Series: Find Joy in the Journey! Theme for 2019
Highlight Vision!
Thesis of series: Joy needs to be experienced in the journey of life! But Joy, like any other attitude, can come and go. It is not guaranteed simply because we are born again believers. We must put ourselves in the places where experiencing joy is a possibility. We need to go after and find joy in our journey of life.
Introduction:
Quote from Chuck Swindoll’s book “Laugh Again”: “I know of no greater need today than the need for joy. Unexplainable, contagious joy. Outrageous joy. When that kind of joy comes aboard our ship of life, it brings good things with it-like enthusiasm for life, determination to hang in there, and a strong desire to be of encouragement to others. Such qualities make our voyage bearable when we hit the open seas and encounter high waves of hardship that tend to demoralize and paralyze. There is nothing better than a joyful attitude when we face the challenges life throws at us” (Swindoll, page 19).
Studying about joy in Scripture, looking at verses which speak of joy, helps build an understanding of how to put ourselves in places where it is possible to find and maintain an attitude of joy in our journey of life. We need to position ourselves in 2019 to seek after and find joy in the journey of life.
Scripture Texts for 2019:
Phil. 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Sermon 1: Finding Joy in the journey – you find it through friendship and laughter!
Thesis: To find joy in the journey of life means putting ourselves in a position to experience laughter and joy. Yes, a good belly laugh! But, heart felt laughter is found in relationship with God first then with others.
Introduction to sermon:
On the lighter side of life: Everyone knows that religion isn’t supposed to make us laugh- this seems to be some people’s idea of it- but this is precisely why everyone has their favorite religious jokes. Here are some classic Christian singles pick-up lines that should make you smile maybe even laugh a little:
1) Nice bible!
2) God told me to come talk to you!
3) I know a church where we could go and talk!
4) How about a hug, sister?
5) The word says "Give drink to those who are thirsty, and feed the
hungry", how about dinner?
6) You don't have an accountability partner? Me neither!
7) You want to come over and watch the 10 commandments tonight?
8) Do you believe in Divine appointment?
9) Have you ever tried praying at a drive in movie before?
10) We have to hold hands when we pray so the circle won't be broken!
From website: http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/message_list.asp?boardID=770&discussionID=797
I see that smile on your face and yes, I even heard some giggles! Did that feel good? I am being serious does not joy and laughter make life better?
I read a book in the Bible that reminds me of how important it is to have joy in the journey – to laugh and be happy no matter what comes your way! That book is the book of Philippians.
Let’s look at the first few verses of this book:
Scripture Text: Philippians 1:1-30: “Thanks for your friendship and support!”
1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. 12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. 27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Thesis for this opening segment of Phil:
I greatly rejoice in our friendship and I thank you for your faithful support for me in this my time of need. But I am rejoicing because I know I am following the will of God for my life and I want you to rejoice too. Yes, I have chosen the path of joy and I want you to do the same. Choose joy it the best way to deal with life and its struggles.
Back ground information from Holman Bible Handbook on the church in Philippi:
The Letter to the Philippians was written while the apostle Paul was in prison probably from Rome about A.D. 62. He was under house arrest and most likely guards were assigned to make sure he stayed there. The Philippians church was founded about A.D. 50-51, approximately a decade before the writing of the letter, during Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 16:12-40).
• Paul and Silas arrived in Philippi and apparently found no Jewish synagogue. There was, however, a place of prayer by the riverside where some women met on the Sabbath to pray. One of these women, Lydia, believed the gospel message Paul preached. As a result of her gratitude to God and to the missionaries, she opened her home to them. After the missionaries had settled in Philippi, they were arrested when Paul exorcised a demon from a slave girl because her masters aroused opposition against the preachers. They were beaten, thrown into prison, and fastened in stocks. Yet Paul and Silas were still able to praise God and sing hymns. While they were in prison, there was an earthquake, and all the doors were immediately opened. The events of the evening set the stage for the conversion of the jailor and his household. Through the ministry of Paul and Silas, many in Philippi became Christians, and a church was established (see Acts 16). When Paul and Silas, along with Timothy, left Philippi, Luke, the doctor, remained. Luke apparently did much to help stabilize the young congregation and enhance its outreach ministry.
