Joy And/In Suffering
Joy • Sermon • Submitted
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· 14 viewsAre joy and suffering separate? Or do they go together? Or is it Joy in Suffering? How can Paul has such joy amidst suffering? Let's find out.
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Pray Philippians 1:9-11...
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
So…are you happy?
Do you have joy...
I defined joy last week as a deep and durable delight in God that ruins you for anything else.
—it’s deep—meaning it’s not surface; it’s deep in your soul
—it’s durable—meaning it lasts no matter what
—it’s delight—it’s an emotion, a strong emotion of pleasure of happiness
—and it’s in God—
and once you have tasted that pleasure in God—it ruins you for anything.
God is that superior—awesome pleasure.
(illustration)
All of us have a joy tank that needs filled—we are constantly pouring things in—to fill that tank--
and God designed us that our joy tanks be filled by him — specifically in Him.
We are commanded from Scripture to take delight in Him.
It’s commanded.
so are you filling your joy tank in the LORD...
(pour water into the tank)
and I also mentioned the problem with our joy tanks.
What is it?
Look
—they are constantly leaking...
I constantly have to fill my joy tank---in God specifically...
I go to bed at night and my joy tank leaks so I wake up in the morning without joy. so I got to fill out.
that’s on a normal or average day.
but then there’s the hard days, weeks, months, seasons and years—suffering comes in…and you don’t just have a leak in your joy tank—it’s like it blew a big hole.
(pour it in…)
how do you have joy in the midst of suffering?
Most of us think that there are 2 categories—it’s joy and suffering.
as if they are distinct—separated…there is no mix or overlap...
why?
b/c most of us view suffering as an interruption in life…it’s a brief pause but life needs to go back to normal.
but did you know the Bible, God doesn’t view suffering as an interruption—but an opportunity to develop deeper joy.
that it’s not joy and suffering.
but joy in suffering.
let me read our passage—Philippians.
the Apostle Paul is writing to Christians, the church at the city of Philippi, a church he helped started in Acts 16.
and he is writing from jail, from prison for following Christ...
and he is writing to a church that is facing some division and disunity...
look at how he has joy IN suffering...
Here is Philippians 1:12-30 (read it all, or break into chunks?)
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
18 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,
19 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.
20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
25 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,
26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel
28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
So what is Paul’s tone...
joy again!
and you see from his experience..
It’s not joy AND suffering—
it’s JOY IN suffering...
so how do you have joy in the suffering…in the pain…
or maybe a closely related question—why can you have joy in God in the suffering...
how and why—closely related...
before I answer—a quick disclaimer or clarifier--
I am not discounting real pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering are real.
B/c of sin and the fall of mankind—we all experience a broken world, temptation by the devil, and a sinful heart.
Christianity is very honest and real about suffering.
some of you are going through enormous pain and suffering, and this passage is so optimistic, so joyful but at the same time it doesn’t discount real suffering.
it doesn’t say “oh it’s not that bad.” No pain is bad and suffering is hard.
just read 2 Corinthians—another letter by Paul—and it is his most painful, personal describing all his physical and mental sufferings for Christ.
the Bible doesn’t discount reality or call us to grin and bear it—we are to pour it out to the Lord, and also lean heavily on each other.
Without those 2 realities—the Lord and others, we cannot have joy.
that’s just a quick clarifier--
why does Paul have joy...
#1 - b/c God can use suffering for the advancement of the gospel (vs. 12-14, 15-18)
look at vs. 12.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.
what has happened to Paul? in Acts 21 and following, we see Paul arrested. and transferred through several cities as he is awaiting trial—this is a period of years really—and now he is in Rome, awaiting trial before Caesar—and he is chained to a guard. and all through this he is proclaiming how Jesus has saved him and changed his life
in fact 1:13
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
This palace guard was a special group of elite Roman soldiers! they served as the secret service, body guards for Caesar. They were so powerful they in history assassinated and promoted Roman emperors.
but they did not silence Paul.
in fact, Paul used it as an opportunity to preach Christ.
you can almost imagine—this as a new Roman elite guard is on duty, he is chained to Paul. Conversation ensues—so Paul, we got to pass some time— “what are you in jail for?”
