Joy for the Journey

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:4-7

Always be Joyful (It is Possible!)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

- Philippians 4:4

Be a peacemaker

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

- Philippians 4:5

Take anxiety captive

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

- Philippians 4:6

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

- James 1:8

Allow God make you whole

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

- Philippians 4:6

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

- Philippians 4:7

Surrender control to God

Adjusting for Joy

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God wants us to experience His joy.

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

The joy of Jesus exceeds expectations.

“...therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

- Hebrews 1:9

The joy of Jesus endures.

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross...”

- Hebrews 12:2

Joy comes from more than just a religious routine.

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

- Philippians 3:2

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

- Ephesians 2:8-9

Joy comes from practicing the presence of God.

For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God…

- Philippians 3:3

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

- John 14:15-17

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

- Hebrews 11:6

Joy comes from living with God’s value system.

...and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…

- Philippians 3:3

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything 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.

- Philippians 3:7-8

Joy in Unity (Pastor Robert Hern)

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

- Philippians 2:1 -4 (NIV)

Unity is possible because of our shared experience in Christ.

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

- Philippians 2:1 (NIV)

1 Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us.

- Philippians 2:1 (ERV)

2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

- Philippians 2:2 (ERV)

Unity requires humility.

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 

- Philippians 2:3

4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

- Philippians 2:4

The ultimate example of humility is Jesus.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…

- Philippians 2:5

(1) His Incarnation – He left heaven for earth.

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7abut made himself nothing…

- Philippians 2:6

(2) His life – He became a servant 

7 by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 

- Philippians 2:7

(3) His death – He died on the cross

8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 

- Philippians 2:8

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

- Philippians 2:9-11

Unexpected Joy

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.

- Philippians 1:12-18

Joy is not centered on us, joy is centered in God

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.

- Galatians 5:22

The joy of the Lord is a witness to unbelievers

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.

- Philippians 1:12-13

The joy of the Lord empowers other believers

14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly.

- Philippians 1:14

The joy of the Lord brings rejoicing to the persecuted

15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.

- Philippians 1:15-18

Before the Relationship

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

- Genesis 2:15-18

God desires to give you a place

8 Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.

- Genesis 2:8

God desires to give you purpose

God purpose leads to God’s provision

9 The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

- Genesis 2:9

God defines your identity

God desires to give you parameters

16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

- Genesis 2:16-17

Love Your Enemy

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

-Luke 6:27-30

Demonstrate the highest standard of love

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Live by a higher standard of conduct.

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.

- Romans 12:20

Trust in God’s higher purpose.

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

- Luke 6:35-36

“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. That’s why Jesus says, "Love your enemies." Because if you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem and to transform your enemies. But if you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption.

- Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Contract vs. Covenant

It’s easy to be surrounded by people and still feel lonely.

2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house.

- 1 Samuel 18:2

Our society often treats friendship as a contract.

7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

“Saul has struck down his thousands,

    and David his ten thousands.”

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

- 1 Samuel 18:7-9

The Bible presents the idea of friendship as a covenant.

18 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

- 1 Samuel 18: 1, 3

Contract friendship vs. Covenant friendship

Contract friendship is casual. Covenant friendship is committed.

14 If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; 15 and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”

- 1 Samuel 20:14-15

Contract friendship is instant. Covenant friendship is intentional.

And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. 2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.”

- 1 Samuel 19:1-3

Contract friendship is self-seeking. Covenant friendship is sacrificial.l

4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

- 1 Samuel 18:4

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

- Philippians 2:4-8

Close, But Not Close Enough

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
- Mark 12:28-34

We experience God’s love personally

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us 
- 1 John 4:15-17a

We reciprocate God’s love back to him

19 We love because he first loved us.
- 1 John 4:15-16, 19

We demonstrate God’s love to our neighbor

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
- John 15:8

Yeshua - God's Salvation

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
- Luke 1:26–35

God’s grace is given to you

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!”
- Luke 1:26-28

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
- Psalm 90:17

For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield
- Psalm 5:12

God’s grace is extended through you

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.
- Luke 1:31-33

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may SEE your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
- Matthew 5:14-16

God’s grace and spirit empowers you

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
- Luke 1:34-35

Grace - God’s willingness to do in us and through us that which we could never do on our own.

El Shaddai: God Almighty

We like to do things our way.

24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.
- Genesis 27:24-25

Doing things our way can make a mess of things.

41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” 
- Genesis 27:41

God meets us in our mess.

10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
- Genesis 28:10-15

We should remove all other “gods” from our lives.

God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments.
- Genesis 35:1-2

If we remove all other “gods,” then we can rely on El Shaddai: God Almighty.

9 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel. 11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty…
- Genesis 35:9-11

God Almighty is sufficient for our personal needs. 

God Almighty is sufficient for us to fulfill our purpose.

11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty… be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.
- Genesis 35:11