JOY AND THE PERSON I AM

Philippians 3:7-9

That your life may be a Life of Christian joy is God’s intention for you. If you are not a joyful Christian, you are something less than what God wants you to be.

This chapter presents a disturbing fact---That the person I am has a tremendous bearing on my living the life of Christian joy. Paul suggests that the reason I’m not living the life of Christian joy may be explained by the person I am.

Some Christians will never live the life of Christian joy simply because of the level on which they are content to live their Christian lives.

Three words suggested in this chapter must characterize my attitude toward the person I am if I am to live the life of Christian joy. The first is a rather unexpected word. It is the word----

I.                   BANKRUPTCY (Phillipians 3:7)

A-We must admit our spiritual bankruptcy regardless of our cultural, social or religious heritage.

            1-Paul recalls how he was part of all that was best in

    the heritage of the Jewish faith.

2-After knowing Jesus, he considers all his rich

    heritage as worthless and bankrupt.

            B-Regardless of the victories in your Christian service you

must see yourself as Spiritually bankrupt.

            1-Paul’s victories had been amazing. He had

established churches, traveled scores of miles, suffered

much for Christ, won men and women to his Lord, and

gained a vast knowledge of Christian doctrine. Yet

look at what he said in Phillipians 3:13a.

2-A real danger for us is that we will rely on our victories of

the past to satisfy us for today—and we go stale.

II.                INTIMACY (Phillipians 3:10)

A-You must share an intimacy with the person of Jesus Christ Many times we get things out of order…1-We will put power first. 2-We will put Blessings first. 3-We will put Success first. 4-We will put the fulness of the Spirit first. 5-If we put any of these first we have things out of order…..WE NEED TO PUT THIS STATEMENT FIRST…”THAT I MAY KNOW HIM”

            B-Yours should be an intimacy with the Power of the Lord---

That I may know…the power of his resurrection.

C-An intimate knowledge of the sacrificial love of your Lord

is part of the secret to the life of Christian joy.---That I may

know…The fellowship of his sufferings.

In the life of Christian joy, if there is a bankruptcy and an intimacy there also must be an expectancy.

III.             EXPECTANCY (Phillipians 3:12,14,20,21)

Expectancy just isn’t there for some Christians. But not so with Paul. There’s always tomorrow, there’s always something new and exciting. And this is why he was always rejoicing.

A-The High Calling of God in Christ Jesus (3:14b)

B-The dream that God has for His child adds to the expectancy of the joyous Christian life. (3:12)

C-There is a prize to be won and our anticipation of gaining it increases the joy we have in Christian living. (3:14)

Conclusion------My work for the day is almost through,

                        Was it all as in His sight?

                        Would Jesus be able to say, “Well Done”

                        Supposing he came tonight?

                        There’s a tiny sin on my soul today,

                        And I can’t make my face look bright.

                        Would Jesus ask, “Aren’t you glad I’ve come?”

                        Supposing he came tonight?

                        Lord Jesus, I want more grace each day,

                        To help me walk aright,

                        So that my heart may gladly welcome you

                        Supposing you came tonight.