Finding Joy in the Lord
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Title: Finding Joy in the Lord—(Show Slide 1)
Sermon Text: Philippians 3:1-16
I was visiting with Sunita’s relatives from Canada a couple of weeks ago and was watching America’s Got Talent on TV. (Show Slide 2 cue) I was impressed with the performance of two brothers who managed to do a head balancing act on one of the world’s biggest stages. Their hard work, dedication and commitment to their acrobatic art had brought them from Africa to America to show the world their talent. First, they walked up and down some steps on a stage and then proceeded to climb a ladder about 10-15 feet tall. As they performed their act, they managed to execute it to perfection. At the end, the crowd went crazy, the judges were in awe and there was a lot of joy and excitement on their faces. They were asked the question of what was their goal in performing on AGT and they said that they wanted to perform in Las Vegas and have their own show. Now, that is a BIG goal, a BIG dream for all the competitors in that show. In our world today, many people seek fame and stardom and if you have seen AGT for a very long time, there is a lot of talented and gifted people who audition and perform but not everyone makes it to the end. What is your goal in life? Is it pursuing after fame, wealth & status? Is it achieving your dreams, goals, aspirations and or making history? Now as a disclaimer, there is nothing wrong with reaching your goals and fulfilling your dreams. We should desire to live life to the fullest with no regrets, but for us as Christians our focus and perspective should be different than that of the world. These goals should be less important than our relationship with Jesus. Paul said this about himself… “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of the Christ.” (3:7) Verse 14: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”.
See, in his ministry, Paul was not pursuing “earthly temporary things” but heavenly things. His focus and goal wasn’t on his societal accomplishments and status but in spreading the gospel message. His joy was not found in his circumstances (his sufferings, persecution and imprisonment) but was found in the Lord as he had his eyes fixed on eternity. Early in the letter, Paul explained how Christians should respond to suffering. Since Christ was willing to obey God, even to the point of death, we should have the same attitude of humility and do the same. Last time we looked at the godly examples of Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus in how they served God faithfully and his people. Today the topic of the sermon is: “Finding Joy in the Lord.”
Paul rejoiced in the Lord because his eyes were focused on the ultimate prize. This brings us to the first point in our outline: 1. Finding joy in the work of Christ (3:1-9) (Show Slide 3) Paul begins with the phrase that we are all too familiar “rejoice in the Lord.” (3:1). Paul didn’t mind writing and repeating the things in the letter because for him the things he mentioned would be beneficial to the church and protect them from any undesirable outcomes. In verse 1, he writes “Finally brethren.” This word indicates that Paul is trying to conclude his words in the letter. And just like any great preacher, that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the sermon. He continues on for a while longer. Many preachers have that same tendency so if I say “finally” it may not mean that we are finishing up. All joking aside, Paul calls upon the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord, in the context of suffering for Christ from the previous chapters.
You know all of us need joy in our lives we need to be reminded often. We look at the direction that our country is going and there is plenty of things to worry about. The economy, inflation, housing market, social issues, political corruption, lawlessness, violence, to mentioned a few, can easily diminish our joy, if our focus is near-sighted and secular in nature. We must realize that like Paul, our true joy is not based on earthly things that we are experiencing now but on the Lord. Why did Paul urge the Philippians time and time again to “rejoice in the Lord”? Because he knew that “joy in the Lord” would help them overcome some of the challenges they were facing. For us Christians, joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22), so if we are rejoicing in the Lord, is shows that we are in fellowship with God the Spirit. He lives in us! Also, by rejoicing we can also avoid the sin of grumbling and complaining against God and others. The Philippians had experienced this first-hand and Paul wanted to correct that type of behavior. In chapter 2:14, he urged the Philippians “to do all things without grumbling and complaining… thus showing themselves to be children of God.” Grumbling and complaining have no place in the life of a born-again believer. They were to be an example to the world and shine brightly. The world will know us by how we behave and live out our Christian faith! Being joyful in the Lord even in difficult circumstances can also draw people to Jesus. We want to tell others about Jesus and His joy but we must first demonstrate it outwardly. Is your life marked by joy? We can look at people in many countries around the world who don’t have what we here in the U.S. in terms of opportunities and comfortabilities and they are more joyful, even though many of them have faced persecution for the sake of Christ time and time again.
