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All right, well, we're gonna begin again this morning good to have you again be able to Study in Sunday school time another book of the Bible before we do let's let's go to the Lord in prayer our father we're thankful once again that We have a new week before us a new beginning of that week.
It's the Lord's Day and we're grateful for the means of grace that you give us and particularly the gathering together of the Saints on the first day of the week and how precious and and special it is how privileged we are to be able to to gather with those who have called upon the name of the Lord those whom you have saved Lord and with it with a desire to learn with a with a hunger for your word Lord, we're just a Focus upon Christ and our desire to glorify him.
And if we would be able to learn this morning something that you would teach us from the book of Philippians We would be grateful. We ask that you remember us in this time and their whole day as we spend it Together this morning and this this coming evening.
Worshiping we pray that we may bring you honor and glory. We ask it in Jesus name. Amen. Well as I prayed we're going to look at the the book of Philippians this morning. So if you'd like to turn there and I've got a sheet if you don't have a sheet There's one over on the chair to your left.
This this is a book Written by the Apostle Paul to one of the churches which He by God's grace had established in Macedonia or an area which we would know in the world being the first church in a European city and The theme of this book as you'll see at the top of the page is Christ Jesus Christ the source of joy and Christ the source of our Strength and I put a couple of verses up there that are a couple of my favorites in chapter 121 for to me Paul said to live as Christ.
To Paul to live was not his ministry. It was not his friends. It was not his academic pursuits. It was Christ. It was a person. It was the God-man. It was his God and Savior the Lord Jesus and he said to die is gain after all this life.
Of course Paul we know Paul had said that To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and he knew that he would be with Christ forever. And that was I think the theme one of the themes of Paul's life this great great verse.
And then I put another one in there rejoice in the Lord always again, I will say rejoice from chapter 4 in verse 4 and we're gonna spend more time in that because the theme of this book deals A lot and Paul does deal a lot with the subject of joy.
And it's kind of particular or kind of unique because if you think about it This is one of Paul's prison epistles, which means Paul wrote this Epistle this letter while he was in prison and that makes it even more special to me.
I mean It's easy to write a good letter and it's easy to smile and it's easy to rejoice and it's easy to be glad when things are going well. When we have a job when there is money in the checking account or the bank when there when there is food in the house.
And things are well, the bills are caught up and everybody's in in good health, but when things are difficult. When when when days are are trying. That is when we Exhibit the grace of God in the in this grace particularly the grace of of having joy in our lives.
This is a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5. Which we had looked when we went through the book of Galatians. This is something that the Spirit of God works in the child of God. But it is also something as God is working on us.
It is something that we are to exhibit in our lives and I'll touch on that more lately when it came to joy. The Apostle Paul did not find joy In the jail. He took it in with him. He took it in because it was part of his in part and fiber of his life.
It was his continual Companion and friend. This epistle Is a spiritual love letter to the church at Philippi. You will notice if you read this book that that Paul. It's personal to them because he uses the word I often and when he's writing to them.
He expresses his love. He expresses his affection for them. He he cares for them because he knew that they cared for for him because that is kind of like the What is behind this letter? He's gonna send this letter to them to thank them for the gift that they gave to support his ministry in the gospel and He just expresses his warm affection his gratitude and Again, it's written under hard circumstances while he's in prison.
But it strikes the keynotes in this book of victory and joy. The book is written about 61 ad. To of course the Philippians or the place known as Philippi. It was the city was first founded in Europe this was a place that was a city in Europe that was named after Philip of Macedonia, which is the father who was the father of Alexander the Great.
Now the church at Philippi Was founded by the Apostle Paul in Europe and it goes back to his second missionary journey. We'll see that in Acts chapter 16. I hope to take a look there in a little while where we see that they were.
The converts at the beginning you remember was Lydia the seller of purple. Whose heart the Lord opened. It's interesting. It says in Acts 16 that the Lord opened Lydia's heart so she could receive the word.
The next thing you See is that she's getting baptized. It doesn't say anything about her believing. It doesn't say anything about her repenting doesn't say anything about her and trusting in Christ. It is just inferred there when someone when God opens someone's heart when salvation visits they do repent.
