Joy Applied

Hey, well, good morning. Good morning. Yeah, you guys are doing great. It's good. I saw two people attack each other in a corner for a victory. It was fantastic. You guys are doing great. Open up to Philippians, the book of Philippians.

Go to chapter four. It was a wonderful evening for us as well. We have our five-month-old egg, right? Our little daughter, Eden Grace, and she was over at Joey's house, and she slept incredibly well.

And my wife was like, do we have to move in with Joey? And I was like, yep. So I'm here permanently. But if you're in Philippians 4, I look forward to jumping in after what we talked about last night, this established foundation for joy, that those of you who are not Christians, you hear of this invite to believe in Jesus for this eternal hope.

Christian, you're reminded of the gospel that God in his mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope that is imperishable, undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven for you who are being guarded by God's power.

That is good, good news, and it remains true in all of life for the rest of life. Okay, now, but do we see that? So as we look at Philippians this morning, this will be more applicational as we're going, okay, yes, I hear this foundation, but then do I actually see that take place in my life?

So again, I live in Stillwater. Imagine if I told you I was an OSU fan, but I, yeah, I'm not. I just want to clarify, I'm a Christian. So the, like, I, imagine if I was, I said I'm an OSU fan, but I never watched a single game, never went to a single game, didn't even own anything orange, like didn't even know, like, who has the mullet and coaches them, like, all those kind of things.

Like, you guys would go, I really don't think that's true of you. Because you would say, yes, you're claiming that, but none of that is coming out at all. Or there's the wonderful analogy by preacher, missionary, pastor, Paul Washer, where he talked about, imagine, so you can imagine me saying this, if I came in here this morning and was running up a little late after the song ended, and I said, sorry guys, that's my bad, I'm running a little late, I was crossing the road to get here, and I was hit by a logging truck, but I'm good, I'm here, let's do this.

What would your thought be? If I looked just like this, I don't think you were, right? Like, you would go, it doesn't look like that took place. Because if you came into contact with something as large and powerful as a logging truck, that would change who you are completely.

And what we talked about last night, the God of mercy causing us to be born again is coming into contact with a far greater reality and larger, like, truth than a logging truck.

And that should have a profound impact on us. It should shape us and change us. But we're often guilty of living as if certain very real and wonderful realities aren't true.

So take, for example, we really find ourselves very often eating three meals a day. Regularly. And think about this weekend, you've probably already eaten way too much.

I got to go to some of the homes. I saw just the most Baptist crockpot of little Smokies. I saw the amount of waffles available to the senior girls.

Like, it's terrifying. Like, we do all this. But think about that. That's a very real reality for us. Living here. But how often do we use phrases like, man, I'm starving?

Or you look at someone else's house and go, man, they have better snacks than we do. Or you just complain about what we eat or we're just generally unthankful. Like, we live as if this wonderful reality isn't true.

That we are cared for in that way. When you forget that there's a good percentage of the world that goes to bed every night hungry. Now, analogies, all analogies fall apart.

I don't want to compare our inexpressibly glorious and joyous salvation to food. But I hope you hear what I'm getting at. Is that the truth of the gospel should shape the way you live.

It should impact your joy now. Christ has redeemed you. And so in this letter, Paul writes to the church in Philippi encouraging them to hold on to their faith and to remember that to live is Christ and really more than just to hold on to it but to rejoice in that faith.

And so look at verse 4. As you're coming to the end of this letter, Philippians chapter 4, verse 4, here we see joy applied. Joy applied. Philippians 4, verse 4.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Alright. That's it. Let's pray. Just kidding.

Right? But you see, this is very straightforward. If we break it down, you guys understand what's being said. He says rejoice. Have joy. This should flow out of your life in who you are and what you do and where.

This shouldn't just be random joy. Notice what he says. He says rejoice in the Lord. So this is that gospel truth we talked about yesterday. In Christ. In what he has done transformatively in your life.

And when? Always. Always. In all of life for the rest of life. This is not a temporary truth. This should be true at all times.

And do you think Paul wants us to know this and do this? Look at the verse. What does he do after he says rejoice in the Lord always? Again, I'll say rejoice.

Like he doubles down on it. So what is our clear application? Christian joy should be an evident part of your life.

