Building a Culture of Joy
God of Wonder • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT A CULTURE OF JOY...
A CULTURE IN THE BIOLOGICAL SENSE IS..
A PLACE WHERE YOU MAINTAIN CONDITIONS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR GROWTH
WHATEVER IT IS YOUR STUDYING OR TRYING TO GROW
THERE IS A CULTURE IN THE LAB OR BIOLOGICAL SENSE IS...
WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN CONDITIONS FOR SUITABLE GROWTH
THE TEMPERATURE NEEDS TO BE RIGHT
THE LIGHTING NEEDS TO BE RIGHT
THE CONDITIONS NEED TO BE MAINTAINED
SO I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION TODAY...
HOW DO WE MAINTAIN CONDITIONS FOR THE GROWTH OF JOY?
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO
JOY AND HAPPINESS ARE NOT THE SAME THING
HAPPINESS MAY LOOK KIND OF LIKE THIS GROUP OF BALLOONS
WE TYPICALLY USE BALLOONS LIKE THESE TO
CELEBRATE PARTIES
THEY ARE ABOUT FESTIVITIES
AND EVERYBODY HAVING A GOOD TIME
THEY ARE ABOUT HAPPINESS
BUT HAPPINESS AND JOY ARE DIFFERENT…..
HAPPINESS IS AN EMOTION OR A FEELING THAT IS BASED ON THE FRUIT
OR THE OUTCOME OR
THE CIRCUMSTANCE
JOY IS GRATITUDE THAT IS...
BASED ON THE ROOT
HAPPINESS IS LIKE THE HELIUM IN THESE BALLOONS
WHERE AS JOY IS MORE LIKE A ROOT IN THE GROUND
THE ROOT OF JOY DOES PRODUCE SOME HAPPINESS
BUT HAPPINESS IS VERY TEMPORARY
LIKE THESE BALLOONS
IF WE LEAVE THESE BALLOONS HERE THROUGH THE WEEK
COME SUNDAY…THEY WILL HAVE BEGAN TO SAG AND FALL TO THE GROUND
WHY? BECAUSE THE HELIUM IS TEMPORARY..
THIS IS THE WAY HAPPINESS IS...
HAPPINESS IS GOOD BUT...
IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN DEPEND ON
JOY IS GRATITUDE THAT FLOWS FROM A ROOT
THIS ISN’T JUST SOMETHING I MADE UP
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE IN THE GREEK
THE WORD “CHARA”
MEANS TO BE AWARE OF GRACE
THEREFORE IT MEANS...
WHEN I AM AWARE OF GOD’S GRACE IN MY LIFE...
IT PRODUCES A SENSE OF GRATITUDE THAT RESULTS IN JOY
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
THE WORD REJOICE IN GREEK IS...
CHARIO
BECAUSE OF THE GRACE OF GOD IN MY LIFE....I WILL REJOICE
SO NOW WE ARE EXPRESSING JOY
AND PAUL IS SAYING HERE IS THE WAY I WANT YOU TO SEE THIS
I WANT YOU TO BUILD A CULTURE OF JOY
I WANT YOU TO MAINTAIN THE CONDITIONS SUITABLE FOR GROWTH
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT HAPPINESS
I’M TALKING ABOUT A REJOICING
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN
REMEMBER THAT PAUL IS SHARING WITH THE CHURCH IN PHILLIPI
A CHURCH HE SHARED THE GOSPEL WITH...
TRAVELING THROUGH MACEDONIA
A PAGAN PEOPLE WITH NO JEWISH BACKGROUND
THEY DIDN’T KNOW ABRAHAM OR ISSAC OR JACOB
THEY KNEW ZEUS AND THE OTHER GODS OF THEIR UPBRINGING
AND NOW HERE IS THIS STORY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
A DEATH ON A CROSS AND A RESURRECTION BY...
THE POWER OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD
I WILL SAY THIS TODAY....
CHRISTIANITY AND THE STORY OF THE GOSPEL...
