1. overview
2. exposition
2.1. Rejoice
2.1.1. this is a command! Get that. A command! It's is a command and a duty to rejoice!! It's a sin not to rejoice then. Let me say it again - it's a sin not to rejoice!
2.1.2. Now the issue is simply what does that mean, what does htat look like?
2.1.2.1. if it means we are happy, if it means we are no burden, then we fail.
2.1.3. Important because we have already seen that the setting was growing persectuion
2.2. in the lord
2.2.1. the issue is not the style (sometimes singing and shouting, sometimes quiet, content, sometimes in tears), how, what does it look like, but more important is the ground of joy
2.2.1.1. In the Lord
2.2.1.1.1. sins forgiven in him
2.2.1.1.2. Predestined in Christ
2.2.1.1.3. Created by Christ
2.2.1.1.4. Called by the Lord
2.2.1.1.5. Enabled by the Lord
2.2.1.1.6. Forgiven by the Lord
2.2.1.1.7. bought by the Lord
2.2.1.1.8. freed by the Lord
2.2.1.1.9. imputed by the Lord
2.2.1.1.10. new life by the Lord
2.2.1.1.11. new self by the Lord
2.2.1.1.12. hope in the Lord
2.2.1.1.13. changed by the Lord
2.2.1.1.14. Sustained by the Lord
2.2.1.1.15. redeemed by the Lord
2.2.1.1.16. will be rescued by the Lord!
2.2.1.1.17. will live with the Lord
2.2.1.1.18. resurrected by the Lord
2.2.2. No just like in God I find some ambigious idea of joy, but rejoice in the Lord! Find your joy in who he is, in his person, in the covenant love you have with him. He is our joy
2.2.2.1. A. W. Tozer. In his classic book on the attributes of God, The Knowledge of the Holy, Tozer wrote What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God, just as her most significant message is what she says about Him or leaves unsaid, for her silence is often more eloquent than her speech. She can never escape the self-disclosure of her witness concerning God. Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, “What comes into your mind when you think about God?” we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man. (Reprint; New York: Harper & Row, 1975, 9)
2.2.2.2. People who are very happy, especially those who are very happy in the Lord, are not apt either to give offence or to take offence. Their minds are so sweetly occupied with higher things, that they are not easily distracted by the little troubles which naturally arise among such imperfect creatures as we are - spurgeon
2.2.3. Keller's sermon - either God is true and what he says is true and will therefore help us in life or he is not and he's utterly unhelpful! The issue of joy has to do witht eh reality of God
2.2.4. God doesn't give us joy as a present, he doesn't put us in a place that joy springs up like here .. so you go to God to get joy. No you go to God to get God, you go to Jesus to get jesus. He is the joy meaning god seeks to root your heart to him ... God does not seek to enable your idolization and self independecne outside of him. We are content, ok, happy, rejoice - not in what we get, but in who he is!
2.3. always
2.3.1. When? always. for how long? Always
2.3.2. possible - because of joy is tied to the Lord and he does not change, then joy is possible
2.4. Again, I say rejocie
3. POINTS
3.1. Joy is not an option in the Christian life
3.1.1. The implication is that it's a command and this means that you don' tlive in joy, you live in sin.
3.1.2. Well, how often. Always!
3.1.2.1. Ha .. you see, you understand the need of the gospel. Try to fullfil thta one. Try to say I'm good, I'm ok, I'll be right before God! I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't kill, I don't steal. Yeah, but those are the externals. You have a shot perhaps of winning those. But God is for somethign so much deeper because you are so much more broken than that. The corruption of sin runs so deep in the human soul that the gospel and transformation by God's grace through Jesus aims at deeps levels of our being!
3.1.3. 16 tiems in this book
3.1.3.1. equally divided between their joy and Paul's joy
3.2. Think of how gracious this comand is - rejoice!!! :)
3.3. Joy is wrapped up in our relationship not only to Christ but to each other
3.3.1. Paul's joy for them 1:4; 4:1; 1:25
3.3.2. Joy for epaphroditus 2:28-29
3.4. The effect then
3.4.1. That means a Christian weeps this way. A Christian says, “I’m sad, but this isn’t my root. I’ve lost something. This is terrible thing, but this isn’t my main thing. Nothing can touch my main thing. I can only get so sad.” When good things happen … a promotion, success … what does a Christian do? A Christian says to their heart, “Settle down heart. It’s nice. This is great. I enjoy this, but this is not my main thing. It could be gone tomorrow. Let’s not get too elated. Let’s not get too puffed up. Let’s not get too lifted up. This is not my main thing.” Keller, T. J. (2013). The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive. New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
4. cF:
4.1. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1: 8– 9). Carson, D. A. (1996-04-01). Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians (Kindle Locations 1381-1383). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
4.2. “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking”— that is, of obeying rules and observing kosher food laws—“ but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men” (Rom. 14: 17– 18). Carson, D. A. (1996-04-01). Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians (Kindle Locations 1383-1385). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
5. appoiation
5.1. The kingdom of God may be entered through suffering (Acts 14: 22), but it is characterized by joy. Carson, D. A. (1996-04-01). Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians (Kindle Location 1383). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
5.2. why throw this in here? Because at the heart of so much of contention and unresolved issue is what? A pride issue and a joy issue - our way (we have to have our way) - and so we will not resolve
