THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL TOGETHER

Phil 1:1-11

How in the world are we to have joy in the midst of difficulty? 

How are we to say with the Apostle Paul “Rejoice and again I say rejoice?”Maybe this will help you answer that question! The well-known Bible scholar, Matthew Henry was once attacked by thieves and robbed of his money and this is what he wrote in his dairy…

"Let me be thankful.

First, I was never robbed before.

Second, although they took my purse, they didn't take my life.

Third, although they took my all, it was not much.

Fourth, let me be thankful because it was I who was robbed and not I who did the robbing."

As I said last week in my introduction of Philippians............true joy is found in Jesus Christ. Everlasting and true joy is only found in the Son of God who died and conquered the grave on our behalf. See we live in world system that has a counter-cultural view of joy. And unfortunately for them their pursuit of joy is met with disappointment and frustration. People look everywhere and end up saying with Solomon “Vanity, of vanities! All is vanity.” Eccl 1:2. Tragically for some it ends in suicide, when they realize their functional god won’t satisfy or when it gets taken away.

So how can we say with the Apostle Paul “Rejoice, again I say rejoice.” Phil 4:4. See, Paul didn’t just write about joy, he was a man who lived and demonstrated genuine joy for others to follow after. In Acts 16:26-34 we read this “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

How do you praise God in midst of your suffering?

For Paul, he rejoiced and proclaimed praises to our God and King. It’s though these two disciples that their joy became an “infectious joy” to the people that night. “Infectious joy” that was polar opposite to a culture that sought out their joy in consumerist wonderland filled with games, sexual pleasure, lavish parties, theatre and more. For Paul his joy was a thousand times better as he sits in a prison cell.

How does that happen?

It happens, when your eyes are focused on eternal things and the glorious gospel that saves through Christ. As one Theologian said “The legs feel nothing in the stocks, when the heart is in Heaven.” Paul also wrote “but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” 2 Cor 6:4-10. This is the fuel of our joy, our lives secured in Heaven though the gospel confession to a world that knows nothing about joy.

True genuine biblical joy is working together for the Gospel!! The more we love the gospel the more joy we have in seeing God do His mighty work. This is where our joy begins and ends! That’s why Paul had so much joy in sufferings and in his trials of life. As James so boldly said to hurting brothers and sisters in Christ “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” James 1:2. Paul was a man of many trials of various kinds! But that didn’t steal his joy that he had in the Lord. This church is a great example of that joy; this church is a great example of a healthy church……..WHY?

 True Joy Of The Gospel Always Accompanies True Fellowship (V1-V5)

He says “ I thank my God” this indicates his personal relationship that he has with the Lord.

Paul is grateful despite his internal conflict and He praises God for the people of this church. (v4). Paul loves them “All” he considers them all in his prayers, not just a few of his favourites, but all people of this church family. What is Paul thanking God for here? Because Paul rarely thanked God for things. Paul thanked God for people, who despite whatever trouble they might have, were to him a source of joy. And it’s in this joy that Paul had for the gospel; that this church eagerly assisted him in spreading the good news of the Gospel.

Paul is thankful because of their “fellowship of the Gospel” (v5) which can be translated “participation or partnership” We are in this “together” for the gospel, this involves a mutual interest. See human friendship is wonderful, but fellowship goes beyond friendship. Fellowship means we are committed together for the sole cause of something to flourish, and that is the cause for Christ and the gospel to be known. The heart of true fellowship is self-sacrificing, its gospel- centered fellowship. Hebrews 10:23-25 says “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

God takes ordinary people like ourselves and places us together with the sole purpose of making the gospel known and Christ magnified. Paul uses this term “partnership” in other parts of this letter to remind us of why we are in this together.

Phil 1:7 “partakers with me of grace.”

Phil 2:1 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit..”

Phil 3:10 “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings..”

Phil 4:14 “Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.”

Phil 4:15 “..partnership with me..”

The church is a mutual interest sharing group, who are gospel focused, and Christ exalting. This is what it means to be together for the gospel. A great example of this is written in J. R. R. Tolkien’s book “The Lord Of The Rings” Tolkien writes a thrilling story to illustrate this idea of gospel partnership. “The fellowship is made up of radical diversity, little, resilient, pipe-smoking hobbits with big, hairy feet from the green Shire; a few warrior men; a wizard; an dwarf with an axe. Together they share a common mission of defeating the forces of darkness and saving Middle- Earth. They were willing to die for one another and for the mission.” This is a picture of the church! Paul says that in the fellowship of the gospel, we recognize our difference, but we celebrate our unity in Jesus and commit to give ourselves for the mission of making the gospel known. Remember what Jesus said to His disciples “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. Jesus set the bar with His atoning death for sinners. The disciples followed because their hearts were transformed by the gospel of Christ Jesus. This is what brings us together for the gospel, this is what we are partners of, as we have genuine fellowship with one another.