They do believe and they are baptized. They begin that initial step of obedience and walking From the faith that God gives and the salvation that he brings to them. They begin to walk in obedience and the same Same true happens to someone else in that chapter and we'll take a look there.
But I think that is a great a great statement when it comes to what salvation is. It is not man opening up his heart to the Lord. It is not man taking the hand of God. It is not man doing anything when it comes to when it comes to salvation when it comes to a spiritual work.
It is always God coming to man. It is God reaching down and plucking us up as the psalmist said out of an horrible pit and Out of the miry clay and establishing putting our feet upon a rock in establishing Establishing our going in our ways.
Philippians presents a Testimony just a great testimony of living a life that is focused on Christ. And chapter 3 is very vital there when you see the the testimony of the Apostle Paul. Where he pretty much disguards?
Rubbishes throws out his his past life and everything that he thought was Important and he counts it all rubbish. All of his all of his achievements all of his standing humanly speaking. So that the most important thing for him to to focus on he says is that he could win Christ or that he could gain Christ and be Found in Christ and to know Christ and to go on with Christ and to pursue Christ.
It's it's there in that chapter and in this book. Of course. He has this idea of of being joyous. No matter what the circumstances no matter what comes our way now there are times When we're not going to feel like rejoicing there are times when difficult losses trials burdens.
Suffering comes our way. But in the midst of all of that even when we lose a friend. Even when we lose a baby even though we struggle with family members that are outside of Christ. And it's very very difficult and in our hearts are broken when we don't feel well physically.
Underneath it all by the grace of God. We still are people who rejoice. I'm going to show you exact example of that as as we go on but this book is about Christ likeness its godliness. It's this closeness to Christ and I love in chapter 3 if you want to just take a quick look there.
Something to help you. When it comes to the Christian walk and Christian living chapter 3 in verse 3 I'm sorry chapter 3 in verse 13 The Apostle Paul says brethren. I count not myself to have apprehended or he's basically saying there I have not arrived.
I Am still being worked on by God and I am still maturing. I am still learning. I am still going on in the faith. I haven't apprehended. But this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth into those things which are before and he says one of the things there that I think that that happens that hinders that Takes the wind out of the sail of many believers today is is the baggage that we hold on to.
It's the it's the past failures and the past sins and the past Disappointments we hold on to those things and we look at those things and we remember those things and and it just they drag us Down and they weigh us down and I'm not saying that we just totally Disregard them or avoid them or don't even deal with them.
If we've sinned we confess our sins. We repent Repentances once and daily to someone once told me it is it is every day where we're going to the Lord for Forgiveness to ask him to cleanse us from all unrighteousness but if we look in the back and we look in the past and All we concentrate on the past is how we have failed the Lord or how our sins are so great.
We are gonna see nothing but disappointment and nothing but what will hinder us to go forward. And what the Apostle Paul says is, you know deal with those things. Yes, but forget those things which are behind.
Learn from those things and go on from those things and and press forward and he has this this athletic Speech that he uses here is this running this race and reaching forward or pressing toward the mark for the prize or For the goal of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus reaching forth with with all that we have pursuing Christ likeness is Is what we ought to have as a focus in our lives.
But not to let the past drag us down and so I hope that I hope that's a little bit of the help. That's not just the that's not gonna be a focus this morning. But it's one of my favorite verses how the Lord is merciful and he will forgive us.
When we fail and the Lord will and does give opportunities for those who have failed. I've told you this before I'll tell I'll tell it again. Maybe somebody who hasn't heard this. But one of my favorite verses in the book of Jonah, you remember Jonah the word of the Lord comes to him.
And he is to go preach to Nineveh and he Refuses to go and he's gonna get on the ship go down to Tarsus sleep the bottom of the boat the whole story tossed over and all and all of that, but he he he disobeys God and After he is spit out on the shore.
He's alive and God has been merciful to to spare him. One of my favorite verses in that book is is the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. The word of the Lord can't God is a God of second and third and fourth opportunities his children.
He will not abandon and we will fail. God will remain faithful. We will be unfaithful and we will have things that we want to forget and we ought to forget. And yet the Lord picks us up. Psalmist said the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.
He delights in his way though. He fall he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholds him with his hands. God is there always for us to help us even even when we have things that we're ashamed of.