5.2.1. But when we have joy set on the LOrd, what happens to dispute - I can live out Phil 2;1-4
5.2.2. So disagreements is not just aobu vlaue, but what? About joy!
5.2.3. true right? Someone not finding joy in Christ- ever fun to be around them?
5.2.4. Like a grumpy kid... and you feel it right ... we have phrase - You just want to fight with everyone .. bad day!
6. In the Lord
6.1. connection to book of life
6.1.1. It’s fascinating to me that Jesus does the same thing in Luke 10:20. This is paraphrasing the Aramaic and the Hebrew. His disciples come back from a mission he sent them out on. He says, “How did it go?” The disciples say, “Wow! We cast out demons. Even the demons are subject to us.” Jesus gets them in his sights, and he says, “Rejoice not that the demons are subject to you but that your names are written in heaven.” Keller, T. J. (2013). The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive. New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
6.1.1.1. Here’s what he means. He says, “I’m glad today you got rid of the demons. Tomorrow you may find a demon you can’t cast out,” and that is just what happened. He says, “Decenter that. Stop rejoicing in your circumstances. That’s not the main thing. Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Keller, T. J. (2013). The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive. New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church.
6.2. General note: God is not hidden from these imperatives
6.3. Why is this important?
6.3.1. Because it's about our identity - in christ, citizens of heaven
6.3.2. it shows what life can be like, what it should have been
6.3.3. pre-sin - does it mean everythign wil go our way? No!
6.3.3.1. Adam looked and could not find. He wanted someone. Not good!
6.3.3.2. But the bliss of heaven is not that life goes exactly as we want .. but that faith is clear and we trust God more than we trust our evaluation.
6.3.3.3. Sin destroyed that!
6.3.3.4. rejoicing in God shows how the kingodm should be ... and part of suffering, hurting, dispappointments demonstrates that.
6.4. Shows up 9 times in this book!!
6.4.1. Philippians 1:14 (note) and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
6.4.2. Philippians 2:19 (note) But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.
6.4.3. Philippians 2:24 (note) and I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall be coming shortly.
6.4.4. Philippians 2:29 (note) Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard;
6.4.5. Philippians 3:1 (note) Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.
6.4.6. Philippians 4:1 (note) Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
6.4.7. Philippians 4:2 (note) I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.
6.4.8. Philippians 4:4 (note) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
6.4.9. Philippians 4:10 (note) But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.
6.5. meaning
6.5.1. In the lord as to sphere
6.5.2. in the lord as to object
6.5.2.1. Quote from AW Tozer - and the importance of God
7. Always
7.1. Fight for joy! Which means what? Fight to see God's gracious hand soveriengly working in your circustmancs
7.1.1. That's what Romans 8:28 is about. That's what the promise on suffering is about.
7.1.2. Fight to see that - to understand God at work.
7.1.3. Sometimes it's easy to see, other times not so
7.2. like 1 Thess 5;16
8. Ag
9. Connection to greater theme
9.1. Many suppose this section is disconnected - some formal name where Paul is ratilying off a list of commands
9.1.1. ILL: you go away parents and they tell you - don't kill each other, don't drive the car, feed the dog, brush your teeth, don't play with fire, don't paint the house ... we love you... don't for get that!
9.2. progression
9.2.1. Citizens
9.2.2. stand firm in that cause the general path is to waver in that truth
9.2.3. and here's what I'm seeing in you - division
9.2.4. so agree
9.2.5. and do that, don't be at odds ... because whatever the circumstance is that you are fighting about ... and you are unwilling to let it go .. paul says --- find you joy in Christ.
9.3. One of the innoculating weapons against the threat of division in the church is to make our life deeply Christ cetnered,s o that whtever we go through, whatever we experience - is always in reference to the Lord, in refrence to his love, his care, his grace ....
9.4. Joyful people are the most agreeable people
9.4.1. why?
9.4.2. Example in the bible
9.4.3. Exmaple in life
9.4.3.1. Date - soemoen not joyful in Christ! Wow. Hard
10. Application
10.1. (1) Sunday worship - an opportunity to rejoice!
