THE LINK BETWEEN JOY AND WORSHIP
PHILIPPIANS 3:1-3 FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, REJOICE IN THE LORD. TO WRITE THE SAME THINGS AGAIN IS NO TROUBLE TO ME, AND IT IS A SAFEGUARD FOR YOU. 2 BEWARE OF THE DOGS, BEWARE OF THE EVIL WORKERS, BEWARE OF THE FALSE CIRCUMCISION; 3 FOR WE ARE THE TRUE CIRCUMCISION, WHO WORSHIP IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS AND PUT NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH,
PROPOSITION: WE CANNOT DENY THE LINK BETWEEN JOY AND WORSHIP
INTRODUCTION: AS WE HAVE SHARED MANY TIMES, THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS IS A BOOK ABOUT JOY. HERE, AS WE BEGIN CHAPTER THREE, WE SEE THAT PAUL MAKES A CONNECTION BETWEEN JOY AND WORSHIP. THESE FIRST THREE VERSES ARE PACKED WITH THE SIMPLE TRUTH THAT WE CANNOT HAVE REAL JOY APART FROM REAL WORSHIP.
I. THE PROMISE OF JOY
a. DEFINITION OF JOY: SUPERNATURAL DELIGHT IN GOD AND IN GOD’S GOODNESS
b. PROMISED TO THOSE WHO FOLLOW
LUKE 2:10-11 BUT THE ANGEL SAID TO THEM, "DO NOT BE AFRAID; FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY WHICH WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE; 11 FOR TODAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID THERE HAS BEEN BORN FOR YOU A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD.
JOHN 15:11 "THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE MADE FULL.
JOHN 17:13 "BUT NOW I COME TO YOU; AND THESE THINGS I SPEAK IN THE WORLD SO THAT THEY MAY HAVE MY JOY MADE FULL IN THEMSELVES.
i. JOY IS A PRODUCT OF SALVATION
ii. SINCE IT IS A PRODUCT OF SALVATION, JOY CANNOT BE KNOWN APART FROM A SALVATION EXPERIENCE.
ILLUSTRATION: WALTER KNIGHT PUT IT THIS WAY, “JOY IS THE FLAG FLOWN HIGH OVER THE CASTLE OF OUR HEART ANNOUNCING THAT THE KING IS IN RESIDENCE TODAY.”
iii. POSSESSED JOY THEN IS A PROFOUND TOOL IN SHARING THE GOSPEL AND BRINGING SOMEONE TO KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD
ILLUSTRATION: “JOY IS A WINSOME MAGNET THAT DRAWS PEOPLE IN BECAUSE IT IS ONE THING THEY DO NOT HAVE.”
c. JOY IS ONE OF MANY ALTERNATIVES TO WHAT THE WORLD OFFERS.
i. THE WORLD OFFERS SEX, AND CHRIST OFFERS LOVE
ii. THE WORLD OFFERS SECURITY AND CHRIST OFFERS TRUST
iii. THE WORLD OFFERS SELF-GRATIFICATION AND CHRIST OFFERS PEACE
iv. THE WORLD OFFERS HAPPINESS AND CHRIST OFFERS JOY
1. JOY IS COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO ADVERSITY OR CIRCUMSTANCE
II. THE PERIL OF JOY – IT CAN BE LOST
a. WE CAN LOSE OUR JOY WHEN WE FORGET THE BLESSING OF ALL THAT CHRIST DID FOR US TO PROVIDE OUR SALVATION
b. WE CAN LOSE OUR JOY WHEN WE ALLOW OUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO OVERWHELM GOD’S GRACE AND PROVISION IN OUR LIVES
c. WE CAN LOSE OUR JOY WHEN WE ALLOW THIS WORLD TO DEPRESS US, FORGETTING THAT WE ARE ONLY HERE FOR A SHORT WHILE.
III. THE REMEDY FOR LOSING OUR JOY
a. EMBRACE OUR SALVATION IN CHRIST
i. THERE ARE SOME WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST, BUT THINK THAT THE FRUIT OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST CAN BE CULTIVATED APART FROM CHRIST.
1. MUST UNDERSTAND THAT JOY IS SUPERNATURAL NOT NATURAL
2. MUST SURRENDER YOU LIFE TO CHRIST
ii. THERE ARE OTHERS WHO THINK THEY ARE CHRISTIANS WHEN THEY ARE NOT
1. BEING IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF CHRISTIANITY IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.
