Joy in the Mist of Trials and Tribulation

Greetings,

My wife often wonders why I have peace and joy when at times everything is falling apart around us, our family, and the world. 

 

The message today at church was about the Pursuit of Joy by Pastor George.  The message was based on Philippians and I want to add to the message.

 

Paul most likely wrote the letter to the Philippians during his first Roman imprisonment to thank them for the contribution he had received from them.  While his primary reason for writing the letter was to acknowledge the gifts sent by the Philippians, Paul appealed for a spirit of unity and steadfastness (faithfulness) among them.

 

In many respects, this is the most beautiful of Paul’s letters because it was full of tenderness, warmth, and affection.  His letter is spontaneous, personal, and informal, presenting us with an intimate diary  of Paul’s own spiritual  experiences.  The dominant note throughout the letter is that of extreme joy.  Paul, though a prisoner, was exultantly happy, and called upon his readers to rejoice in Jesus Christ.  To Paul, Jesus Christ was more than an example; Jesus Christ was his very life.

 

The abiding message of Philippians concerns the nature and grounds of Christian joy.  For Paul, true joy is not a surface emotion that depends on favorable circumstances of the moment.  Christian joy is independent of outward conditions, and is possible even in the midst of adverse circumstances, such as suffering and persecution.

 

Joy ultimately arises from fellowship with the risen, glorified Jesus Christ.  Throughout the letter, Paul speaks of joy in the Lord, emphasizing that through Jesus Christ alone is Christian joy realized, as are all other Christian graces.  Essential to this joy is the confident conviction of the lordship of Jesus Christ, based on experience of the power of His Resurrection.  Because of this conviction, life for Paul attained meaning.  Even death became a friend, because it would bring him into a fuller experience of the presence of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:21-23 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better).

 

The joy presented in Philippians involves eager expectation of the near return of the Lord.  This expectation was dominate in Paul’s thinking and is seen in his five references to the return of Jesus Christ.

 

V. 1:6 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;

V.10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

V. 2:16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain

V.3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

V. 4:5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

 

Paul further describes a joy that springs from fellowship in the spreading of the gospel.  He begins the letter by thanking the Philippians for their partnership in spreading the gospel through their monetary gifts.  The gifts, however, are only an expression of their spirit of fellowship, or as he puts it in 4:17 CEV “I am not trying to get something from you, but I want you to receive the blessings that come from giving.”  So, Christian joy is an outgrowth of being in the active fellowship of the body of Jesus Christ.

 

Personal Application:  This letter reveals the timeless message that true joy is to be found only in a dynamic personal relationship with Jesus Christ and in the assurance that God is able to turn adverse circumstances to our good and His Glory.  Because Paul was united to Jesus Christ by a living faith, Paul could claim contentment in all circumstances.  Paul’s testimony was “I rejoice…..and I will rejoice” (1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice) and Paul’s unqualified command was “Rejoice…..Again I will say rejoice! (V.4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!).

 

Do not trust in ourselves or anyone else for our peace and joy.  It is necessary to surrender to God, the Son, and to call on the Holy Spirit to help us in our Pursuit of Joy. 

 

Philippians 3:3 (AMP) For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.

 

God’s blessings to you all,

 

Tony Sanchez  5-30-15