Joy in Philippians 1:3-5

There was a program that was published several decades ago that was believed to be 70 to 80 percent effective in treating depression, according to the publishing doctor. They recommended that the way to overcome depression is through the use of amino acids and vitamin-mineral supplements. And when someone was depressed they would give you a blood test, or urinalysis, or some sort of fluid test and they’d be able to link your depression to whatever lack of nutrients you had. The study went on to say that in this treatment you have to take vitamin B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B12, and so on and so forth. But the doctor ended up making this statement, “However, if you continue habitual negative thought patterns you will severely undermine the whole treatment.”

There are times in this life that we find ourselves in slumps, don’t we? Circumstances become troubling, our life just isn’t going the way we want it to and things just aren’t looking up for you. It is in the middle of even life’s most unwanted situations that we must remind ourselves that in Christ we have all the elements needed to find ourselves basking in ceaseless joy, however we must remind ourselves, much like the doctor stated, focusing on the right thing. And this is what we find in Philippians today. Paul is facing hardship, to say the least. He has been mistreated legally, beaten physically, and is about to be alone socially. There is really no one who understands his heart like Timothy, but he is about to leave and now we find ourselves with the perfect storm to find a man sliding off into deep depression. Yet this is not the case that we find.

Now, before we get into the text I want to you immediately take note that initial joy comes from the gospel alone; it is the fruit of the Spirit in any Christian life that serves as primary evidence of the Spirit’s presence. Romans 14:17 and Galatians 5:22 tell us of this. And because this is the case we know that our joy transcends present circumstances and is based on the Spirit, which is God’s way of being present with us in the New Covenant. So, if you don’t know Christ then this isn’t a mere 1-2-3 guide to happiness in your storms, no, I want us to understand that unwavering joy finds itself anchored in our blessed hope, the Gospel of Jesus Christ and truly this is the central theme, the hinge, and the anchor of each thing we will see today.

The Joy of Remembrance

Some people only want to remember the negative in every memory and see the bad in every person. J.K. Rowling said, “There’s always room for a short story to transport people to another time and place.” Too bad many people want to live on misery island.

Thomas Hardy said, “Some people can find the manure pile in any meadow.”  You want to live like that?  You want to stomp around in that stuff all your life?

Prov. 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life”

Paul Remembered Precious Memories Over Problematic Situations

Paul could’ve easily thought only of the bad times when he reflected on Philippi. He was drug out in front of town, had his shirt ripped off, was beaten, and then jailed illegally. This was a humiliating experience for Paul! But instead of that, Paul remembers that day he saw Lydia come to Christ, the demon depart from that girl, and that Jailer come to Christ.

There are some of us who need to forget what some grumpy member said to us ten years ago that we are still holding onto and choose to see the goodness of God to this Church.

PRAISE: I praise God for the hunger He’s given many of you for His Word, praise God for how we’ve seen healing through His Word, praise God for how He’s taken the sting of death that has inflicted such pain in your lives and how He has given you growth in devotion to Him. Praise God for how He’s taken this pandemic and used it to embolden His people, how it’s tested and strengthened our faith, and how it’s revealed to us the value of the local assembly. In this world there is no one else who gets you like other believers do. Aren’t you so thankful this morning that God has birthed us in His family and given us such a sweet Church family!

APPLY: What is in your heart for the Church? Do you love the Church, Paul sure did in v8? Does she bring you joy? Does she fill your heart with such joy that you thank God every time you think of her? Can you believe that God saved the Church for Himself and let you be apart of it! Not only that, but He lets the Church that was given for His glory bless and encourage you in your Christian journey. These are the people who celebrate your marriage, these are the people who were used of God to bring you to repentance, these are the people who rejoice when you rejoice and mourn when you mourn, they pray for you and they serve with you. Thank God for the Church!

CONVICTING APPLICATION: It worries me that there are churches full of professing Christians that could care less about gathering with other believers.

Now, lets notice the reason of this rejoicing. which bring us to point two which is:

The Joy of Partnership

-He rejoices, because in a world full of paganism and wicked sin, this is a people who worships His God.

Take note of the phrase “my God” (v3), and the entirety of v5

The word, “fellowship” in v5 does not refer to communing together. It means partnership. This does not mean they didn’t have deep communion together, but it more strongly points to the fact that these people truly participated in the work of the ministry.

Phil. 4:15 “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated (to share) with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.”

Paul doesn’t link their giving to him, but to the Gospel. John MacArthur said, “By far the most important thing all believers share is their spiritual oneness, their participation in the gospel of Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Our fellowship as believers revolves around the Gospel, it is our life anthem, it is the tie that holds us together, it is our joy and our strength. In this fellowship there is to be a partnership of cooperation is spreading the Gospel that the lost may be saved and that the fellowship of the Saints may grow.

Romans 10:13-15 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Mark 9:41 “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”

Mark 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

The Saints at Philippi have fellow-shipped with Paul in salvation, since salvation (from the first day til now), and in partnership to see salvations.

CONVICTING APPLICATION: There are many people in the world, and perhaps even in here today that may think that the investment we make for the Gospel is ridiculous and too much. But not to the ones that have truly experienced such grace for themselves. The cost of sacrificing our comfort could never amount to the cost that Christ paid for us on Calvary. I’m not calling on us to work to build some egotistical empire or to pad the wallet of some conman, but we find a call throughout the Scriptures to proclaim the truth of the One who is building an eternal kingdom.

