A Life Stimulated By Joy

A Life Stimulated By Joy

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy 5 because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.

7 It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:3-11 (NLT)

It is the “advance man” of our true selves.

Its roots are inward but its fruit is outward.

It is our best friend or our worst enemy.

It is more honest and more consistent than our words.

It is an outward look based on past experiences.

It is a thing which draws people to us or repels them.

It is never content until it is expressed.

It is the librarian of our past.

It is the speaker of our present.

It is the prophet of our future. – John Maxwell.

What is Maxwell speaking of ? Attitude, what can do u have?

There was once a young boy who went to spend the week with his grandfather on the farm. While walking around he noticed the chickens, they were scratching and playing around. The little lad said, “They ain’t got it”. Next he saw a colt in the field playing and kicking up its heel’s to which he replied, “He ain’t got it”. After examining all of the animals on his grandfather’s farm and see that none of them had “it”, this boy finally found the old donkey in the barn. When he saw the donkey’s long, frowning face and the way that the donkey just stood there he screamed for his grandfather to come quick. “I found it, I found it” the boy kept yelling. When his grandfather asked what he had found he said, “Pawpaw, I found an animal that has the same kind of religion that you have.” (David Yarbrough)

\The attitude we have speaks volumes of what religion we have…

This morning’s text tells me what religion the write of Philippians possess. He possesses a joy. You need to know that his circumstances are not tailor made for happiness. While writing this letter he was chained to a roman soldier. Unpleasant. But his heart is filled with thanks, thinking of others, praying for others, remembering others, telling others how he feels about them. What inspiration!

I like this… if people can see others in such a special way. We will have joy bursting like a hurricane… I remember as a young Christian singing…

“Yes, I love u with the love of the Lord

I can see in u the glory of my King” Stuck with me…. Even my kid gets into it.

This is I believe what Paul sees.

1Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1:1-2 (NKJV)

He sees them as saints, set apart, in Christ. Christ is the equalizer. Through him we all become saints. By His death and resurrection, by His love, by His work, and through our faith in Him we receive sainthood. No need to wait until we die. And then be voted in. We are in God’s hall of fame once we make profession of faith, once we say I believe and I follow. Have a turn around in life’s direction.

Experiencing grace and peace from God (v.2)

That’s why Paul can write the way He did – he sees the people he sees Partners in Christ. He sees a work of God in progress. He sees them the way Jesus sees them, saints! He sees them with a special place in his heart.