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Sermon #5629

Rejoice Evermore

A Sermon on 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Originally preached Sept. 22, 1963

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Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:16 ESV KJV
Rejoice always, (ESV)

Sermon Description

What should the Christian’s immediate and continual response be to the gospel and salvation? The response should be one of joy! “Rejoice evermore” is more than an emotion; it is a settled reality of all who are saved. In this sermon on 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones challenges his listeners with the direct command to rejoice evermore. A Christian is to rejoice evermore for this is the will of God. The command to rejoice is given through the Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians. He states that a clear and defining characteristic of the Christian is that of joy. Having experienced the joy that came with his own conversion, the Apostle Paul now instructs all believers that this is the mark of their Christian lives. However, rejoicing evermore is a tall order. Dr Lloyd-Jones recognizes this and asks: “How are we to do this? How can we rejoice in all things? Should we wait on or work up some type of feeling?” He reminds the listener that the Christian maintains a constant attitude of joy by taking their growing knowledge of the truth and applying it by the Spirit. Salvation and the growing knowledge of the vast implications of the gospel when applied by the Spirit will enable the Christian to rejoice evermore.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The apostle Paul exhorts Christians to "rejoice evermore" in 1 Thessalonians 5:16.
  2. Rejoicing should be a defining characteristic of Christians. Examples of rejoicing are seen throughout Acts and the epistles.
  3. We rejoice for our own sake and for the sake of those outside the faith observing us. Our rejoicing shows we have found the answer and solution to life.
  4. We should not wait to feel like rejoicing or try to artificially work up feelings of rejoicing.
  5. We rejoice by meditating on fundamental Christian truths and by the work of the Holy Spirit.
  6. We rejoice in the Lord - by considering who He is, His incarnation, life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return.
  7. We rejoice in what we are in Christ - forgiven, reconciled, adopted children of God, indwelt by the Spirit, eternally secure.
  8. We rejoice in the hope of future glory - our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory to be revealed in us.
  9. Whether in times of blessing or adversity, these truths drive us to rejoice in the Lord. Adversity should drive us to Christ and remind us of the glory to come.
  10. Examples of hymns calling us to rejoice in the Lord in all circumstances.

Other Sermons

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.