Thank the Lord for his mercy and thank the Lord for his grace and we can forget those things and run the race. Looking unto Jesus as the writer of Hebrews said the author and finisher of our faith and press forward.
In their pursuit of godliness in the pursuit of Christ's likeness as we seek after the Lord. Oh, let me see. What else do I want to pick out on these? On this page, I think I'll read that a little bit later.
Let me get into what I wanted to to deal with as far as I mean I hope you can read the the sheet. If you do that you'll get a really good overview of what of what this book is all about and the different nuggets and jewels that I've Hopefully put there and gleaned from all of the different sources that I have on the paper where I've gotten gotten these from.
Well, let me uh, let me deal with go back to the subject of joy. The Apostle Paul uses the word joy four times in this book and he uses The word rejoice nine times and let's take a look at let's take a look at some of those in in chapter 1 Paul says in verse 3.
I Thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Wasn't that a testimony that every it's not not the mention of joy. But isn't that a testimony that every Christian ought to have when somebody else thinks about you.
All they can do is thank God for your life. Thank God for your influence upon them, maybe thank God for the testimony that you had Before them or not. And and to does not this tell us that our lives are like are an epistle they're like a letter read among men people are watching us inside the church and outside the church and Are we making a difference in the lives of people?
Are we touching the lives of others? Are we sacrificing ourselves? Are we truly loving them and Do we make a difference in a life so much so that when someone thinks about us when we're not around them?
They say I thank my God upon every remembrance of you that was the testimony that the Church of Philippi had for the Apostle Paul because he remembers their affection for him and the way that they loved him in the ministry that he had they supported him and him being around them and He was just thankful to the Lord for them.
But then he says in verse 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making requests with joy and Paul Seasoned or Paul peppered his his prayer with joy and in in his praying He was rejoicing and I think he's rejoicing as he thinks about them.
Like he said he's thankful for them and he's remembering them. But you will notice that in chapters 1 and 2 Almost every mention of joy deals with the Apostle Paul's life himself and how joy exhibited itself in his life.
It's it's it's a personal testimony as we see these notice notice the second Example that I'd like to show you in this chapter. When Paul is in prison There are those that are preaching the gospel and maybe to the point where they're trying to bring affliction upon Paul and make it more difficult for him while he's in prison and notice in verse 16 he says the one preached Christ of Contention or strife not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds.
But the other out of love preaching Christ out of love knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel and then in verse 18 he says what then notwithstanding every way whether in pretense or in truth Christ is preached I Therein do rejoice and yea I and will rejoice.
And Paul says I'm in prison and other people are preaching the gospel in such a way maybe saying stuff. About the Apostle Paul trying to cause problems and contention and strife may be forwarding their groups cause.
Maybe they have no true regard for religion and it and it could be upsetting to the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul looks. Says it basically looks the gospel being preached. I'm glad for that, and I truly rejoice in that because it really doesn't have it doesn't depend upon the the motive or the or the methodology or the means or the Articulation or the eloquence of those that are preaching whatever their desire is what's the power of God in the salvation?
It is the gospel and if the gospel is preached I mean there are false churches. And there are there are there are apostate churches in the United States where the Bible is being read. And someone hears that scripture and God uses the gospel to save people now.
They'll come out from that from that church. But it is it is not man's Techniques it is not our gimmicks. It's not our methodology. It's the power of God the gospel is it saves. It's the cross of Christ and Paul says the gospel is being preached and even if it's to my hurt.
Even if it's gonna even if it's gonna do me harm even if it's gonna bring sorrow or affliction to me here in prison. I'm glad and you know what not only am I glad I purpose to rejoice you see how it's how I mean we could say that.
And I think the problem in the United States is and the culture in the day in which we live is that we want things to be well externally we want Circumstances to be good so that we can be happy and God has not called us to be happy.
He's called us to be holy. We know that and. And yet in our culture, it's like give me I want to receive I want to have that and if I don't have it I'm not happy. We're gonna see that has nothing to do with circumstances if it if it had to do with our circumstances.
Paul is in the misery most miserable circumstances being confined lost his freedom and here he is in prison. But we see him over and over again. Saying I rejoice if it had to do with circumstances. He wouldn't be a happy camper and he wouldn't be rejoicing but he is and it's not something that that is.