Philippi was a Roman colony located on the great northern east-west highway, called the Egnatian Way. Philippi took its name from Philip II, Alexander the Great’s father. Just west of town near the Gangitis River, Antony and Octavian defeated Cassius and Brutus in 42 B.C. In 30 B.C. Octavian made the town a Roman colony for retired soldiers and bestowed upon Philippi the full privileges of Roman citizenship. The Philippians took great pride in their privileges as Roman citizens and lived as faithful citizens of Rome, a point to which Paul appealed for illustration purposes in 3:20.
Women in this colony, as in most of the province of Macedonia, were treated with respect. As reflected in the church (Phil 4:2-3), the women in this area were active in public life.
A continuous note of joy in Christ is sounded throughout the letter. Despite Paul’s tests and the difficulties encountered by the church (Phil 1:27-30), the theme of joy in Christ is echoed eighteen times in the four chapters of this letter. An exemplary text of this theme is Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
I choose the following key verses for this segment about joy and laughter in life – Phil 1:3-6:
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
These verses tell the church to be joyfully confident in the Lord because good will complete what it starts. They can be assured of this because God will see to it that their good work produces fruit for all eternity. Paul also assures them that they need to always remember that God will carry them through life’s difficulties to that very special day when they meet Christ face to face.
This theme runs throughout the book of Philippians because Paul wants to encourage this church to press on in their mission to preach the Gospel to the world around them. He does not want them to quit because he has been arrested but instead they need to do more and do it with the joy of the Lord.
T.S. – Let’s now look at Chapter 1 and discover the truths that will help us to press on with joy in this life as we face the opposition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I. Thanks for your friendship and support!
a. Paul addresses the church and leadership and thanks them for their support. He specifically thanks them for 3 specific areas of support:
i. Their faithful support while he is under arrest.
1. They supported their friend by doing three things for him:
a. Praying for him.
i. Remember he is under arrest!
ii. Do you pray for your friends?
b. Sending him words of encouragement.
i. They sent him letters and words of support!
1. Statements like:
a. “We love you Paul and God is with you!”
b. “We are praying for you!”
c. “Have faith Paul and remember what happened that last time you were in jail!”
d. “We have not forgotten you!”
2. How well do you do this?
c. Sending him financial support!
i. Since Paul was under arrest there would be no way for him to work so his friends and family would have to send money to meet his daily needs while under arrest.
ii. Wow this is taking friendship to a whole new level!
ii. Their love for him as a person and a brother in Christ.
1. This gave Paul encouragement while he is under arrest.
a. Remember he is unsure of what will happen to him in the future.
b. But their connection with him gives him joy!
2. This church did not just talk about love but they demonstrated love to Paul in tangible ways.
a. This encouraged Paul and gave him a smile while under arrest!
3. Love always expresses itself through action not merely in words.
a. To tell someone you love them but never do actions filled with love is a fallacy.
b. Friends help friends!
iii. Their partnership in spreading the Word with him.
1. Paul took great comfort in knowing that the great Commission was still progressing even though he was under arrest and limited to what he could do.
2. Having partners who share the same values we do does strengthen us in difficult times.
3. Paul was very thankful for their willingness to stay true to the Gospel and continue to support him while he is under arrest.
a. I’m sure Paul lost some companions when he was arrested just like Jesus did. But those who stayed with him gave him great joy and encouragement.
b. Paul reveals to this church how much their friendship means to him and it’s their friendship – a genuine friendship that encourages him to press on.
i. How important is friendship for our encouragement in life?