If you are in Christ Christian joy should be an evident part of your life. Now I want to put that in a fuller context.

Right? Don't let me just say alright good have joy go and have more do it more. Because realize this is rooted in the gospel and realize that this is in chapter 4 verse 4.

So this is after Paul has brought this to them and said because of what Jesus has done you should rejoice always. Again I say rejoice. So no we're talking about gospel birthed Christ centered spirit empowered joy.

Remember Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul brought about by the Holy Spirit as he causes us to look at the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world. And that's one of my hopes for this weekend is that you would know and love Jesus joyous.

But then that you would live that out. That you would be seen having clear Christian joy in your life. That by the spirit you would pursue that always.

And so how are we going to put this in proper context? I want us to look back over the whole book of Philippians. Yeah buckle up. It's going to be wonderful and as we do that we will see 11 areas where Christians should be joyous.

11 areas where Christians should be joyous. Now here these are going to be quick and you may be thinking hey come on like that's way too many and I understand it is quite a few but hear this my encouragement to you is as we go through there I'd encourage you to really dwell on one or two of these that you're going yes I'm following Christ but that's not present in my life.

Like I say I'm trusting in Jesus but yeah that's a fair point I really don't see joy there. So maybe there's one or two you really hone in on I hope you'll listen to all of them and maybe it's more but also here all of these should be birthed out of the gospel.

So this isn't just me going go and do it is because you gaze at the beauty of Christ this joy should flow out in these areas. So those 11 realities are this because of Jesus Christians can and should find joy in and then we'll go through these.

So turn back to chapter 1 of Philippians we'll look at verse 3 through 7 because because of Jesus Christians can and should find joy in other Christians.

Christians should find joy in other Christians. Look at Philippians chapter 1 verse 3 Paul says I thank my God in all my remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy why verse 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now why is he thankful for them joyously because of their partnership in the gospel that's the foundation for that do you here there will be a lot of diagnostic questions in this I hope are helpful for your soul do you love other Christians like I mean that I use that heavy word of love do you love them I mean do you care for your brothers and sisters I mean do you recognize that this is true of the sixth grader and of the senior of the athlete and the artist and then not even just this room it's true of the students but also the senior adults like are we missing what a gift we have in the church and in the church that we can see regularly like I got to go with a group of

Christians to Spain and we went on a mission trip there and it was very different than many I've been on that our main goal was to encourage Christians there we were in a city of about 120,000 we went to the largest evangelical church in that city and they had about 50 members and when we came in they wept just to see us because they said it's just good to see other people who love Jesus do we look at what we have here and fail to see what a wonderful gift it is do you realize these are your family members if you are in Christ do you realize you have more in common with the sister who is hiding but clinging to her faith in China than you do the non-Christian and Mustang that's a beautiful truth and why because you are rooted in the gospel read on in verse six he's saying your partners in the gospel and I'm sure of this that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus

Christ and it's right for me to feel this way about you all why because I hold you in my heart for you are all partakers with me of grace both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel why is he saying this they are partakers of grace with him ask your soul again do other Christians bring you joy would the world know that if they saw you do you thank God for their faith think about your times in prayer have you thanked the Lord for the church for your brothers and sisters or is it just the ones that are easy to get along with that you're thankful for these are your partners in the gospel these are fellow partakers of grace may we love one another and be overjoyed when we see fellow Christians secondly because of Jesus Christians can and should find joy in Christians growing in knowledge and discernment in knowledge and discernment read on in verse 8 for Paul goes on in this because notice

Paul's thanksgiving he's driven by a prayer here he's praying and he's making this prayer with joy you saw that in verse 4 go on for God is my witness how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus and it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and discernment so that you may approve what is excellent so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God Paul says I love you and care for you deeply I pray you would grow in your love for God and one another and I pray you would grow in your knowledge of what is right and true knowledge of God and his word your knowledge of theology your discernment of what is right and true where you should run what you should pursue why you see in verse 10 and 11 that it is for their good and for God's glory what is

