Joy in all Circumstances

Philippians 1

November 2, 2002

 

 

  1. Introduction
    1. First sermon in a series of four that Dan and I will be preaching on the book of Philippians.
      This will take us through November.
    2. I have to admit that I am unusually excited about this short series. While the book of Philippians is neither long nor particularly mysterious (not Romans, that’s next year), it is
      highly-Christological and intensely personal.
      Through Paul I believe we will all learn something about the earnest nature of Christian Joy.

                                                              i.      The series will include Joy in all Circumstances, Joy in Humility, Joy in Christian Unity, and Joy in the Lord.

                                                             ii.      I know that I have come face to face with many misconceptions in the Christian community regarding Joy, usually coming in the form of a forced constant and publicly evident happiness. The Christian Façade. You know it, the firm hand shake and a smile. A “how are you brother.” Come on, its so true WE joke about it. I confess most non-Christians I know are unimpressed with what they perceive as fake happiness. It strikes them rather as either ignorance or a mask.

    1. I have discovered a funny thing about preaching, and maybe it is just me. It always seems to contain two elements: corrective and good news. So I hope you do not think of me as a finger waving corrector, but I am correcting myself so that together we can “realign” with the truth. Beginning today I hope to begin realign our notion of Christian joy with the first sermon of the series - Joy in all Circumstances.
  1. Prayer


  2. The Letter to The Philippians
    1. A missionary report letter from the Apostle Paul to the church he had established at Philippi

                                                               i.      Recorded in Acts 16

1.      The vision to Macedonia, The conversion of Lydia

                                                             ii.      No questions of authorship, beyond the self identification this is clearly Pauline. Even those who question some of the vocabulary in the hymn in Chapter two admit this creates no significant problems.

                                                            iii.      Included in the Canon from the earlist collections: Clement, Ignatius, Polycarp, and Marcion.

    1. Philippi is a prosperous roman colony in gold-rich Eastern Macedonia

                                                               i.      In Acts 16, Paul refers to it as the leading city of the area

                                                             ii.      Populated by traders, travelers and a great deal of retired military

                                                            iii.      10 miles inland from Troas, where Paul indicates they landed

                                                           iv.      Divided by the Via Egnatia, this connects the Eastern frontier with Rome

                                                             v.      A real Roman city with real Roman problems. These were not simple country folk just praisin’ the Lord with no distractions.

    1. That is what makes this letter unusual in its tone. While the majority of Paul’s letters focus on correcting some error in the recipient church, Philippians largely records his pleasure over the Church. Except for a reminder to seek Christian unity and the warning against false teachers, Paul’s letter to Philippi is a letter rejoicing. Often called the Epistle of Joy
    2. In fact the word joy in its various forms appears more than 16 times in this short letter. Far more by ratio than anywhere else in the NT.
    3. It is most likely written near the end of Paul’s life during his Roman imprisonment.
      While there are a few who believe this could have been his Ephesian imprisonment of 53-55, or his Caesarean imprisonment of 57-59, too many strong indicators point to the Roman imprisonment around AD 61.

                                                               i.      Specific mention of the Praetorian and Caesar’s household and the nature of the incarceration

    1. Seems as though he had three reasons for writing it.

                                                               i.      Two thank them for the support in practical terms and fellowship of faith (1:5, 2:25)

                                                             ii.      To give them news of Epaphroditus, who had been sent and had fallen seriously ill and was worried about them being worried (2:25)

                                                            iii.      Mostly to express his joy in his work for Jesus and his pleasure in Philippian church!

1.      Written from jail with the clear possibility of death (1:20) He is not writing from his retirement villa on Crete reflecting on a job well done. That is precisely what makes this discussion of Joy so compelling.

  1. Joy Redefined
    1. Although Webster’s does not make the following distinction, I believe Christians must –
      Joy is different than happiness. It is manifestly more than happiness.

                                                               i.      Many folks I read said that joy is not happiness.
I disagree. Joy may indeed manifest itself in happiness, is just much more than happiness.

                                                             ii.      Happiness is always the result of your circumstances. Something that pleases you is coming, currently happening or happened recently and you are happy.
If life is hard, and it is, your options are gone.

    1. Christian joy may be the result of your circumstances.

                                                               i.      There is real but temporary joy, the kind that does not change your life

1.      the appreciation of a fall leaf, a beautiful sunset, a walk with your son

2.      A successful project at work

3.      A surprise visit from a dear friend

                                                             ii.      There is also soul piecing joy that still results from circumstance

1.      Psalm 33, a call to joyous praise from the Levitical Choir

a.       Praise the Lord, sing to Him a new song

                                                                                                                                       i.      Praise of deliverance from trial!

2.      First time I saw my whole family lying in bed on a Saturday morning. Pierced me to the core, but it SHOULD have. It is the clear and appropriate response to the goodness of my circumstances.

                                                            iii.      But there is also a joy that is contrary to circumstances. A joy of rare depth. This joy only comes in Christian faith. This joy may not be evident at first look; it may look more like quiet resolve. This joy is the realization that you are helpless. This joy is a direct result of recognizing that when we are weak, He is strong.

This is exactly why Webster’s does not recognize this distinction in joy, because this joy comes only with a relationship with Christ Jesus.

1.      This is why we have titled Chapter 1- Joy in all Circumstances:

a.      In the very beginning Paul is greeting them in Joy in verse 3, as he thinks of how they accepted the gospel and are being matured in Christ.

b.      In verse 12 it begins to be clear the Paul is writing from jail, and reports he is converting members on the palace guards!

c.       In verses 18-21, Paul says he will continue to rejoice, and prays that he will honor god with courage in life or death.

                                                                                                                                       i.      I think of all the accounts you read in Foxes book of Martyrs. How in the worst circumstances, even in great pain, the saints rejoiced in the Lord. Think of Thomas Cranmer holding out his left hand into the fire and releasing his guilt.

                                                          iv.      In Verses 27-30, Paul reminds the Philippians that they will face similar suffering. Not only to believe, but to suffer. This is the context of Joy. A joy contrary to circumstance.

1.      James reminds us to “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials.”

2.      Piercing joy may come among dreadful pain.

a.       Salvation - Sin

    1. The Consequences of Trial

                                                               i.      In any trial there are two options, despair and faith. One leads to sin, the other to joy.

1.      The truth is that in despair we often sin. We return to habitual transgressions. Interestingly, we only exacerbate the problems we are already facing, especially given the temporary nature of trials and the temporary satisfaction of theses sins.

a.       Many of those who attempt suicide fail, and have exaggerated problems

b.      In a survey, the majority of men who would admit they had an affair or purchased pornography, said it happened when they were tired and depressed.

c.       Consequently, after the trial comes increased despair

2.      But in faith we can receive joy in spite of our circumstance, and then when you are through the challenge, you will full joy, likely happiness. You will not have done what you should not have. Said what you should not have, etc.

  1. I have come that you may have life, and have it in abundance ( John 10:10)
    1. As Christians we have the privilege of abundant Joy in all Circumstances.

                                                               i.      More than any we may have joy in the delicate design of the leaf

                                                             ii.      Joy in our family

                                                            iii.      Even joy in the worst moments of our life. In Christ we have a joy that is not contingent on how we feel. So get this friends, we may have joy without happiness.

    1. So go today in the joy of the Lord, be happy when it is appropriate, and when its not don’t fake it. Those who are unimpressed with fake happiness will be deeply moved by genuine joy.