How to Live with Joy

Dt: Paul encourages the church to continue in joy and resist the inappropriate influences of others.

Aim: We will choose to be joyful and resist distractions that may hinder our joy.

I. Aim Your Heart Towards Christ (v.1)

Paul says, Rejoice in the Lord. He has mentioned joy or some variation of it eight times up to this point, thus continuing this centered theme of the entire letter of Joy.

Philippians 1:4 ESV

always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

Phil.

Phil.

Philippians 1:25 ESV

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

Philippians 2:2 ESV

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Phil.

Philippians 2:29 ESV

So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,

phil.2

Philippians 1:18 ESV

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,

Phil.2.17-18

Philippians 2:17–18 ESV

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Philippians 2:28 ESV

I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.

There are some things to consider about joy:

Joy is a choice not an emotion

it is not predicated on what happen to me

its what i have in-spite of what happens to me

it is not based on circumstances its based on faith

Ilus

David said it this way:

Psalm 30:5 ESV

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

you got to understand what he was saying, “I’m going through right now, but I choose to wake up in the morning. I choose not to allow this stuff to keep me down.

b. Joy is reflective of our relationship with Christ

II. Safeguard Your Heart with the Word of God (v.1)

Paul encourages the church further by explaining that though he is imprisoned writing this epistle is not a burden for him. He says it is for them.

This letter is so that their hearts are strengthened. His intention is that they will be empowered by what God has given them through the Word to resist evil.

Illus:

Application: Make the Word of God a sincere part of your life. Read it and devote yourself to it.

III. Resist Negative Influences (v.2)

Paul uses strong language but it is not abusive nor insulting. he does so to make a point.

Dog- was not a word used in our context of insults.

he is not referring to a persons character but this term was used in a religious sense.

generally used regarding gentiles, those who were not of the Jewish tradition.

Jesus sued it when speaking to the syro-pheonician woman.

Mark 7:27 ESV

And he said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Paul reverses it , uses it sarcastically towards the Jewish Christians who were attempting to pollute the value of Christianity with ritualistic practices.

Evildoers- Blatant disregard for what God says.

these are those who refuse to live in line with righteousness

they do things their own way

Manipulators of Flesh- Those who Circumcised as an act of gain to salvation. They taught unless you are circumcised you cant be a christian