Joy in Everything

Read Phil 4:10-13

Philippians 4:10–13 NLT

How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Intro

Real Meaning of 4:13 / Sports Stories

– Show players shoe/apparel with 4:13

– “I can do all things…”

– Taking verses out of context makes it seem as if God is focused on your earthly success rather than your eternal soul.

Context and Content

– Paul is not talking about being successful. He is talking about being satisfied.

Main Points

Where does defiant joy come from?

1. Defiant Joy comes from people who support you.

Community is what helps us continue through life.

Paul was able to be encouraged by the people who cared for him even while in prison.

Find friends who will support you and that you will support.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Are you leaning on your friends when you are struggling? Or trying to tough it out on your own? Are you being there for your friends or are you too caught up in your own life?

Brief story of Troy and Sandra being there for me.

2. Defiant Joy comes from a place of being, not doing.

Working yourself into joy doesn’t work.

Paul does not say that we must work harder to have joy, but that we should trust harder.

Your being content is a product of your faith, not of your status or bank account or job title or college degree or trophy collection.

Zoom In — “Content”

– Not content like TikTok or YouTube. Content = pleased and satisfied with what one has. Not disposed to complain.

– Self-sufficient / reliant

– Does not need things to be going smoothly for joy to take place.

– Outside circumstances are valid; they just don’t impact contentment.

– What are you trying to do to get joy? What do you think you have to achieve before you can have joy?

Lay down your idols at the altar and take the joy Jesus gives that is not earned but given.

3. Joy comes from Jesus who sustains you.

– As Christians, our joy doesn’t come from our situation but from our Savior.

– This is how we are to understand 4:13. While having a community that supports you and letting go of trying to earn joy are important, nothing can truly help us be joyful except Jesus.

– Jesus is with you in the good times and the bad. We must remain in Him for our joy to be sustained by Him.

John 15:4–5 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

– Are you attached to the vine? Are you remaining in Jesus? Or are you so discouraged that you think you’re doing ok and don’t need Him? Or are you believing the lie that God has abandoned you so you don’t want to turn to Him?

– Grapes can withstand storms, rocks, soil, droughts—they just keep growing.

 The only way to kill the fruit is to separate it from the vine that gives it life.

 You could be going through the worst thing in the world, but unless you are removed from the vine, you will be kept safe through the storm.

 You may think that life is great and you are the greatest person ever. Just remember that without the vine you can do nothing but wither.

Summary

We are happy when we win a game, make good grades, or have success in our lives. But defiant joy comes from Jesus. Our faith in Jesus gives us defiant joy in every situation, including the bad ones.