Immortal Joy

Intro

Good evening! Welcome to Harvest Students! My name is Junior, just in case you were wondering.

I am usually excited to see you Guys, You being here tells me that you want to love God by worshipping Him, walking with him in relationship with others like you, and working for Him. I hope you had a great independence celebration! As our nation celebrated its birthday I felt a bit of Vincie pride, knowing that we are growing and developing, my hope is to see the day when you will be leaders in our society, working hard to see it further develop.

So last week we studied what it looked like to have “true joy”, and we saw Paul sharing greetings with Joy, Showing gratitude with Joy, and Sharing the gospel with Joy. Today we will work our way through , and we will see the benefits of having immortal joy.

One of the things i like about super hero movies is that they always seem to be immortal, they don’t die, at least not easily, no matter the circumstance they always find a way to come back and defeat the villains. In our passage today, the main theme is this “Immortal Joy” that Paul has, it does not die, no matter the circumstances, and so as we look a little deeper into this book, we will see that God intends for us to have this same immortal joy, but not only that we will also see that having this immortal joy is of great benefit to us in all areas of life.

a an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger

an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger

b (1): an instance of this emotion

(1): an instance of this emotion

(2): a state marked by this emotion

Despair -

Anger -

Foolishness -

Just for clarification when we speak about joy, we are not speaking about being happy! And in case you’re wondering there is a difference;

Happiness is an attitude of satisfaction or delight based upon some present circumstance.

Happiness is an attitude of satisfaction or delight based upon some present circumstance. Happiness is related to happenings, happenstance, and hap, which is a word that basically conveys the idea of chance. Happiness is that which you really can’t plan and program; it may happen, it may not happen, and it seems so elusive. But it is related to the delight or the satisfaction that is tied to an occasional happening, a chance circumstance.

Happiness is related to happenings, happenstance, and hap, which is a word that basically conveys the idea of chance.

Happiness is that which you really can’t plan and program; it may happen, it may not happen, and it seems so slippery.

But it is related to the delight or the satisfaction that is tied to an occasional happening, a chance circumstance.

Joy, to be understood in a biblical sense, must be understood to be related to God. A deep down confidence that all is well, no matter what the circumstance, no matter what the difficulty, no matter what the problem. It must be understood to be that which becomes yours in Christ, a permanent possession of every believer. My favorite definition of joy is this: joy is the flag that flies on the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.

True joy is a gift from God to those who believe the gospel, being produced in them by the Holy Spirit as they receive and obey the Scripture, being mixed with various trials. And one final thought in our little theology. True joy is a gift from God to those who believe the gospel, being produced in them by the Holy Spirit as they receive and obey the Word, mixed with trials, and set their hope on future glory.

A deep and abiding confidence that in spite of my circumstances all is well between me and the Lord.

So turn in your bibles to Philippians chapter 1:18.

Immortal Joy Centers on Enlarging Christ.

Philippians 1:18–20 ESV

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 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.

This joy that Paul had wasn’t just a feeling, it resulted in different sets of actions! Listen to his language in the passage; last week we talked about those who preached the gospel out of envy, and Paul said he did not mind, verse 18 is telling us why. I only matters that Christ is proclaimed, and this brings him joy. Verse 19 tells us why he’s rejoicing.....

An this is the point here, Paul is not concerned with his own agenda, his own pleasures, he wants Christ to be Honored in his Body. The word honored here means to exalt and enlarge, to make physically bigger. So whatever problems Paul faced, this is His response “Jesus Christ is Bigger.

Say This with me me “Jesus is Bigger”

If you’ve been feeling down and depressed ...... etc

You may not get it now, but i want you to see that the journey towards having immortal joy is recognizing that Jesus Is Bigger that whatever you are and will be facing.

So immortal Joy centers on Enlarging Christ.

Point number 2 on your outline.

Immortal Creates Eternal Convictions.

Philippians 1:21–26 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Phil 1:21-

Immortal Joy Commands Enduring Commitments.

Philippians 1:27–30 ESV

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.