TRANSCENDS CULTURES AND RELIGIONS
AND GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS
PAUL IS CROSSING OVER RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL LINES....AND
THE GOSPEL STILL WORKS
IT STILL FINDS ITS WAY INTO THE HEART OF PEOPLE
AND WE SEE A CHURCH IS BORN IN PHILLIPI
IT IS THE FRUIT OF THE LABOR OF PAULS PREACHING AND TEACHING
AND HE LOVES THIS CHURCH
WE KNOW THAT IN PHILLIPI GOD MOVED IN POWER BUT...
ALSO HE HAD SOME ROUGH TIMES IN PHILLIPI
HE WAS PUT INTO PRISON FOR HIS FAITH
BEATEN AND LOCKED IN PRISON….
BECAUSE HE WAS EXPRESSING THE LOVE OF GOD THROUGH....
THE MIRACULOUS POWER AND DELIVERANCE OF A SLAVE GIRL
SO WE SEE GOD AT WORK BUT....
WE ALSO SEE THE RESISTANCE OF THE ENEMY IN HIS LIFE
AND TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO KNEW ABOUT HIS HEARDSHIP AND SACRIFICE.....HE SAID
REJOICE ALWAYS IN THE LORD....
I’M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN.....REJOICE
IN OTHER WORDS....
THERE IS JOY THAT TRANSCENDS...
CIRCUMSTANCES AND OUTCOMES
AND THIS IS THE KIND OF POWER THAT...
I AM TRYING TO GET YOU TO TAP IN TO
THIS IS THE KIND OF CULTURE THAT I AM INVITING YOU TO LIVE IN TODAY
I WANT TO READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER IF I COULD...
Philippians 4:5–10 (NIV)
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
I REJOICE....I AM EXPRESSING JOY
I AM IN A ROMAN PRISON BY THE WAY
JUST TO GIVE CONTEXT…I AM WRITING THIS LETTER WITH IN...
ONE WEEK OR AT THE MOST TWO YEARS OF BEING EXECUTED FOR MY FAITH
SO PAUL IS WRITING A LETTER...
AND HE IS 1-24 MONTHS AWAY FROM EXECUTION
I HOPE THAT YOU CAN PICTURE THIS IN YOUR MIND TODAY
YOU MAY BE HERE TODAY AND ARE SAYING....
WELL, I WOULD BE MORE JOYFUL BUT...
HERE IS THE SITUATION
I LOVE THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JOY BUT...
HERE IS OUR CIRCUMSTANCE
I KNOW WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE JOYFUL BUT...
YOU DON’T KNOW MY STORY
AND PAUL IS SAYING...
NO…I DO KNOW YOUR STORY AND
I KNOW THAT THE ROOT OF GRATITUDE AND THE GRACE OF GOD WORKS
EVEN IF YOU ARE IN A ROMAN PRISON OR....
WITHIN A YEAR OF DEATH BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH
REGARDLESS.....I REJOICE
Philippians 4:10–12 (NIV)
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret
APPARENTLY....THERE IS A SECRET
BUT IS NOT SO SECRET BECAUSE...
GOD IS ABOUT TO TELL YOU THE SECRET
SO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PURSUING HAPPINESS AND FINDING JOY
APPARENTLY THERE IS A SECRET INVOLVED
MEANING.....THIS ISN’T SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS NATURALLY
APPARENTLY YOU NEED...
REVELATION AND ASSISTANCE FROM GOD
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
THIS IS THE SECRET....
YOU MAY SEE THIS SCRIPTURE ALOT IN LIKE...
THE SPORTS CULTURE
IT’S A POSITIVE MESSAGE
WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS....
IT’S NOT COMING FROM A POSITIVE MESSAGE
BUT A POSITIVE ROOTING
NOT....OH, I’LL JUST THINK MORE POSITIVE THOUGHT...
AND THEN I’LL BE MORE JOYFUL
NO.....I GOT BEAT UP AND THROWN INTO PRISON
AND I STILL HAD JOY....YOU KNOW WHY???
BECAUSE GOD ALLOWS ME TO EXPERIENCE THE STRENGTH I NEED THROUGH CHRIST JESUS....
NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCE IS
OH COME ON CHURCH....
