Attractive Advertisements
class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'>1) 12-2-07…AM…SBC 2)
“Attractive Advertisements”
Selections from Philippians
Source – JBC Article (see Joy file in external harddrive)
Introduction: Temporary Joy
1- I can’t tell you how many times over the years I have been let down my sports teams.
- many times I have woken up the next morning still with the taste of defeat in my mouth and I never played an inning, taken a snap, skated a single period or dribbled a single dribble.
- these events were something that I found joy in watching, joy in participating, joy in winning and sadness in defeat
2- Maybe you have done something similar like this…..maybe you have done this with:
· your kids, fantasy football, your grandkids, academics, hobbies
· All-American Dream – white picket fence, nice little family, financial security
· young people – grades you wanted, popularity, boyfriend, girlfriend,
· anything that you desire to receive joy from and are sad, angry or frustrated when it doesn’t happen has the potential for being an idol that will never bring permanent joy
Ø our lack of joy when these types of scenarios do not come to fruition shows our need to find permanent joy in something else
Ø many times a lack of joy shows our desire to place a permanent-joy tag on something that can only ever be a temporary-joy item
Ø A major questions Paul answers in the book of Philippians is this, “Is it possible to be joyful in an
unhappy world?”
Ø The result of all of the above scenarios is that many people no longer believe in the possibility of a truly joy filled life.
Proposition: Our intention today is to renew our commitment of seeing and then modeling biblical joy.
Transition: To renew our commitment to biblical joy we must initially define joy accurately
Definition of Joy: Joy is a delight of the mind arising from the thoughts of a guaranteed possession of a future good.
- This kind of joy looks beyond the present to our future salvation (Rom. 5:2; 8:18; 1 Pet. 1:4, 6) and to our sovereign God, who works out all things for our ultimate good,[1]
- This type of joy is an action that can be engaged in regardless of how the person feels.[2]
Transition: Once we have defined joy biblically we see first of all that we can…
1) Find Joy in the faith and commitment of other believers 1:27-2:4
A- Apparently the Philippian church faced the danger of discord and division from personal conflict (4:2).[3]
B- Disunity is a potential danger for every church[4]
1- Disunity among His people deeply grieves the Lord. It should be every pastor’s, church leader’s, and church member’s prayer that men will not tear asunder what God has divinely joined together in the body of Christ.[5]
Ø In 2:1–4 Paul gives what is perhaps the most concise and practical teaching about unity in the New Testament.[6]
C- Paul’s joy was that his life work would amount to something in God’s family and in the lives of other people (1 Thess 2:19–20).[7]
1- This is Paul’s deep concern. Not speedy release from prison but the spiritual progress of the Philippians — of all of them — is his chief desire. [8]
Application:
- Do you find joy in life through the unity of our church or are you unhappy with things not going your way
- I don’t sense disunity in our church but what are you going to do when no one agrees with your suggestion on a matter of preference
· Will you find joy by deferring in humility to other believers to continue the unity present here today?
· True Joy is found in humbly serving others and not your own selfish desires
Transition: If we can find true permanent joy in the faith of others then we can also find…..
2) Find Joy in Suffering 2:12-18
Illustration: Voice of Martyrs – story of North Korean Boys
A- Paul’s life was on the verge of ending and he still found reason to rejoice
1- Drink Offering
a- Both Jews and Gentiles would have understood the implied imagery of a drink offering, or libation, a ritual that was familiar to many ancient people (cf. Lev. 23:18, 37; 2 Kings 16:10–16; Jer. 7:18; Hos. 9:4).[9]
b- After placing the sacrificial animal on the altar, the priests would take wine (or sometimes water or honey) and pour it either on the burning sacrifice or on the ground in front of the altar. [10]
c- That act symbolized the rising of the sacrifice into the nostrils of the deity to whom it was being offered.[11]
2- Paul’s joy here finds its resources beyond earthly, human joy
a- Paul has joy because of spiritual reasons as opposed to health, well-being and comfort
Illustrations: - Paul and Silas singing after being beaten and thrown in prison
- the believer’s in Acts 5:41 the believer’s rejoiced for being persecuted
Acts 5:40 and cwhen they had called in the apostles, dthey beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, erejoicing that they were counted worthy fto suffer dishonor for gthe name. [12]
Application:
1- These are the accounts of people that knew what suffering was – in light of that let us be thankful for freedom from severe persecution
2- That doesn’t change the fact that there are struggles we go through where we lose joy in life
3- Let us be driven deeper into the recesses of who God is and what He has done for us and not to the self-pity and insecurity that detracts others
4- Let us be joyful because God does not change even when the circumstances around us change.
Transition: Paul begins to close the book with a summary of what the Philippians have seen modeled in his life. He says, lastly…
3) Find Joy in Everything 4:4-9
A- “Man’s nature and aspirations in life are far superior to the perishable things of the world”[13]
1- We have been made to find Joy in the Lord because we are made in the image of God
2- the problem we encounter is that we seek to find joy in temporary objects
Definition of Joy: Joy is a delight of the mind arising from the consideration of a present possession of a future good.