10.2. (2) See the worth of circumstances as it shows you what you have in Jesus
10.3. (3) Counsel people towards Jesus, stop trying to fix their problems
10.4. (4) Stop living in spiritual hyperlism and stop seeking some black magic experience of joy
11. rejoice
11.1. present imperative
11.1.1. weust says "they are to go on constantly rejoicing in the Lord"
11.1.2. a choice
11.1.2.1. as much as don't steal, don't commit murder, don't cheat on your spouse - the command here is rejoice!
11.1.2.2. the implication is to not rejoice is to live in disobedience. That's serious stuff!
11.1.2.3. BTW - here is soemthing so essential to the gospel - that you realize our brokeness and sinfulness
11.1.2.3.1. Not just sins of commission, but sins of ommision
11.1.2.3.2. not just issues of external, but issues of internal! - do we rejoice
11.2. What does it mean then?
11.2.1. Greek
11.2.1.1. chairo
11.2.1.2. to be glad or delighted, to celebrate, to be cheerful
11.2.2. Now often when we talk about rejoicing or JOY, we compare it to happiness. and we say that the difference between joy and happiness is that happiness comes from happenstance, hence circumstance, whereas joy is independent of circumstance
11.2.2.1. And from this we get a theology that basically says if you are filled with God's spirit, you will just be beaming with the Joy of the Lord, the joy of the Lord, independent of whatever you are going through.
11.2.2.2. Arranging Your Mind - Several years ago I read a story about a 92-year-old Christian woman who was legally blind. In spite of her limitation, she was always neatly dressed, with her hair carefully brushed and her makeup tastefully applied. Each morning she would meet the new day with eagerness. After her husband of 70 years died, it became necessary for her to go to a nursing home where she could receive proper care. On the day of the move, a helpful neighbor drove her there and guided her into the lobby. Her room wasn't ready, so she waited patiently in the lobby for several hours. When an attendant finally came for her, she smiled sweetly as she maneuvered her walker to the elevator. The staff member described her room to her, including the new curtains that had been hung on the windows. "I love it," she declared. "But Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen your room yet," the attendant replied. "That doesn't have anything to do with it," she said. "Happiness is something you choose. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how it's arranged. It's how I arrange my mind."
11.2.2.2.1. cheesy
11.2.2.3. ex. so have soeone you love die, you have teh joy of the Lord
11.2.2.4. ex. so you have yoru dreams crushed, yo uhave the joy of the lord
11.2.2.5. ex. so you have all your close friends attack you and betray you and double cross you, maybe yoru spouse or best friend ... you got the joy of the Lord
11.2.2.6. And the net is this - spiritual people go through circumstances and smile, are emotionally detached ike a vulcan, and generally are happy but independent of circumstnaces
11.2.2.7. We think in heaven ther eis joy, in teh presence of the Lord this is joy evermore, so to have joy of the lOrd, it means an experience of heaven now. So we seek that
11.2.2.8. problem - so when we go to live this out, what do we do? we pray - God give me joy, cause i'm stressed, i'm hurt, i'm wounded. And we wait for happiness independent of circumstances. And it works sometimes, other tiems it doesn't. When it works, we start to be happy cause we are happy. Happy - it works. I sense it. this must be from God! But when it doesn't work, we ask again at best and we condemn ourselves and others at worst - gift of the holy spirit, your birthright, be filled with the spirit and you will have the joy of the Lord - and in all of this, we are seeking happiness as the world seeks it, but independent of cicumstance
11.2.2.9. ILL: Often i have this .. hard times in life, we promise joy .. dones't work - they complain, we say independent of circumstance, so they seek some state of joy - read more, pray more , be in th espirit more an dyou will just have this joy!
11.2.2.9.1. No! Orient towards God's hand in your life!
11.2.2.10. So what we want is really an emotional change... that's what we are loooking for .. and we ask (our part) and God's part is simply to chagne our emotions!
11.2.2.11. Problem = the command is not to ask for joy (I want some), but the command is actually REJOICE. Do the action of joy!
11.2.3. JOY is circumstantial - What does it mean to have joy?Usuage - 74 times in the NT, 68 V
11.2.3.1. “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” (Matthew 2:10, ESV)
11.2.3.1.1. What I want you to notice here is joy is circumstantial - what is the joy? They saw the star!
11.2.3.2. ““Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11–12, ESV)
11.2.3.2.1. Joy is circumstantial. What is the circumstance? You have a reward! That circumstance of being rewarded by teh king of the universe to be enjoyed for eternity is way better than the suffering of persecution for a short time! Rejoice in that.
11.2.3.3. “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”” (Luke 10:19–20, ESV)
11.2.3.3.1. Joy is circumstantial. Don't rejoice in authority over the enemy and spirits and creation, but rejoice in a better circumstance - you who are sinful and lost and rebellious, you are saved! Names are written in the book of life.
