Looking For Joy In Life's Difficulties
Philippians:
Finding Lasting Joy
“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.
Philippians 1:18b-19
As Paul is sitting and writing a letter to his friends in Philippi, he is filled with thankfulness and joy. Even though he is imprisoned in Rome at the time, his feelings of joy are overflowing in his letter. What could bring Paul so much joy as he is sitting in a filthy, cold, dark prison?
This summer we studied the book of 1 John where we learned how to love others despite the circumstance and our differences. Then we studied the character of Joseph where we saw an example of how to be content in our suffering and how to rely on God in every circumstance. In the book of Philippians we will learn how to be joyful through our suffering. Joy is much greater than happiness. Happiness comes and goes with the wind but joy outlasts our daily emotions. Joy is something we choose and we can choose to stay joyful or not. There are things in our lives that bring us joy. Maybe the things that bring you joy are things that are comfortable to you, bring you encouragement, make you feel at peace, and bring you hope. We will see, through reading Paul’s letter to the Philippians, that lasting joy comes from a surrendered and heartfelt relationship with Jesus Christ.
Paul and his companions started the church in Philippi, and this has been a strong church from the beginning. These are friends of Paul’s that he does not have to worry about. They have kept the church in good standing, have been teaching the true gospel, have stayed away from the old laws of the Jewish religion, and have relied on Jesus Christ to lead them. There is no doubt that writing to these friends brings Paul joy as he sits in prison for spreading the gospel. He feels like he is writing to friends that encourage him and would be in the same prison if that was what this cruel world handed to them. The Philippians have supported Paul financially through his gospel teaching journey (Phil. 4:15-16 and 2 Cor. 8:1-4, 11:9), and they have recently sent Epaphroditus to deliver gifts to Paul while he is in prison (Phil.2:25 and 4:18). Paul is thankful for his friends’ support and is giving them an update on his prison situation.
How are you supporting your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?
What can you do to further your support and encouragement to other Christians?
Paul begins his letter by telling the Philippians that he is praying for them. Not only does he tell them this but he gives specific things he is praying for. Paul thanks God for their partnership in spreading the gospel, that God would continue to work in their lives and church until God’s work is complete, that their love may grow more and more so that may be blessed with knowledge and insight, that they would be able to discern what is best and pure, and that they be filled with the fruit of righteousness. What a specific prayer! Paul is not just taking a minute to pray that God blesses his friends, he is taking the time to think about what they specifically need and asking these specific requests of God. Paul trusts that God is protecting his friends and that God wants what is best for them. Paul is certain that the Philippians will continue to progress in their faith because God is committed to transforming them. God does not start something that He does not fully intend on completing. God knows what the completion will look like, when it will happen, and how we will get there. Paul is placing his friends in God’s hands with assurance that God is in control of everything.
Are there individuals (examples: children, missionary project, co-workers, employees, spouse, aging parents) in your life that it is hard for you to let go of the control? How can you specifically pray for these individuals so that you give God control over their lives, not you?
As you move on to verses 12-14, I want these words to really sink in. These are some of the most profound verses in chapter 1.
“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” Philippians 1:12-14
Does that bring goosebumps to anyone else? Here Paul is, in prison in Rome for spreading the gospel and what is he doing while he is in prison, spreading the gospel! This man is fearless! He realizes that his suffering is not pointless in his faith journey. His suffering did not put his ministry on hold, it was another chapter in his ministry. He has reached a whole new audience by being in prison. Instead of sitting in prison in silence and fear, Paul turned a bad situation into a good one. He reached out to the Roman soldiers who made up the palace guard and strengthened them in their walk with Christ. The soldiers became confident in who Jesus is and let go of their fear of persecution. God can make something good out of our worst circumstances. There is a reason for everything God does in our lives.
How do we find the good in our circumstances?
Continue to pray. Ask God to enlighten you in His plan through your circumstance.
Surround yourself with other Christians that will support and encourage you.
