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The Joy of a Christian
Philippians 4:4
Have you ever
Found yourself in a difficult circumstance?
Had someone treat you unfairly?
Lost a favorite possession?
Had an occasion to worry?
If so, you’ve experienced the four things that steal our joy.
Circumstances – things go well, we’re happy; not well, we’re not happy
People – someone gets a little snippy or accuses you of doing something you didn’t do, goodbye joy!
Possessions – friend or neighbor borrow a tool and forget to return it?
Child break a favorite plate?
Worry – perhaps you have a test coming up that you aren’t prepared for…
Background of Philippians
Paul is on the second missionary journey and receives a vision from a man of Macedonia - Acts 16:9
He visits there around 51 AD
Things go well for a short time, then Paul and his companion, Silas get thrown in jail (Acts 16:19-24 ) for casting a demon out of a slave girl.
Since they are Roman citizens, things didn’t go well for the town government that let them be locked up, so they were asked to depart in a hurry
Timeline
Some 12 years later, Paul is in Rome, writing to the Philippians from jail, not a free man, but a prisoner.
Not a good circumstance!
He was arrested illegally and been humiliated and now he was awaiting trial in Rome and, depending upon the outcome of that trial, faced certain death.
What a cause for worry if there ever was one!
While he waits, we find him writing a letter to the Philippians.
His reasons for writing this letter are as follows:
(1) to report on his circumstances;
(2) to express appreciation for their concern for him and a gift they had sent to him by Epaphroditus;
(3) to assure them that Epaphroditus, who became ill while with Paul, had ministered satisfactorily to him and was now well enough to return to them;
(4) to urge them to fulfil various duties;
(5) to warn them about the ever-present danger of false teachers.1
Rejoice in the Lord
Philippians is a book full of joy – at least 19 times (joy, rejoicing, gladness)
Philippians is a book with the secret of lasting Joy, the mind – 16 times (mind, think, remember)
It has been said like this: “the secret of Christian joy is found in the way the believer thinks—his attitudes”.
Proverbs 23:7 tells us that as we think, so we are.
Philippians explains the mind the believer must have to experience Christian joy in a world filled with trouble
Four attitudes that maintain your joy
The Single Mind (Philippians 1)
Paul says in 1:21 “for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”
For Paul, it is all about Christ, he is single minded.
Out of 104 verses, Christ is mentioned by name or pronoun 61 times.
He is a prisoner not of Rome, but of Christ
The chains are my bonds in Christ
He is “set for the defence of the gospel”
Christ was the lens through which he saw his circumstances, not the other way around.
The Submissive Mind (Philippians 2)
Paul puts Christ first, others second, and himself last (JOY)
The Christian doesn’t expect to be served, but rather to serve.
The joy-filled Christian considers others good to be more important that his own plans and desires
Luke 14:11
The Spiritual Mind (Philippians 3)
Paul’s perspective - Philippians 3:8–9
The non-christian perspective - Philippians 3:18–19
The contrast – v20: “for our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Our view is heavenly, not stuck here in the dirt.
Jim Elliot, missionary to the Auca Indians (a cannibal tribe that killed him) said: “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
His was a life sold out for Christ and not for the things of this earth!
Keeping up with the Jones’, the American dream, the idea that “he who dies with the most toys wins” steals our joy when we focus on these things rather than Christ
The Secure Mind (Philippians 4)
“Worry is actually wrong thinking (the mind) and wrong feeling (the heart) about circumstances, people, and things.”
-- Wiersbe
If our mind is single, submissive and spiritual, we shouldn’t have too much trouble with worry.
However, we still need something to guard the gates so that worry won’t enter in.
Philippians 4:7
Keep – a military term meaning to “stand guard” or “garrison”
Consider the resources described in Chapter 4:
God’s peace (1-9)
God’s power (10-13)
God’s provision (14-23)
So, we have the peace of God guarding us (v7), the God of peace guiding us (v9).
The secret of God’s victory over worry then, is:
Practice right praying (v6-7)
right thinking (v8)
and right living (v9)
How then shall we live in Joy, in light of these things
Be sure you are a Christian
Admit your failures – double minded, proud, worldly minded, filled with worry
Surrender your mind to Christ daily – pray for a single, submissive, spiritual and secure mind
Look for opportunities to put your mind to work
A new Christian was talking to her pastor –
“I told the Lord that I wanted Philippians 1:21 to work in my life, and guess what happened?
I ended up in the hospital!”
The pastor then asked “Did you then look for opportunities to further the gospel, the way Paul did in Rome?” Her face clouded.
“No, I guess I didn’t.
I spent most of my time complaining.”
– W.Wiersbe Adapted from Be Joyful (Philippians) by Warren Wiersbe
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