It doesn't it's something that is on the inside got by God's grace, but it has to do it's influenced by. It's it's in the sphere of something our joy exists. And I'll hold you a little bit in suspense and we'll get to that in a little while when we get when we get to Chapter 4 where what is it?
That is the foundation of joy. What is it? That is that the sphere of our? Joy should exist within the Apostle. Paul will will admonish us there a little bit later. Look in chapter 2 Paul says if there if there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit any bowels and mercies fulfill ye my joy.
That ye may be like-minded having the same love being of one accord and Of one mind and I believe what Paul is saying is he's rejoicing here. And he does rejoice in true Christian fellowship. And he's asking them and he's in he's admonishing them To to be a people that are like-minded that are sharing and things in common that have the same love that that that have.
They are in one accord this unity in this one-mindedness or this one spiritedness, and he says that brings him joy. When he sees Christians that live together in fellowship. That's why the only account in this book where Paul Seems to deal with a problem in the church is in chapter 2 of 4 and in verse 2 where he says I beseech Iodius and beseech Syntyche that you be of the same mind in the Lord notice it deals with the same thing.
There's something there's something going on. Maybe something unreconciled between Those two believers in the church and that's really the only negative part of the whole book the whole rest of the book is admonition and encouragement and and teaching and.
And it is thankfulness and affection. I mean I talked about affection earlier back back in chapter 1. I just need to read this because I just I just thought of it. Let's See if I can find it. I was looking at it last night.
Something about yes in chapter 1 verse 8 God is my record or for God is my witness. How greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ how they put it in the King James? He's he's in this this Greek idea of this you know the inward part this bowels of of Of his affection and What's important to him?
He is saying that he longs after them. Do you have anybody long after you you're away from or do they say? That person's out of the way. They weren't on the vacation. They're not around you know I mean I'm I'm I'm kind of being nasty, and we are not to be that way as Believers, but do we ever act that way to where maybe somebody doesn't want to be around us.
I believe that Christians ought to be a people who are Delightful and winsome. We don't always act that way, and we don't always think that way well. We ought to be nice to be around we ought to be it ought to be great to be around another believer because we encourage One another we do all the one another's love one another and bear one another's burdens and and help each other and we're kind to each other and affectionate and Tender we don't do that all the time and and Paul says when he thought about them He just so desired to be with them.
I mean is it I mean we had the home group Friday night. Just a few of us over at the Reddy's house. And it was so nice just to be able to bow our heads in prayer knowing that we're all children of the of the Living God Saved by God's grace being able to go to the throne of grace In this fellowship that we have together so special and shut away from all the world.
And it was it's just something I look forward to and and and just desire to be around to other believers. Who have a passion for Christ and a love and a desire to seek and to serve him well? Let me go on in the study of joy.
I mean, I think we looked at thou Paul seasons his prayer with it. He rejoices in the gospel going forward. He rejoices in Christian fellowship notice in chapter 2 in verse 17 he says yes, or yea if and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and Service of your faith.
I joy and rejoice With you all for the same cause also do you do you joy and rejoice with me and Paul says? Laboring for the gospel ministry laboring for other souls. To not only be saved, but to be helped after they're saved to be discipled to be fed to be watched over and cared for.
Paul says I rejoice in the sacrifices for the cause of Christ and Sometimes we think oh, man. We need somebody to When it's difficult and where when there's sweat and when there's tears. And there will be when you minister for others, and you give your life for other people you will be misunderstood.
You will be labeled. You're you you'll have evil return for good. It will happen at times not all the time, but but it will it'll just. It'll just come in like I said once when I was playing football in Leicester's you'd get side blocked.
You just get checked right off the line. I mean just taken right right off your feet by what people say in the actions that they give Paul. Paul says the more I love you as he's ministering to them the less I am loved.
It's just one of those things that happens at times and Paul says when I Sacrifice and when I serve you for your faith. So that you might be increased in your faith so that you might go on so that you might Mature in the faith and I and those suffering comes my way.
