Finding The Joy You Have Lost
Paul writing to the Philippians in chapter three says:
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.” Philippians 3:1 (NKJV)
Go ahead and circle the word “rejoice”. Have you ever considered the definition of this word? It means to celebrate – to express joy – to cheer – to exult – to be glad – to delight. Paul says: “rejoice in the Lord.”
Back when I was a lot younger I remember we used to buy re-tread tires for the car. In fact I can remember “re-treads” being advertised in the paper. Re-treads were popular in that day. For those of you who don’t know what retreads are – they would take an old tire – about worn out and put a new layer of tread over the top. The tires would look brand new when you bought them. Even though they would not last as long as a brand new tire – they would last quite a while. The tires were re-newed – given a second chance – allowed to be useful again – they were restored to usefulness.
Do you need re-newed joy?
Why is it that so many Christians lose their joy? Has their “tread” been worn off? Do they need to be “re-treaded” so that they can become useful again? After King David had an affair with Bathsheba – he said:
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” Psalms 51:12 (NKJV)
He had lost something – now he needed a new start. Guess what? God gave it to him.
When I first became a Christian – I remember – everything was fantastic. I had an excitement – a joy – a peace – that was fantastic. In this journey called life – I just don’t feel that sometimes – sometimes I need a retread. I need a renewed sense of joy to that I can rejoice. How about you? Do you need a new sense of joy – so that you can rejoice?
I know that there are a lot of kill joys in life – things that will rob you of joy.
Today I want us to look at what Paul has to say about "How to Find the Joy that you have lost". If you have not lost your joy then use this sermon to maintain the joy that you have. Let’s read our focal text again:
“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.” Philippians 3:1a (NKJV)
This is a recurring theme in the book of Philippians. Paul talks about joy seventeen different times in this book. He keeps returning to this point – to remind us that we need to have joy. The Message Bible says it this way:
“And that's about it, friends. Be glad in God! I don't mind repeating what I have written in earlier letters, and I hope you don't mind hearing it again. Better safe than sorry.” Philippians 3:1 (MSG)
Paul is concerned about the joy of the Philippians – that they don't lose their joy.
Here are three guidelines to help you restore or maintain your joy:
1. Live each day by GRACE
Legalism can kill your joy. It can destroy the joy in your life. It can ruin a family, people, and churches. The Bible tells us:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
Our salvation comes by grace – not by all the works. It is not the good works that you have preformed that has won God’s favor. It is not that you have performed well – like some trained animal – that has caused God to love you. You have not won God’s grace by what you have done – He has freely given it to you. He loves you just as you are – but remember – He loves you so much – that He not willing to leave you there. He wants to build a relationship with you – and that relationship is to be based on His grace and mercy to you.
Legalism – on the other hand – is substituting rules and regulations for a relationship with Christ. It comes in very subtly to a believer. It gets the focus off what God has done for you and gets the focus on what you have to do for God. It says – “In order for God to love me I must ……” You can fill in the blank with many things. Some Christians believe they MUST go to church every Sunday – or they MUST read their Bible every day – or they MUST tithe – in order for God to love them. Although many things are good habits to get into – it is not doing all these “things” that cause God to love you. God loves you because He chooses to love you. Romans chapter five says:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Guess what – God loves us even though we are still sinners. When you push grace out of the picture – you are going to lose your joy.
Living by grace is the key to joy. It is important to realize that everything God does in you and through you is by grace, rather than working for it and earning it. Grace is the secret of joy.
Many people try to add on rules in order to earn salvation. They say all you have to believe and trust in Christ – but you must do something else. In Paul’s day – they said you must also be circumcised in order to be saved. Paul uses his life as an example. Paul was the super-star legalist before he became a believer. He had tried the rules and regulations way and it didn't work. In fact he gives this warning:
“Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us.” Philippians 3:2-3 (NLT)
Go ahead and circle the phrase: “We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us.”
Paul was super legalist. But he found that legalism did not earn him salvation. If anyone could rest in their efforts – it was Paul. Yet Paul found that without a relationship with Jesus – all his efforts were in vain.
How do you know when you're falling into the trap of legalism? Paul gives us five examples of legalism we need to watch out for today:
A. You begin to trust in RITUALS
Paul says:
“I was circumcised when I was eight days old.” Philippians 3:5 (NLT)
We have our own rituals today. Baptism, communion, catechism, baby dedication – but none of these will save a person. If you fall into this trap – trusting these for your salvation – you're in trouble.
B. You begin to trust in your RACE
Don't trust in your ethnic background – it will not save you.
Paul could boast because of his race:
“I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one!” Philippians 3:5 (NLT)
Paul says he used to trust in his heritage – but remember he now says – “We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us.”
