Apr. 07, 2024

“OVERJOYED”

“THE JOY-STEALER”

PHILIPPIANS 1:3-4,7

Jesus Christ was “a Man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.” Yet He possessed a deep joy that was beyond anything the world could offer. As He faced the cruel death at Calvary, Jesus said to His followers:

John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Those who have trusted Christ have the privilege of experiencing fulness of joy:

Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Philippians 1:3-4,7 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy. 7just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.”

Author and Date:

The writer of the letter identifies himself as the apostle Paul:

Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:” 

Luke tells us that Paul established the church in Philippi after being directed by the Holy Spirit to travel to Macedonia rather than go to Asia Minor.

Acts 16:6-10

Background and Settings

The city of Philippi was located along the Via Egnatia, a critical road that linked Rome with its eastern provinces, and was the center of trade.

The Things That Rob You Of Joy:

1. Circumstances

Have you ever stopped to consider how few of the circumstances of life are really under our control? 

The poet Byron wrote, “Men are the sport of circumstances.” Yet here is Paul in the worst of circumstances writing a letter saturated with joy.

2.   People

3.   Things

Things! What thieves they can be. Yet Jesus said;

Luke 12:15 “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

In reality things can rob us of the only kind of joy that really lasts.

4.   Worry

How many people have been robbed of peace and fulfillment because of worry!

These are the four things that can rob you of joy. How do we capture these four things and keep them from taking away the joy that is rightfully ours in Christ?

Four Attitudes That Maintain Your Joy

1.  The Single Mind- Philippians 1

James 1:8 “He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Paul expresses this attitude of single-hearted devotion to Christ:

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Philippians 3:13 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”

He does not look at the circumstances, but rather in his relationship to Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:1 “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles.”

When a Christian is single-minded, he is concerned about: the fellowship of the gospel (1:1-11), the furtherance of the gospel (1:12-26), and the faith of the gospel (1:27-30). When you have the single mind, your circumstances work for you and not against you.

2.   The Submissive Mind- Philippians 2

This chapter focuses on people.

Philippians 2:3 “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”

The Christians with a submissive mind does not expect other to serve him, he serve others. 

In chapter two we see four wonderful examples of the submissive mind; Jesus Christ (2:1-11), Paul (2:12-18), Timothy (2:19-24), Epaphroditus (2;25-30). Each of these examples proves the principle:

Luke 14:11 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

3.   The Spiritual Mind- Philippians 3

Eleven times in this chapter you find Paul using the word things, he points out that most people “mind earthly things” (vs.19), but that the spiritual minded Christian is concerned about heavenly things.

Philippians 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Like Paul, we must be accountants with the right values (3:1-11), athletes with the right vigor (3:12-16), and aliens with the right vision (3:17-21).

4.   The Secure Mind- Philippians 4

So, if we have a singles mind, the submissive mind, and the spiritual mind, we should not have too much trouble with worry. Paul describes the secure mind:

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Chapter four describes the spiritual resources the believer has in Christ: God’s peace (4:1-9), God’s power (4:10-13), and God’s provision (4:14-23). With resources like these, why should we worry? We have the peace of God to guard us (vs.7) and the God of peace to guide us (vs.9). The peace of God comes to us when we practice right praying (vs.6-7), right thinking (vs.8), and right living (vs.9). This is God’s secret for victory over all worry.

What Should You Do?

1.  Be Sure You Are A Christian
2. Admit Your Failures.
3. Surrender Your Mind To Christ Daily.
4. Look For Opportunities To Put Your Mind To Work.