I'm gonna self-sacrifice and joy. I'm gonna be joyous for that. And I think more than anything when you come down to it I'm gonna really get to it in in chapter Three and four when the Apostle deals with the subject of joy the whole reason is that we can joy is because of who Jesus Christ is to us and How it is that we have such a wonderful relationship with Christ a relationship, which is Which is so unexpected and so undeserved because we're great sinners, but yet he's a great Savior and Paul says here.
You this whole idea of sacrificing look look what Paul. Look at the the rock in the hard place that Paul is caught in between back in chapter 1. When Paul said in verse 21 for me to live as Christ and to die is gain.
But I but if I live in the flesh. This is the fruit of my labor. Yet what I what I shall choose. I want not now notice what he says in verse 23 for I am in a straight. Or I am in a I'm squeezed in here between two things.
Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. I mean, that's what he'd rather do. I mean to leave to to die to go on to glory to be with Christ. Nevertheless look at his heart.
He would love and knows that if he is absent from the body as he said in 2nd Corinthians he'd be present with the Lord and here he says but nevertheless verse 24 to remain or abide in the flesh is More necessary or more needful for you or for your sakes.
That's what that's what joy is all about. You've probably heard this sometimes you think some of these acronyms or whatever are very corny. But they're very good to remember things when it comes to joy.
It's Jesus J others. Oh, and then why is I mean the you is you? Jesus others and then you and then. Yeah, it is why yourself yourself. I told Deb when I left the house I said man, I got I'm getting some type of cold and I am so foggy I'm gonna just totally mess up my tongues and kind of get in front of my teeth.
I'm I'm not gonna be able to see what I'm saying and all that stuff. But yeah, Jesus others and you that's what it's about. It's but the the culture in which we live in is you you first. That's the way you're happy.
That's the way you found find true happiness, but that's only temporal happiness. I got a great car. I got a great job. I got great friends. I have good health. I'm happy. But what happens when the car gets smashed up when you get that awful cold or you end up in the hospital when your friends?
Forsake you. Your body gets old because of age and so on and so on you lose those things but people Put their focus in the wrong in the wrong thing when it comes to this is what I want to receive or obtain my joy from and It's the externals.
It's the circumstances if things are going well, but Paul says in this book in chapter 4 around verses 11 to 12 He said I've learned and it's not just something that comes, you know, just supernaturally booing.
We get contentment, but he says I've learned that whatever state that I'm in that in that state. They're in to be content. I'm I'm happy and I'm content where God has put me and placed me and when it comes to the circumstances They're not gonna always be good, but that won't squash joy.
That cannot rob us of joy and it ought not to rob us of joy. Because our joy is supposed is is to exist in a certain certain sphere. Gladman's wait, he's smiling. He says when he's gonna get to that point.
Well, we'll get there. What I wanted to do though. Let me see. I think I'll stop as far as the mentions of joy. You can go in and see all the different mentions there. But let's just take a quick look back in the book of Acts to see where this whole ministry at Philippi came.
Hold your place in Philippians if you'd like and look at Acts with me, please. And I'm gonna go a little bit further back. Just so that you can see that this was even before the Apostle Paul came on the scene that God intended and God's purpose when God saves people Is not only to bring them into a relationship with himself through his son Jesus Christ to forgive them.
To make them his children to reconcile us. Jesus to reconcile us unto God enemies now friends with God. One of the things that God does When he saves a soul is He makes us glad. He makes us a people who who rejoice in God a people who the Spirit of God works in the one of the fruit of the Spirit is joy and As I think of and I'll just describe it joy as I've looked at it is this a gladness it is a delightful sense of Being alive of being saved of being changed of having a new life of Being those who are overcomers through Christ those who are eternal eternally secure.
It is a gladness of soul. You see it's it's inward it has when a person is happy. They're happy because the circumstances are good. And like I said before everything is going good. But but when it comes to gladness, it's an inward thing.
It is a it is a pleasure within the heart and I believe that the Apostle Paul was a happy man as we're gonna see and in It was a bright spot of his testimony and this epistle as I said is a joyous Epistle Showing how Paul is joyful throughout his life no matter what the circumstances I said we're back in the book of Acts.
Notice one of the first mentions where in chapter 2 We have the the preaching of Peter at Pentecost. And he tells them they need to repent and they did and that that this relationship and remission of sins only comes through Jesus Christ and In verse 40 chapter 2 verse 40 he says and with many other words did he testify and exhort saying Save yourselves from this crooked perverse warped or untoward generation save yourselves.
