if the people of God, you see, through, and the devil's no dope, he's in this business for a long time. And you see, if he can't keep us from climbing the hill of the truth, he'll let us climb it and then he'll push us over down the other side.

30:27 - 30:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Steer clear of all that robs you of your joy and cling to all that feeds your joy.

Sin is described as 'driving a pretty hard bargain' by offering momentary sensual gratification in exchange for the abiding joy of the Lord.

That's driving a pretty hard bargain.

32:14 - 32:16 Read in full sermon

The point: Steer clear of all that robs you of your joy and cling to all that feeds your joy.

He uses TV programs as an example of diversions that do not feed joy in the Lord, even if innocent, and warns against spending time on them.

Therefore, if I'm to rejoice always, I must feed my mind and spirit with those things that remind me of my present possessions. And I don't know a program on TV that's going to do that for you. Do you? When you find one, let me know.

32:50 - 33:05 Read in full sermon