Rev. David Holwick H
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 10, 1996
Philippians 4:4-8
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I. Rejoice, or else!
A. What's the worst day you ever had?
1) [woman in church], having contractions that peter out...
2) [ask for responses...]
B. Paul was in trouble when he wrote letter but he focused on joy.
1) He was in prison, other Christians were causing him trouble.
2) Paul uses the words "joy" and "rejoice" 13 times in letter.
In the days of the Depression, Clarence Darrow, the
brilliant lawyer, was addressing the members of a black
church in Chicago.
Most of these people were desperately poor.
They didn't have jobs and had little in which to place
their hope.
As Darrow came to the pulpit he listed their troubles and
then noted how joyfully they had sung.
Then he asked this pointed question: "What do you have to
sing about?"
A lady in the congregation jumped to her feet and said,
"We've got Jesus to sing about!"
#1722
C. Joy requires focusing your life in several directions.
II. Make a choice: Joy is inward-looking.
A. Joy is a choice made by those who discipline their attitudes.
1) Paul commands us to be joyful. 4:4
a) How is it possible to command this?
2) Joy comes from an attitude more than a feeling.
a) Our attitude determines our feelings, not feelings
that determine our attitude.
b) Definition by Gerald Hawthorne, my Greek professor:
"Joy is a settled state of mind characterized by
peace, an attitude that views the world with all
its ups and downs with calmness.
It is a confident way of looking at life that is
rooted in faith."
3) Christian joy looks beyond any particular event to see
the sovereign Lord.
B. Have a grateful heart (and mind).
1) Glory in even the simplest things.
2) Think godly thoughts. 4:8-9
a) Tragedies tend to focus our minds and stifle us.
1> But we can choose what to think about.
2> Instead of being obsessed, we need to back off and
give it all to God.
b) Substitute pure thoughts for negative ones. 4:8-9
3) Pursue godly goals.
a) Keep your spiritual goals clearly in mind. 3:8-11
b) A forward focus doesn't leave time for depression and
disappointment.
C. Learn contentment for the here-and-now. 4:11
1) Find contentment in what you have, rather than despair
at what you don't.
a) Dissatisfaction breeds anxiety and frustration.
b) Contentment is not in amount, but in attitude.
c) Jesus encouraged us to get busy in the present. Matt 6:34
2) Discontent happens naturally, but contentment is learned.
a) Don't let sadness gain control of your lives.
1> Self-pity leads to enslavement.
b) The alternative can be chosen - joy.
1> Looking for joys gives us perspective in our confusion.
2> "The joy of the Lord is our strength." Neh 8:10
III. Work for others: Joy is outward-looking.
A. Joy is best experienced in relationships.
1) Even though Paul was in prison, he gained strength
from his Christian friends.
2) Isolation leads to depression.
B. Fellowship produces joy. 1:25-26
1) Think of how God has used you to bless others. 1:25-26
2) Then shift your attention away from yourself and onto the
needs of others.
a) In a sense, joy does depend on externals - Paul's joy
hinges on the spiritual status of the Philippians.
4:1, 2:2, 2:25
b) Paul is joyful when Christians live in harmony. 2:2
3) Remember that you're part of a larger team. 1:18
a) Reflect on the support you have received from others.
b) Remember that others are praying for you.
C. We can find joy through service.
1) Paul's greatest joy came from doing God's work. 1:18
a) Even when it was emotionally draining. 2:17, (1:4f)
2) Rejoice in the fruit of your labor and suffering.
3) Concrete expressions of care for others bring out joy. 4:10
IV. Pray: Joy is upward-looking.
A. Letter's first mention of joy is linked with prayer. 1:4
1) Impulse to pray when in trouble is almost automatic.
a) We see it as our right to grumble!
2) Pray about more than problems.
B. Pray about everything. 4:6
1) It is the alternative to anxiety.
2) Joy doesn't just wait for answer, but grows through prayer
itself.
3) Prayer carries a promise: supernatural peace of mind. 4:7
C. Find joy through worship.
1) Acknowledge what God is doing in the lives of others.
2) Focus on the Lord as the basis of our joy.
3) Keep track of daily joys. (Action Step 4)
V. Focus on future hope: Joy is future-looking.
A. Paul kept his future rest in mind. 1:21
1) He saw the final good, the final victory.
2) Jesus is an example of such hope. 2:5-11; Heb 12:2
B. Hope winches us out of despair.
1) Think beyond the present.
2) Think beyond yourself.
C. Set your minds on heaven.
===================================================================
Outline from Sermon 4A: Rev. Lud Golz
======================================
I. Joy in midst of trouble.
A. Paul was in trouble when he wrote letter but he focused on joy.
B. Paul uses the words "joy" and "rejoice" 13 times in this letter.
C. He reveals three main sources of joy for us.
II. We can find joy through fellowship.
A. By reflecting on the support we have received from others.
B. By living and serving with others harmoniously.
C. By giving joy as we welcome the Lord's servants. Phil 2:29
III. We can find joy through service.
A. By remembering that we're part of a larger team.
B. By remembering that others are praying for us.
C. By rejoicing in the fruit of our labor and suffering.
IV. We can find joy through worship.
A. By acknowledging what God is doing in the lives of other.
B. By focusing on the Lord as the basis of our joy.
C. By tracking daily joys and sharing joy through Action Step 4.
V. Conclusion.
A. Looking for joys gives us perspective in our confusion.
B. Joys lead us to trust God's guidance and give us courage to obey.
C. We discover that "the joy of the Lord is our strength." Neh 8:10
Discipleship Journal #37, page 8: Choosing Joy, by Mark Reed.
==============================================================
I. Joy is a choice made by those who discipline their attitudes.
A. Paul commands us to be joyful.
1) How is this possible?
2) It is an attitude that determines feelings, not a feeling
that determines our attitude.
B. It is not automatic, but work.
II. Maintain a grateful heart.
A. Think of how God has used you to bless others.
B. Remember God's blessings on your family and friends.
C. Glory in even the simplest things.
D. Learn to see God's goodness, because times of drought will come.
III. Focus on future hope.
A. Paul kept his future rest in mind. 1:21
1) He saw the final good, the final victory.
B. Jesus is an example of such hope. 2:5-11; Heb 12:2
C. Hope winches us out of despair.
1) Think beyond the present.
2) Think beyond yourself.
IV. Pursue godly goals.
A. Keep your spiritual goals clearly in mind. 3:8-11
B. A forward focus doesn't leave time for depression and
disappointment.
C. Set our minds on heaven.
V. Pray.
A. Impulse to pray when in trouble is almost automatic.
1) We see it as our right to grumble.
B. Pray about everything.
1) It is the alternative to anxiety.
2) Joy doesn't just wait for answer, but grows through prayer
itself.
3) Prayer carries a promise: peace. 4:7
VI. Think godly thoughts.
A. Tragedies tend to focus our minds and stifle us.
1) But we can choose what to think about. 4:8-9
2) Instead of being obsessed, we need to back off and give it
all to God.
3) Substitute pure thoughts.
B. Thoughts are best disciplined in action.
VII. Learn contentment.
A. Find contentment in what you have, rather than despair at what
you don't.
1) Jesus encouraged us to get busy in the present. Matt 6:34
2) Contentment in not in amount, but in attitude.
3) Dissatisfaction breeds anxiety and frustration.
B. Discontent happens naturally, but contentment is learned.
1) Exercise discipline and self-control.
2) Seek first God's Kingdom. Matt 6:3
C. Sadness is normal, but we don't have to let it gain control
of our lives.
1) Self-pity leads to enslavement.
2) The alternative can be chosen - joy.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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