Choose Joy
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
What is the mark of a healthy church? Young people, programs, large numbers? It is joy
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Joy)
JOY State of delight and well being that results from knowing and serving God...Joy is the fruit of a right relation with God. It is not something people can create by their own efforts.
Joy vs happiness
Body
Body
Philippians 1:18–19 (ESV)
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
Rejoicing is to show joy and is a verb
It is a decision
Your decisions either increase or dampen it
Joy is a gauge where you are at faith wise
How can you increase joy is what we are going to be discussing this morning
Is the mindset you approach the world with
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
You don't approach the world defeated
You don't approach the world all gloom and doom
You don’t approach the world meaninglessly
Joy is not dictated by environment
Paul was in prison
Agape
Communal aspect
Our prayers can impact others
Remember you can dampen others also
church accountability
church growth by disunity
The way our faith is impacts that of those around us
Philippians 1:20 (ESV)
as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
Live with an expectation for God to move
Do you believe in God or do you say you believe?
If you have an expectation you are going to pursue, what are you doing to go after what God put on your heart.
live courageously
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
This is to live boldly and not worry about being politically correct, to fit the worlds standards
Philippians 1:21–22 (ESV)
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
Glorify God in death or life
good and bad
Make the most of your life, live fruitfully
Use your dash well
Don’t live being a victim
you can waste your whole life being a victim and focusing on everything that is against you
We live in a culture of victim hood
safe places
looking to shelter when things get tough
transabled
people want to be identified by a handicap, while true handicapped people don't let it define them (Clay Dyer)
racism
What fruit comes out of this?
A life well lived:
Living being a victor
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Not living for others validation, living for God’s
but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Not letting flaws define you
and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Loving people because of who God is
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Desire to grow closer to Christ
How can we organize our lives in such a way to project us on a path to grow closer to Christ
How can you turn work into a spiritual discipline?
How can you intertwine prayer?
How can you intertwine Biblical principles?
Not stealing time
Not stealing supplies
Not participating in unwholesome talk
Not being lazy doing the bare minimal to get by
Showing you value family
How is your home life drawing you closer to God?
Is prayer a regular part?
Is scripture reading a regular part?
Is scriptural discussion a part of it?
Live selfless
Paul would have loved to go on and be with the Lord but he realized their were things bigger than his desires
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
First put the Lord first
And part of putting the Lord first is putting others before yourself
How are you sacrificing for others?
How are you serving others?
How is it evident in your marriage?
To the single person how are you using your flexibility to serve others?
Children how are you serving at home and in the community?
Grey haired saints who are you pouring into? Encouraging?
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
How will your joy inspire someone else this week?
Don’t let your actions be a discouragement to someone or a reason to not listen to the Gospel
Let your life give people reason to listen to the Gospel
Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.
that is a cop out, your life gives them a reason to listen
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.