Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

Intro

“In the language of the world, “down” is a word reserved for losers, cowards, and the bear market.  It is a word to be avoided or ignored, and certainly not discussed seriously…It is a word that colors whatever it touches…down and out, downscale, downhill, downhearted and, down under.  Used of those less fortunate, of the weak, the poor, or the dead. 

 

From the world’s point of view “up” is the only way to go.

People ascend to fame, spotlights, money, power, comfort and pleasure.  To the world “up” is the only way to go. 

 

And we are the ones who have to grab all the happiness we can get.  Are you happy?  Do what makes you happy.

 

“In each heart is a built-in mechanism that craves (self-will) and self-promotion and advancement.”

So often Its all about me and my will and my ideas, and my stories and what I need and what I need done.

 

Philippians 2:1-11 is the most countercultural and counter-intuitive chapter in the Bible.

 

Big Idea:  If you want to be truly happy the direction you must go is down.  You must descent into joy!  Joy is not accomplished by self-will or self-promotion but rather self-abandonment to the will of God.  The more you lose the more you gain.

           

            As difficult as this idea is for us to understand God makes it clear

            that the only way to become great in God’s eyes is to put others

            ahead of yourself, to become a servant.

 

agalliaomai - the outward expression of joy

            16 X in NT,

Mt 5:12  “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great”

Luke 10:21, Jesus rejoiced greatly because the time of salvation was near

Jude 24

 

eufrainw - the subjective feeling of joy

14 times in NT – the joy of festive company

Romans 15:10 “And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”” ESV

 

cairw - comfort and well-being are the basis of joy

In the NT - 74 times as a verb; 59 X as a noun

 

Refers to the perfect joy which Jesus has because he is in full communion with the Father and does His will and he gives to us.

John 14:20 “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” ESV

John 4:34 “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” ESV

John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” ESV

 

Christian joy is found in the midst of sadness, affliction and care.

Its source is beyond earthly, human joy.  For instance…

 

Luke 10:20 “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

 

And Paul wrote Philippians from jail.  “Rejoice and again I say rejoice.” 

Uncertain of the outcome of his trial.

He felt lonely

Found joy in the proclamation of the gospel, in Phil participation

 

Encourages us to rejoice with him

Joy in Philippians was a continuous “defiant” ‘Nevertheless’ the drew its strength from continuous prayer that laid ever need before God

 

Philippians 4:6-7 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ESV

 

Joy for Paul is based on the spread of the gospel throughout the world, at the flourishing growth of the churches and on the hope that after suffering together we will be together with Christ; we will be glorified together.

But above all else, joy in found in the Lord.

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”

 

Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” ESV

 

I.          The hidden secret that joy comes from serving others.

Philippians 2:1-11 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, “but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, “and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ESV

 

Rivalry – competition. 

            Who’s right, who’s winning,  In the end I just can’t stand someone

            else have the last word

 

Conceit – pride

            Surround on each side by myself.

            Expecting the world to revolve around me.

            Things don’t work out as I wanted.

            Things don’t even work out as I’ve prayed.

 

The scriptural challenge is to adopt the selfless servant attitude of Christ…as your own

            Respect for the Word of God.

            Painfully cuts away the diseased portions of our heart.

 

The first reason to believe in serving your way into joy is the example of Jesus.

 

Christ steps into time and splits history in two: BC / AD

He came down into the world from the very top.  Equal with God.  The ultimate object of praise.  Voluntarily gave it all up to enter the real world of human meanness, violence and suffering.  He never stopped descending.

            Omnipotent, He cried

                        Owner of all things, He had no home.

                                    King of Kings, He became a servant

                                                The source of truth, found guilty of blasphemy

            Creator, spit on by his creatures

                        The author of life, he was crucified and gave up his life

And 1 Peter 3:19 could indicate that Jesus’ voluntary humbling of himself to serve others did not stop with the cross but included a descent into hell.

 

Christ endured humiliation, torture, beatings and immeasurable suffering.  Why?

