Sorrow in the Midst of Rejoicing
August 11, 2021
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143,
fbns@wayoflife.org
It is important to understand what God’s Word promises for the Christian life in this present world. Many are surprised, even offended, by troubles, trials, afflictions, and inner turmoil, but God has not promised to remove such things from the lives of His redeemed saints. To the contrary, there are additional troubles that come with the Christian life that aren’t experienced by the unsaved (e.g., spiritual warfare, God’s chastening), yet there are also additional resources and blessings.

The Christian life experience can be summed up “as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing” (2 Co. 6:10). There is sorrow in this present fallen world, plenty of sorrow, yet there is continual rejoicing in Christ and because of Christ. Both sorrow and rejoicing can be experienced at the same time.

A theme of Philippians is to rejoice in the Lord always (Php. 4:4). “Rejoice” is used 11 times in this epistle. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Php. 4:4). “Rejoice” is the Greek
chaíro, which means to be glad and is so translated in Mark 14:11. But “rejoice” doesn’t mean what the world means by happy. It is a bigger, more comprehensive word. The world thinks of rejoicing only in terms of an emotional high, but biblical rejoicing isn’t exactly that. One’s emotional state can fluctuate even while rejoicing in the Lord.

Consider the context of the epistle to the Philippians. (1) One can rejoice even when bewaring of evil workers and false teachers, which is not a happy subject and is not something to smile about (Php. 3:1-2). Paul wasn’t laughing when he gave this severe warning, and he didn’t intend for the saints at Philippi to laugh when contemplating it and acting on it. So one can be sober and serious while at the same time rejoicing in the Lord. (2) One can rejoice even in sickness and even when one is sorrowful about earthly events. Paul was sorrowful about the sickness of Epaphroditus, a sickness so terrible that he was nigh unto death. Epaphroditus was sent to Rome by the church at Philippi to carry their offering and to minister to Paul’s needs, but in Rome he got deathly sick. Paul mentions sorrow three times in his description of this sickness. “... but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful” (Php. 2:27-28). When the believer is sick, or his loved ones are sick, there is sorrow, but there can also be rejoicing because of one’s confidence in God’s love and presence and promises, and because we know that even death cannot separate us from our Saviour. We sorrow, but we do not sorrow “even as others which have no hope” (1 Th. 4:13).



- Receive these reports by email
- www.wayoflife.org

______________________

Sharing Policy: Much of our material is available for free, such as the hundreds of articles at the Way of Life web site. Other items we sell to help fund our expensive literature and foreign church planting ministries. Way of Life's content falls into two categories: sharable and non-sharable. Things that we encourage you to share include the audio sermons, O Timothy magazine, FBIS articles, and the free eVideos and free eBooks. You are welcome to make copies of these at your own expense and share them with friends and family. You may also post parts of reports and/or entire reports to websites, blogs, etc as long as you give proper credit (citation). A link to the original report is very much appreciated as the reports are frequently updated and/or expanded. Things we do not want copied and distributed are "Store" items like the Fundamental Baptist Digital Library, print editions of our books, electronic editions of the books that we sell, the videos that we sell, etc. The items have taken years to produce at enormous expense in time and money, and we use the income from sales to help fund the ministry. We trust that your Christian honesty will preserve the integrity of this policy. "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:18). Questions? support@wayoflife.org

Goal:Distributed by Way of Life Literature Inc., the Fundamental Baptist Information Service is an e-mail posting for Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. Our primary goal with the FBIS is to provide material to assist preachers in the edification and protection of the churches.

Offering: Offerings are welcome if you care to make one. If you have been helped and/or blessed by our material offerings can be mailed or made online with with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Paypal. For information see: www.wayoflife.org/about/makeanoffering.html.



Bible College
Information
Way of Life Literature
Publisher of Bible Study Materials
Way of Life Literature
Publisher of Bible Study Materials
Way of Life Bible College