Paul: Christ
Christ?
Yes—Christ.
and Paul would explain I am in chains because I serve a different master than Caesar—Jesus Christ. He lived and died for my sins on a Roman cross under Roman power.
He is now risen and exalted and way more powerful than Caesar, and I am called to preach Jesus to everyone including you—you need to turn from you sin and trust in Jesus—he is the real Lord.
so far from his suffering and chains hindering the gospel—it advanced it.
You see this passage is talking about really a particular kind of suffering—not just suffering in general—but suffering for following Christ.
there’s all kinds of suffering in the bible.
Some of us suffer in life because we make horrible choices—we reap what we sow. we disobey God (like Jonah). That’s one type.
But sometimes we suffer because of loss—unplanned loss—death, destruction, change in plans. like John 11—Mary and Martha lost Lazarus.
and sometimes suffering is so mysterious—like the OT character of Job that God allows.
all suffering is a test and opportunity to testify and cling to Christ. all suffering, can drive us away from Christ if we don’t suffering it to God
but this kind of suffering is persecution.
Paul’s suffering for Christ actually inspired others to proclaim the Gospel.
14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
Courage is contagious! As fellow believers learned of Paul sharing Christ in jail—it inspired others— “If Paul can do it, we should and can do it.”
and did you know that your suffering can also promote the advancement of the gospel?
when you suffer in general, loss, grief—yet still cling to Christ, though it is hard, that is a visible testimony of the gospel! that is a powerful testimony
when you suffer for following Christ—and some of us do face a type of persecution-no we may not go to jail—but when you come to Christ—and you are the only Christian maybe in your family or circle of friends—there is a type of social persecution that comes. I have heard from you just the awkwardness it can bring up—b/c your priorities have changed from your family and friends—they may feel like you are judging them by not participating in certain thing “are you better than us!” but it’s also an opportunity to say I just love Jesus more now. I have joy in Jesus not the stuff of this world.
some of us need to experience some persecution—some of us need to speak up—not be a jerk or a weirdo for Christ—but just living for Christ, following Christ—does it ooze out of us—do we sweat Christ!
this is why we can have joy in suffering—b/c it actually can promote the advancement of the good news of Jesus! The Gospel shines brighter...and if we have joy in Jesus and the Gospel—we will want that—suffering can be that opportunity.
even in vs. 15-18 Paul doesn’t lose his joy over his rivals. some are preaching Christ out of all sorts of reasons—maybe they are jealous of Paul b/c Paul was a successful church planter, evangelist. maybe they were putting him down to say “see—God is not with him like he is with us.”
Paul doesn’t care—as long as they are preaching Jesus—that’s what matters!
What a challenge to us...
as long as we are all spreading Christ, there are no competitors in the Christian faith; we are all on the same team.
so the suffering you are facing today—could it be that it is an opportunity to spread Christ all the more—to see Christ move all the more as you testify about him? a watching world takes note of Christians, joyful ones who spread Jesus while suffering.
so how and why you can have joy in suffering—it furthers the gospel—the good news of Jesus—this helps patch up the hole created by suffering.
(and if our joy is in the gospel—the gospel is being poured in—we will bring on suffering…)
the 2nd reason why there is joy in suffering
#2 b/c our future is absolutely secure-- ultimate suffering in the world’s eyes (death) is our gain (vs. 18-26)
I won’t read it all but look at this:
Philippians 1:18–24 (NIV)
18 because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
19 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.
20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
now, when he talks about his deliverance—he may mean that God may rescue him from jail.
certainly God has done that in the past.