Paul finding joy in the growing faith of his brothers and sisters he loves to see that to see them growing in that way when you hear that your fellow Christians are growing in that way does it bring you joy like when you see them loving others well growing in their knowledge and discernment do you celebrate those things I mean like does that amp you we know how to celebrate things like we know how to cheer for somebody when they play well I've seen you guys cheer at nine square I've seen you in these games we know like when somebody scores you get a dub in fortnight when you finally get the courage to ask that girl out that guy out we can hype people up we're just really amped we know how to do that and in many cases that's not a problem those are good things but could you say like John does hear my children walking in truth and when he's saying children he's not talking family he's saying these who he's raised up in the gospel can you say

I have no greater joy and then does your life show it I mean do you ask your friends about their habits of grace like do you ask them about spiritual disciplines!

do you rejoice! do you comfort and encourage them when they stand firm in the faith against pressure and temptation do you pray for their faith and then rejoice when you see it I mean ask yourself that honestly when was the last time there's people in here that you deeply care about that you prayed for their faith that they would grow in knowledge and discernment they would grow!

when was the last time you prayed for that and then rejoiced to see it may we all be able to say with John that we have no greater joy than to see that as well number three because of Jesus Christians can and should find joy in the advancement of the gospel the advancement of the gospel the gospel going forward so what's taking place here remember where is Paul when he's writing Philippians he's in prison but we'll see the gospel is continuing to go forward take a look at verse 12 I want you to know brothers that what has happened to me him being sent to prison here has really served to advance the gospel so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the most of the brothers having become more confident in the

Lord by my imprisonment are much more bold to speak the word without fear some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry but others from good will the latter do it out of love knowing that I'm put here for the defense of the gospel the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my!

imprisonment what then only that in every way whether in pretense or in truth Christ is proclaimed and in that I rejoice so the gospel despite circumstances is continuing to go forward Paul is in prison proclaiming it the guard is hearing it the brothers are encouraged by that in verse 14 they're proclaiming it others are preaching it we see in 15 through 18 and just hear some clarity here this is still a sound gospel right Paul isn't saying people are just saying Jesus and so he's like yeah okay whatever I'm glad like these are people preaching the life death and resurrection of Jesus and so what does he conclude with there in verse 18 Christ is proclaimed!

is this true of you and me? Do you love to hear I mean love to hear rejoice in hearing that the gospel is going forward and I mean really going forward not just empty numbers but do we rejoice when we hear about brothers and sisters who are stepping into the jails to share the gospel with people who are hurting do you love missionary efforts?

Have you thought about how even now you at your age can be involved in that whether praying or giving or keeping up with or preparing yourself to go? Do you rejoice in the gospel spreading in Mustang in the US?

What about to the ends of the earth? Do you love to hear that? I mean what about seeing conversions here? Like friends or people you've heard of coming to know Jesus?

Like ask your soul are you so skeptical at sometimes that you can't even celebrate? It's a weighty spot to be in when we should have inexpressible joy in the gospel.

What about baptisms? If you're like me I grew up in a Baptist church and we saw them fairly often and it almost became dull because I became so callous to them. We're seeing a picture of someone who has gone from death to life because of God's great mercy.

Do you rejoice in that advancement of the gospel? No. all that's going around in Paul's world we would consider problematic right?

Prison attacks on him his character and what does he do in it? Rejoice because the gospel is advancing. All this may be happening but more people are knowing Jesus.

I can rejoice. This is a great reason for joy. Do we share that? Number four. Because of Jesus Christians can and should find joy in Christians who they don't agree with.

In Christians who they don't agree with. Now this is in these exact same verses here and notice I worded it this way these are Christians these are those who are trusting and following Christ but notice what is happening in the text look specifically at 15 through 18 there are some indeed preaching Christ from envy and rivalry others from good will the latter do it out of love knowing that I'm put here for the defense of the gospel the former proclaimed Christ out of selfish ambition not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment so the gospel being proclaimed and even at times done in a way that would not be perfect would not be right but Paul is finding joy in that even when others are not doing it the way he would and I have a feeling this one can hit home for many of you because it does for me this text is hard for me because I praise the