Notice what they did verse 41 then they that gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day they were added unto them about 3 ,000 souls and what they do is they continue in the Apostles doctrine the fellowship the breaking of bread and in prayer and notice one of the descriptions of them in verse 46 and they continuing daily it with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house.
They did eat their meat with gladness or exuberance and singleness of heart praising God and having favor with all the people. God doesn't save us. God does not rescue us. From an eternal damnation and separation from God in hell just to make us yours.
Do you know what I mean by that to make us yours? Oh? Is me nobody cares about me? Life is so difficult being a Christian. I gotta go to church again. I gotta read my Bible again that's not I mean I Mean think about it when God when God rescues us it is a miracle.
It is a wonder of wonders. It is amazing love. How can it be that thou my God should die for me in chapter 3? We have this guy who is impotent. He's a he's a lame man. He cannot walk on his on his feet in the apostles speak to them.
And they say we don't have any money to give you but such as we have we will give to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Verse 6 of Nazareth rise up and walk. And they took him by the right hand verse 7 and lifted him up and immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength.
And he went home, and he just said woe is me. No notice the description and he leaping up stood and walked and entered with them into the temple walking and leaping and praising God and all the people saw him walking and Praising God there is an amazement and it ought to be amazing to us.
Chapter 8 if you would please Philip is to preach the gospel and Philip's going to go to Samaria verse chapter 8. Verse 4 therefore they They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.
Verse 5. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them and the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
It says in verse 7 what the miracles were. There were unclean spirits. Crying with a loud voice came out of those that were possessed. And those that were taken with a palsy and were lame they were healed.
There was just this outward demonstration at the beginning of the preaching of the gospel in the book of Acts where wonderful things were being done and notice what it says and there was great sorrow in the city and There was great doldrum in the city and there was great mediocrity in Samaria.
No it says and there was great joy in that city they had been redeemed they had been delivered and. So it ought to be in the life of the child of God exuberance and praise even though we don't feel like it.
Even when we're supposed to rejoice with those who rejoice it says we put those with the who weep but rejoice with those who rejoice. Even when you're jealous or envious, and we ought not to be that but I mean another brother and sister in Christ is promoted blessed.
We didn't get the blessing. They did rejoice with those who rejoice. It's something that we ought to be doing constantly in in daily as we're going to see when we go back to chapter. Back in Philippians chapter 4 in the same book of the same chapter Rome Acts chapter 8 Philip God by the Spirit directs him to go speak to the Ethiopian eunuch and you remember as he goes up in his chariot and he and he shares with him and explains to him as the Eunuch is reading about Isaiah out of the book of Isaiah.
You know he asked Philip who is this man speaking about about himself or somebody else and at that place Philip preached unto him Jesus and explains what it what meant and salvation. Verse 36 they went on their way they came to a certain water and the eunuch said see here is water.
What hinders me to be baptized. And Philip says if you've believed with all your heart verse 37 you may you may be baptized? And he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he commanded the chariot to stand still they go Both down into the water both Philip and the eunuch and he is bet and he baptized him.
And then it says and when they were come out of the water. The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that the eunuch saw him no more and he the eunuch Went on his way. What rejoicing? God God had saved him.
God had opened up his understanding of the scriptures that he was reading and he became a child of the Living God rejoicing cheerful a Happiness of being just so well off. He's glad and I always have in this place in my Bible, and it always helps me to remember my my good friend.
He was a glad man. Gladman. I'll leave it at that chapter 16 where we get about Philippi chapter 16. You remember in this place here that? Paul wanted to go to a certain certain area in the Spirit of God forbade him to go into Asia.
It says in in verse. Verse 6 acts 16 6 forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go into Asia and then he has this vision in the nighttime a Man of Macedonia prayed says come over into Macedonia and help us you remember you remember the hymn.
We've heard the Macedonian call today send the light send the light. That's where this comes from. Paul goes this is Europe the Gospels first now going into Europe, and he goes by down. And he meets Lydia the seller of purple verse 14.