B- The impact of this Epistle of Joy comes when we realize that Paul was writing this from prison
1- Paul reminded them of his ability to rejoice in tough times when he wrote 1:29-30
Philippians 1:29 For cit has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also bsuffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same dconflict that eyou saw I had and now hear that I still have.[14]
2- The circumstances of Paul’s life reminded him of the joy available in the Lord, and he wished that joy for them as well.[15]
3- Paul knew that no situation is beyond the Lord’s help. Christians can always rejoice in that, if nothing else.[16]
C- Paul rejoiced because he knew that although he was in bonds, the Gospel was not.[17]
1- His imprisonment was causing the Gospel to spread, creating an increased boldness among others
Philippians 1:12 I want you to know, brothers,4 that what has happened to me has really xserved to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard5 and yto all the rest that zmy imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold ato speak the word6 without fear.[18]
D- Paul rejoiced in death 1:18-26
3- Death was something to be gained
4- Death was a beginning not an end
5- Death was a delight of the mind arising from the consideration of a present possession of a future good.
Conclusion:
So, Is it possible to be joyful in an unhappy world?
From Paul’s example it is possible
1- It is encouraging to know that real, permanent can be a reality because we see it in the life of a person that faced times that we will probably never have to face
2 Cor 11:23- “far more imprisonments, ewith countless beatings, and foften near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the gforty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was hbeaten with rods. iOnce I was stoned. Three times I jwas shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, kdanger from my own people, ldanger from Gentiles, mdanger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 nin toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, oin hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for pall the churches.[19]”
2- Paul’s reasons for rejoicing in life were not shallow but were based on present and future spiritual truths as seen through spiritual eyes that focused on anything worthy of praise.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.[20]
3- While faith produces spiritual life…Suffering produces spiritual muscles
4- Find a blessing behind every burden – whether it is a present good, a future good or maybe both
5- Advertisements
a- Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
· a 19th century German Philosopher
· radical questioning of the value and objectivity of truth
· “I would believe in Christianity if they looked a little more like people who have been saved.”
b- A Christian experiencing an unhappy life is hardly a good advertisement for Christ.
c- If joy is to be continuous it must find its source in the Lord
d- Some of need to be reminded that if we are happy in our heart we should notify our face
e- A revival of joy is needed today, but it must first begin in the heart of a yielded believer.
f- What kind of advertisement are you for the Lord Jesus Christ?
· one of gloom and despair like the advertisement against drunk driving
· one of joy and excitement like the advertisement for Valleyfair Amusement Park
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[1]Ronald F. Youngblood, F. F. Bruce, R. K. Harrison and Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Rev. Ed. of: Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary.; Includes Index. (Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995).
[2]Walter A. Elwell and Philip Wesley Comfort, Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Tyndale reference library (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 745.
[3]John MacArthur, Philippians (Chicago: Moody Press, 2001), 100.
[4]John MacArthur, Philippians (Chicago: Moody Press, 2001), 100.
[5]John MacArthur, Philippians (Chicago: Moody Press, 2001), 101.
[6]John MacArthur, Philippians (Chicago: Moody Press, 2001), 103.
[7]Richard R. Melick, vol. 32, Philippians, Colissians, Philemon, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 93.
[8]William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, vol. 5, New Testament Commentary : Exposition of Philippians, Accompanying Biblical Text Is Author's Translation., New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953-2001), 99.
cf. confer (Lat.), compare
[9]John MacArthur, Philippians (Chicago: Moody Press, 2001), 192.
[10]John MacArthur, Philippians (Chicago: Moody Press, 2001), 192.
[11]John MacArthur, Philippians (Chicago: Moody Press, 2001), 192.
c ch. 4:18
d [ch. 22:19; Mark 13:9; Luke 23:16]
e 1 Pet. 4:13, 14, 16; See Matt. 5:12
f ch. 9:16; 21:13; [Rom. 1:5]; See John 15:21
g Lev. 24:11, 16; Phil. 2:9; 3 John 7
[12]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ac 5:39-41.
[13] JCB Article – see Joy file on external harddrive
c See Matt. 5:12
b [See ver. 28 above]
d Col. 1:29; 2:1; 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7; [Heb. 10:32]
e Acts 16:19-40; 1 Thess. 2:2
[14]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Php 1:29-30.
[15]Richard R. Melick, vol. 32, Philippians, Colissians, Philemon, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 149.
[16]Richard R. Melick, vol. 32, Philippians, Colissians, Philemon, electronic ed., Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991), 149.
[17] JCB Article – see Joy file on external harddrive
4 Or brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to men or to both men and women who are siblings (brothers and sisters) in God’s family, the church; also verse 14
x ver. 25; 1 Tim. 4:15
5 Greek in the whole praetorium
y [Acts 28:30, 31; 2 Tim. 2:9]
z [Luke 21:13]; See ver. 7
a [Acts 4:31]
6 Some manuscripts add of God
[18]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Php 1:12-14.
e Acts 16:23
f ch. 1:9, 10; 4:11; 6:9 Rom. 8:36; 1 Cor. 15:30-32
g Deut. 25:3
h Acts 16:22
i Acts 14:19
j [Acts 27:41]
k Acts 9:23; 13:50; 14:5; 17:5; 1 Thess. 2:15; [Acts 18:12; 20:3, 19; 21:27; 23:10, 12; 25:3]
l Acts 14:5; [Acts 19:23; 27:42]
m Acts 21:31
n 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8
o 1 Cor. 4:11; Phil. 4:12
p See 1 Cor. 7:17
[19]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), 2 Co 11:23-28.
[20]The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Php 4:8.