APPLY: These believers, just like you and I, have seen the power of the Gospel in their lives and it drove them to participate in it’s spreading. Could I ask each of you, “How are you planning to participate in the Gospel this year?” It could be through finances, through evangelism, in worship, in service to one another, or through prayer. But the truth of the matter is that we shouldn’t merely choose only one of these to do because we should be doing them all. Will you join with me and your Church family this year in saying that you want the world to hear that same message that set you free from sins chains?

Finally, we ask ourselves, “What is Paul’s reaction to such joyful thoughts?”

The Joy of Interceding

There is truly no greater sermon that reveals whether or not we realize the weakness of ourselves and the sovereignty of our God than the sermon of our prayer life. I can honestly think of no greater hatred within the heart of a believer than to sternly decide within their hearts that they will not pray for another, but that’s not how Paul was. You see, in our lives we tend to focus on ourselves and we begin to develop animosity towards those who seemingly have it better. Paul could have easily been in the flesh and screamed at God, “Why do you love the Philippians enough for them to be free and for me to be in this jail! Don’t you realize I’m the one who preached to them!” But that’s not the heart of the Spirit led believer, is it? I want you to notice a few realities in this text and then I want to help you in your prayer life, Lord willing.

The Method of Paul’s Prayer in v3-4

It was joyful (v3)“I thank” (v4) “with joy”

It was glorifying God

Phil. 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

It was consistent

But I want you to notice, that it was a service of love.

This prayer was not praying for himself, no it was for his brothers and sisters in Christ. The word “request” in v4 comes from the word “deesis” which gives the meaning of asking God for something for someone else. There are people who only see the problems and issues with everyone around them, but that’s not the case within the heart of prayer warriors. It has long been said that animosity and prayerfulness for the same people cannot reside within the same heart .

One man said, “Our prayer must not be self-centered. It must arise not only because we feel our own need as a burden we must lay upon God, but also because we are so bound up in love for our fellow men that we feel their need as acutely as our own. To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them.”

When Christ ascended to Heaven His work was not, and is not finished, no, He is interceding for you and I right this very moment as Romans 8:34 tells us. There is an accuser named Satan who constantly stands before the Father to accuse us, but our blessed Redeemer stands to plead His righteousness over our case.

Robert Murray McCheyne said, “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference; He is praying for me.”

And this should be the action and assurance of the believer! We may take the example of Paul and our dear Saviour and be people of prayer and we may also be people of boldness knowing that the body of Christ and my Lord Himself are praying for me in this fight. You may be struggling in this field of your Christian walk, so I want to tell you this story that I encourage you to practice and to teach your children:

In a book called No Common Task the writer tells about a nurse and how this nurse taught a man to pray and literally changed the man’s entire life.  The story says he was a dull, disgruntled, dispirited man who became a man of joy. 

This is what the writer says: “Much of the nurse’s work was done with her hands.  And she used her hand as, as it were, a scheme of prayer.  Each of her fingers stood for someone.  Her thumb was nearest to her, and it reminded her to pray for those who were nearest, and closest, and dearest to her.  The second finger was used for pointing; those who teach us point to us with it when they would ask us a question.  Therefore her second finger stood for all her teachers; she prayed for them.  The third finger is the tallest, and it stood for the VIPs, the leaders in every sphere of life.  The fourth finger is the weakest, as every pianist knows, and it stood for those who were weak, and in trouble, and in pain.  And the little finger is the smallest, and the most unimportant, and to the nurse, it stood for herself.”

Conclusion

How’s your joy?  How’s the joy in your heart today? You may be wondering, “Where could I possibly find joy in the midst of this world we are in?” Well, I want you to know that joy is not circumstantial, it’s relational and it is found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you know why we are so enthused to look back on the memories of the past together? Do you know why we are so thankful to serve together? Do you know why we are so willing to pray for one another? It’s all because we have tasted the grace of God and He changed our lives forever. We are not a perfect people. We fail and fall everyday. But our joy comes from the One who never does. Would you like to have true peace, true joy? The truth of the matter is that it is only found in repenting of your sin and believing the Gospel; that Christ died for sinners like you and me. Won’t you believe today?

And to my brother or sister who is facing dark times today I too want you to reflect upon none other than the provision of God in your life:

First, Find Joy in the Precious Memories of God’s Provision in How He Saved You and Others.

Second, Find Joy in the Fact That You Are Not Alone in The Fight.

Third, Find Joy in the Privilege of Prayer, and the Peace of Knowing You are Being Prayed For.

“O Christ, All Your ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight. You did weep, sorrow, and suffer that I can rejoice. For my joy You have sent the Comforter, multiplied Your promises, shown me my future happiness, given me a living fountain. You are preparing my joy for me and me for my joy; I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy; give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of. Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy, at my work, business, and duties. If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning. Let me rest in the thought of Your love, pardon my sin, my title to heaven, my future unspotted state. If I am an unworthy recipient of Your grace. I often disesteem Your blood and slight Your love, but I can i, in repentance, draw water from the wells of Your joyous forgiveness. Let my heart leap toward the eternal rest, where the work of redemption, sanctification, preservation, glorification is finished and perfect for ever, where You will rejoice over me with joy. There is no joy like the joy of Heaven, for in that place there are no sad divisions, no unchristian struggles, contentions, evil plans, weariness, hunger, cold, sadness sin, suffering, persecutions, toils of duty.”

John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”