Lord for theology it matters profoundly you should pursue it I praise the Lord for ecclesiology your doctrine of the church it matters profoundly you should pursue it and I praise the Lord for methodology like practical theology it matters profoundly and you should pursue it but woe to us if we find that our growth in knowledge grows in us a hatred for others who are attempting to do gospel work now hear me I'm not saying that we just okay everything that we don't have opinions and we don't try to reform and grow and improve but I want you to ask yourself honestly do you think less of Christians who disagree with you do you mock them do you tend to shift them into the category of non Christian simply because of a theological difference and again

I'm saying genuine Christians right but just because their methodology may be less healthy do we do this shouldn't be this way it shouldn't we have to remember that any theology that we have any right understanding we have is a gift of God and that these people if they are trusting in Jesus are genuine brothers and sisters!

he said I have been looking at this for years how dare I not have mercy on other people what about George Whitefield brilliant wonderful pastor and theologian he had many debates and backs and forth with Charles Wesley John Wesley and so John Wesley in particular people were asking him trying to get him to say something poor of him he said hey do you expect to see John Wesley in heaven because they were wanting Whitefield to go like no here's what he said he said no I won't see Wesley in heaven he's going to be so much closer to the throne than I will that I won't be able to see him in the blaze of glory because of his deep faith no I won't see him is that how we treat!

other Christians! do we operate! with grace does joy flow out of you in those times hear me I've heard this story many times does the way you treat other Christians make them want to have nothing to do with the theology you hold or would they see the way you treat them and think man I don't agree with them and I know they don't agree with me man they loved me we should have joy in those brothers and sisters!

Yes we can and should have opinions about theology and doctrine but brothers and sisters let's not throw Christians to the side remind yourself of the gospel remind yourself of that partnership that you're partakers of grace with them then pray for them and rejoice in fellow Christians number five because of Jesus Christians can and should find joy in God being honored through their life in God being honored through their life these next two are quick and pretty related to one another you look at verse 18 as it goes on Paul says yes I will rejoice for I know that your prayers and the help of the spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance as it is my eager expectation hope that I will not be at all ashamed but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body whether by life or by death for to me to live is

Christ and to die is gain where was Paul's rejoicing in this situation that no matter what would happen whether that would be his continuing in life or his death Christ would be glorified and made much of I mean is that a focus for you and me like can we wade through the difficult waters of life and find joy knowing that we will make much of Jesus can we run through successes knowing that our greatest good is not that but is that God will be glorified in what we do I mean is that high up on your list like think about what it is that you are focused on is it success popularity comfort getting what you want like here Paul's highest aim is that God would be glorified through his life is that yours may this honor the Lord because he goes on to number six that because of

Jesus Christians can and should find joy in being a godly example for others being a godly example for others keep reading there in verse 22 if I am to live in the flesh that means fruitful labor for me yet which I shall choose I cannot tell I'm hard pressed between the two my desire is to depart and be with Christ for that's far better but to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account convinced of this I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus because of my coming to you again Paul's life aids them in their faith and brings glory to the Lord his deep desire and joy is that they would look to him to Paul learn from him but really then glorify the Lord I mean does your life point people to Jesus and when it does is that something that you find great joy in like in your actions your pursuits your use of your giftings your laying down of yourself what is your chief aim that your name would be built up or that those around you would know

Jesus I particularly think of you upperclassmen like what are these young students going to know of you as you go will they look at your life and see Jesus I was just reading of a missionary who gave his life for the gospel and he rebelled against hated the gospel until he was about 14 and he says he came to faith because an upperclassman took their faith seriously and shared that with him time and time again do you hope they would follow Jesus more because of their time with you do you have an aroma of Christ about you some of you have an aroma because of how you slept last night that's not what I'm talking about but do people who spend time with you can they not help but feel Jesus hear of him and come away going this person there's something!

