Intro: Alien cover ups, Kennedy conspiracy, Kardashians, Kanye, Beyoncé and royal babies. What we discover is that our world is full of people with itching ears for something new, something they have never heard before. It amazes me that people seem to come to conferences, classes and revivals to learn a juicy tidbit a new thing.
JB Philips translated it this way in 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time is coming when men will not tolerate wholesome teaching. They will want something to tickle their own fancies, and they will collect teachers who will pander to their own desires. They will no longer listen to the truth, but will wander off after man-made fictions.”
The Message, “You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.”
Philips Phil 3.1, “In conclusion, my brothers, delight yourselves in the Lord! It doesn't bore me to repeat a piece of advice like this, and if you follow it you will find it a great safeguard to your souls” Phillips
Paul is reminding us that there is one reason to be glad or cheerful! Jesus Christ. The angels told the shepherds we bring you good tidings of great joy! Why because God entered time and put on flesh. Grace and forgiveness came into the world through the miracle of Jesus born to a virgin. When we experience personally God’s grace and forgiveness it creates in us gratitude, generosity and good cheer! When we discover that Jesus is the reason to rejoice we have discovered the joy of humility.
I. Rejoice in the Lord (Paul gives a command to be glad in Jesus)
To ancient Greeks it was a greeting, a wish for the happiness of one's friend. It was also the object of fellowship, as seen in the festal joy of religion
You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures. (Psalm 16:11) Joy is not gloomy or grumpy neither is it giddy or goofy it is marked by celebration and expectation of the present and future victory we will share with Jesus Christ! Paul commands us to be cheerful in Jesus Christ! If we have joy it independent of our circumstances.
A) Be glad about the person of Jesus
Jesus promised to give us a life that is full. Joy is part of the fulfillment of that promise. That promise is best fulfilled in Jesus being present in your life. Joy is not based on our circumstances and what surrounds us it is instead based on how we greet Jesus in the pressure, pain, problems and yes even pleasures of this life.
1) Be glad in His forgiveness
The angels told the shepherds we bring you good news of great joy! Today is born for you a savior, Christ the Lord.
Luke 10:19-20 “Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. 20 However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
If you have invited Jesus into your life to be your Savior and Lord then your name was written in the book of life with the blood of Jesus.
2) Be glad in His fellowship
“In your presence is abundant Joy” The fruit is joy the root is God’s grace in salvation. Don’t put the fruit where the root should be! Each of us will evidence joy differently. God does not make assembly line Christians he makes unique treasures with unique display cases.
3) Be glad in His faithfulness
Circumstances change Jesus never does. How are we supposed to be glad in Jesus? Greet Him in whatever you face. When he heard bad news Martin Luther would say, “Come let us sing a psalm and spite the devil”
B) Be glad about the principles of Jesus (truth) (Bible Teaching, studying, living)
Psalm 19:8 “The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad (joy)”
Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people,
take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. 2 Rather, he delights in the teachings of the Lord and reflects on his teachings day and night.”
When we are glad about god’s word we are more impressed by God’s promises and power than the problems of the world. Nehemiah 8:12, Psalm 119:14 God’s word produces joy and rejoicing.
C) Be glad about the people of Jesus
In Philippians 1 Paul rejoiced over the partnership he had with the Philippians. The Bible makes it clear that joy is found in growing alongside God’s people. Psalm 16:3 “How excellent are the Lord's faithful people! My greatest pleasure(joy) is to be with them.”
If you want to have the abundant life that Jesus promised then fellowship with His people as imperfect as we are produces joy! God designed us to have joy in small groups, SS classes, etc.
II. Reject joy killers (Greet Jesus and listen to His truth)
Paul gives a warning to the Philippians watch out. Watch out for the dogs, evil workers and mutilators. These were metaphors to describe legalists who had slipped into the flock and were teaching that the Philippians had to do these things to be saved.
It was legalism that was alive in Paul’s day and is today. Focusing on some practice or tradition at the expense of loving God and love our neighbor. Legalism points at others like the Pharisee and says I am better than they are. Legalism looks at the woman caught and adultery and says stone her. Legalism looks at the speck in someone else’s eye and misses the log in our own eye.
Barnhouse re-phrases Paul's warning in Romans giving in a more modern "spin" --
For he is not a Christian who is one outwardly, nor is that “church membership” which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Christian who is one inwardly; and “church membership” is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Today we still have legalists. You have to be baptized to be saved, you have to tithe to be saved, you have to __________ fill in the blank. The only way to be saved and have eternal life is to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess Him as Savior and Lord.
That is a two-fold confession. 1) as Savior this means that you are not able to save yourself. No good work, good deed, nothing will save you from the penalty of your sin. Jesus came to pay for your sin. 2) As Lord. He comes to us as the King. Kings rule. If we are truly saved then Jesus rules our thought life, our decisions, our desires, our emotions. This is the confession we make. It is one made with your lips in public and your lives on a daily basis.
Paul warns us watch out for folks that act like this. Here are some ways legalists move our focus away from Christ.
A) Taking pride in racial, ethnic, or national status as if it makes us right with God (“the dogs”)
B) Taking pride in good works as if they can make us right with God
C) Taking pride in religious practices or rites as if the make us right with God
III. Release your works of righteousness (Greet Jesus and exchange your righteousness for His)
Paul reveals those that are of the real circumcision release all that they are, have, and do for the joy of knowing Jesus. If anyone could rejoice and brag about their pedigree, practice and passion it was Paul.
When Paul met Jesus on the Road to Damascus He counted everything else as a liability. This didn’t happen just because he traded a set of values. He wasn’t moving from religion to religion, from denomination to denomination. He finally saw with the right eyes. Nothing was as valuable as knowing Jesus. (How do you do this? Abandon them for Jesus)
IV. Receive the prize of knowing Jesus (Greet Jesus and make time to spend with Him)
Realize Paul didn’t discard all that he was placing his confidence in because he thought that would get his acceptance from God. He finally saw his ancestry, morality, spiritual activity and religious orthodoxy from the eyes of eternity. All that he was and all that He had would burn up in the Holy Fire of Jesus gaze. He realized the prize was the person of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: Paul is saying beware! There are things that you can invest in that appear to have great returns but ultimately leave you with nothing. True humility means turning our back on things we placed our confidence in so Jesus and trust Christ alone.
