Unlocking Joy

Philippians 1:1-8

 

In the year 1900 a survey asked, "What must you have to be happy?"

        Results showed 72 answers.

The same survey was taken among the same size sampling in 1950.

        Results showed 496 answers.

I wonder how many results there would be today?

 

Our world is in a mad pursuit of happiness.  Just go to the bookstore and look at all the books on fulfillment and finding the good life.

        It's not an improper goal, but we need to raise the bar a bit.  We need to get back to the Bible, and learn how to find real joy.

 

Happiness is based on external happenings [happenstance / circumstances]

Joy is internal and abiding, and rooted deeply.

 

Most seek their fulfillment in people, places, and things.

People - If only I could have a certain relationship, or be accepted by the right crowd, then I could be happy. 

        Now, it's important to have the right kinds of friends, or to marry the right person, but people are not a permanent source of happiness.

 

ill.--the prominent theme of love songs today is, "My life is worthless/meaningless/has no significance without you"

        This statement should be made about none other than Jesus our Savior!  Your life can be significant and full of joy and meaning even if you have no one apart from Christ.

 

ill.--Paul teaches us in 1 Cor. 7 that even if you go your whole life unmarried, you are not a second class Christian or an incomplete person.  This is because we are complete in Christ!  [married in heaven?]

 

People change, people leave, and people die.

 

How about things?

"If only I had some things that others have, then I could be happy."

 

ill.--Nightline's Ted Koppel confronted Tammy Fay Baker about her lavish spending and she said, "When I am depressed, spending is my therapy.  Buying things makes me happy."

        What an awful message to send to the lost world!

 

Things lose their luster, and you lose the joy.  There's always a newer model car, a great gadget invented ... and do you have your iPhone 37 yet?

 

The Bible says that this entire material world will one day go up in flame!

 

How about places?

If I could live in that area or that house or have that job, then I could be happy.  And maybe I'd be happy in another church, I mean, I've been here for a few years already and it's old now!

 

These people never find happiness in places.  Do you know why?  Because everywhere they go they take themselves with them!  It's an internal problem.

 

Paul is the author of this book, and he has a lot of joy, and yet has no possessions, no home, and no family.  Plus, no freedom!  What DOES he have?  God!  And that's enough.

 

He has joy because he isn't all about himself...he's all about other people.  Love God/Hate sin/Serve others - On one occasion he said he would die and go to hell if it meant his people would be saved.  And those same people spit in his face.

 

He tells us in...

Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

I can listen to this man!  He is highly qualified to tell us where to find joy.

 

Notice who he talks about...

8 times in 8 verses he says 'you.'  He doesn't talk about himself though.

        Most of us talk a lot about self...we worship self.  We bow at the shrine of ourselves!  Advertisers are all about 'you!'

 

If I was in the Roman jail cell like Paul I would be talking about my plight, my rights, my fight, and it’s because I'm white!  And I would be joyless.  Paul was all about others and had joy!  Jesus, then others, then you!

 

He says:  "I have you in my thoughts, in my prayers, and in my heart."

 

"I have you in my thoughts"

v. 3b        'every remembrance of you'

                What do people think about when they remember 'you'?

        Just thinking of certain people evokes feelings from you.  There's certain names I could bring up and you would feel anxiety, because of how you associate them with something in the past. 

[bitterness because they wronged you / disgust because of what they did / jealousy because of what they have]

 

ill.--lady told her friend that her husband unnerved her.  He made her walk the line so much that she couldn't stand to be around him. He could enter the room or call on the phone and she would be overcome with nervousness.  She said, "It's so bad that I'm losing lots of weight."  "Why don't you leave him?"  "I will, as soon as I get down to 120."

 

How do you make people feel?  We would all hope to bring some joy into their hearts.  But do we? 

        Or do they feel undeserved guilt after speaking with us?  Are we so negative that we bring them down?  Are we so self-righteous that we turn them off?  Are we so sinful that they can't associate with us?  Are we so opinionated that their thoughts aren't relevant?  Are we so busy and focused that they know better than to ask our help?  Are we so critical that they cringe to see us coming?  Are we so unfriendly that they would rather talk to ANYONE else?  Are we so stuck on ourselves that they are repulsed?

        Have you known someone who says such negative things about others that it makes you wonder what they must say about you?

        Or, are they so joy filled that it spills over into your life?  Are they so inspiring that they make you want to be like them?  Are they so compassionate that you can't help loving them?  Are they so positive that it changes your outlook?  Are they so encouraging that they make you feel better when you are with them?  Are they so giving that it makes you want to pay it forward to someone else?  And even when they challenge you with truth, is it so spoken in love with the right attitude that you want to receive it and grow?  Are they so easy going that they put you at ease?  Are they so deeply spiritual that they don't have to wear it on their sleeve for you to know it?  Are they such a servant that you always know you can count on them when you need help?  Are they so faithful that you know they will not let you down?  Are they so outwardly focused that you have to pry personal prayer requests out of them?  Are they a person of vision, and that helps you to see the big picture as well?  Are they so concerned that you can see in their eyes that they truly care?  Is there such wisdom when they speak that your ears perk up?

 

“How do I do all this?”  Isn't the bottom line whether you truly put Jesus first, then others, with very little thought for yourself?

 

Paul says he is remembering them.  Who are they?  They are a great church, close to his heart.

In Acts 16 we see 3 of his first converts there in Philippi, and no doubt he is remembering them now in our text. 