Acts 16—God sent an earthquake to break him out of jail. and he probably thought he would be released...
but that has hasn’t happened yet as he has been waiting a few long years in jail.
but no matter what happens—he is confident that his final victory is secure. why?
because if you are in Jesus Christ—death is...gain.
you are with Christ—to be absent from the body is present with the Lord. What happens after we die as believers—we are with Jesus!
death, even though it is an enemy and a horrible thing—is gain!
why?
the goal of our Christian life—is Christ. no matter what happens now—we are with Christ, and even if persecutors would take our lives, or cancer or a car wreck or Covid—we are with Christ—and he is our ultimate treasure—that’s victory.
and yet Paul also know that if he goes on living in this life—it will mean fruitful ministry for the Philippians—so that they can grow in their joy in the faith and grow in Christ.
this is why we can have joy in suffering...
with each passing year as we get older...
with every cancer scan...
with every surgery...
with every move...
when facing any kind of persecution...
your ultimate destination is secure...
it is this confidence and hope that can compel us and urge us to make tremendous sacrifices—b/c the best is yet to come.
FOMO--
you and I can endure a lot for Christ with the hope in Christ that we will be with Jesus.
—Paul can’t be touched
nor can we--
another reason or another way of saying this—why can we have joy in suffering
#3 b/c God can use your suffering to bring crystal clarity about #1 thing in your life (vs. 21)
Paul says in verse 21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
the original text doesn’t even have the word is—it’s like he is saying “For me to live—CHRIST!”
suffering has a way of making our priorities crystal clear, doesn’t it.
suffering is a great revealer of what’s important.
many fall away from Christ during suffering, but also many grow closer.
Suffering sifts you...
and if you allow God to use it to grow closer to Him in your life—it will make you say like Paul—For me to live—it’s Christ! It’s all about Him!
nothing else is as great as Christ!
Nothing is as sweet as Christ!
Nothing is as powerful as Christ!
nothing is as precious as Christ!
suffering often takes away all the thing we rely on —it strips us of those—and puts it on Christ.
Piper: This is God’s universal purpose for all Christian suffering: more contentment in God and less satisfaction in self and the world. I have never heard anyone say, “The really deep lessons of life have come through times of ease and comfort.” But I have heard strong saints say, “Every significant advance I have ever made in grasping the depths of God’s love and growing deep with Him has come through suffering.”
what’s #1 in your life—suffering makes it crystal clear…and if it’s not Jesus…this is your chance to chnage.
#4 b/c God can use your suffering to see God’s power, purpose and plan behind it (vs. 27-30)
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
verse 29—is shocking.
God has granted you to believe on him..if any of us come to faith in Christ—yes we must respond in faith and turning from Christ—but ultimately it’s God who does the work—who draws us in—who makes us born again.
but the really shocking part is that God has granted us to suffer FOR HIM.
and also suffer for Him.
that word for grant—by the way—is the idea of God giving us a gracious gift—he has granted us salvation (that’s awesome!) and suffering?
why is it a gift?
b/c/—Paul will say in chapter 3—it enabled him to truly know Christ, to identify with Christ—to realize Christ is all He needs more than anything else.
believing and suffering is a package deal.
God grants both in our lives—to draw us closer to Him. Even the purposes of the enemy or the world—what they can intend for evil—God can mean for good.
when we see our suffering as God’s appointed instrument for our joy…it will change the world.
it’s not suffering and joy.
suffering in joy.
Communion
is open to all believers...
we can have joy—b/c Jesus experienced these points.
his suffering—advanced the Gospel
his death—was not the end—it guarantees our final victory
his life showed his laser like focus on glorifying his father — that was his #1 passion
and behind his life and death—was the sovereign plan of God to accomplish the salvation of the world.
the reason that we can trust the logic of the Bible is that Jesus accomplished all this.
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
if you are suffering today—God is with you and can relate.
The bread points us to Jesus’ body which endured so much suffering—we are to eat it in remembrance of him.
The cup points us to Jesus’ shed blood—given so our sins could be forgiven.
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
would you take a moment and confess sin—praise God for what he has done
give your suffering to Him.
focus on the one who suffered for you.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.