The Elements of Joy and Its Thieves (Philippians 1)
This sermon explores the nature of true spiritual joy, drawing from Paul's letter to the Philippians written from prison. It unpacks the sources of Paul's own profound joy and then offers practical insights into what commonly diminishes or steals joy from believers.
This sermon unpacks the elements of Paul's deep joy for the Philippian believers, which flowed from a supernatural love unaffected by his circumstances. It also identifies fourteen common obstacles that can steal a Christian's joy.
Overview
The sermon begins by contextualizing Paul's letter to the Philippians, written from prison amidst difficult circumstances and attacks. Despite physical, ministerial, and social deprivation, Paul consistently expresses joy throughout the epistle. His joy is sparked by a gift from the Philippian Christians, delivered by Epaphroditus, prompting Paul to write back expressing his love, concern for their unity, and his unwavering joy.
The preacher first highlights how believers can bring joy to God, an astounding thought that our infinite God rejoices in us. He lists several actions that delight God: repentance from sin, believing in Him, worshiping and adoring Him, prayer, uprightness, blameless character, and faithful service. This provides a theological foundation for understanding joy as a two-way street between God and His people.
The sermon then delves into Paul's specific elements of joy as seen in Philippians 1:3-8: the joy of recollection (sweet memories), intercession (joy in praying for others), participation (rejoicing in shared gospel ministry), and anticipation (joy in what believers will become). The primary focus for this particular sermon is the 'joy of affection,' Paul’s deep, supernatural, Christly love for the Philippians, which caused his heart to leap with joy.
Finally, the sermon transitions to practical 'thieves of joy'—things that cause its absence. These include false salvation, satanic influence, an inadequate understanding of God's sovereignty, and prayerlessness. Further thieves are identified as spiritual lows after highs, a circumstance-driven emotional orientation, ingratitude, forgetfulness of past salvation, dissatisfaction with earthly conditions, fear of the future, living by uncontrolled feelings, morbid self-analysis, self-centeredness, and an unwillingness to accept God's forgiveness.
Key points
- Paul wrote Philippians from prison, expressing profound joy despite his suffering and ministerial deprivation.
- God rejoices over believers for their repentance, faith, adoration, prayer, uprightness, blameless character, and faithful service.
- Paul's joy for the Philippians stemmed from recollection, intercession, participation in the gospel, anticipation of their future, and deep affection.
- The 'joy of affection' is a supernatural, Christly love Paul felt, which caused his physical body to react with deep yearning for the Philippian believers.
- Spiritual joy is unrelated to circumstances, being a gift of God produced by the Holy Spirit in believers who obey His Word, face trials, and hope for eternal glory.
- Fourteen 'thieves of joy' are identified, including false salvation, inadequate understanding of God's sovereignty, and prayerlessness.
- Other factors that steal joy are a circumstance orientation, ingratitude, forgetfulness of salvation, dissatisfaction with one's earthly condition, fear of the future, uncontrolled feelings, morbid self-analysis, self-centeredness, and an unwillingness to accept forgiveness.
In John MacArthur's words
“Spiritual joy is unrelated to circumstances.”
“Without faith it is impossible to please God.”
“I suggest that the main trouble in this whole matter of spiritual depression is this: that we allow our self to talk to us instead of talking to our self.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: Paul's Circumstances and the Epistle's Occasion
- II. God's Joy Over Us
- A. Repentance (Luke 15:7, 10)
- B. Faith (Hebrews 11:5-6)
- C. Adoration/Worship (Psalm 147:11)
- D. Prayer/Communion (Proverbs 15:8)
- E. Uprightness/Righteousness (1 Chronicles 29:17, Proverbs 11:20)
- F. Blameless Character (Proverbs 11:20)
- G. Faithful Service (Matthew 25:21, 23)
- III. Elements of Paul's Joy for the Philippians (Philippians 1:3-8)
- A. The Joy of Recollection (v. 3)
- B. The Joy of Intercession (v. 4)
- C. The Joy of Participation (v. 5)
- D. The Joy of Anticipation (v. 6)
- E. The Joy of Affection (v. 7-8)
- 1. It is Right to Feel This Way (v. 7)
- 2. Because I Have You in My Heart (v. 7)
- 3. Partakers of Grace with Me (v. 7)
- 4. I Long for You with the Affection of Christ Jesus (v. 8)
- IV. Thieves of Joy (Causes of Joy's Absence)
- A. False Salvation
- B. Satan and Demons (1 Peter 5:8)
- C. Inadequate Understanding of God's Sovereignty (Romans 8:28)
- D. Prayerlessness (Philippians 4:6, James)
- E. Low After a Spiritual High (Elijah)
- F. Circumstance Orientation
- G. Ingratitude
- H. Forgetfulness (Psalm 103:2)
- I. Dissatisfaction with Your Earthly Condition (Philippians 4:12)
- J. Fear of the Future (Matthew 6)
- K. Living by Uncontrolled Feelings (Psalm 42)
- L. Morbid Self-Analysis
- M. Self-Centeredness
- N. Guilt (Unwillingness to Accept Forgiveness)
Scripture references
- Philippians 1
- Philippians 1:3-8
- Philippians 4:6
- Philippians 4:12
- Luke 15:7
- Luke 15:10
- Hebrews 11:5-6
- Psalm 147:11
- Proverbs 15:8
- Proverbs 11:20
- Proverbs 3:5
- Proverbs
- 1 Chronicles 29:17
- Matthew 25:21
- Matthew 25:23
- Matthew 6
- Matthew 22:37
- 2 Corinthians 13:5
- 2 Corinthians 7:3
- 1 Peter 5:8
- 1 Peter 3
- Romans 8:28
- James
- Psalm 42
- Psalm 51:10
- Psalm 119:36
- Psalm 86:11
- Psalm 103:2
- Acts 8:37
- Deuteronomy 11:13
- Deuteronomy 26:16
- 1 Kings 2:4
- Ephesians
- Galatians 5:22
- 1 Samuel 2:1-2
1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
16 This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
4 That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
Insights
Spiritual joy is a divine gift, distinct from situational happiness.
God rejoices over our repentance, faith, and righteous living.
Deep affection for others can be a profound source of joy.
Questions & answers
What is the primary characteristic of Paul's letter to the Philippians?
According to the sermon, the letter is an epistle of joy, expressing Paul's joy despite his imprisonment and negative circumstances, and his love and concern for the Philippian believers.
What actions of believers cause God to rejoice?
God rejoices when believers repent from sin, have faith in Him, worship and adore Him, engage in prayer, live righteously, maintain blameless character, and offer faithful service.
How does the sermon define 'spiritual joy'?
Spiritual joy is a gift of God to those who believe the gospel, produced by the Holy Spirit, mixed with trials, and rooted in setting one's hope on eternal glory. It is distinct from happiness, which depends on happenstance.
What does the preacher mean by 'the joy of affection' in Paul's letter?
It refers to Paul's deep, supernatural, Christly love and yearning for the Philippian Christians, a bond so strong that it physically affected him and filled him with joy due to their mutual selfless sacrifice and partnership in the gospel.
Why does an inadequate understanding of God's sovereignty steal joy?
It leads to fretting, worry, and anxiety, as if God is not in control, rather than resting in the truth that all things work together for good according to His purpose.
What role does 'talking to yourself' play in overcoming spiritual depression?
The sermon, quoting Martyn Lloyd-Jones, suggests that instead of passively listening to uncontrolled feelings, one should actively 'talk to yourself' to bring emotions under control and encourage hope in God, which is a key to spiritual living.
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