Unshakable Joy
The Reason We Live • Sermon • Submitted
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Happiness. A few weeks ago we talked a bit about happiness. It is a fickle thing.
Pastor and speaker Louie Giglio defines happiness as follows, Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
“Happiness is an emotion in response to the current outcome.” - Louie Giglio
Happiness is elusive. Something we pursue but never quite seem to fully obtain.
For example…
Do you remember your first really nice car? (https://youtube.com/clip/Ugz4nYxR85uYJKA5oM54AaABCQ 16:51-17:09)
Elated- you feel so happy… until the very thing that brought you happiness brings you this…
📷
As Gigglio points out, Philippians 3:1
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
“Happiness is hard to get your hands on and it is hard to hold onto. Because, as we define happiness, it is an emotion in response to the current outcome. When the outcome is amazing the happiness quotient goes up. But when the outcome is less than what we hoped for then the happiness quotient goes down.”
Now I know that this is an extreme example. It isn’t every day that you are gifted a brand new tesla only to have it totaled the next. But every day we do see people pursuing happiness with extremely limited success. So what I want you to consider this morning is that God wants something better for your life. He wants you to have joy in your life. You see joy, unlike happiness is not just an emotion. It is a choice.
This morning, Jesus wants you to have joy- real soul inspiring- uplifting joy- a joy that is greater than the circumstances and outcomes that you face during your day and throughout your life.
As we have worked our way through the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians we can see a running theme throughout of Paul encouraging the Philippians to choose joy. We will see even more of it in chapter 4 so stayed tuned. This morning we are going to look at Philippians 3. We learned last week that Paul’s key idea in this chapter is “Knowing Christ.” We see this in verses 7-11, (NIV) Philippians 3:7-11
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
As we learned last week, the word to “know” or “knowing” used here in the original language of the New testament doesn’t just mean head knowledge instead it refers to first-hand experience. When we experience God, when we join Him in His love for others, when we are willing to suffer for His name sake then, when we encounter the kind of power and glory that raised Jesus from the dead- when that power is at work in us then we experience spiritual elevation and personal transformation. It is then that we can say with Paul- Nothing is better than knowing Jesus!
Therefore, our first point this morning is that
1. Knowing Jesus and truly experiencing God produces immeasurable JOY.
Let’s read together the opening verse in chapter 3, (NIV) Philippians 3:1
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
“… My brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.”
The original Greek word that Paul uses here for “rejoice” is chairó (χαίρω). This word is a verb. It is joy in action. More than that, in the original language of the New Testament the words for joy (χαρά) and rejoice are intimately connected to the word for “God’s grace” -charis (χάρις). All three of these words share the same core meaning. Joy- rejoice- grace.
(on pp slide:
Χαίρω (chairo)- Rejoice: meaning joy in action
Χαρά (chara)-Joy
Χάρις (charis)-God’s grace
Χά: root word for all three terms)
Why is this Greek language lesson important? Oh I am so glad you asked.
It is important because it shows us the intended meaning behind the words in the Bible. Paul is not telling us to just “be happy”- he is telling us to have joy because we know Jesus- (put up pp slide that shows Greek word meaning for “know”: gnosis- knowing that comes from personal experience) because we have experienced God’s grace.
Knowing Jesus produces joy. Take a look with me at Jesus’ teaching on this in John 15:9-12, (NIV)
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
“’As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.’”
This past week my wife and I celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary. It has been twenty amazing and wonderful years. True, we have faced more than the usual share of hardship- but the years are wonderful because our love for each other grows and deepens each and every day. We haven’t allowed the struggles, the challenges, or the hardships to divide us. We have “remained” in our love for each other.
God wants to have a personal relationship with you. He wants you to experience His love for you every single day. He wants your love for Him to grow and grow and for you to flourish in it.
Besides my wife, the two people I love the most in this world are my children. There is no better way for my wife to express her love for me, than to love and care for our children. And she does.
Church, God loves His children. There is no better way to express your love for God than to love His children in the same way as He has loved us. Therefore, Jesus is saying that if we KNOW Him, if we experience His love and share in His love for others than we will have joy.
Joy becomes a natural byproduct of remaining in His love and sharing that love with others.
If happiness is an emotion in response to the current outcome then Giglio defines joy as, Philippians 1:1
“Joy is a durable and permeating gratitude rooted in unchanging outcomes.” -Louie Giglio
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Friends, God’s love for you is unchanging. His grace is unchanging.
No circumstances in life will change it. God loves you and He offers you free grace- an abundance of unmerited favor.
If you have accepted Jesus as your savior than nothing will separate you from His grace and lavish love- no sin- no situation- no person- no fear- no failure- no past experience- no future endeavor- and no current trial.
Jesus loves you- oh JOY
He forgives you- oh JOY
You are His beloved child- oh JOY
You get to share His love with others- oh Joy
You will spend an eternity with Him in heaven- (lift you hand to your ear) let me hear it…. oh JOY!
So in John 15 we see Jesus creating a culture of Joy that is echoed by Paul’s teaching in Philippians.
Philippians 1:4b-6 (NIV)
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
“I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:18b-19 (NIV)
But 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, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.
“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”
Philippians 1:25 (NIV)
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
“Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.”
Philippians 2: 17b-18
But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
And in Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Yes, knowing Christ leads to immeasurable joy. That brings us to our second point this morning:
2. Do not let legalism or false teaching steal your joy.
We have joy in knowing Christ because we believe. We believe God loves us. We believe that Jesus died for our sin. We believe that He gives us grace. We believe that through Jesus’ sacrifice our sins are forgiven. We believe in God’s promise that we will spend eternity with Him in heaven. We believe in what Ephesians 2:3-6 and declares,
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus… For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
Friends, we accept God’s free gift of grace we don’t earn it. Take a look at Philippians 3:2-3,
Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
“Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—”
Now I know that most people think the Bible is all prim and proper, but there is some pretty strong language used in this verse. In fact, Paul uses some really impressive name calling here, “those dogs,” “evildoers,” “mutilators.” It makes me wonder- who is Paul talking about and what have they done to deserve such a fit of name calling?
To properly understand this verse we need to look at the context of the passage. At the time when Paul wrote Philippians there was a group of Christians, or at least a group of people claiming to be Christians, who taught that belief in Jesus isn’t enough. They were legalistic saying that salvation came not through belief in Jesus but by following the Law and being circumcised. This group taught that you had to become a Jew before you could be saved. These lies infuriated Paul because it made the Philippians, who were not Jewish, question their salvation. The false teaching stole the Philippians’ joy of knowing Christ.
Now please understand me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being Jewish. Jesus is a Jew. That is part of His human ethnic identity. But as Paul points out here in Philippians and in Ephesians 2- a person’s ethnic identity, circumcision, or even legalistic observance of moral laws have nothing to do with salvation. If you could be saved by following the law, by being good, or by become Jewish- then there would be no need for Jesus to suffer and die on the cross. Humankind could earn their salvation by going to church, wearing the right clothes, having the right haircut, by not drinking, or dancing, or doing this or not doing that. Or salvation could be exclusive. It could be a privilege for the few lucky enough to have the right ethnic pedigree.
NO! NO! NO! Don’t believe those dogs- those evil doers- those false teachers!
Man, now I understand why Paul was all hot and bothered.
Because I know what he knew. Salvation is open to all people- every race- nation- tong- and tribe.
There is no legal code, no moral action, that you can ever do to make yourself and keep yourself right with God- because salvation is Jesus’ free unmerited gift of grace. You can’t earn it. His forgiveness is wide and His grace runs deep.
Friends, legalism has absolutely no place in your relationship with Jesus! When you choose to follow Him- when you choose to obey His commands- to love others as He has loved you- do it because you are already saved. Do it out of love for God and out of gratitude for what He has already done for you. Do not do it because you think you have to in order to earn your salvation. Do not do it because you are afraid you will lose your salvation. Instead, like Paul, pursue godliness because you want to know Christ more. As verse Philippians 3:8-10 asserts,
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death”
That brings us to point number three this morning:
3. Do not let personal loss and suffering steal your joy.
There is an aspect of Joy that is connected to our emotions. When we have joy there is a feeling of gladness that is connected to it. Many times feelings come and just like that they can also go. When you experience personal loss or suffering very few people will FEEL joy.
As I said earlier, Wednesday was our 20th Wedding anniversary. Just as we were planning to head out for a special dinner to celebrate, our son came up from the basement panicked, “Mom- Dad it is raining in the basement.” A sewer line backed up and caused a flood in the down stairs bathroom and sitting room that in turn flooded down into the basement. Looking at the water poor over the boxes filled with my wife’s Christmas decorations – I didn’t feel very glad. Panic and concern absolutely but joy was not one of my emotions.
I could try to manufacture the feeling of gladness- put on a fake smile and all. But I don’t believe fake emotions are what God wants for us.
