Joyful moments may look different for everyone. It could be a moment of great connection. It could be a game night with your family. A joyful moment could look like being curled up with a good book to the sound of rainfall outside your window.
For Paul, he tells us to choose joy in a moment that is difficult. He is imprisoned because of his mission to advance the gospel, but Paul is still able to find joy in that moment. Why?
Paul could intentionally choose joy in that moment because of his foundation in Jesus Christ. We must have a deeper joy beyond the temporary moments of joy in our lives. When you look at the “why” behind every desire you have, there is always a greater source of motivation. So, what is the basis of your life?
In Philippians 1:19-26, Paul reveals the source of his joy, even in life’s most difficult time:
Yes, and I will rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ — which is far better — 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.
According to Paul, the foundation of our joy is based on:
1. The assurance of deliverance.
Paul believes that adversity is paving the way for his deliverance. The outcome does not dictate his deliverance. It doesn’t matter whether he gets out of prison or dies for his faith. Either way, he understands that he is delivered.
His deliverance is based on the supernatural work of the Spirit and the prayers of the people. Prayer is the place where the love and enjoyment of God is cultivated. It is the ongoing rapport of God’s people and the Father. The prayers of his community played a pivotal role in his comfort. God works on our behalf, but there’s also a very important component involving us.
Paul’s number one hope is that Christ would be magnified in his body, whatever happens, whether he lives or dies. Paul just wants to glorify God through his life. He is ready to face whatever challenges come.
When my wife and I moved back to Brownwood from seminary, I went through the process of pursuing a job. I was crushed, but the way that the church gave thanksgiving for my return and prayed for me has made a difference and healed my life.
We come to church with smiles, but no matter what you’re dealing with today, recognize that the body of Christ is here to support you. We must recognize the bride of Christ as essential, as Paul did.
If you invited me over for dinner but didn’t want me to bring my wife, I’d be offended. In the same vein, God honors His people and sees each of us as a valuable and necessary asset to one another.
When we are in Christ, we are held fast together. Jesus calls us to love all of us His people. One of the surest pieces of evidence for your love for Jesus and what forms the foundation and the basis of our joy in Him is the people of God.
Paul knows that he will be delivered or preserved through the love of the people and by God’s Spirit.
2. The foundation of Paul’s joy is an eager hope.
Paul doesn’t put his hope in his kids traveling sports team or his 401K. His hope is firmly in the person and the mission of Jesus. He has a resilient source of strength and hope. Paul becomes more stubborn and more determined to honor Christ through his suffering.
If you took an audit of your life, is this true for you? If you were to dig deep and examine the source of what motivates you, would it be Christ above all? If your family forms the basis of your life, what happens when there is a relational rift? If money forms the basis, what happens when the market crashes?
If Jesus is your deepest desire, nothing can be robbed from you. Paul becomes untouchable, infuriating the enemy because the more suffering he faced, the more he dug in his heels in pursuit of God’s glory.
When we pray for our children, we express our life in Christ. When we share Jesus and invite neighbors into our homes, we are expressing that “to live is Christ”.
This is not just an overnight process. We must build a foundation every day in Christ.
Application:
1. Come to Jesus
Whether you are a believer or an unbeliever, come to Jesus. You need Him to deliver you from thousands of things that you could place your hope and joy in outside of Jesus. However, anything outside of Jesus is unstable and unreliable like shifting sand. Even in the most gut-wrenching times in your life, your faith can grow.
2. Cultivate an awareness of Jesus’ presence
Prayer is not an endless list of requests as some may think. Prayer is cultivating a life where you enjoy God’s presence in your life. I have three reminders every day that simply reminds me to turn my attention to God. My morning prayer is focused on silence. In the middle of the day, when everything is happening, I stop and turn my attention to God and lay those worries at His feet.
You don’t stumble into being able to say to live is Christ and to die is gain. This is something that must be cultivated intentionally. This world is set up to drive your thoughts, values, and behaviors toward its systems. The world wants to shape your mind. However, the world is unstable and when the storms come, this world’s systems will crumble and fall.
There is no straddling the fence. It’s one or the other. You cannot serve two masters. Let us come to Jesus. Let’s cultivate an awareness of his presence because he has said, I am with you always to the end of the age.