In what is your joy? Is it in your accomplishments, status, family or job? It should be in the Lord! Because of the relationship that we have with Jesus, no matter what comes our way, those things (troubles, persecutions, etc.) can’t take our joy away. It is in Christ! That is why Paul was able to continue to serve Him even after all that he had experienced in his long years of ministry.
Next, Paul writes to the Christian at Philippi, to warn them against the false teachers who were trying to lead the church in the wrong direction. “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.” (3:2). (Show Slide 4 & 5) This group of false teachers was causing trouble and division within the church. Here, Paul calls them: dogs, evil workers and mutilators of the flesh/false circumcision (3:2). These descriptions were often used for false teachers and prophets. In the O.T. the dogs were the false shepherds and prophets who failed to feed the flock and protect them from harm. In Paul’s time most of the false teachers were Jews who tried to teach new converts that circumcision was needed to obtain salvation. In the early church, this group of false teachers took pride in who they were. The Judaizers were a Jewish religious faction who insisted that in order for the Gentiles to be saved they had to be circumcised and adhere to the Mosaic Law. Their doctrine was a mixture of grace and works. The word Juda-izer, comes from a Greek verb meaning “to live according to Jewish customs.” The physical act of circumcision was promoted as necessary for a person to get salvation. We read of this group in Acts 15 where Luke writes: “Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas did not hold to such view, so there was opposition among the Judaizers and some of the Pharisees (Acts 15). At the Jerusalem council, after much debate in this issue, Peter and Paul concluded that there were no longer any distinctions among Jews and Gentiles. In Acts 15:11, Peter says that “we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.” God had purified their hearts referring to the Gentiles by faith (Acts 15:8-9).
Once giving warning to the believers, Paul then declares who is truly part of God’s family. Paul says that “we are the true circumcision”. Those of us who are spiritually born-again and have become a new creation in Christ (Gal. 6:15) (Show slide 6) This Jewish group boasted about their standing with God. They elevated their personal status and accomplishment and did not put much dependence on the work of Christ. They believed that because they were the natural descendants of Abraham and because they had been circumcised, that they were therefore the only “true Jews,”, the people of the circumcision.” Paul did not see it see it that way. He taught, rather, that the “true circumcision” are those people whose hearts have been circumcised inwardly, spiritually. The “true circumcision” are those who: worship by the Spirit of God; who glory in Christ Jesus and those who don’t put their confidence in the flesh, they put their confidence only in Jesus Christ (Rom. 2:25-29; Colossians 2:11).
Paul experienced joy in knowing that he was saved not because of his earthly accomplishments but because of the work of Christ on the Cross and His grace. Paul said this in Galatians 2:16: “a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh is justified.” We can find joy in that we receive salvation because of what Christ did on the Cross. All we have to do is believe and put our faith in Him alone. In other writings in 1 Cor. 7:19 and Galatians 5:2,6, Paul taught that there was no spiritual advantage in doing the physical act of circumcision. For those who belong to God’s family, it is a spiritual one.
However, in addressing this topic in more detail, Paul provides a couple more contrasts between himself and this religious group. In comparison, Paul had more to boast about than any of them. Paul was the most moral and religious man who ever lived in the 1st century. If anyone could have earned heaven on merit and through human effort, it would have been Paul. In verses 3-6 Paul provides his credentials and presents a very impressive list of accomplishments that surpassed anyone. These were things that he once had confidence in prior to becoming a follower of Christ (Show Slide 7). The phrase “and be found in him” in contrast to “in the flesh” shows that Paul in no longer finding his confidence in his past but relying in Christ instead.