Theologian John Piper explains, Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
“ One of the reasons I am the kind of Christian I am, with the theology that I have, is that I know the Bible requires of me things that I cannot myself immediately produce by my own power. I am fallen. I am sinful. And yet I know I should be feeling the emotions the Bible expects me to feel. I know myself guilty.
Saint Augustine said, ‘Father, command what you will and grant what you command.’ He knew God commanded certain emotions of him that he couldn’t make happen on his own. So he prayed, Oh God, if you are going to command these things, grant that you would give them when you command them.”
God will help us to choose joy in the midst of hardship and loss. As Paul points out earlier in chapter 2 verse 13,
“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
My emotions of panic and concern were my natural reaction to the circumstances I faced. We don’t usually have much control over our emotional reactions to things but we can choose how we respond to those emotions and what we tell ourselves.
As I dealt with the water damage, I also worked to tell myself important truths.
-No matter what hardship I face, God is good and can work even this for my good and His glory.
-God is not surprised by this situation. He can help us through it and will provide for our needs.
-God loves me and will give me what I need emotionally and physically to deal with this situation.
Armed with that truth, I was then able to respond mentally and even emotionally with gratitude.
-Thank you God that I can trust you to help us through this.
-Thank you God that you are providing solutions to this problem that I don’t see.
-Thank you God that I can trust you to provide just what we need.
-Thank you Jesus that I am not alone.
-Thank you that because of what you did for me on the Cross the Holy Spirit is here with me giving me the emotional and physical support I need to deal with this situation.
Friends, we can choose to have joy. We can choose to put on a posture of gratitude to God in every single situation. That posture of gratitude produces the emotional feelings connected to joy. When I choose the posture of gratitude- when I rejoice- I begin to feel gladness. All the while God works through the Holy Spirit to provide me with what I need to replace the negative emotions with that precious fruit of the Spirit- joy.
I don’t know what kind of loss or hardship you may be facing. It may make my frustrating episode with our sewer system seem petty. If so, you are not alone. You may remember that when Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians he was dealing with significant hardship and loss. He was in prison awaiting trial because of his belief in Jesus. At that time Nero ruled the Roman empire and he ruthlessly persecuted Christians. He even strung Christians up, lit them on fire, and use them as human torches to light his garden parties. When writing to the Philippians, Paul was facing the very real possibility that Nero would kill him. He was not alone. The Philippians also faced intense persecution. Many of them died for their faith. Christian families- men- women- and children alike were rounded up and sent to face the lions in the Colosseum. And yet, Paul tells them again and again in his letter to rejoice. To choose joy in the midst of their hardship and loss.
Why?...
because as theologian Brian Tabb explains, Paul wants his brothers and sisters in Christ to consider the
“objects of real joy, the reasons for joy, and the challenges to joy — joy in . . . joy because . . . and joy even though... Jesus humbled himself even unto death on a cross, the Father highly exalted him, and all will one day pay homage to his universal reign (Philippians 2:6–11). Rejoicing in the Lord means that these truths about Jesus — who he is, what he has done, and what he will do — personally and profoundly affect us.
Rejoicing in the Lord means knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord, Savior, and Treasure. It means he gives us deeper, purer, sweeter, more lasting pleasure and gladness than anything this world has to offer. As Paul says in Philippians 3:8, ‘I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.’ Rejoicing in the Lord means that there is a new song in our hearts — the song of the redeemed — that the din and distresses of life cannot drown out. He is the chief object of our joy.”
If you have put your faith and trust in Jesus than nothing can ever take that away. His promises are yours, you are His beloved, He will be with you always, you will spend eternity with Him. So if you have experienced loss, if you are hurting- please know that suffering has an expiration date. Heaven is coming. Rejoice in that. Choose joy and don’t let loss or hardship steal it from you.
I will conclude this morning with an illustration form Aquilla Webb who shares,
“Massena, one of Napoleon’s generals, suddenly appeared with eighteen thousand men before an Austrian town which had no means of defense. The town council had nearly decided to surrender when the old dean of the church reminded them that it was Easter and begged them to hold services as usual and to leave the trouble in God's hands. This they did; and the French hearing the church bells ringing joyfully concluded that an Austrian army had come to relieve the place and quickly broke camp. Before the bells ceased ringing, all the Frenchmen had vanished.
The incident has often been duplicated in individual lives. They have rung the joy bells in the face of pain, and sickness, and poverty, and fear, and loneliness, and all other trials. Then the joy bells have conquered. Speedily, the foe has slunk away. Speedily, the bell ringers have found themselves in possession of the field. For no enemy is quite so strong as faith accompanied with joy.
Let us pray