11.2.3.4. “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.” (John 3:29, ESV)
11.2.3.4.1. circumstance - sees teh bridegroom
11.2.3.5. “You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28, ESV)
11.2.3.5.1. circum - Jesus goes away to the Father... something there that makes us go.. he goes to the father
11.2.3.6. “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:20–22, ESV)
11.2.3.6.1. double circumstance - world rejoice because jesus dies. They will be sorrowful. But then rejoice because they will see him again!
11.2.3.7. “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” (Acts 5:41, ESV)
11.2.3.7.1. circum - rejoice they were counted worthy ... that's the circumstance .. joy came to them because they were counted worthy to suffer for jesus.
11.2.3.8. “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,” (Acts 11:23, ESV)
11.2.3.9. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48, ESV)
11.2.3.10. “And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.” (Acts 15:31, ESV)
11.2.3.10.1. letter from jerusalem to antioch
11.2.3.11. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15, ESV)
11.2.3.11.1. circum = God's work of grace in others lives
11.2.3.12. “I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence,” (1 Corinthians 16:17, ESV)
11.2.3.12.1. rejoicing for the circumstance of friends in you rlife
11.2.3.13. “and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.” (2 Corinthians 7:7, ESV)
11.2.3.13.1. circum = care for you
11.2.3.14. In phil
11.2.3.14.1. “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,” (Philippians 1:18, ESV)
11.2.3.14.2. “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.” (Philippians 2:17, ESV)
11.2.3.14.3. “I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.” (Philippians 2:28, ESV)
11.2.3.14.4. “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.” (Philippians 4:10, ESV)
11.2.3.15. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,” (Colossians 1:24, ESV)
11.2.3.16. “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:13–14, ESV)
11.2.3.16.1. double - rejoice in suffering. See the circumstance and find joy in it becuase there's coming another circumstance - glory!
11.2.3.17. Revelation
11.2.3.17.1. The world rejoices over the death of the two prophets
11.2.3.17.2. worldly joy - circumstantial - no .. cause we are to rejoice over this circumstance
11.2.4. So what we see is the joy is deeply circumstantial, it is never really untied to circumstances. the real question is what circumstances! It's not black magic, it s not hyper spiritualism that is founded on some transcendental aura --- it's grounded on hard facts and eternal circumstances
11.2.4.1. So in suffering, in hardship, in persecution, in blessing ... in the extreme left and the extreme rights and in the mundane middles of life, our joy is deeply circumstantial --- but the quetsion is what circumstance?
11.3. working definition
11.3.1. GENRICALLY - Rejoicing is a choice to orient our gladness towards an external circumstance
11.3.2. We thnik joy as a disposition, but really joy is a reckoning!
11.3.3. SToics: On the other hand, the Greek Stoics (who are mentioned in Acts 17:18) had no room for joy, which they regarded as a false judgment of reality. If you felt joyful, you must be ignorant of the facts! Most of us know people like that.
11.3.3.1. See, they rejected joy not because they were nto spiritual, but because they didn't trust their reality. But they understood this .. this connection to circumstances
11.3.4. but what does it mean for the Christian?
11.3.4.1. It is a Christian’s distinguishing mark (Rom. 12: 12) and a characteristic of the kingdom of God (Rom. 14: 17). Along with other graces it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5: 22-23; cf. Rom. 14: 17; 1 Thes. 1: 6) that will be evident in times of suffering and trial (Rom. 5: 3-4; 2 Cor. 6: 10; 8: 2-3). 2529 O'Brien, Peter T. (2010-04-12). The Epistle to the Philippians (The New International Greek Testament Commentary) (Kindle Locations 12001-12003). Eerdmans Publishing Co - A. Kindle Edition.
11.3.5. John Newton says if you understand the grace of God, it makes the worst times bearable and the best times leavable.
11.4. See what Paul means then in the exact command in Phil 3:1
11.4.1. “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” (Philippians 3:1, ESV)
11.4.2. Point - Epap is sick,near to death, Paul is in prison, persecution ... rejoice in the Lord ... see these things in the Lord
11.4.2.1. Epap risked his life to complete what was lacking
11.4.2.2. Suffering ... 3:1 ??
11.5. in pauline
11.5.1. Joy is the Chrisatians distinguishin mark (Rom 12;12)
11.5.2. Characteristic of the kingodm (14:17)
11.5.3. Fruti of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23)
11.5.4. Paul lived it - He mentions this often and he had the credentials for it
11.5.4.1. Acts 16 - in jail, singing hymns
11.5.4.2. Love how God sets things up like that sovereignly
11.5.4.3. ILL: BTW - an aside - i mention it often - but what we go through preps us for others. I>E> Pratts counciling us
11.5.4.4. Now paul is in prison