Rejoice

Rejoice

Rejoice. Now this is a word that the average person doesn’t use very often. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of rejoice is: 1. To give joy to or 2. To feel joy or great delight. Again, I’d say this is a word the average person probably doesn’t use or doesn’t use very often. But my friends and I are Christians, so chances are we probably use this word more often than non-believers.

The Bible says: This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). 1 Peter 1:3-8 states: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

As Christians, We Rejoice In The Lord

Yes, as Christians, we rejoice in the Lord of our salvation, Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:4 says: Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Fellow believers, we have everlasting life. We have been saved. God has translated us from darkness unto light. We have eternal life. Jesus says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Now, that’s something to rejoice about!

But did you know that the Bible talks about joy or rejoicing in Heaven? That’s right, there are times when the angels are full of joy or rejoicing in Heaven. Jesus tells us when those times are when He told several parables. Here are a couple of them. Then drew near unto him all the publicans (tax collectors) and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Another Parable About Repentance And Joy In Heaven

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:1-10).

Jesus is saying that we rejoice over a person coming to repentance and faith in Jesus and at the same time, there is joy in Heaven over a person repenting and coming to faith in Jesus. Folks, this is why my friends and I come out here and share the Gospel on the streets. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Salvation is of the Lord and God convicts sinners over their sinfulness and He reveals His righteousness to lost souls. But you must hear the truth.

Hard Ground

Do we get to see many people come to saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ while out street witnessing? No, not many at all. But we are plowing hard ground. Jesus also told a parable about a Sower that sowed. Matthew 13:1-8 states: The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Explanation Of The Parable Of The Sower And The Seed

Then Jesus explained this parable to His disciples in Mathew 13:18-23 – Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

The Gospel Is To Be Spread Everywhere

Please notice in the parable that Jesus says the seed was planted on four different areas: hard soil, rocky soil, thorny ground and good ground. Only the seed thrown on good ground does any good, but the seed is still sown in all areas. Yes, downtown Springfield, MO tends to be hard soil or rocky soil, but Jesus said the seed, the word of God is to be spread.

That’s why are down here. We are planting seeds. Salvation is of the Lord, so we typically never know when God uses someone else to water the seeds that were planted. Most times we don’t get to see people repent and surrender to Jesus, but I have seen it on rare occasions. Again, salvation is of the Lord. The apostle Paul said: For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase (1 Corinthians 3:4-7).

Rejoicing With Others

But we are out here being obedient to our Lord and Savior because when we get to Heaven, we will also rejoice for all others who make it to glory through repentance and faith in Jesus. Personally, I can’t wait to go to Heaven. But there’s only one way to receive joy unspeakable and full of glory and that is salvation that is found in Christ Jesus alone.

God commands all people every where to repent (Acts 17:30-31). That’s right, it’s a COMMAND. Not a suggestion or wishful thinking, but an actual command. From God. So tonight, we plead with you to repent of your sins and surrender your life fully and completely to Jesus. We’ve all sinned against God. Each and every one of us. You and I really do deserve to spend eternity in Hell.

Trust Jesus And Receive Joy

But while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). That is for those who repent and believe the Gospel. Oh, don’t continue rebelling against God. You can’t have Jesus and hold on to your pet sin. A complete and utter surrender of your rebellion is what you need. That’s true repentance. Repent and put your faith in Jesus.

Trust in His finished work on the cross to save you from your sins. Then receive joy, true joy in our Lord Jesus. Rejoice in the Lord. We will rejoice with you. The angels in Heaven will also be joyful and rejoice too. Repent and surrender your life to Jesus. Oh, do this today. Turn to Christ and live before it’s too late. Don’t foolishly die in your sins and receive God’s just punishment over your sins where you will spend eternity in the lake of fire and brimstone. Instead, repent and trust Jesus to save you. Then, you too will rejoice in the Lord Jesus.

(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on September 16, 2022