The Attitude of Joy
Philippians: A Letter of Encouragement • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The Attitude of Joy
Philippians 2:12-18a
I. Introduction
A. There is an old saying: Some people bring joy wherever they go. Other people bring joy whenever they go. Which one do you think Paul was?
B. The Relentless Pursuit of Happiness
According to Psychology Today, in 2008, 4,000 books were published on happiness—up from 50 in 2000.
Source: Julia Baird, "Positively Downbeat," Newsweek (9-25-09
C. How the Apostle Paul Suffered in Prison
The Apostle Paul spent roughly one-quarter of his missionary career in prisons. John McRay wrote in Christian History:
Roman imprisonment was preceded by being stripped naked and then flogged—a humiliating, painful, and bloody ordeal. The bleeding wounds went untreated as prisoners sat in painful leg or wrist chains. Mutilated, bloodstained clothing was not replaced, even in the cold of winter. Most cells were dark, especially the inner cells of a prison, like the one Paul and Silas inhabited in Philippi. Unbearable cold, lack of water, cramped quarters, and sickening stench from few toilets made sleeping difficult and waking hours miserable. Because of the miserable conditions, many prisoners begged for a speedy death. Others simply committed suicide.
In settings like this, Paul wrote encouraging, even joyful, letters and continued to speak of Jesus.
Source: Elesha Coffman, Christian History Connection (6-1-02), from Christian History (issue 47)
D.
II. God’s sovereignty precedes optimism (12-13)
A. Explanation
1. The general attitude towards prison
a. I would hate to go to prison – that is where bad people go, people who made mistakes
b. It certainly would not have been the choice of most of Paul’s followers
c. It seems from the letter that many spoke out against Paul because he got himself imprisoned
d. It was a generally bad situation and a loss of freedom
2. It has ADVANCED the gospel – movement forward to an improved state
3. It has become known to the whole imperial guard and the rest – My imprisonment is for Christ
a. Everything that he does, including going to jail, is for the advancement of the gospel – He is winning
4. Yet, Paul can speak with the hoy of a free man
a. He is where he wants to be, where he is supposed to be.
b. Yet knowing that God will use him here in ways that Paul could not have done outside God’s plan.
5. He is joyful because what has happened has served to advance the gospel – The whole praetorian guard and all the rest have heard about Jesus
B. Application
1. Paul can see God’s hand in his circumstances – He is in the center of God’s will
a. There is purpose in his imprisonment, and fulfilling your purpose is a cause for joy
b. He knows that He is safe in the center of God’s will
c. There is joy in knowing that the God who created you and is the purpose of your existence is at peace with you – you are His
2. Paul knows that this is part of God’s strategy for advancing the gospel and it is effective
3. But before you can get to that understanding you have to believe that God is sovereign in His plan
III. Your faith is a witness (14)
A. Explanation
1. And most of our brothers – Those whose faith is Jesus. They are the ones who are also struggling
a. They may be persecuted
b. They may have had family members abandon them
c. They may just be struggling with the difficulty of the message
2. Yet, Paul’s imprisonment has made them more confident
a. His message is not based on blind faith, but on having had a real experience with the risen Savior
b. If Paul is so sure that he heard from Jesus on the road to Damascus that he was willing to be jailed for it, then it must be true
c. His situation is helping the faith of other Christians
3. The result – They are much bolder to speak the word without fear
a. When you realize that the worst they can do to you is place you in the middle of God’s plan, there really is nothing to fear
b. What if we had such examples today?
i. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church – Tertullian (197AD)
B. Delight out of Disaster
I once read about farmers in southern Alabama who were accustomed to planting one crop every year--cotton. They would plow as much ground as they could and plant their crop. Year after year they lived by cotton. Then one year the dreaded boll weevil devastated the whole area. So the next year the farmers mortgaged their homes and planted cotton again, hoping for a good harvest. But as the cotton began to grow, the insect came back and destroyed the crop, wiping out most of the farms.
The few who survived those two years of the boll weevil decided to experiment the third year, so they planted something they'd never planted before--peanuts. And peanuts proved so hardy and the market proved so ravenous for that product that the farmers who survived the first two years reaped profits that third year that enabled them to pay off all their debts. They planted peanuts from then on and prospered greatly. Then you know what those farmers did? They spent some of their new wealth to erect in the town square a monument--to the boll weevil. If it hadn't been for the boll weevil, they never would have discovered peanuts. They learned that even out of disaster there can be great delight.
Source: Roger Thompson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Leadership, Vol. 7, no. 2
C. Application
1. Nothing draws people to faith in Christ like seeing believers joyfully (not angrily) and faithfully following Christ, whatever that may mean
2. When people can see us even endure hardship with the assurance of the goodness of God and His sovereignty, that is appealing
3. We should be willing to proclaim our faith no matter the difficulty
IV. What matters is Christ (15-18a)
A. Explanation
1. The context – There were a lot of other preachers by this point who were faithfully preaching the gospel
2. Yet, Paul found some to be encouraged by Paul, and some were speaking negatively about his imprisonment as though he was a criminal instead of a martyr
3. Those of goodwill preach out of love
4. The others are of selfish ambition
a. Not sincerely,
b. But thinking to afflict Paul in his imprisonment – to cause him trouble
c. This is found in preachers who preach out of pride for themselves
5. It doesn’t matter to Paul. All that matters to him is that Christ is proclaimed
a. Even those who do it out of selfish ambition are preaching the gospel and the gospel is advanced
b. Paul simply wants Christ proclaimed even if it causes him more distress
B. Application
1. What are you willing to endure for the cause of Christ
2. Is Christ the center of your life and do you want the people to hear the gospel no matter the cost?
3. Christ was the center of Paul’s life and He should be the center of ours too
C. Burnhams Faced Death with Joy
Less than a week before Martin Burnham's abduction by Muslim guerrillas on the Philippine island of Palawan in May 2001, the New Tribes missionary gave the devotional at a Wednesday evening service at Rose Hill Bible Church in his small hometown outside Wichita, Kansas.
Some of Burnham's last words in the United States were also the last words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John, said Ralph Burnham, Martin's uncle, during yesterday morning's service at the church. "His very last words were, 'Follow thou me,'" Ralph Burnham said, his voice choking up. "Martin not only spoke of following him, but he took on that responsibility. Of course, at that time neither he nor any of us expected how far he was going to be required to go to. But he was willing to go."
Martin Burnham, 42, kept that attitude throughout the 376 days he and his wife, Gracia, 43, were held captive by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.
Just before a Philippine military raid on the kidnappers that led to Martin's death and Gracia's freedom, the two huddled together in a hammock under a makeshift tent.
"Martin and Gracia had really been thinking that there would be a chance that they would not make it out alive," said Martin's brother, Doug, relying on a phone conversation with Gracia. "Martin said to Gracia, 'The Bible says to serve the Lord with gladness. Let's go out all the way. Let's serve him all the way with gladness.'"
The two then prayed in their hammock, recited Scripture verses to each other, and sang. They laid down to rest. Then the rescue assault began and bullets began to fly, puncturing Gracia's leg and Martin's chest.
Source: Ted Olsen, "Martin Burnham Went Out Serving With Gladness" ChristianityToday.com (6-10-02)
V. Conclusion
A. Paul exhibits a rare joy. He is not trying to find it through making more of Himself. If that were the case, He would be miserable in jail
B. Yet, he is happier and more fulfilled in Christ
C. How is your life going?
1. Are you seeking a life that is all about you?
2. Is it filling you with joy?
3. Is it possible that living for Christ is the pathway to real joy in your life?
4. If so, place your faith in Christ today.