She is converted. There's this young girl who is a soothsayer or a fortune-teller verse 16. She is converted. Then because of that people stir up those that are in authority they take Paul they take Silas and cast them into prison.
Verse 23 when they laid many stripes on them. Beaten for Christ's sake they cast them into the prison charging the jailer to hold him safely. Who having received such a charge the jailer thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks and notice?
Here's where it comes from. Here's the whole idea the Apostle Paul is now take loot lost his freedom. He's wanting to minister wanting to help other people. He's just preaching the gospel. I mean he's serving the Lord.
Thrown in the prison because of it and when he gets in prison It's like the murmuring and the complaining begins, right? How could God do this to me and Silas? We're his servants. I mean, we're the ones that are that are doing his bidding Paul completely trusting and resting in the Lord's Providence and anything and God is sovereign and he and he's submitting to whatever the Lord does verse 25 at midnight now.
In the deepest prison these places were not nice to be in no accommodations. We don't have heat and air conditioners and comfy feather beds and stuff in here. At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them.
What a testimony. We see it actually in lot in live technicolor here, even though Never mind. It's it's it's his living testimony. This is this is the Apostle Paul in prison and he's praising God he is rejoicing of course suddenly there's this earthquake and and the prisoners are loosed from their From their cells and the and the keeper of the prison is going to Kill himself because it looks as if if he loses the prisoners, then he's gonna die.
So he's gonna take his own life and Paul cries and says don't hurt yourself. In verse 29. He calls for a light springs in came in trembling. This man comes and falls down before Paul and Silas and he asked that great question in verse 30 sir.
Is what must I do to be saved. And they said in verse 31 and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved In thy house and when they spake on him the word of the Lord and all that were in his house verse 33.
He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and was baptized he and all his straightway. And you're wondering why I'm reading this but hold on here. It is verse 34. When he had brought them into his house, he set food before them and rejoiced.
Believing in God with all his house in the scriptures when you find people are are being saved by God. And they are believing you will find that a continual friend and companion is rejoicing is a gladness among other things.
Yes, but there is there is this? Gladness. Romans 15 13. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing That you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost through the working of the Holy Spirit.
God Gives us joy and gladness this profound delight Within our soul when he saves us and we see it in these examples here. And let me get you to the admonition before we lose all time here in in Philippians chapter 4 if we turn back there.
We'll just look briefly before we close about the point of. And I got to answer gladman's question. Don't let me get off the hook here gladman. I'll get I'll get to that Philippians 4. I mean Paul says it in chapter 3 and in verse 1 you love that chapter that first verse finally brethren.
And he goes on with a tool two more chapters, and he's saying the word finally. They can't quite wrap it up, but he says finally brethren rejoice in the Lord. And that is important that phrase there. We see that come out in chapter 4 and in verse 4.
Rejoice in the Lord always and again. I say rejoice now. I just answer the question What is the reason? behind our rejoicing and What is the sphere in which our rejoicing is to exist? It is Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone.
It is the Lord it is because of who he is and How much he means to us and what he has done for our sake and on our behalf. To marvelously save us now you can't rejoice in the Lord until you are first in the Lord.
You must be a Christian. I mean you can you can try to work it up. But it isn't gonna it isn't gonna happen. You must be saved. You must repent of your sin and turn To the Lord Jesus and believe upon him like the Philippian jailer did in order to have forgiveness of sins and to come into a right relationship with God.
The only way that you can come into a Relationship with God the Father is through Jesus Christ his son. But once you are in Christ as Paul said in in chapter 3 verse 9 being in him. Not with my own righteousness Which comes by the law but there that which that that righteousness which comes through the faith of Christ the righteousness Which is of God by faith once you have the receive the righteousness of God?
Through faith in Jesus Christ then We are double commanded to rejoice. This is not an option. Notice what it says in verse chapter 4 verse 4 Paul. Paul didn't say I suggest Give you a little wiggle room here, you know.
Only when or I didn't say he didn't conditionalize it he didn't say you know when things are good rejoice. But when they're not good don't worry about it. Just kind of leave. No he says rejoice in the Lord and how often ought we to rejoice.
Always and I think anytime anything is said in the scriptures twice. There's this double command rejoice in the Lord always and I say again Rejoice be exuberant be glad have this delight in your soul.
