“Living Joyfully”
Philippians Sermon Series, Part 14
Philippians 4:1-23
Introduction
- Throughout this series we’ve seen several aspects of living joyously
-- All of them surround the simple concept that we live because we love Him
-- It is the outpouring of our hearts because of who Jesus is to us
- Mike gave a great explanation of joy and how it compares to “happiness”
-- Happiness (is external) - depends on what is happening
-- Joy is from within - does not change by our external surroundings
-- The joy of the Lord is internal; placed by the HS, given to us as encouragement
- Today, we conclude our series with three charges to the Christian
-- These charges are timeless; this means we can stand on them today and forever
- I really got to thinking about how to end this, and Chapter 4 was just perfect
-- Rather than taking it apart, let’s just read it, and then hear what God has for us
-- I believe it is in the application that we see our need for living faithfully for Him
- Read Philippians 4:1-23
∆ Point 1 - Stay Unified (1-3)
- Christians have a common bond and frame of mind … but what is it?
-- IMP: JESUS! More though: We have a belief and a hope of eternal life
-- APP: This should drive us to live constant in our walk with God
- But, there is difference of gifts and talents that we have; we are part of a body
-- However, are we not renewed but the same Spirit? Do we not have Christ?
-- Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
-- 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.”
- If we are, then are of like mind; we have a common bond; we have unity
-- We must continue to resist the urge to turn on one another and stand firm
- This is easier said than done (especially in today’s microwave society)
-- It is TOO easy to give up, to turn away, and to justify our sins, isn’t it? (v2)
-- Too easy to compare ourselves to one another and refuse to repent
-- Too easy to argue and give up on one another as these two women did
- What Paul is writing is really challenging us to be different today … WHY?
- IMP: We are to stand firm, hold to Christ’s grace, and depend on Him!
- Let believers be of one mind, and ready to help each other
-- Paul knew how helpful we could be to one another (v3b) see “contended”
-- These women stood by his side to be of service; to aid in the ministry work
- He knew how comfortable it is to have the help of one another
-- APP: We should be looking for ways to do that; to rejoice that we are together
-- More so, take comfort that our names are found in the book of Life (v3c)
-- IMP: There is none greater than Jesus; so we are to equally SERVE one another
- Joy found in God is one of the greatest rewards in the Christian life
-- Christians need to be again and again called to it; reminded of how good it is
-- The world is looking at how we handle challenges; how we respond to struggle
-- They are looking at how we handle difficulties of life; do we handle life well?
∆ Point 2 – Rejoice (4-9)
- So to us, there is proclamation: handle everything with JOY (v4)
-- “REJOICE!” That means even in the bad times we proclaim “He is good”
- We ought to be consistent; to live upright before God seeking Him first
-- APP: v5, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
- FACT: God’s Day of Judgment will soon arrive for all on this Earth
- FACT: It is NOT our job to ensure people are “pre-judged” before that time
- Our place in living joyfully is: Love God, Love People
-- To live completely for Him, taking everything to God in prayer (life-long)
- Our joy in Him ought to outweigh our sorrow in our circumstances
-- We must let the world see how we deal with good times AND bad times
-- This is our witness, this is how we must live, and this is v6-7 in a nutshell!
- We must also join thanksgivings with prayers and supplications
-- We must seek supplies of God, but celebrate the mercies we have received
-- God doesn’t need to be told our wants or desires; he already knows them
-- APP: However, we need to see our DEPENDANCE on Him for everything
- Having the peace of God far outweighs anything else we could receive (v7)
-- God’s peace ought to keep our minds focused on Jesus; in everything we face
-- APP: Focusing on Him will keep us out of sin; keep us calm; keep us JOYFUL
- APP: We should walk in ways that are virtuous, abiding in Christ always
-- What we can learn from Jesus a critical point: His life and doctrine were unified
-- He was the same man that He taught us God expected us to be; upright & Holy
- This is how we can see where we need to change: compare us to the Standard
-- APP: Everything we have comes from the Lord and we should reflect it
- TRANS: If we are unified; we will walk with the same reflection as Christ
-- We will allow Him to mold us into what He has for us; means: give up control
-- Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
∆ Point 3 - How should we live? (10-19)
- In v10, Paul rejoices that this church was concerned for him; rightly so!
-- It is good to stand with men of God who are preaching the truth
-- BUT … the nature of our concern though ought to be: “How can I help?”
-- Paul was often in jail; beaten and abused; these folks came alongside
- Paul was often cast out; left alone; even rebelled against by fellow Jews
-- Yet, other Christians saw to it that he was taken care of and loved
-- APP: Do we do the same to one another? Do we lift one another up?
-- DEEPER: How about those we do not like? Are we helping them lovingly?
- In v12 Paul’s confession is really deep; it cuts to the heart of who he is
-- “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” (He’s intimately familiar with life)
- And what does he say to this? V13: Even in this I can do all things …
-- APP: We ought to pray for this kind of submission to one another
- We don’t serve because of a duty, but to want to serve in love for Him
-- Yesterday I saw people in real need … what if we had stayed in bed?
-- After all, it was cold, dreary, and could’ve been really a bad day …
- Matthew Henry writes, “Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by him, let us do all things for him, and to his glory.”
- TRANS: Paul desired to give all he had to others; and he was rewarded!
∆ Big Ideas
- Paul ends with some resounding praise that we need more of today (v20-23)
-- We’ve got to be able to see God as having all that we need; incl. LIFE!
- We must give glory to God as the/our Father
-- His grace; His favor; His approval is all that we will ever need
-- Some people are living today, as Christians, seeking one another’s approval
-- God already sent His Son to die for you … what more do you need to have?
- Living joyfully is not about what happens to you today
-- Do we follow the advice in v21 and greet one another in the Lord, always?
-- Life is about what God has done, through Jesus, and placed WITHIN YOU
- Where are you in living joyfully? Why don’t you come get some more?
-- Come to the cross … to the saving and restoring power of Christ
-- He has all you ever need, IF you will stop trying to be in charge of your joy
- Pray