I’VE BEEN HUNGRY AND I’VE BEEN WELL FED
I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE SHIP WRECKED
I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE HANGING AROUND A FIRE AND....
A VIPER COME OUT AND ATTACH ITSELF TO MY HAND
I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE SHUT DOWN AND IMPRISONED
AND TO BE LIED ABOUT AND BEAT UP
I KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO GO THROUGH PAIN AND SUFFERING
AND I’M TELLING YOU THERE IS A SECRET
AND THE SECRET IS THIS....
I CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH
SO THE MESSAGE TODAY IS NOT....
YOU NEED TO GET MORE STRENGTH
BUT IT IS....JESUS IS ENOUGH STRENGTH FOR YOU
LETS CONTINUE....
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
SO LET’S NOT JUST YANK THIS VERSE OUT AND APPLY IT TO THE MOMENT
WELL…GOD SAID HE WILL MEET ALL OF MY NEEDS
GOD SAID THIS BECAUSE....
I HAVE ALREADY MOVED IN GENEROSITY TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM....
THROUGH HIS APOSTLE PAUL
AND BECAUSE I HAVE LEANED IN....
I CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL OF MY NEEDS IN THE SAME WAY...
THAT I AM BEING AN ANSWER TO PRAYER FOR SOMEONE ELSES NEEDS
CHURCH....THERE IS A CYCLE OF GENEROSITY THAT...
PAUL IS UNFOLDING FOR US
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
HERE IS THE FINAL GREETING FROM PAUL....
DON’T TUNE OUT BECAUSE....WHEN I SAW THIS...
I WAS ABOUT TO LOSE MY MIND....
Philippians 4:21–23 (NIV)
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN CONDITIONS SUITABLE FOR GROWTH?
BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT WHAT A CULTURE OF JOY IS...
WE CAN ELIMINATE SOME THINGS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARY....
TO MAINTAIN CONDITIONS SUITABLE FOR GROWTH
THE #1 THINGS WE CAN ELIMINATE IS...
EASE
WE ARE GETTING OUR EXHORTATION TO REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS
OUT OF A CIRCUMSTANCE AND SITUATION WHICH IS ABOUT ANYTHING BUT.....EASE
OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....
SO HAVING A SMOOTH PATH IS NOT NECESSARY.
SO WHAT IS NECESSARY PASTOR CHRIS.....I’M GLAD YOU ASKED
THE CULTURE OF JOY IS CAPTIVATED BY JESUS
IN OTHER WORDS....
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A
JOYFUL PERSON
A JOYFUL FAMILY
A JOYFUL CHURCH
IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A CULTURE OF JOY......
THE PEOPLE IN THE CULTURE MUST BE CAPTIVATED BY THE PERSON OF JESUS
THIS SOUNDS SO ELEMENTARY BUT...
THERE IS BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWING JESUS AS A PERSON
AND KNOWING JESUS AS A NAME BY WHICH I AM SAVED
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING AWARE OF CHRIST
AND HAVING A REVELATION OF WHO CHRIST IS…AND
BEING CAPTIVATED BY WHO HE IS AS A PERSON
AND YOU DON’T WANT JUST WHAT HE HAS TO OFFER
YOU WANT.....HIM
PAUL SAID THIS....
(JUST READ THE FIRST PART)
Philippians 3:10 (NIV)
10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST....
I DON’T JUST WANT THE 4 THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HELP ME HAVE A BETTER LIFE
OR HELP FIX MY RELATIONSHIP
OR HELP ME BUILD A BETTER BUSINESS
I DON’T JUST WANT SOME OF THE BENEFITS FROM CHRIST
I ACTUALLY WANT TO KNOW CHRIST
I WANT HIM
I WANT TO WAKE UP WITH HIM
I WANT TO WALK WITH HIM THROUGHOUT THE DAY
I WANT TO GO TO BED WITH HIM
I WANT ALL OF HIM IN MY LIFE
THERE HAS TO COME A POINT IN YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK WHERE...
HE HAS SO TRANSFORMED MY LIFE THAT...
I WILL LIVE EVERYDAY SEEKING TO KNOW HIM
I WANT TO WALK WITH HIM AND GROW DEEPER WITH HIM
OH COME ON SOMEBODY.....
