The Foundation For Joy Series

- The Coming Global Storm

- Jesus prophecies are about to be fulfilled

- NASA, NOAA Proclaim 2014 Hottest Year On Record

- Senseless violence (NYPD Shooting, France, Belgium, Boko Haram in Nigeria)

- Deadly Shooting At Florida Mall

- A young Bonnie & Clyde running wild across state lines

- New Jersey woman set her newborn baby on fire in the middle of the road

- Supreme Court about to bring in Sodomey into the country (politically correct "Same Sex")

- Godliness rampant

- God is being deleted from our lives

- Prophesied in Mt 24-25, Mk 12, Lk 21

- In all the headlines is there any joy?

- Note where the house was built in Mt. 7:23

- It was the foundation

- You could have an architect draw the most creative plans for a spacious dwelling.

- Order the finest construction materials available.

- Hire the most skilled craftsmen to build your home.

- Install the latest appliances and electronic systems throughout the house.

-Decorate it with the finest furniture.

- But if it’s all resting on a faulty foundation, you’re wasting your money.

- What is the foundation for Joy?

- Joy & rejoicing found in Philippians 18x.

- Paul's focus is upon Christ 38x in Philippians

- Certainly it can't be a servant/slave

- Paul Called himself δουλος, doulos - a slave

- KJV servant

- Servant – One who voluntarily gives himself up to another's will

- Servant can be paid for his service

- Leave whenever he wants

- Slave is owned by another

- No freedom

- Totally depended upon the owner

- Greeks hated slavery

- Here in Philippians Paul calls himself a slave

- Greeks had a strong sense of freedom

- Their deep desire was freedom

- Star-Spangled banner rings out "O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

- This is America's cry

We All Serve Someone

- To a servant of sin

John 8:34 (AV)

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

- To a servant of self

Romans 8:8 (AV)

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:8 (NCV)

8 Those people who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God.

Philippians 2:3–4 (AV)

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

The Road To Slavery:

- By Conquest:- Sin has conquered us, so that

we are not free to do what we know is right

- By Birth:- We have been born with a nature

that is hostile toward God and oriented toward pleasing self.

- Because of Debt:- We have run up an

unpayable debt toward God who states that the wages of our sin is death.

- We rationalize sin

- It gives the illusion of right but evaporates as a soap bubble

- Sin robs our joy

- Sin hardens our life

- Sin makes us stubborn & unforgiving

- Sin despises the blood of Christ

- Sin thinks little of cost of the cross

- We come to the point that we don't care as long as we can have life our way

- How can giving away your personal freedom give you joy?

- Today it is time to surrender to Christ

Set Free.

1.) Give Up Your Control

- Being too self focused makes every sorrow deeper & every problem bigger – Patsy Claremont

- As a believer you are no longer your own master

- All things are provided by the master

- Corrie ten Boom

What wings are to a bird

And wind to the sail

Is prayer to the soul

- Acknowledge Jesus is Lord of all

2.) Give Up Your Need To Always Be Right

There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong

- Wanting to always be right

- Even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for yourself and others.

- It’s just not worth it.

- Ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?”

3.) Give Up On Blame

- Give up on your need to blame others for what has happened to you

- How you feel or don’t feel.

- Stop giving your powers away by blaming others

- Start taking responsibility for your life.

4.) Give Up Complaining

- Give up your constant need to complain about something:

- Things, people, situations, events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed.