Discover Joy in Christ through Thankfulness

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

We will be studying the book of Philippians with a reoccurring theme. Discovering Joy in Christ. It is important for us as believers to discover our joy and show the joy we have in Christ to a world full of non-believers.

What brings you joy?

A google search of “What brings people joy” found 291 million results. Obviously determining what joy is and finding joy is a highly discussed and researched topic!

According to Oprah Daily (top search result):

Talk with friends, family, and neighbors - research found that having strong relationships was most directly correlated to overall happiness and contentment.

Make a joy list

Give a little to others

Be kinder to others - acts of kindness to others promotes overall happiness

Add color to your home

Make time for exercise

Savor joyful moments (big and small)

Get houseplants

Go outside

Be grateful

Skip negative news 1st thing in the morning

Webster definition of joy = “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness”.

Bible definition of joy = “a feeling of good pleasure and happiness that is DEPENDENT on who Jesus is rather than on who we are or what is happening around us. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, abiding in God’s presence and from hope in His word.”

Joy is not dependent on other people, our situation, our surroundings, or anything else of this world. It is what we find in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source of joy.

Let’s look at today’s scripture to see what Paul tells us about Joy.

Philippians 1: 1-2

Philippians 1:1–2 ESV

A couple things are interesting in the introduction of this letter. The introduction is very short especially for Paul who in other books has many verses dedicated to the general introduction. Another is how he introduces himself and Timothy. Paul is an Apostle and oftentimes relates himself as such but here he relates himself as an equal with Timothy and doesn’t distinguish himself differently. Instead, Paul relates himself and Timothy as “servants”. The Greek word here is Doulos - which literally means slave.

A couple reasons for using the word slave:

Gentiles would immediately understand and relate that to being subservient to the master of a household.

The Greek translation would also have been very familiar to the Philippians as the world was translated to them as the “servant of Yahweh or the Lord”.

Paul and Timothy are “slaves” to Jesus Christ and bound to him as slaves are to a master and also servants of the Lord whose bond is expressed in loving service on behalf of Christ.

Paul relates the term servant in areas as well and is setting the tone of the book and also stressing the importance of this realization.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Here Paul is saying all who serve God are free in Christ Jesus but should use that freedom to perform the duties of a slave.

Philippians 2:7 ESV

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Christ himself chose to take the very nature of a servant/slave. We should follow his example.

Saints, Overseers and Deacons

To all the saints - refers back to Old Testament with the meaning of God’s people being the people of Israel and now in the New Testament, being believers in Christ. All who believe in Christ and have a relationship with Him are now part of God’s people/family and are considered the Saints.

Overseers and Deacons

1st time Paul separates them out like this and never mentioned like this again in Philippians.

Referenced as to “with” them is important distinction as they are part of the church and together with the saints. Not over the saints but along with the church.

Overseer derives from a verb whose primary meaning is to “visit” in the sense of looking after or caring for someone.

Deacon with means “servant” is used to designate those who serve others

Why were they singled out separately - most likely because there was some discord among the church and they were not all on the same page. Paul is trying to promote unity within the church

Grace creates Peace

Paul normally includes the word “greetings” in his introduction and welcome at the beginning of a book but instead, extends the word grace to the people of Philippi.

Paul is being theological here - it’s not by accident. God is giving us grace through the death of His son Jesus Christ. Nothing was deserved and Nothing can be achieved - that is Grace. The outcome of God’s grace is then extended to us in Peace. We have peace now and also to come in the future when we are joined with Christ.

Joy through Thanksgiving

Philippians 1:3–5 ESV

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

“In every truly Christian life, the most obvious evidence of the experience of God’s grace and peace is gratitude and joy.”

What is Paul thankful for?

The special gift of brothers and sisters whom God brought into his life. Out of this thankfulness - Paul experiences joy. He has joy BECAUSE of their partnership with him in the gospel and that is founded on Jesus Christ.

Joy lies at the heart of the Christian experiences of the gospel, it is the fruit of the Spirit in any Christian life.

Romans 14:17 ESV

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

What are we thankful for?

Family, Friends, employment, money, popularity, electronics, house, food, clothing, etc. But what happens to all of those things over time?

How do we turn our thankfulness into joy?

Have you every been filled with joy as you highly anticipated something to happen in the future? I can remember several examples in my own life:

Getting married

Having children

Going on vacations

Purchasing a home, vehicle, camper

Joy for Paul was not dependent on moods or emotions, wellbeing or outward circumstances, but was found in orienting his life to constantly and reverently obeying God’s commands and in having confidence that the “Lord of life will turn affliction into deliverance!” Finding “its object outside itself,” unspeakable joy can and ought to be maintained by God’s own whom have received every spiritual blessing in the Lord and have assurance of their final destiny. To be the church that truly honors God let us remember and give thanks for one another and be filled with joy that we have a family that we can love and build up in the faith for this is the key to not only pleasing God but maintaining the bonds of peace!

Our appreciation for the gift of salvation should bring us great joy. We are called to share that truth to a hurting world!