THERE HAS TO BE A POINT WHERE JESUS
IS THE REASON I DO EVERYTHING I DO
AND I WILL GROW IN MY REVELATION OF WHO HE IS
THIS IS MY GREATEST DESIRE
AND GREATEST PASSION IN MY LIFE
IT IS A GAME CHANGING, LIFE SHIFTING TRANSFORMATION
WHEN YOU COME TO WANT TO KNOW CHRIST
NOT JUST TO SAY...
I’M A CHRISTIAN
SOME OF US ARE MISSING JOY BECAUSE...
JESUS IS JOY
HE IS THE ROOT
THE SECOND THING ABOUT A CULTURE OF JOY IS....
2. THE CULTURE OF JOY IS STUNNED BY THE GOSPEL
IN OTHER WORDS...
GOSPEL BLOOD IS STILL FLOWING THROUGH YOUR VEINS
IT IS AS REAL TODAY AS IT WAS WHEN YOU FIRST PUT YOUR FAITH IN HIM
IT IS AS STUNNING THIS SUNDAY AS IT WAS LAST SUNDAY AND 100 SUNDAYS AGO
IT’S LIKE GETTING BAPTIZED 5 YEARS AGO AND...
STILL REMEMBERING THAT…I WAS LOST BUT NOW I AM FOUND
I WAS BLIND BUT NOW I CAN SEE
THANK GOD I AM NO LONGER DEAD IN MY SINS...
BUT I AM ALIVE IN CHRIST
....WORSHIP TEAM JOIN ME......
3. THE CULTURE OF JOY IS ALL IN FOR THE MISSION
WE SEE THIS IN PAULS LIFE AND IN THIS LETTER
IN OTHER WORDS...
PAUL HAD ARRIVED AT A PLACE WHERE...
HIS MISSION OVERRODE HIS CONDITION
HE WAS SO CONVINCED OF WHAT GOD HAD SET HIM IN MOTION TO DO
THAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SURROUNDED HIM WERE....
MORE OF ANNOYANCES THAN THEY WERE DETERRENTS TO HIS JOY
BECAUSE HIS JOY WAS ROOTED IN CHRIST
AT THE END OF THE DAY....
ALL HE IS THINKING ABOUT IS...
I WANT TO POPULATE AND EMPTY HELL
AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE A JOYOUS CHURCH...
IT IS GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE LIKE THAT IN THE CHURCH
IF YOU GOT PEOPLE YOUR HANGING AROUND THAT DON’T HAVE A HEART BEATING SAYING....
ALL I CARE ABOUT IS MORE PEOPLE IN HEAVEN AND LESS PEOPLE IN HELL
YOUR GOING TO STRUGGLE WITH JOY
PAUL WAS CONVINCED THAT ROME WAS THE PLACE HE HAD TO GO
AND SO WE SEE THAT THROUGH MANY ISSUES AND MUCH TROUBLE
LONG STORY SHORT
HE EVENTUALLY MAKES IT TO ....ROME
AND IN HIS FINAL GREETING HE SAYS...
22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
IN OTHER WORDS....
I CAN’T NAME NAMES IN THIS LETTER BECAUSE IT WILL COST PEOPLE THEIR LIVES
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVING IN NERO’S COURT
IN NEROS HOUSE
THE WORST OF THE WORST
THE GUY WHO PLAYED THE FIDDLE WHILE ROME WAS ON FIRE
THE ONE WHO TORCHED CHRISTIANS FOR ENTERTAINMENT
THAT NERO......MAYBE HIS COOK HAS COME TO KNOW THE LORD
MAYBE HIS CUPBEARER HAS COME TO KNOW CHRIST
MAYBE HIS NUMBER ONE GUARD IS NOW FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
PEOPLE IN NERO’S OWN HOUSEHOLD ARE COMING TO FAITH IN JESUS
AND PAUL IS SENDING A MESSAGE BACK TO PHILLIPI SAYING....
