The apostle Paul expressed the joy he had found by having a deeper relationship with Jesus. In today’s episode, we will look at Paul’s letter, Philippians, to see where Paul found his joy and how we can experience the joy that Paul writes about.
Hebrews 12 tells us that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before him. Now, you may ask, what was the joy set before him? The new living translation phrases Hebrews 12:2 this way. “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross.” The joy awaiting Jesus is when individuals place their faith in him as Savior and Lord and become children of God. Here is a question for us to consider. Since the joy awaiting Jesus is us, what is the joy we are waiting for? Are we finding joy in knowing Jesus, living for him, and teaching others how to live for Christ? Or are we finding joy in the things of this world that are only temporary?
In this episode, we will learn that;
Joy is found in Jesus Christ, not found in our accomplishments.
Paul found joy in getting to know Jesus on a deeper level and he lived for him, and you can too.
Joy is found in partnership and prayer.
We can experience joy when we partner and pray with other believers.
Joy is found when you live a life for Christ.
When we live for Christ, as believers we will…
- Keep growing in the knowledge and understanding of the Lord and his ways (Philippians 1:9).
- To have a love for Christ and others that overflows more and more (1:9).
- To understand what matters so they may live pure and blameless lives for the Lord (1:10).
- Live a life filled with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ (1:11).
Joy is completed in unity.
Paul writes, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 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 interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 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 men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:1-11 ESV)
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