Finding Joy in Chains (Final) (Phil.4:10-23)                                                                         2008.09.14    Pastor Edward Cheng  

As this is our last message from the book of Philippians, I thought I’d take the time to look at the overall picture of the book.  We’ve entitled each sermon, “Finding Joy in Chains,” simply because Paul seems to talk so much about having joy and being content, and yet, we know that he himself is in chains.  How does he do it?  Where does the joy come from when you’re locked up unjustly and suffering punishment?  That’s the question we ask this morning.  At the end of the day, where does joy come from?  As we take a survey look at the entire letter, three answers rise to the surface addressing this question.

Joy Comes When Gospel-Work Becomes Our Priority

We see from the very outset of the letter the priority of gospel-work in Paul’s life and perspective.  In 1:4-5, Paul says he prays with joy concerning the Philippians because of their participation in gospel work.  In 1:12, Paul shares how being in the midst of chains is a good thing and a source of joy as his circumstances have served to advance the gospel.  This becomes the key thought of chapter one – the advancement and progress of the gospel.  If it means that the gospel is proclaimed through the world because of his chains, then he can find joy in them even though they are painful.

In 1:13-14, again Paul shares the value of his chains in that they have caused many to be emboldened to share the gospel even more.  Finally, in 1:25, he ends the chapter by declaring a second time the importance of the progress of the gospel, and how that progress relates to joy.

Somehow in the Lord’s wisdom, He has deemed it that when we make gospel-work our priority – when we think about it, when we care about it, when we are concerned about it, when we participate in it – then the things around us aren’t quite so bad when the Lord is able to use them for gospel-progress.  How much of a priority is gospel-work to you? 

Joy Comes When We Focus on the Immaterial

Secondly, Paul tells us over and over again the importance of focusing our attention in immaterial, spiritual, and heavenly things over and above earthly things.  This also becomes a source of joy for the believer.

In 3:3-8, Paul shares has how own life is a testimony of focusing on the immaterial.  If anyone were to boast in physical, earthly achievements, it’s Paul.  He had all of the credentials of a good Jew, and a teacher of the Law at that, and yet to him all of this he considered rubbish and worthless.  He desired to keep his mind on immaterial things, which meant not his own accomplishments, but Jesus’ accomplishments.

In 3:13-14, Paul tells how he has determined to forget what was behind – the old stuff, the material stuff, the worthless stuff – in order to focus on what is ahead – the spiritual stuff, the heavenly stuff.  Finally in 4:12, as we learned recently, Paul shares with us the secret of being content which involves, among other things, a realization that being content does not come from having more.  In other words, true contentment does not come from material things.

Joy Comes When We Get Along in Church

Finally, Paul emphasizes again and again the need to get along in church and how when the Body of Christ is in harmony, so much joy comes from this.

In 2:1-11, Paul spends a great deal of ink talking about the need to be humble toward one another in the Body, and how Jesus serves as the ultimate example of this.  In 2:14-15, he shares how this humility extends into realm of being gracious toward one another, minimizing our complaints and arguments and not always insisting on our preference.  In 4:1-3, we see how important it is to get along in the fact that Paul names in his letter two women in their church who were not getting along.  Obviously it’s a big enough deal for Paul for him to call them out!

Lastly, in 4:14-18, we see that the secret of being content involves sharing in the Lord.  What better way to show each other that we care for one another than by the sharing of what we have!  And it’s not even so much about the material things that we share, but about the sentiment behind every act of sharing – that is, the love and humility we show to one another when we do.

Where does joy come from when we are in difficult circumstances?  There are three perspectives of life that God needs to change in us in order to experience this joy, and when we allow Him to, joy is available to us even when the rest of the world suffers..