THE MISSION OVERRIDES THE CONDITION
AND I HAVE MADE IT TO THE EPICENTER OF THE KNOWN WORLD
TO THE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON EARTH…AND
PEOPLE IN HIS HOUSE ARE COMING TO KNOW JESUS
ANYBODY.....CAN BE CHANGED BY THE GOSPEL
I WONDER IF THIS IS ANYONE TODAY...
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS SO OVERWHELMING IN YOUR HEART
I MEAN THE CONDITIONS AREN’T GREAT
BUT....THE MISSION JUST SEEMS LIKE IT OVERRIDES ALL OF THAT
I AM NOT MINIMIZING ANY OF WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH
BUT IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE MISSION SHOULD BE GREATER THAN THE CONDITION
4. A CULTURE OF JOY IS CONFIDENT IN EVERY SEASON
IN OTHER WORDS
THE GLIMPSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN OF THE SAVIOR....
GIVES YOU PEACE ABOUT WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE STORY
HERE IS THE THING...
JOY IS NOT CONTINGENT ON GOD TELLING ME THE DETAILS OF HIS PLAN
WELL.... WHY WOULDN’T HE IF HE IS A GOOD GOD
BECAUSE HE IS A GOOD AND LOVING GOD
HE DOESN’T TELL US EVERYTHING
HE IS SAYING TRUST ME
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL
YOU CAN TRUST ME
5. THE CULTURE OF JOY IS A CULTURE OF PRAISE
IN OTHER WORDS...
JOY MUST BE ACTIVATED IN WORSHIP...
IN ORDER TO CULTIVATE KINGDOM CULTURE
LET ME MAKE THAT MORE SIMPLE FOR US...
YOU CAN’T JUST SAY I FEEL GREATFUL
AND DEEP DOWN INSIDE I AM BLOWN AWAY BY THE GOODNESS OF GOD
AND NEVER DO WHAT THE PSALMIST SAID
HE SAID....
SHOUT FOR JOY TO THE LORD ALL THE EARTH
WAVES ARE DOING IT
MOUNTAIN PEAKS ARE DOING IT
TREES OF THE FIELD AND FORREST ARE CLAPPING THEIR HANDS
THE STARS ARE EXPLODING FOR HIS GLORY
THEY SPIN ANS SING AND SHINE FOR HIM
THE LEAVES ON BRANCHES RUSTLE THE ANTHEM OF HIS PRAISE
THE LIGHTNING AND THUNDER REVERBERATE WITH GREATNESS AND..
GLORY AND POWER OF GOD
THE BIRDS ARE SINGING THEIR SONG
THE BEAST OF THE FIELD ARE ROARING IN RESPONSE TO WHO HE IS
ALL CREATION IS PRAISING HIM
THE WAVES CRASHING ON THE BEACH AND GIVING GLORY TO GOD
GRACE ROOTED IN JESUS CAN NOT...
HELP BUT BE EXPRESSED IN WORSHIP AND PRAISE TO HIM
SO IS THERE IS NOT AN EXPRESSION OF JOY AND JOYFULNESS
THEN WE HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION......
IS THERE A ROOT AND AM I IN IT
(BALLOON POP = HAPPINESS IS FRAGILE)
ALL IT TAKES IS ONE BAD REPORT
ONE BAD PHONE CALL AND POP....
HAPPINESS IS GONE BUT...
THE ROOT OF JOY WITH IN ME....IS ETERNAL
AND BECAUSE OF IT......
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH
CAN WE GIVE HIM SOME PRAISE RIGHT NOW
.....STAND TO YOUR FEET.....
....ALTAR CALL.......
A LIFE ROOTED IN CHRIST...
PRODUCES UNSPEAKABLE JOY
FOR ALL OF YOU WHO TEND TO GO AGAINST THE GRAIN
WHO TEND TO LIVE LIFE ON THE EDGE OF REBELLION, LOL
NOT A GOOD WAY TO LIVE BY THE WAY
LISTEN TO THIS.....
Yale Divinity School theologian Willie James Jennings, says THIS:
joy can be an act of rebellion against the status quo and resistance against despair.
OH I LOVE THIS....
RESISTANCE AGAINST DESPAIR
REBELLION AGAINST EVIL???