Paul as a Pharisee, he represented the best and the brightest in Israel. Beyond that, he was very zealous for the Law that he ended persecuting the Christians thinking he was serving God by doing so. As for finding righteousness in the Law, he was blameless in that he did everything by the book. He obeyed all the rules and regulations of the Jewish law and was considered legalistically righteous. Now in this text, Paul is not saying that he was perfect (3:6). In Romans 7:7, Paul writes this “I had not known sin, but by the law. He kept the law of Moses and many other man-made laws rigorously and offered the proper sacrifice when he broke the law. However, all these works, for the apostle Paul these didn’t mean much at all. The Judaizers put their confidence in the works of the flesh. They believed that by committing their lives to works and following the Law, they would be in righteous standing with God. Paul on the other side, put his confidence in the Lord. He counted all his earthly works as loss for the sake of Christ and the gospel (v.7). Paul desired the righteousness that comes from Christ and not the one that comes from obedience to the Mosaic Law. We are made righteous by putting our faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross and His resurrection (v.9). Robert Gromacki said this: “In Christ, a believing sinner achieves a justified standing” (Gromacki p. 264). See also Rom. 1:17; 3:21-24)
This brings us to the second point: 2. Finding joy in Christ’s calling (3:10-16) (Show Slide 8-10 on cue)
Jesus called Paul to the ministry in a very unique way. He was blinded by a great light as he was headed to persecute Christians in Damascus. Later in the chapter, Jesus speaks to Ananias and says this to him: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16). His conversion gave Paul a new purpose in life and his works system was done away with. His life was drastically changed and his earthly status in society diminished. Previously in verse 8, Paul tells us that all the things he had gained were of no value and considered them “garbage”. His view and perspective changed from works to Christ. He became righteous by putting his faith in Jesus and from that moment on, Paul’s ultimate goal in life was to “know Christ more” (v.10).
Experiencing the grace of Christ, led him to commit his entire life to going to the ends of the earth and making disciples of Christ and witnessing for him (v.14). That was his calling and Paul find great joy in it because he knew what he would gain in return.
Though Paul has been a follower of Christ for many years, he had not yet arrived. He knew that such goal would take his entire life and thus continue to focus on his Christian walk in the days that he had left. He says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called meheavenward in Christ Jesus.” (vv. 13-14). For all of us who are followers of Christ this type of attitude and desire leads to becoming mature in our Christian faith. At the end of his life, Paul’s ambition was still to know Christ. His goals were: Know the person; the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings and keep on pursuing the ultimate prize. In verse 12, Paul writes that He has not obtained these yet, but that won’t stop him for reaching forward and leaving the past behind. Paul knows that he will not attain perfection in this lifetime but that does not deter him from pushing forward and pursuing it. This is the process of sanctification. That we leave behind our past and not allowing to interfere with our present as we live daily to grow and mature in Christ Jesus. Here Paul uses this imagery of an athlete running for a prize. If one looks back an athlete may slow down and possibly lose the race. We must look forward and press on! The future prize should motivate us by what we do and say in this present age. Just like Paul’s perspective, the prize is not an earthly reward but Christ Himself. Knowing Christ is an eternal goal. Are you devoting your life to knowing Jesus more and more?
In verses 15-16, Paul then calls the Philippian church to make this the same goal in life. We should have the same attitude Paul had in life and make this goal ours as well, by maintaining the same approach and lifestyle that will help us to find joy in living for Christ and for our future reward in heaven. There is nothing on this earth more valuable than knowing Jesus Christ personally (not in your head) as Lord and Savior. Only by knowing, accepting and living for Him can we obtain salvation and win the ultimate prize. Find joy in the work of Christ, the calling of Christ and ultimately the prize, which is Christ.
Come talk to any of the elders, pastors about how you can make this life-changing decision today. Don’t wait and put it off. Today is the day of salvation. Let’s pray.
Lord, help us to not focus on earthly things but on you. Give us a desire to want to know you more and more as we read and study your word. Allow the Holy Spirit to give us strength as we fellowship and suffer for your name’s sake and like Paul, help us to press on daily and be active in our spiritual maturity and not to be distracted by the things of the world. The Christian life is a life-long race and direct us to run it with perseverance like Paul did knowing that suffering is part of it. We may not be perfect in this age, but we can reach maturity as we rely on your knowledge, grace, power and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. In your name we pray, Amen.
Study Resources:
Gromacki. G. Robert. New Testament Survey: Philippians
Quick Studies: Philippians-Hebrews
Sailhamer, H. John. NIV Compact Bible Commentary: Philippians
Elwell, A. Walter & Yarbrough, W. Robert. Encountering the New Testament: Philippians
Thru the Bible Radio Network: Philippians
Hale, Thomas. The Applied New Testament Commentary: Philippians
https://www.gotquestions.org/Judaizers.html