1. I did an informal survey years ago of High School students in Amery: Here are some of their responses:
a. Why is friendship important?
i. You depend on your friends!
ii. If you have friends you have some one to talk to!
iii. They genuinely care about you!
iv. You get to share your feelings back and forth with each other!
v. They love you in spite of your flaws!
vi. They love you -- the real you!
vii. They support you in times of need!
viii. They can tell you when you are wrong and not be mean about it!
ix. They share interests with you that others do not!
x. You do stuff together and they are there just to hang out!
xi. They encourage you that you are not alone! You are in this life together.
b. These high school students give us great insight into the importance of genuine and authentic friendships and their importance and value.
c. Illustration: From Illustrate Volume 5 Scott – new city, no friends.
i. Scott longs for the fellowship of other Christians in his life. Listen to his cry for meaningful friendships and how it would help him push on in his calling from God.
ii. Paul’s friendships brought him great joy in his time of need.
1. Have you ever wondered why so many people today are depressed, beaten down, grumpy, somber or have no joy?
a. The reason they have no genuine authentic relationships based on love!
b. Have you ever thought – Why did God design the church the way he did?
i. Key point: He wants us to develop relationships with other people!
ii. Church life is all about learning to get along with others. It’s all about developing genuine and authentic friendships based around a common purpose- Jesus Christ!
iii. Here is a truth God designed us to be in relationships with others!
iv. Les and Leslie Parrot share in their book Relationships this thought:
1. “Recently a pioneering band of researchers studied the age-old mystery of what makes people happy. Their answer is not what you might expect. What appears consistently at the top of the charts is not success, wealth, achievement, good looks, or any of those enviable assets. The clear winner is relationships. Close ones” (11).
2. They add: “Nothing reaches so deeply into human personality, tugs so tightly, as relationship. Why? For one reason, it is only in the context of connection with others that our deepest needs can be met. Whether we like it or not, each of us has an unshakable dependence on others. It’s what philosopher John Donne was getting at when he said so succinctly, ‘No man is an island.’ We need camaraderie, affection, love. These are not options in life, or sentimental trimmings; they are part of our species’ survival kit. We need to belong” (11).
2. Paul expressed to this church how their friendship affected him personally while he is sitting in prison it brought him great joy.
a. In tough times there is nothing like the joy that comes from your friends who are there to lift you up!
3. Did you know that your willingness to be a good godly friend to someone could bring them great joy!
a. There is power in relationships and friendships.
b. Friendships help bring joy into each other’s lives.
c. We recently drove up to Wisconsin to support a friend who lost her spouse – Ron and Velma.
i. We dropped everything to go because we knew that Velma needed to experience the joy and strength of friendship, she needed our comfort, and the support we would provide with our presence!
1. We did not say a lot – we mostly listened and gave hugs.
ii. She thanked us over and over for coming up and taking the time just to be with her.
1. We spent New Years Eve with her and New Years day.
iii. Kathy and I were able to help her through the grief and sorrow and even bring forth some laughter!
iv. It is the moments like this that friendships mean the most. They help us to press through the pain and push forward to the goal of living.
iii. Paul understood that having feelings for others was the right way to live life and find joy in the journey.
1. Friendships that penetrate the heart comfort us and encourage us in difficult times. Joy fights against loneliness and depression and sadness – it’s good for the bones Proverbs says.
a. Friendships are centered in the heart beat of God. He designed us to be in relationships with each other.
2. Paul’s relationship with this group of Christians encouraged him in his time of imprisonment.
a. He felt alone at times I am sure of it but when they broke through with acts of love he was overjoyed.
3. Yes, there friendship was based on their shared experience of grace and Jesus.
a. They had a common ground – the experience of the grace of God in their lives. The experience of being impacted by Jesus.
4. This common ground brought joy to all of their hearts and delivered the comfort of a true Christian friendship.
a. Paul liked the idea that he was not alone even though he was under arrest for preaching the Gospel.
b. He knew that the team was still moving on and spreading the Good News.
c. His leadership and friendship with this church was seen in that he had trained them to replace him when he was gone. There words of encouragement were the Gospel is still moving forward in spite of the martyrdoms and the persecution.
d. In a sense Paul worked himself out of a job and his joy came by seeing that the message was marching onward without him.
iv. Paul also shared his heart. He missed their fellowship and he longed to be around their cheerful attitudes and common hearts.