 

“For God so love the world that He gave his only Son”

 

Hebrews 12:1-2  “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him (yet to come) endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ESV

 

Jesus endured suffering for the joy that comes from accomplishing the purpose of God.  Persecution still brought real distress (Heb 12:11

 

Jesus chose to embrace the attitude of a selfless servant because He loves us deeply and willingly took the fall for us. 

           

The road to joy is to embrace the selfless servant attitude of Christ.      Luther’s hymn based on Ps 46

 

And, though they take our life, goods, honor, children and wife,

Yet is their profit small; these things shall vanish all;

The city of God remains.

 

II.         The hidden secret that joy is something we choose.

James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (perseverance). “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” ESV

 

Choosing to look at trials from a different angle than comes naturally.  Considering trials a joy!

 

The proper attitude toward trials 1:2

What kinds of trials was James talking about?

Troubles of all kinds. – the full range of hardship

running out, financial crisis of running out of money,

failing a test in school,  pressures of my job

having to stay up all night with a sick child.

Seriously ill,

Of family burdens – troubles in marriage, child or family

          member in trouble.

 

But especially the external trials of adversity and persecution!

That’s the context of James.

 

Do not be robbed of your joy by supposing that what you are going through is an except to these verses

 

Look for the spiritual dynamics of trials!

The Greek word translated “trials” (peirasmois) means a “proving,”

~ “the trial is a test to prove that your faith is genuine.  Even in the face of great difficulty in faith you cling to Christ!

 

Tests in school are given to prove what you already know.  Knowledge you already have.

 

Trials do prove that the faith you have is genuine.

 

But James is saying that for Christians trials and testing are designed to develop something in you that is not yet fully present.  That is why trials can be a time to rejoice…God is taking me deeper.  God is going to use these to cause be to grow closer to Him and deeper in my trust and less connected to this world and what it has to offer.

 

God will use what you are going through to develop something in you that you do not already have.

 

~ Trials and tests bring an enticement to sin

Suffering can push you toward the thinking of the world. 

Suffering can push you away from God in the unbelief of disappointment.

 

Various temptations to depart from the will of God are in trials. 

These trials testing of your determination to follow Christ.

 

James was speaking of the different kinds of trials in which we experience temptation to accompany sinners or adopted their viewpoint rather than remaining faithful to the Savior.

 

Any trial is a test of our faith, namely, a temptation to cease trusting and obeying God.  Emphatic – produces perseverance!

1.         God will give you the ability to endure patiently.

                        We do not give up trusting and praying no matter the res

 

Psalm 30:5 “For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” ESV

 

2.         The idea of discipline! – continues in a disciplined obedience

 

How do we react to trials? 

ILL:  Your body learns behaviors – both positive and negative

            Learn by hearing a song.

            Step by step learning the song.

            Learn the song so that we “know” it.

            Does that mean his body will just naturally do it?

 

Like reacting to crises in flight!

Recurrent training required.  Examinations to see how we will react.

 

3.         Steadfast faithfulness – we are not part time Christians or fair weathered friends of Christ.

 

Romans 5:3 “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,” ESV

 

III.        The hidden secret of joy is that it is a work of God

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” ESV

 

            God always has confidence that in the end it will all work out.

            Nothing man in his wickedness thinks up and does can ruin

                        God’s ultimate outworking of His plan.  No matter what

                        sorrows fill your heart, or doubts fill your mind or tears blur

                        your eyes God has the abiding quality of hope because His

                        will, will be accomplished and it will all work out.

 

My problem is that I am overwhelmed by doubts, darkness and despair.  At times and in certain seasons of life I know the Word, I talk to God and still I have sadness in my eyes and heart. 

 

Joy and peace is something that God must accomplish in me.  God’s gives us His Word, He reminds us of His promises and to these two ingrediants must be added.

 

1.         We must chose to believe God’s Word.

 

2.         God’s Spirit is at work in my heart and mind to bring welling up inside of me a renewed strength, and a renewed trust, and