NEITHER CAN EXPERIENCE JOY BECAUSE AT THEIR SPIRITUAL CORE, THEY DO NOT KNOW CHRIST
iii. THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO KNOW CHRIST, BUT HAVE FAILED TO LET THE GOSPEL FULLY CHANGE THEM.
ILLUSTRATION: A BAZAR WAS HELD IN A VILLAGE IN NORTHERN INDIA. EVERYONE BROUGHT HIS WARES TO TRAE AND SELL. ONE OLD FARMER BROUGHT IN A WHOLE COVEY OF QUALL. HE HAD TIED A STRING AROUND ONE LEG OF EACH BIRD. THE OTHER ENDS OF ALL THE STRINGS WERE TIED TOA RING WHICH FIT LOOSELY OVER A CENTRAL STICK. HE HAD TAUGHT THE TO WALK DOLEFULLY IN A CIRCLE, AROUND AND AROUND, LIKE MULES AT A SUGARCANE MILL. NOBODY SEEMED INTERESTED IN BUYING THE BIRDS UNTIL A DEVOUT BRAHMAN CAME ALONG. HE BELIEVED IN THE HINDU IDEA OF RESPECT FOR ALL LIFE, SOHIS HEART OF COMPASSION WENT OUT TO THOSE POOR LITTLE CREATURES WALKING AROUND IN THEIR MONOTONOUS CIRCLES.
“I WANT TO BUY THEM ALL,” HE TOLD THE MERCHANT, WHO WAS ELATED. AFTER RECEIVING THE MONEY, HE WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THE BUYER SAY, “NOW I WANT YOU TO SET THEM ALL FREE.”
“WHAT’S THAT SIR?”
“YOU HEARD ME. CUT THE STRINGS FROM THEIR LEGS AND TURN THEM LOOSE. SET THEM ALL FREE!”
WITH A SHRUG, THE OLD FARMER BENT DOWN AND SNIPPED THE STRINGS OFF THE QUAIL. THEY WERE FREED, AT LAST. WHAT HAPPENED? THE BIRDS SIMPLY CONTINUED MARCHING AROUND AND AROUND IN A CIRCLE. FINALLY, THE MAN HAD TO SHOO THEM OFF. BUT EVEN WHEN THEY LANDED SOME DISTANCE AWAY, THE RESUMED THEIR PREDICTABLE MARCH. FREE, UNFETTERED, RELEASED, YET THEY WERE GOING IN CIRCLES AS IF STILL TIED….. SALVATION CUTS THE STRINGS OF SIN. IT’S TIME TO STOP MARCHING AND START FLYING.
1. WE MUST WALK A DIFFERENT PATH – A PATH IN RESPONSE TO THE ONE WHO FREED US TO REGAIN OUR JOY.
b. EMBRACE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE
i. IN OTHER WORDS LIVE HOLY AND TRUSTING LIVES
ii. ROMANS 14:17 FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT EATING AND DRINKING, BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
iii. SIN ULTIMATELY KEEPS US FROM GOD WHO IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF JOY
c. EMBRACE SOUND DOCTRINE
PSALM 19:8 THE PRECEPTS OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT, REJOICING THE HEART; THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD IS PURE, ENLIGHTENING THE EYES.
PSALM 119:14 I HAVE REJOICED IN THE WAY OF YOUR TESTIMONIES, AS MUCH AS IN ALL RICHES.
JOHN 15:10-11 "IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, YOU WILL ABIDE IN MY LOVE; JUST AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHER'S COMMANDMENTS AND ABIDE IN HIS LOVE. 11 "THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU, AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE MADE FULL.
d. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STAY CLOSE TO GOD
ROMANS 15:13 NOW MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, SO THAT YOU WILL ABOUND IN HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
ILLUSTRATION: DWIGHT L. MOODY SAID IT BEST, “THE BIBLE WILL KEEP YOU FROM SIN, OR SIN WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE BIBLE.”
i. SIN WILL TAKE YOUR JOY AWAY
ii. SIN WILL KEEP YOUR JOY AWAY
iii. SIN WILL REPLACE YOUR JOY WITH SOMETHING FAR LESS PRECIOUS.
