THINKING YOURSELF JOYFUL
Philippians 4
LET LOVE BE YOUR OBJECTIVE
V:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
The Love for brothers and sisters in Christ brings joy in all their activities.
When I am around my grandchildren, I find joy in their growth and development.
I find joy in their conversations, their questions, and their answers. I find joy in
holding them close and encouraging them.
That is the attitude Paul had toward the Philippians. He was their father in
Christ. He was their teacher of the Word of God. He cared for them deeply.
He watched them change from students of the law to doers of the Word in Christ.
He watched them change from slaves of the law to freedom in Jesus. It gave Him
great joy to see their growth and maturity.
The Bible is the source of truth that we have been blinded to by the world. I am
always amazed at insights the Word gives us on how we relate to others.
We should have that same joy Paul had as he watched his church grow
and mature.
There is joy in the work of God because people change and their circumstances
change. We have the opportunity to God work in the lives of others. We are blessed
when our prayers are answered and people are comforted. We are called to give our symphony and to help.
There is joy in associating with other believers. We all have a testimony. We
encourage each other with our stories. We learn from each other\’s experiences
There is joy when we watch church families grow in the Lord.
God is love. It is the Love of God and the Love of those around us is
the source of our Joy.
PROMOTE UNITY
V:2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
There was a disagreement between two women who loved serving with Paul.
God does not tell us what the disagreement was but it disrupted the unity in the
church. We should not allow our difference to spill over into the Church.
The source of disagreements is pride and lust influenced by Satan. We must remember that he came to steal, kill and destroy. What better display of Satan\’s influence than disagreements among outstanding church members? A house divided can not stand
(Mark 3:25).
Those who work for Christ should be quick with counsel to resolve the conflicts
for sake of unity and love. How can we promote the gospel of Jesus Christ if
we cannot get along? Selfish ambitions oppose brotherly love
COMMAND TO BE CHEERFUL
V:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
The Greek word for rejoice is to be cheerful. There is no way for people in a
disagreement to be cheerful with each other. Paul is commanding us to lay
aside our disagreements and be cheerful. Whatever the disagreements are
they can be resolved with a cheerful heart. If it\’s about doctrine, study the Word. If
it\’s procedures, change the procedures. If it\’s personal opinions, agree to
disagree. When we meet, come to be cheerful.
Joy is a personal choice. It is a state of mind that overrules all circumstances.
It is a state of mind that has its strength in our hope in the Lord. We have to
practice being joyful. We cannot control our circumstances, but we know a
God is in control. We must let God control that which we cannot handle.
ELEMENTS OF JOY
V:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Paul gives us the elements of joyful living.
a. Be gentle. Be patient in all circumstances, not quick to react, trusting
the Lord.
b. Place all your cares in the Lord’s hand.
c. Be constant in prayer.
d. Don\’t give place to worry. It will not change anything.
e. Take all your needs and wants to the Lord with thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is based on the confidence that God the Father cares for us
as a son with His love and favor.
f. Be a peace knowing that God is in control.
g. Christ your elder brother guards you against all danger.
JOYFUL THINKING, MIND CONTROL
V:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
a. Know the truth, think about the truth.
b. Be honest in all your thinking.
c. Think about the righteousness of God.
d. Think clean and innocent thoughts.
e. Show yourself as friendly to others.
f. Thing well of others. Find the good in the situation,
g. Give God the praise.
h. Think about the goodness of the Lord.
I. Put God\’s Word into practice.
j. Be assured that God is with you.
LEARN TO BE CONTENT AND GRATEFUL
V:10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last, you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 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. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
As members of the body of Christ, we should express our gratitude to those who
show concern for us and help in times of need. Those who show up
in our time of need do it out of love and respect.
We must learn to be content with our circumstances whether good or bad. Whatever
God allows to happen to us will eventually work for our good. We must learn to be
content in times of need and in times of plenty. The Secret to being content in all
situations is to trust God. We have to learn to endure hardships to get to God\’s
promised blessings. To be joyful we have to rely on God\’s strength and not ours.
THE BLESSINGS OF GIVING, AN ACCOUNT WITH GOD
V:14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Give and it will be given to you, pressed down and running over. When we give
to God, we are storing up treasures for a later time. The more we give to God the more we will receive from God. We owe those ministers of God who bless us with Word
material blessing. Jesus set the example of giving to preachers. Judas was assigned
the job of keeping the money supplied by Jesus supporters in a bag ( John 12:6).
According to Paul whatever we give to the Church is credited to our accounts.
We should not serve for the purpose of getting something back. We serve because
of what God has already done. The fact is God loves a cheerful giver.
Our selfish sacrifices to God are fragrant offerings.
The Philippians Church set the example for supporting a pastor.
You and I can set examples for supporting our pastors for others to
follow. Paul restated the promise of Jesus for supplying all of our needs.
Paul said MY GOD WILL. We must make God our personal banker
by making regular deposits.
A GOOD ENDING
V:20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar\’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
If you make up your mind to be cheerful, you will come together with a
cheerful heart and can end with a cheerful state of mind. Our objective
is to glorify God the Father and not ourselves. The Gospel is not about
us but about Jesus Christ. It is not about how good we are, but how good God is.
Notice, the greeting is in Jesus not in us. We change, but Jesus is the same.
Jesus sees the best in us. We tend to look for faults. Paul was in prison
in Rome, unjustly accused, yet found reason and purpose for cheerful greeting.
His cheerful attitude toward Christ drew others to Christ. Not only were the Christians
in Rome drawn to Paul, but members of the Household of Nero the cruel emperor
of Rome were drawn to Christ. A cheerful attitude draws people to you and
through you to Christ.
We should pray for an abundance of God’s grace for all in the body of Christ.
It takes the grace of our Lord Jesus, love, and unity to promote the Gospel.
Paul reminds us to be joyful. No matter how bad our situation is, the Lord
says to rejoice. Find something to be cheerful about. I bet that there is someone
who will gladly change places with you.
If you don’t like your job, there is someone who would love it. If you don’t
like your house, someone is waiting for you to move out. If you have
some health problems, there is someone with the worst problems.
It is all from your perspective. Make your perspective joy.
CLASS QUESTION
PAUL SAID I HAVE LEARNED THE SECRET OF
BEING CONTENT.
WHAT IS YOUR SECRET TO CONTENTMENT?
WHAT REASONS HAVE GOD GIVEN YOU TO BE
CONTENT?
