Joy To The World - A Study Of Philippians- Part 1 "Joy In Others" Series

Joy to the world

Part 1

Philippians 1:1-11

As we begin nearing the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

The word Joy

Becomes a common word

The rest of the year

It may only be mentioned outside of church

When you are trying to decide if you feel like a nut or not

Almond Joy or Mounds

But at Christmas we see the word on signs and banners and wreaths

We hear it in Christmas carols

Joy abounds in December

At least in theory

Or in word

Unfortunately

Many in the world

Even believers

Often confuse

Happiness with Joy

Happiness is an emotion that is dependent on circumstances

Happiness can fade

When the gifts under the tree become worn out

When the wrapping paper is in the trash can

When the hard times come

When the party is over

And life comes roaring back in

Happiness often flies right out the window

Despair and depression can take its place

And it can happen in the blink of an eye

But Joy

True Joy

Comes from the Lord

It is a gift of the spirit

Joy runs much deeper and is much stronger

Joy

Is the confidence we have as believers that we know that no matter what

God is in control

Joy is confidence in our salvation through Jesus and the assurance of that salvation

Joy

Is the assurance of God’s love

Joy

Is the assurance of God’s provision

Joy

Is the assurance of God’s protection

You see we can and should have joy when we have Jesus

In all circumstances

But happiness can fade

Because happiness depends on people and circumstance

But Joy depends on The Lord

Today we are beginning a short series on Joy

I can think of no other book of the bible that describes joy better than Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi

In the short 4 chapters of this great book

Paul outlines joy

He shows us how to

Find

Use

And pass on

The joy that comes though Jesus

Let me start with just a short history of Paul’s circumstances surrounding this letter

The Apostle Paul

Writes this letter to his friends

To his

Brothers and sisters in Philippi

While he was in chains for his dedication to Jesus

He had been persecuted

He had experienced wealth and poverty

Times of plenty and not times of not enough

He had been in a Roman prison in Philippi when he had been there before

And was now being held against his will

Guarded by Romans soldiers

There was not much in his life at this time that would lead to happiness

But still he writes a letter

That is known as Paul’s letter of joy

Over the next few weeks

Prayerfully we will be able to look at the source of Paul’s joy

And apply it to our lives

And with the right mind sets and attitudes

We too can learn to experience the joy that he found

Today we are going to begin this series

With The Joy of our Christian relationships

Please open your bibles to Philippians 1

Keep your finger in there or throw in your bulletin as we will go here several times this morning

Philippians 1:1-2

This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders[a] and deacons.

“2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.”

Paul has been separated from people he loves and cares about by distance and circumstances

But he sends them a letter so full of love and a desire to see them that it is truly moving

Verse 3

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.”

He says in plain terms

Every time you cross my mind

I thank God for your presence in my life

Every time you cross my mind

I thank God for your friendship

Every time you cross my mind

I thank God for your love

We can learn so much about attaining joy in our relationships by Paul’s example here

When you think of friends

When you think of family

When you think of your brothers and sisters in Christ

Do you give thanks to God for them?

We often as sinful human beings

Want to focus on the bad

We remember the faults and forget the good things

Paul’s say he gives thanks to God for his friends

This is a good starting place to finding joy in our relationships

Look for the good and thank God for it

Verse 4

“Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,”

He goes much further

Paul says