Frontline Ministries International, Inc.  

PHILIPIANS 4:4: "And again I say, Rejoice" 

Paul says this in such a way that your failure to rejoice would be disobedience; your failure to rejoice would be foolishness. It is an exhortation, a commandment, and a vital part of your walk with God.   We can interpret the verse as instructing us to rejoice again after we have already rejoiced. We constantly move from faith to faith, victory to victory. This requires strength. "The joy of the Lord is my strength." I can not be strong in the Lord and in his might without joy.  Or we can interpret this verse as Paul reminding us that I have told you to rejoice before, and now I am telling you to rejoice again. He is exhorting those that are in the battle now. They are pressed down and compassed about by the enemy. Paul reminds us that the Lord got us through it the last time, He will do it again this time. Remember the goodness of God, and as you do, joy will begin to blossom in your heart. Remember his faithfulness; remember His mighty deliverance. Remember, that your joy might be full and your awareness of God might increase. "The battle is not yours, but the Lord's."  And finally, we can interpret this as Paul reminding them that no matter what situation he was facing as a soldier of the cross, and the apostle to the gentiles, he rejoiced in the Lord always. And if ever there was a "man" that took a lickin' and kept on tickin' for the Gospel it was the Apostle Paul. Inherent in rejoicing is praising the Lord. "The Lord inhabits the praises of his people." He is therefore, present in the praise and in the rejoicing. "In the presence of the Lord, is fullness of joy." It's not just the right thing to do, it's the only thing to do. "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice." Again and again, and again.