        One had a tender heart, one had a tormented heart, and one had a toughened heart.

 

Lydia was a successful businesswoman who sold to royalty.

Paul opened up the Scriptures to her, she opened up her heart, and then her home to be a meeting place.  What a tender heart!  And Paul remembers how God got it all started thru her!

 

Then there was a demon possessed girl with a tormented heart, who followed them around town obnoxiously repeating, "These are the servants of the most high God," mocking them.  Paul cast out that demon, and she was saved, and became like a little child!  Now Paul remembers her amazing testimony.

 

Then there was the Philippian jailer with his toughened heart.  He had put stripes on Paul's back when he was imprisoned there for preaching, and yet after the earthquake he fell to his knees and begged to be saved, and then took Paul home to his family as well!

 

Paul is thinking about the wonderful things God did in Philippi and he says, "This is the joy of my life!"

        He's sitting in jail, not having a pity party, but walking down memory lane! 

He's not thinking about himself, but about others!

ill.--Not - "Gloom, despair, and agony on me!"

        Rather - "It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.  Life's trials will seem so small, when we see Christ..."

 

Life throws its best at us, and it can be pretty bad.  What should you do?

        Visit a nursing home or a cancer patient!  Correspond with a missionary or person in jail.  Listen to orphans sing about being adopted!

        Cancel the pity party, and think of others!  Reach out to them an bring it around to Jesus, and He will cheer all of you up!

 

"I have you in my thoughts."

 

"I have you in my prayers."

vv. 9, 4    See the connection between prayer and joy?  And there's a connection between thoughts and prayers.  Praying is a thoughtful thing to do.  When you are thinking of someone, it should lead you to prayer!

 

"I have you on my heart."

v. 8  'bowels' = the innermost part / heart of a person.

        Even in prison, I have you on my heart!

 

The heart is a great place to carry someone.

        You can carry them on your back.  [get off my back you burden!]

        They can be on your nerves.

        They can be on your bowels, literally. "I've had a belly full of you.  I can't stomach you!"

 

Back = pain in the neck

nerves = breakdown / high blood pressure

stomach = ulcer

 

Carry people on your heart = loving them thru the eyes of Jesus!

Exodus 28:29
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart,

Ever been eyed by someone?  You can feel their eyes on you.  You can tell that they are looking for a problem, and you can feel the pressure because you know very well you've got problems, and now you're under the microscope.  You're in the fishbowl, and there's no way out!

        On the contrary, have you ever sensed someone looking at you thru the eyes of Jesus?  They are seeing you, not for who you currently are, but for who you can be.  When they look at you they see what you must be going thru, and they have a vision for your healing and future blessing!  They love you in spite of yourself, and they are seeing you thru the eyes of Jesus!  They carried you on their heart!

 

I admit who I am.  I can be a pain in the neck.  I can get on people's nerves.  Many can't stomach me.  And some carry me on their heart!

 

It's no coincidence that such people [you are thinking of right now] are the most joy filled you will ever know.  It's because they are unselfish.  Other-centered, not self-centered.  They have an outward look.

 

They put Jesus first and others second and themselves last, and it makes them thoughtful, prayerful, and filled with a joyful heart!

 

v. 5 shows fellowship in the context of joy = communion.

We use the word fellowship pretty loosely.  "Food, fun, and fellowship."  "Let's fellowship after church."

        I say, let's fellowship during church, after church, outside of church, and even when not together in the same room!  We're like 2 fellows in the same ship!  We're in this together!  We have a common interest. [fishing / camping / bowling / motorcycles / sports]

        If our goals are the same [gospel] then we can spend hours together, and have the same bond even when apart!

 

ill.--I can try to talk to some from high school that I spent years with, and we have grown in differing directions, and we have nothing to talk about.  Then I can meet a new pastor that I know nothing about, and have an instant bond where we could stay up all night long and forget to eat!

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas had never met Lydia, and within a day she was saved and allowing her home to be set up as the local church!  Same with the Philippian jailer!

 

ill.--man told pastor he could worship at home, rocking, watching the fire.  Pastor took a coal out and set it aside, and they watched it burn down and go out as they talked.  As the pastor left, the man said, thanks for the sermon preacher, see ya Sunday!

 

Real fellowship has 2 key elements:

1.     Spiritual communication -- talking about the things of God.

                There's too much gossip which goes on in the name of fellowship.  When the talk is constructive that's good.  When it's criticism of people, programs, etc., we shouldn't call that fellowship in the gospel...and it won't bring any joy!

                We have a great time at church as we sing about Jesus, pray in the name of Jesus, and preach about Jesus.  We are brought together in the communion of fellowship!  It's all about Him!

2.     Sympathetic cooperation -- one common goal/purpose, glorifying God and reaching others!

 

[contrast Eph. 5:11]  There are some people we should no longer run with / things we should no longer do.  [unequal yoke]

2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

This doesn't mean we can't be friendly.  We'll never win anyone without love or with a holier than thou attitude.

 

ill.--church keeps distance from world instead of proximity to Jesus.

 

v. 6 shows eternal security in the context of joy = completion.

        God never abandons a building project!  He's conforming us to the image of Christ like a sculptor who removes all the excess that doesn't look like the goal!  "Pardon the mess...I'm under construction!"  [He's still workin' on me!]  I'm not what I'm gonna be but I'm not what I used to be!

v. 8 shows us love in the context of joy = compassion.