Philippians 1

Last week, I gave you guys some questions that dealt mainly with joy. What do you think joy means?

So often, the world refers to joy as an interchangeable term with happiness. But, it really isn't. Dictionary.com gives this definition for joy: "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying." This definition is true. Yet, according to the world, joy can easily come and go; it is dependent on what is going on around us. 

However, as Christians, our joy is not and should not be dependent on what is going on around us. 

Where does our joy come from?

Our joy comes from God. Our joy does not come from what the world can offer. Our joy does come from something exceptionally good and satisfying. It just is NOT something that comes from the world. 

In Philippians 1, Paul demonstrates the kind of joy that we should have. Not only does he give us an excellent example of being joyful, but he also gives us reasons for being joyful. 

1. One of the reasons he gives us is found in verse 6. This is a verse that you all have probably heard at one time or another. It says: "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." There are days when I think "I'm a mess." There are days when I don't understand what is going on. I feel confused. I question what God is doing. The problem is, I cannot see the big picture. We can't see the big picture. But, as Paul said, we are to be confident in the work God is doing. He is not going to begin working on us and shaping us into who He desires us to be and then stop halfway through. He is not going to get to a point where He just says "You know what, I'm kind tired of working on Mikaela...I think I will just leave here right here as a half lump of clay and half pot." NO! God is going to complete a GOOD work in you. We can take comfort in this and be joyful in it. Knowing that God is not finished with me yet gives me joy because it gives me hope!

2. If there is one thing I have learned as a Christian, and especially as a Pastor's kid, it is that someone is always watching you. Someone always sees what you are doing, saying, wearing, watching, how you are reacting, etc. I have noticed that non-Christians are always watching for Christians to mess up. In fact, Paul even experienced this. People were watching him, waiting for him to stumble. Christians were even watching him. He says that some were preaching Christ for selfish ambitions. They were trying to make things more difficult for him. But, Paul still rejoiced because, whatever the motivation, the gospel was still being spread. However, there were some other people who were watching Paul as well. The prison guards were watching Paul. They probably expected him to be angry, depressed, and frustrated. I would be if I had been wrongfully put into prison. Yet, that is not the way Paul reacted to his situation. Paul was joyful in the midst of this trial. And, the guards noticed this. Paul's situation served as a way to spread the gospel because of his attitude. Paul's joyful attitude caused people to pay attention to him. What if he had not been joyful in the middle of his imprisonment? What do you think having the joy in prison would have looked like?

3. Finally, we come to what drove Paul's joy. Philippians 1:21 is something that we should remember always. It says, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul's greatest desire was to be with Jesus, but he knew that being where God desired was best. At that point in his life, God wanted Paul to be on the earth in a prison cell. That sometimes sounds harsh, but those prison guards may have never known about Jesus if Paul had not been there and had not had a joyful attitude about his situation. Guys, our purpose on this earth as Christians is to live for Christ. To live so that we are drawing others nearer to Him. If we live with this verse as our attitude NOTHING can steal our joy. NOTHING! Even if we are late to work, our hair looks awful, and we are struggling in school. Even if we are laying in a hospital bed because of a severe illness, even if we get in a car accident and total our car, even if we don't understand what is going on in life. Even then, in the midst of the strongest storm we have ever been in, we can have joy. Because our reason for being alive is to be a reflection of Christ. To share the gospel and bring people to Christ. And, if God decided to call us home it would be our gain. This is as bad as it gets for us. We have a hope and a future that is far greater than we can ever imagine, and that is why we can have joy in the valley and on the mountaintop. 

The last thing I want to touch on is what Paul says in verses 27-30. "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affair, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition (which means a state of final spiritual ruin), but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been GRANTED on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me." 

How do you think we can apply these verses to our lives? 

This period of your lives is probably one of the most difficult that you will face. But, you also have amazing opportunities. Whether it is in school, at work, at home, or just walking through Wal-Mart, you guys have the opportunity to be a light to those around you. This is what Paul was trying convey. He was encouraging the believers to think about their actions. He wanted them to remember to conduct themselves according to the gospel of Christ because someone is always watching. He wanted to hear from others about how they were doing. He encouraged them to stand together in one spirit and one mind, and to work together for the furtherance of the gospel. He then says that is has been GRANTED to Christians to not only believe in Christ, but to also suffer for His sake. It is a privilege for us to be able to believe in Christ and to be able to suffer for Him.