1. In his time of loneliness he recalled the good times in the church at Phillipi – memories do make us smile and give us joy in times of grief or loneliness.
a. The laughter over the funny things that happen in life.
i. We laughed at Ron’s funeral recalling those precious memories – can I say this to have memories means you have to make memories!
b. The times of sorrow over hurtful things in life can be managed better with laughter or joy.
c. The memories of the times of encouragement strengthened Paul he knew they were there for one another in the struggle.
i. The story of being supernaturally delivered out of jail and the jail keepers coming to Christ.
ii. I am sure that story was shared over and over and the joy that came form recalling that precious memory.
d. The common goal of spreading the Good News with others.
e. The baptisms and their testimonies of what the Lord had done for them at the river.
f. The converts who saw the light and made that decision to follow this new path in life.
g. The fellowship meals with all the fun and laughter and stories.
h. The conversation around the table about the good things of the Lord
i. The sharing of miracles and answers to prayer.
2. All these thoughts and memories encouraged him in his time of distress.
a. He could go back in his memory and remember those precious relationships with others. It made him smile even while under arrest.
b. Could you do this with the type of life you are living today?
3. Prisoners of war make it through their horrible captivity by longing and looking forward to being reunited with there friends and relatives.
a. Longing to see their families again!
b. Longing to see their friends again!
c. Their relationships are what helped them to keep pressing through the tortures and the pain.
d. The joyful memories gave them hope and even joy in a prison of war camp.
i. Story?
c. Paul in our chapter made sure that he also prayed for his friends and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ at Philippi in chains.
i. He prays that their love would increase and be expanded.
1. Why? So that their knowledge would increase and mature.
2. Why? So that their depth of insight would expand and grow.
a. Did you know that your actions of love help you to grow?
b. Did you know that your love increases your brain capacity?
c. Did you know that love increases your insight or intuition into what really matters in life?
d. Did you know that your love opens your eyes to see what really matters in life and that is others?
ii. One of the truths Paul is teaching us today is that our love for each other needs to expand and to grow.
1. Why? So that we at CHC and CHS can discern the things of God better.
2. Why? So that we can see what really matters in this life.
a. It’s not about me but about others!
b. It’s about what Love gives to others and does not selfishly want!
3. Why? Love helps us to see through the eyes of the Lord not through our own selfish eyes.
a. Love is God and when we are moving in this realm and allowing God to direct us and control us by love our focus changes and we see things differently!
4. Love helps us to discern what is pure and holy and good.
a. It gives us the ability to discern good and evil!
5. Love helps us to recognize what is blameless or without fault.
6. Love will also fill us with the fruit of righteousness
a. Righteousness is right standing with God Almighty.
b. Love makes this happen!
c. Expand love expand right standing with God.
7. Love will bring glory to God through our lives.
a. God is always glorified through love especially our actions of love.
b. When love is revealed and expanded in your life – Then there is more glory given to God!
Conclusion:
Here are some concluding thoughts on the importance of Joy in the journey and finding it in friendships.
? Friends are like windows through which you see out into the world and back into yourself... If you don't have friends you see much less than you otherwise might. Author: Merle Shain
? The only way to have a friend is to be one. Author: Ralph Waldo Emmerson
? Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend. Author: Albert Camus
? A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Author: Walter Winchell
? "Friends always show their love. What are brothers for if not to share troubles?"- Proverbs 17:17
? "The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them."
- John 15:13
We as Christians need to be committed to developing genuine authentic relationships with other believers because they will encourage us in our time of need.
Paul was overjoyed that he had the type of friends that he did in the Philippi church. This strengthened him in is his time of need. This friendship brought a smile to his face. Paul also knew that his imprisonment was in the divine plan of God and he needed to press through his ordeal to the day he would meet Jesus.