WHEN WE HAVE JOY – REAL JOY, IT CHANGES OUR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE. LITERALLY IT ALLOWS US TO WORSHIP. JOY IS ESSENTIAL FOR WORSHIP.
IV. THE PICTURE OF WORSHIP WITH JOY
a. CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO WORSHIP WITH JOY
i. THEY HAVE A LOVE FOR GOD
ii. THEY FIND THEIR JOY IN HIM
iii. THEY HAVE A CONFIDENT TRUST IN GOD
1. SEE IT IN THEIR PRAYERS
2. SEE IT IN THEIR GIVING
iv. THEY ARE DEVOTED TO GOD – THERE IS NO OTHER RIVAL FOR THEIR AFFECTIONS
1. SEEN IN THEIR PRIORITIES
2. SEE WHEN THEY MISS WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
b. THE ACTIVITIES OF THOSE WHO WORSHIP WITH JOY
i. THEY WORSHIP IN THE SPIRIT
1. IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT GENERATES REAL WORSHIP
2. SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD AS WE COME AND WORSHIP.
a. HAVE WE GRIEVED HIM?
b. HAVE WE BEEN FILLED BY HIM?
c. ARE WE WALKING WITH HIM?
3. IF OUR RELATIONSHIP IS RIGHT WITH GOD THE SPIRIT, THEN OUR WORSHIP IS GENUINE AND NATURAL, NOT ARTIFICIAL AND FORCED
ii. THEY GLORY/BOAST IN CHRIST
1. THE WORD MEANS TO EXULT -- TO SHOW OR FEEL A LIVELY OR TRIUMPHANT JOY; REJOICE EXCEEDINGLY; BE HIGHLY ELATED OR JUBILANT
2. THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS
3. A PERSONAL FOCUS ON WHAT EXCITES THEM THE MOST – JESUS
iii. THEY DO NOT RELY IN THE FLESH
1. THROUGH DISCERNMENT
a. PAUL TALKS ABOUT DOGS – RAVENOUS SCAVENGING ANIMALS THAT FED ON GARBAGE AND ATTACK HUMANS
b. PAUL TALKS ABOUT EVIL WORKERS – THOSE WHO WERE DID WHAT THEY DID FOR PERSONAL ADVANTAGE. A TIME OF WORSHIP WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THEMSELVES AND THEIR DESIRES
c. PAUL TALKS ABOUT FALSE CIRCUMCISION – THOSE WHO SOUGHT TO HINDER WORSHIP AND SERVICE WITH RULES AND RESTRICTIONS
2. THROUGH FELLOWSHIP AND POSITION
a. MY OWN DEPRAVITY WANTS TO INFLUENCE MY WORSHIP.
b. WANTS TO TURN IT INWARD
c. WANTS TO TURN IT AWAY FROM GOD
d. SEEN MOST VIVIDLY IN OUR REPENTANCE
i. TRUE REPENTANCE INVOLVES SORROW FOR WHAT WE HAVE DONE – EVEN AS A BELIEVER
ii. FALSE REPENTANCE LOOKS AT HOW I COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AND PATS US ON THE BACK FOR NOT BEING AS BAD AS WE COULD HAVE BEEN.
iii. IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEALING WITH THE SYMPTOMS OR THE DISEASE.
e. TO WORSHIP GOD OPENLY AND HONESTLY, WE NEED TO COME BEFORE HIM CLEAN.
JOY ALLOWS US TO WORSHIP GOD RIGHT, AND THE RIGHT WORSHIP OF GOD PRODUCES JOY IN OUR LIVES.
SO, WHAT COMES FIRST IN THE SPIRITUAL “CHICKEN OR THE EGG”? IT IS JOY!
DO YOU HAVE JOY? REAL JOY? OR ARE YOU SETTLING FOR HAPPINESS?
IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR JOY, THE REASON IS NOT NEAR AS IMPORTANT AS THE REMEDY.
STOP WALKING IN A CIRCLE – YOUR STRINGS HAVE BEEN CUT! ASK GOD WHAT IT TAKES TO FLY.
DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM THE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU FROM BEING RIGHT BEFORE GOD.
OPEN UP YOUR BIBLE AND PUT GOD’S WORD INTO PRACTICE.