I talked to a person one time and he claimed to be a Christian. I asked him, “What makes you a Christian?” He said, “Well I was born in America. We are a Christian nation.” Folks apart from a person relationship with Jesus – there is no salvation. Just because you were born in a “Christian Nation” or even a “Christian Home” – you are not saved apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us.”
C. You begin to trust in your RELIGION
Paul called himself:
“A Hebrew of the Hebrews” Philippians 3:5 (NKJV)
Paul was a religious person – but a personal relationship with Jesus is more important than your religion. Religion is man's attempt to get to God. God’s attempt to get to man is through Jesus Christ. There is a big difference between being “religious” and having a relationship with Jesus. No denomination has a copyright on truth or a patent on God.
D. You begin to trust in RULES
Paul said:
“I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.” Philippians 3:5 (NLT)
Paul tried to keep all the rules. We think of the Pharisees as hypocrites – but there were some that were genuine – sincere ones. They took the Ten Commandments and expanded them into 619 other commandments – they were legalists! A Pharisee would not even eat an egg if it were laid on the Sabbath, because they considered it to be work. If he got bit by a mosquito on the Sabbath, he would not scratch because that was considered work. A Pharisee would not allow a woman to look in a mirror on the Sabbath because she might see a grey hair and pull it and that would be considered work. The Pharisees were pros at keeping the rules and regulations.
E. You begin to trust your REPUTATION
Paul said:
"I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.” Philippians 3:6 (NLT)
Today people say, "I read the Bible, I witness, I go to church, I tithe..." – they are depending on their reputations – their works - that's legalism. Now don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with these things – but the problem lies in the fact that some people think they that get “points with God” for doing all that stuff. They think that God owes them something for all the stuff they have been doing – but God loves you unconditionally. The Bible says:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
Paul said Christianity is not a matter of rules, rituals and regulations. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Let’s move on now to the second guideline for living a life of joy:
2. Keep your priorities in PERSPECTIVE
A lot of people are looking for joy in all the wrong places. Nothing is as valuable as a relationship with Jesus – there is no comparison. You can become a very “religious” and still not have joy. In fact you can be a very religious person and still be lost. Paul said it this way:
“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:7-8 (NKJV)
We need to know what is important. Don't lose your joy over things that really don't count. The number one reason people lose their joy is they misplace their priorities. They get too involved in things that really aren't that important. Paul is saying that what matters most is not your prestige, pedigree, possessions, position or power – but a personal relationship with Jesus. You can have it all and still be unhappy. The Bible warns us:
“Take care to keep yourselves free from the desire for property; for a man's life is not made up of the number of things which he has.” Luke 12:15 (BBE)
Many people are afraid that they are going to have to give up something in order to become a Christian – and they are right! When you come to Jesus Christ you give up everything you've got. It is a total commitment. But what you find in following Christ is worth much more than you give up. You give up guilt and gain a clear conscious. You give up worry and gain a power for living. You give up frustration and lack of purpose in life and gain real meaning and purpose in life. You give up going to hell and gain going to heaven. You gave up trying to solve all your problems in your own power and gain having the resources of God to help solve your problems. If you ask me – that's a pretty good trade-off!
Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep for that which he cannot lose."
What are you willing to give up for God? If you become a Christian – get committed to Christ – live for Jesus Christ – He will change your life and He will give you unspeakable joy.
Let’s move on to the third guideline:
3. Grow in your RELATIONSHIP with Christ
Lasting joy comes from knowing Christ more and more. Paul said:
“⌊My goal⌋ is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.” Philippians 3:10 (HCSB)
Paul says his number one goal in life is to know Christ better and better. How well do you know Jesus Christ? Do you have an intimate relationship with Christ? Do you talk to Him every day? That is what we do when we pray – we talk to Him. Do you consider that He is with you every day? If you are a Christian – He is. His Holy Spirit is dwelling in you. Where you go – He is there also. Never stop growing and developing your relationship with Christ. The moment you stop growing, you're going to lose your joy.
How do you grow in your relationship with Christ? Let me give you three points:
A. Time
It takes time to know anybody, to develop a relationship. It takes time to get to know God. You need to spend time alone with God to get to know Him. Set down with your Bible, read it and let God talk with you through His word. Jesus said:
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27 (NKJV)
Listen to Jesus as He speaks to you.
B. Talk
You must also talk to God in order to have a good relationship with Him. Every good relationship requires good communication. The Bible tells us:
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)
C. Trust
Relationships are built on trust. God wants you to learn to trust Him. He will allow all kinds of problems in your life so you can learn that He is reliable all the time. God is reliable in every situation. He can be counted on to be faithful. Paul says that his number one ambition in life is to know Christ.
Are you losing your joy? Have you lost it? Build a relationship with Him – who love you. How much does He love you? He loves you so much He was willing to die for you. Spend time with Him – talk with Him – trust Him daily and allow Him to go to give you joy.
(I would like to thank Richard Warren for his sermon starter ideas.)