True Joy Of The Gospel Brings Confidence In Christ’s Finishing Work (V6- V8)

Our confidence as Christian’s lies in the blessed Gospel of Christ and His finishing work. Paul’s confidence was much more than human hope, a fade or band wagon to get on. Paul was a man who had no confidence in the flesh at all. Paul said “For we are the circumcision, (the true believers, this was symbolic of the rejection of the flesh with its corrupt tendencies, and to lead to the pure and spiritual worship of God) who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” Phil 3:3. Paul knew what his flesh is capable of, even as a child of God who loves the gospel. The only confidence Paul had was that Christ is greater and He will delivery him into eternity by His sovereign grace. Confidence” is kind of boldness, or calm assurance, which arises from evidence of holiness, and the preparation for heaven. What was Paul assure of? (v6) The absolute confidence that comes from the gospel. Knowing the true gospel that saves to the uttermost. Believing God’s promises found in His written word. Trusting in His sovereignty that He will conclude all things according to His perfect and complete will. Look what Paul is saying “And I am sure of this, that He (meaning God) who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Which “He has begun”, “He will complete it” this is the eternal hope of our joy, because it points to eternal security for the Christian.

It is the Lord who began this work in you; 

and it’s the Lord who will finish it

Paul told Titus “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7. We need to remember salvation is solely God’s work, not men. He will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (v6)

Think about this verse for a minute. What is Paul trying to say?

God never start’s anything that He does not finish.  Has God begun something in your life?  Have you been born by the Spirit of God? Your confidence should not be in yourself, but in Christ alone. Not in your faith nor in your spiritual successes, but solely in God.

It is He who calls us as Christians. 

It is Him who leads us on in the Christian life. 

It is Him who will most certainly lead you and me Home.

One Theologian  said "Let us never put confidence in man, or in any sanctity of position, office, or dress. If apostleship did not make Judas a saint, neither will position, office, nor dress make thee a saint."

Paul’s confidence was in the Lord and His continued work that He will finish! Paul says “He….will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”   Throughout this letter Paul reminds them of “the day ...” This day hasn’t come yet, but it is coming for which Christians should be prepared by. Living sincerely and blameless and holding fast to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a joy that surpasses all others.

  

True Joy Of The Gospel Brings Loyalty And Commitment (V9-V11)

The primary aim in our Christina lives is to love God and to love one another. Jesus said "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31. This is hard to do! Why? We love ourselves to much! The Love Paul is talking about is not based on feelings but rather it is a: Conscious choice because you have a deep seated passion for the gospel to share that love with others, especially those inside the family of God. To love lost sinners, begins, with loving each other in the family God. See we need to understand and always remember “Love is not blind, but perceptive and committed to the gospel.

The heart carefully scrutinizes to distinguish between right and wrong. These people were showing their love for Paul, by loving each other, and the Gospel. This is why Paul had such great Joy for them. This is why joy is the theme of the Christian life. But this takes commitment and loyalty to one another! And that’s only possible because the Gospel has been poured out into your life. Our joy is connected to the eternal promises through the gospel together.

This is what Paul is saying here. (v9) “your love abound more and more” “Abound” means to overflowing in great abundance” Love to God; love to one another; love to absent Christians; love to the world. Our love is to grow and abound throughout the Christian life; it’s a progression of joy and faithfulness. Jesus used this example in His parable of the sower. “And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Matt 13:11-12. It’s not a love that is limited, but a love that is unlimited and this love overflows our cup in every aspect of our being.

So what does Paul want us to

abound more and more in?

A joy for one another.....”......for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Rom 13:8

A joyless life shouldn’t be in the vocabulary of the child of God. He saved me from sin and death. Love for fellow Christians is a sure mark of saving faith. Jesus said “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35. Our joy increases as we increase our love for the gospel and one another.

  

A joy for knowledge.....”But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18. Love is not blind, but biblically informed. Understand! Any love that is not grounded and growing in Scripture falls majorly short of biblical love. Real knowledge produces holiness though a sincere devotion and obedience to the Scriptures 

A joy for discernment.....”But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Heb 5:14. The Christian life is to discern what God would want me to do, over the idea of what I think I should do. The Word governs our lives and decisions. Discerning what is best! What Paul is saying is “What is the best way for me to love this person based on what Your Word says? Paul wants us to “approve”, but this means more than just simple acknowledging or agreeing that something is right and wrong. (v10) Paul wants us to study, investigate, and determine the best possible ways to obey and please the Lord, and then to live accordingly.

  

We abound in this because?

Again going back to (v7) “.......  You all are partakers with me of grace”.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, saved by His mercies and grace. A grace that He will continue and complete until the day of Jesus Christ. The joy of the Lord is our daily strength as we press on for His glory as we do gospel together. The ultimate end or goal to our joy is found at the end of Paul’s prayer (v10- v11)

“God be glorified” Our lives are hidden in Him, because we stand in the shadows of His grace. We stand with confidence and boldness in His righteousness, as the Gospel declares us blameless, because we hide behind the shadows of the Cross.

Matt Chandler said “The work of God in the cross of Christ strikes us as awe-inspiring only after we have first been awed by the glory of God.”

God is the ultimate finality of the Christian life and our joy in righteousness. Our God who began in us, is the God who completes. This is our assurance, the source of our confidence and joy. The Gospel definitely glorifies God as extremely valuable, which ultimately makes Christ all glorious and worthy of all our joy together!