Introduction:

A.                 Paul always chose the places where he was to preach with careful strategy.  Philippi was no different!

1.                  Even today many of the places remain great road centers and railway junctions.

2.                  The title of "Colony" - was given by the Roman government to a city, that it wished to honor for faithful service!

a)                 It was like a little ROME!

(1)               The Roman language was spoken. Roman attire was worn, Roman customs observed, and Roman titles given to the magistrates.

(2)               The entire city of Philippi reeked with the pride of Rome!

(a)               Acts 16:20 (NKJV) And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 "and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe."

B.                 Paul went to Philippi on his second missionary journey as a result of a vision he had of a man from Macedonia beckoning him to come!

1.                  While he was there a friendship developed that was closer than that which existed between him and any other church.

a)                 In fact they were the only church that he agreed to accept a gift from.

2.                  He writes this letter while in prison in Rome, and it is a letter of thanks.

a)                 It talks of Epaphroditus, another gift sent by his friends in Philippi, to minister to Paul's needs while in prison.

b)                 It is a letter of encouragement in their times of trial.

c)                  And it is an appeal for unity!

(1)               You see, a couple of ladies in the church were arguing and disrupting the peace.

(2)               And there were false teachers seeking to destroy the church’s faith.

C.                I have entitled these teachings in Philippians,  “How to have Joy in the Lord!”

1.                  Often you will find Christians just “eeking by” in their walks.

2.                  Doing what they do out of a sense of duty, but having no joy in it at all!

3.                  Philippians show us how to have and maintain that joy.

D.                As a bit of background for our study, let’s first take a look at Acts 16:8.

1. Act 16:8-40 

II. Phi 1:1-5 

A.                 So this letter is from Paul and Timothy - a couple of “slaves” (bondservants), to the church in Philippi.

B.                 Here is the first step in “How to Have Joy in Christ.”

1.                  Have your mind on others instead of yourself!

a)                 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,

b)                 We often spend entirely too much time thinking about ourselves.

(1)               That’s enough to depress anyone!

III.

A.                 Paul reassures them (and us) that the work the Lord is doing in their hearts is a lifetime work!

1.                  That is why you will find saints in their 70’s & 80’s still learning of God’s grace and mercy.

B.                 Here is step #2 in having joy in the Lord:

1.                  Have you heart set on others!

a)                 (7)  For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart (and) (8a)  how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

b) Mat 6:19-21

(1)               If we spend most of our time thinking about ourselves, what does that say about our treasure?

c)                  OK, let’s suppose that the Holy Spirit reveals to us that this is a problem in our lives. How do we change it?

IV.

A.                 Step # 3 in maintaining our Joy in the Lord.

1.                  Have your prayers set on others!

a)                 Paul really loved these folks, and real love prays!

b)                 He wanted them to have true Christian character, filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

c)                  As Christians, we have heard many times that “prayer changes things.”

(1)               I think the greatest “thing” prayer changes is us when we prayer for others.

(a)               If you want your mind and heart to be “others” focused, start praying for them.

(b)               Now, Paul wants to explain how Christ has been glorified by his imprisonment.

V. Phi 1:12-21 

A.                 Step #4 in How to Have Joy in Christ:

1.                  Give God the glory in everything!

a)                 . . . . with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

b)                 Often we are the Lord’s “fair-weather” friends.

(1)               Glorifying Him when times are good, and griping when times are tough!

(2)               Remember joy is not happiness.  We can have joy, like Paul even when we are in our own “jails”.

VI.               CONCLUSION

A. Phi 1:22-24

1. “I want to go be with the Lord, but I could be of more use to you if I live.”

B.  Phi 1:25-30 -

1.                   “If I live I plan on coming to see you again”

2.                  “But whether I do or not, live in such a way that honors the Lord!”

a)

C.                So, in order to develop and maintain Joy in Christ, we must:

1.                  Be “others” minded.

2.                  Keep our “hearts” on others.

3.                  And the way we change our hearts and minds is by “praying” for others.

4.                  And lastly, we will be able to maintain our joy if - in everything Christ has pre-eminence!

a)                 In life or death, in good times or difficult times!!!