Stay in God’s Word.
Look for ways to talk about Jesus, even if it is just to your family. Help others grow in some capacity.
Have faith that God is working in the midst of your circumstances. Ask God to reveal His working hands to you.
Try to find out what God is teaching you through your struggle.
See your struggle as an opportunity to grow in your walk with Christ. You are learning to lean on Him and trust Him fully.
Be certain that at the end, God’s sovereignty will win! You do not need to fear because God is committed to helping you get through your circumstance for your good and His glory.
Paul goes on to talk about different types of preachers and teachers. There are some that preach so that they may gain something or view other preachers as competitors instead of all working to accomplish the same goal which is growing the kingdom of God. Paul is saying that if we spread the gospel out of good will, looking for nothing in return; then we are doing it out of love. Then Paul says in the long run it does not matter, the gospel will get spread either way, and that is what matters. So, because the gospel is getting spread, he will rejoice. Whether the gospel is being taught on the open streets, behind closed doors in houses, in huge amphitheaters, or in a prison cell, it is being taught to the world, and what has happened to Paul will turn out for good.
Make two lists, one of good things that have happened in your life and one of bad things that have happened. How have these circumstances overlapped to make something wonderful?
How is God making something beautiful out of your struggles?
In verses 21-26 Paul is see-sawing on being torn between life and death. On one end he is ready to go to his true home with Jesus Christ. He knows that is where he belongs, that he is a foreigner in this world. He knows that eternity in Heaven is his great reward. But, on the other end, he knows that if he continues living, he can continue doing God’s work here on earth. Paul says in verse 22, “Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!” God has called him to spread the gospel and that is a job Paul is very passionate about. He knows that the churches he planted would be better off if he remained on earth and he wants to continue this work until it is completed. But selfishly Paul knows that when we die all our struggles will cease and we will be in paradise with Jesus. There is a big chance that he might be killed when his trial comes up. So, he is trying to be content with either outcome. Once again, he is giving God the control. Paul is putting God in control over his life and death.
Do you worry about death? What gives you hope and assurance as you try to understand life and death?
Paul ends this first chapter of Philippians with reminding us how to conduct ourselves as Christians. We are to conduct ourselves in a manner that is worthy of the gospel. How do we live in a manner that is worthy of the gospel? We are to stand firm as a united front with other Christians. Instead of spending our time fighting against each other, we can use our time, talents, and gifts to come together to grow God’s Kingdom. As we stand and fight against the world and the devil’s schemes, we show our strength as one body of Christ. Our enemies will be frightened because they see we have already won through our unity in Jesus Christ—who has already won.
It is a blessing to not only live and believe in Jesus Christ, but to suffer for Him. He suffered for us and we should find our suffering for Him a blessing. That sounds kind of weird as I write it. I don’t mean that we should suffer by causing harm to ourselves or others. God does not reward bringing suffering upon yourself. I mean that through our daily walk on earth, suffering will come our way eventually, and how we handle it matters. One commentator says that we benefit from suffering because it takes our eyes off earthly things, it weeds out superficial believers, it strengthens the faith of those who endure, and it serves as an example to others who may follow us. Randy Alcorn says, “God does not merely empathize with our sufferings; He inserted Himself into history through Jesus. What Jesus suffered, God suffered. God ordained and allowed Jesus’ temporary suffering so He could prevent our eternal suffering.” Since Jesus and God are one, God suffered right along with Jesus. God does not allow suffering that he has not endured Himself.
Do you ever wonder why Good Friday is called “Good” Friday? Why isn’t it called Bad Friday? We know that out of the horrific bad came astounding good. The good trumps the bad. The bad was temporary but the good is eternal. If Jesus had have been relieved of His suffering, He could not have delivered us from ours. Romans 6:5 says, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” As we saw earlier in the lesson, our sufferings overlap our joys in life. We see that this is true all throughout our lives. Paul reveals to us that through our suffering will come great reward.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28