REJOICE!
L. A. Barlow
Luke 6: 22, 23; 10: 17–21; Philippians 4: 4–9
I would not apologise for reading so much scripture for we have already been reminded of the comfort of the Scriptures. The comfort of reading the Scriptures is that it provides an opportunity for the Spirit to bring what is in them home to our hearts. Therefore there is no intention of saying too much about those read but just to note the fact that each of them refers to rejoicing. A wonderful thing that marks Christianity is the ability to rejoice despite circumstances, and I think the secret in each case is that we are not occupied with things on this earth, but we are occupied with what stands related to heaven and what is above.
The comfort found in Luke 6 is that if we are in pressure down here, especially on account of the name of the Lord Jesus, we are not to be depressed, but to rejoice. There is no faithfulness down here which will not be rewarded up there, so that even as to conditions of persecution the Lord says to His disciples that they were not only to “rejoice” but “leap for joy”.
The next scripture, I suppose, is always a test for us. Any little bit of help we may receive from the Lord so easily turns us to rejoice in it, but the Lord tell us not to rejoice in that, but that our “names are written in the heavens”. It would free us from resting in anything down here, even in service to the Lord. Our joy, beloved, is that our “names are written in the heavens”. As another has said, we are numbered amongst heaven’s nobility. How encouraging that is!
However, the last scripture was mainly in mind because it seems to indicate that one characteristic of the believer is that he is always rejoicing. Those to whom Paul was writing were, you might say, just real believers. How necessary it is to understand simple, real Christianity. It is significant, beloved, how often in practice we are engaged with what—is abnormal, whereas the Lord would have us engaged with what is normal. Paul says, as it were, to these believers, Whatever else I have said to you, the main thing is to enjoy Christianity; that is, we are to rejoice in another Man in another world and in the glorious knowledge that such a Person is not far away. He says, “The Lord is near”.
If we are thinking of the trials of the testimony we can say, His coming is near. What a glorious Person to rejoice in! Paul says, “Be careful about nothing”, for our resource is to be in “prayer and supplication with thanksgiving”, in which he tells us to “let your requests be made known to God”. It is a wonderful thing to relieve our hearts in the presence of God and to know “the peace of God, which surpasses every understanding”. Paul says this “shall guard your hearts and your thoughts by Christ Jesus”. I think it means very simply, beloved, that whilst we may be rightly burdened by things here, we are increasingly to frequent the presence of God, and there to have a sense that He knows everything, and in that glorious Man, Christ Jesus. He has a resource to meet every contingency, as Paul says later on in this chapter, “My God shall abundantly supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”, (Philippians 4: 19). Our thoughts are to be governed by that; it is not that we get the answer immediately, but we have peace of mind in knowing that we have spoken to God about matters, and there is everything available to meet them, so that our minds are thus set free to be engaged with what will build up our souls, the things that Paul enumerates here.
One would desire that we might all enjoy what Christianity is, that is, to rejoice in our Lord Jesus Christ, to be increased in confidence in God, and to have our minds and our affections engaged more with these various things which are above, thus to experience what Paul says—“The God of peace shall be with you”. I trust this is not too simple, but the older we get, whilst we find Christianity wonderfully profound, yet, on the other hand, we find it beautifully simple. Our minds and hearts are to be occupied with everything that is above in relation to this glorious Person, and to unburden themselves in the presence of God of the things that may weigh upon them. As it says elsewhere, “Having cast all your care upon him, for he cares about you”, (1 Peter 5: 7). How wonderful therefore that we can be restful in relation to things down here, but enabled to enjoy things that are above. May we know more about it, for His name’s sake.
Word in meeting for ministry, Valence, France
27 July 1982
(It is hoped to print the other words given on this occasion in an early issue).