He sounds better when he says everything because he's British right like everything he says is just better than what I say like you got to trust the gospel I'm like man if I say that you're like yeah yeah yeah when I talk to him every time I get to spend time with him like the way I leave is like that guy loves Jesus is that what others would say if they spend time with you would they see the glory of your savior oh how good it would be if those who hung out with us loved Jesus more because they had spent time with us number seven Christians can and should find joy in Christian unity find joy in Christian unity jump down chapter two verse one Paul says if there's any encouragement in Christ any comfort from love any participation in the spirit any affection and sympathy and he is saying if this is true and the gospel and the answer to all of those is yes and amen and if that is true in

Christ what does he say to do in verse two complete my joy here's the joy we can learn from by being of the same mind having the same love being in full accord and of one mind what was same thing that Christ would be glorified like how awful is it when people look in and see the church ripped up tearing itself apart like see they don't even like one another and why does this so often happen because we take our eyes off of Jesus having that same mind that same love the Lord we take our eyes off of that we forget to love the Lord our God with all our hearts soul mind and strength we forget that's why we gather as a local church to stir one another up to love and good deeds so the world can see that but then how wonderful is it how great is it when the church is together is unified is pressing forward for the sake of the gospel and

I know some of you may go to other local churches I pray you would see the gift of what you have here like I've recently just talked to brothers who are churches have to go into business meetings that are just fighting for hours that press forward votes for maybe leadership or different things that are shot down because the church is so disunified with one another that they're not running forward together they're running forward while trying to push each other out of way would we love and treasure Christian unity it's the wonderful lyrics from the song by the Gettys how good it is when the family of God dwells together in spirit in faith and unity where the bonds of peace of acceptance and love are the fruit of his presence here among us and it should show itself in number eight because of Jesus Christians can and should find joy in humble service in humble service this flows out of Paul's joy in their unity saying I'd love to see that what would it look like look at verse three of chapter two do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves let each of you look not only to his own interest but also to the interests of others that's how this should flow out that's what

Paul was wanting to joyously see I mean is that you do you love to jump in and do that and you may hear that and go yeah but how in the world do I do that people are difficult and annoying this is tough how in the world could I love those people look at verse five this is one of my favorite!

passages in all of scripture! I just want to read it and let it speak verse five have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus remember that foundation for this who though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of man and being found in human form he humbled himself therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that's above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father the gospel equips us to humbly serve others and getting the chance to do that the chance to honor the Lord in that way should be a joyous reality for so ask yourself do you relish opportunities to serve are you quick to jump in or the last one and when you see brothers and sisters doing it do you love it do you tell them are you motivated to serve other people the least likely by the gospel when you see others doing that do you rejoice knowing they're honoring the

Lord when they do we should love walking and seeing others walk in humble service because of Jesus number nine Christians because of Jesus can and should find joy in living out their faith in the midst of the world in living out their faith in the world look at verse 12 Paul flows into this saying therefore my beloved as you've always obeyed so now not only as in my presence but much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to will and work for his good pleasure do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted if I'm to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith

I am glad and rejoice with you all likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me I mean I don't want to labor on this one long because it's similar to what we've seen in other two but notice where Paul's joy and our joy should be found in their spiritual growth in Wednesdays or Wednesdays but it's so good to see it actually lived out in the world do you rejoice in this in your own life and in the lives of others I mean do you know that do they know you love that have you ever texted and encouraged your brother written them a note or something like that to say hey I noticed this and it was a deep encouragement to me to resist temptation should encourage your soul watching underclassmen follow

Jesus should be something you love seeing family members come to know Christ should be an absolute blessing hearing graduates that leave this group and then cling to Jesus should encourage you deeply and so I would imagine it is Joey's hope for you as well as mine I mean look at verse 12 and 13 once more time my beloved as you've always obeyed so now not only is in my presence his hope is not just that you would do this here but much more in my absence when you're gone from here when you graduate from here work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it's God who works in you both to will and work for his good pleasure it's a joy to see you live that in the world may it be yours as well number ten because of Jesus Christians can and should find joy in the gospel they should find joy in the gospel above all things right you could look at some other sections within this book where he talks about rejoicing maybe in

Epaphroditus which we could talk about but I don't really have to convince you about a sick brother doing well bringing you encouragement Paul even says this at the end of the letter but look here chapter 3 verse 1 Paul turns to the gospel look at that finally my brothers rejoice where in the Lord this is just in the gospel to write the same things to you so to say this to say this and to say this again is no trouble to me it's not a burden for him and it is!