We need to take heed. It's for the glory of the Lord. It's for our obedience so that we can please the Lord in that we're doing what he says it's profitable for others. Do you notice that how? The joy of others affected the Apostle Paul in the life that they have in the relationship that they have with Christ affected.
Affected him and think about it. I mean When we're winsome when we're delightful when we're rejoicing I mean don't don't we have a bit more of an impact upon the world. I mean Paul in jail rejoicing had an impact upon all the others because they heard him and they saw that testimony.
And it's going to take grace. But it is an effort on the part of the believer. It is something that we are to do. It's not something we're waiting for some bolt of lightning to you know. Joy bolt to hit us so that you know.
We'll rejoice. It's something we constantly keep in our mind just like working at contentment. Just like working at trusting and believing in God and not doubting or distrusting the Lord in anything that he does.
Resigning ourselves and submission to the Lord not rebelling to his good hand toward us. We are to be a people who rejoice in the Lord always when it's difficult when it's trying. When things are falling apart when friends forsake us.
When the billows of life roll over us our confession is blessed assurance Jesus is mine. Blessed assurance the Lord is mine the Lord the Lord is you just think of some of the the scriptures in the in the Old Testament.
And in throughout all all scripture about about the Lord being our portion. I was thinking about just the priests in the Old Testament. They did not have any land. They didn't have any vineyards. They didn't have any olive groves.
They didn't have any buildings that that they could call their own. Because the Lord said I am your portion. When it comes to the child of God priests as we are today. Being able to have this relationship and go into the presence of God at the throne of grace through the blood of Christ the Lord is our portion and We Ought to be a people who are particularly careful when it comes to daily reminding ourselves.
That we are in the Lord that he is our Savior a great Savior who not only saves us, but he helps us and he loves us and he keeps us and. And look what he has done for us. Friday night Jay read the verse out of Romans 8 talking about how if God gave us his son so that we could be Reconciled unto God we could be we could become the children of God.
How will he not also in Christ also freely give us all things and he does? Chapter 4 verse 19 Paul says my God shall supply all your need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus anything we need even when we give as as they had given to the point of their want and their lack and they were.
They were needy. Paul reminded them that God will supply the needs that They have in whatever state that that we're in God sees that state and God will take care of us. And the Lord will be on our side like the psalmist said I will not fear what man can do unto me.
We are a blessed people Christians and we ought to be a people who? Who don't go around as the world does. When think I mean can't you just tell when somebody is just not having a good day. I Where did I hear it?
I think it was in the Anna Green Gables when someone's having a Jonah day. You know, it's just really bad. I mean you can see it all see it all over their faces and will we have them? Yes. We'll have those bad days and things will be difficult.
But as it says in the book of Nehemiah Let the joy of the Lord be your strength and God gives the victory and God gives us the Encouragement as we as we turn away from the circumstance and we look to Jesus and we see as the psalm writers Songwriter said for a song that I we used to Sing in a church many many years ago.
It says now none, but Christ can satisfy. None other name for me. There's love and life and Lasting joy when it comes to Christ. When it comes to who our Savior is and what he does for us and what he will continue to do for us.
It's lasting all other things that we could look to are fleeting and temporal. But Christ the same yesterday and today forever always on our behalf and on and for us. If God is for us who can be against us and when we rejoice remember it's the sphere that that joy exists and the reason for it is Rejoice in the Lord in Jesus Christ.
Let's pray Father, thank you that you've reminded us once again through the truth of your Word of the standing the position the place that we have in Christ and we We are amazed Lord it is a wonder That you would visit us.
That you would save us and that you would make us your people and we're grateful that we can come to a letter like this the Apostle wrote right off of his heart to those whom he loved who had Faithfully served in him and been affectionate toward him and they had a great fellowship together and Paul could write this from prison and just dire circumstances and just Encourage us and bring the commandment to us from you that we are to be a people who rejoice in you and Always rejoice help us to do this forgive us when we've played the sorrowful ones the Jonah Day ones.
Or the ones who've had the sour pusses help us Lord God to to be greatly Joyful and Reminded of all that we have and are in Christ and we rejoice in him and We thank you so much for this time. Please be with us as we continue to worship in Jesus name.
Amen.