Joy is an inside job.

License is when everything goes. It says that there is not such a thing as a sin.

Then, there are the legalist who make up man made rules.  

When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, it was about two women who got caught up in a conflict in the Church. 

Paul was encouraging unity. Unity births Joy within us. Joy saturates this book.  

     

What draws people to us is not our programs, but our joy that dwells within us. 

Philippians 2:1-18 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

1 So does belonging to Christ help you in any way? 

Does his love comfort you at all? 

Do you share anything in common because of the Holy Spirit? 

Has Christ ever been gentle and loving toward you?  

2 If any of these things has happened to you, then agree with one another. 

Have the same love. 

Be one in spirit and in the way you think and act. 

By doing this, you will make my joy complete. 

3 Don’t do anything only to get ahead. 

Don’t do it because you are proud. 

Instead, be humble. 

Value others more than yourselves.

4 None of you should look out just for your own good. 

Each of you should also look out for the good of others.

5 As you deal with one another, you should think and act as Jesus did.

6 In his very nature he was God.

    Jesus was equal with God. 

But Jesus didn’t take advantage of that fact.

7 Instead, he made himself nothing.

    He did this by taking on the nature of a servant.

    He was made just like human beings.
8 He appeared as a man.

    He was humble and obeyed God completely.

    He did this even though it led to his death.

        Even worse, he died on a cross!

9 So God lifted him up to the highest place.

    God gave him the name that is above every name.

10 When the name of Jesus is spoken, everyone will kneel down to worship him.

    Everyone in heaven and on earth and under the earth will kneel down to worship him.

11 Everyone’s mouth will say that Jesus Christ is Lord.

    And God the Father will receive the glory.

12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. 

You obeyed while I was with you. 

And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. 

So continue to work out your own salvation.

 Do it with fear and trembling. 

13 God is working in you. 

He wants your plans and your acts to fulfill his good purpose.

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing. 

15 Then you will be pure and without blame.

 You will be children of God without fault among sinful and evil people. 

Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. 

16 You will shine as you hold on tight to the word of life.

Then I will be able to boast about you on the day Christ returns.

I can be happy that I didn’t run or work for nothing. 

17 But my life might even be poured out like a drink offering on your sacrifices. 

I’m talking about the way you serve because you believe. 

Even so, I am glad. I am joyful with all of you. 

18 So you too should be glad and joyful with me. 

Three things that this passage brings out.

  

1. Paul gives them a word of encouragement in the first four verses.

2. Paul gives them a word of example in verses five through eleven. 

3. Paul gives them a word of expectation in verses 12 through 18. 

1. Paul gives them a word of encouragement in the first four verses. 

A. He gives them an appeal. 

Make my joy complete.  

If you center your life on Christ, you too will have joy.  

We don't want to be an oppressive place, but a liberating place.  

Joy is an inside job.  

It is Christ working inside us to bring it out of us (Adrian Rodgers). 

B.  He has an agenda in verses 2,3, and 4.  

He wants them to be in spiritual unity.  

God's Trinity is hard to explain to unbelievers. 

God is three persons united in love. 

God is love.  

Paul is reminding us of the love of the Trinity from eternity past. 

We too can have unity or oneness.  

Unity involves lowliness.  

Unity involves helpfulness.  

It involves looking out for the interest of others.

Sometimes we act like we're more concerned about defending the truth than practicing it.  

Ask yourself is my attitude the same attitude that Christ Jesus had?  

2. Paul gives them a word of example in verses five through eleven. 

Jesus had an attitude, which was followed up by an example.  

Christ's measurement is the cross.  

We must practice self denial to follow Jesus.

We're necessary for Christ to be seen in us.  

We should always check our attitude with the attitude in Jesus. 

Joyful Christians are selfless, humble, and sacrificial. 

Paul didn't exalt Himself, but exalted our lowly Christ.  

Because Christ is this example for us, I will love you too.  

Work out your salvation without complaining.

Hold tight to God's word.

3. He gives them a word of expectation in verses 12 through 18. 

What does God expect from you and me?

God expects us to have the same attitude that Jesus has, and to model Him in our actions. 

If we do this, the joy of Jesus will fill us and overflows us to the glory of God our Father.     

Darryl Craft, Whitesburg Baptist Church  

http://www.whitesburgbaptist.org/sermons/joy-for-the-journey-the-fullness-of-joy/