It is so good for your soul and why does Paul love it so much he goes on to give a great list of his credentials saying look if there's any one of us who's tasted the world and seen all it has to offer and can say look how great I am it's Paul but then notice what he says in verse 7 but whatever gain I had I counted as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but that which comes through faith in Christ the righteousness from God that depends on faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection is in the gospel he said

I have had everything the world has to offer every bit of it but it is and he uses that great British word there rubbish actually if you go to the Greek in there it is dung this is a wonderful youth ministry verse like Paul says like literally everything is doo-doo in comparison to the gospel like it is right here he says keep the world I have Jesus it is the idea of the old hymn I'd rather have Jesus I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold I'd rather have Jesus than riches untold I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands I'd rather be led by his nail pierced hands than to be the king of a vast domain or be held in sin's dread sway I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause I'd rather be faithful to his dear cause I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame I'd rather be true to his holy name do you have joy in the gospel

I was helpfully convicted of this by a brother recently because there's topics that we can all get so excited about even in preaching and teaching like I've told you I love soccer I really love it I'd love to convince you to love it to tell you all about it why it's wonderful and I can get excited about that or doctrine or hunting or some of these different things but it is dangerous if you can easily get more excited about that than the gospel that people see your joy is in those things but are we that joyous when we talk about what Jesus has done for you rejoice in the Lord always again I'll say rejoice and then we land in our final point number 11 because of Jesus Christians can and should find joy in all circumstances all circumstances take a look at chapter 4 verse 10 we get to a section that so often ripped out of context tagged onto a football helmet and let's see what it's really talking about

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that's chapter 4 verse 10 that now at length you've revived your concern for me you were indeed concerned for me but you had no opportunity not that I'm speaking of being in need for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger abundance and need I can do all things through him who strengthens me why can Paul be brought low it's because as Nehemiah says the joy of the Lord is his strength because God has caused him to be born again the gospel is his firm foundation

I mean hear that like when we say to rejoice always that command is true when we are doing well and when we are hurting deeply I mean think about both of those because you have Paul saying I've learned this is true in all of that think about when we're doing well it's interesting that when life is going smoothly that's when I'm the most prone to forget the Lord have you noticed that that we often go well I don't really need him I've!

got this all taken care of we may be happy but do we have joy in him may people see that in you even in your greatest days may they see that having the Lord is far greater and doing that striving for that joy is good for you because it protects us from pride and reminds us of God's glory I hope this is just a reminder to check your heart in your successes and good days to remember the gospel what about your deepest depths your darkest days your worst times do people still see your joy in the Lord now please hear me I'm not saying that you shouldn't ever hurt or that you're not allowed to have any pain it's just not true go read the Psalms you'll see how real beautiful they are but are you able to rejoice in the valley because

I'll tell you in Christ you can and I'll tell you it's good for your soul and the soul of others we saw that in 1 Peter 1 6 and 7 how it refines us you see it in James 1 how that steadfastness produces and refines our character you look at Romans 5 and how it produces endurance character and has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who's been given to us you have reason to rejoice in the gospel that is true today and for all eternity and here that's for your good as you endure in those trials and I can point to you in case after case throughout church history of people who have been refined through suffering and God has used that for his glory I

Paul says blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of mercies and God of all comfort hear why who comforts us in all our affliction for what purpose so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the same comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God your joy in all circumstances is good for your soul and glorifies the Lord but your brothers and sisters need it rejoice always again I will say rejoice and here I know that is a lot what I want you to see is the gospel is the foundation for all of this it's not just a do better list

I hope you hear it as a see how beautiful Jesus is and recognize that should flow into your life honestly search your heart which of these do you not see do you need to plead with the spirit to grow in and then Christian may your life be filled with joy and may the world see your joy and give glory to God let's pray Lord thank you for your word thank you for the time together this morning I know that was a great deal the book of Philippians is filled with wonderful truth you're gracious to give it to us Lord you are merciful in the gospel help us to remember that I pray that those who don't know that would see it and would believe there is a foundation for joy and a gracious merciful Savior then Lord there is so much in this life that makes it hard to have joy

Lord would you help us to do that to rejoice in other Christians to rejoice in growth and sanctification and the living out of faith to rejoice in the advancement of the gospel even those who we may disagree with practically would help us in all our circumstances in joys and in trials to cling to you not just so that we may feel better but that we would trust you more and that others would see that others would come to know you and love you and trust you to your glory in Jesus name amen