Joy Begins with Love

1. Read: Philippians 4:4

2. About the Text:

1) Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

2) How do we do that?

3) What is joy?

a. There is confusion between happiness and joy.

b. Happiness is fleeting; joy is sustainable.

c. Happiness depends on external stimulus.

d. Joy comes from within.

e. It is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

4) In many ways, the book of Philippians helps us to answer this question.

3. Joy begins with love.

1) Paul has a prayer for the church in Philippi.

2) It is a prayer for them to love (Philippians 1:9-11).

3) This is not the carnal love of man.

4) It is the spiritual/holy love of God.

5) “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Love must grow (slide).

1) This is the main thrust of Paul’s prayer – to grow in love.

2) Do we want to grow in love?

3) Are we satisfied where we are?

2. In Knowledge/Experience

1) We must love others in a variety of different ways.

2) We must love those who love us.

3) We must also love those who do not love us.

4) Our love is not like God’s love until it has been rejected, heart broken.

5) We are too self-protective with our love, unwilling to reach out to those who do not love us.

6) “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” (Matthew 5:44-46).

3. In Wisdom/Application

1) We learn how to love others the more we love others.

2) Most love by showing favor.

3) God’s love goes beyond this.

4) We love by doing the hard things.

5) This is the story of the cross.

6) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

4. Love brings joy.

1. As Christians we should want to love, appreciate, and promote excellent things.

1) This is not the world’s standard of excellence.

2) This is God’s standard of excellence.

a. Lifelong marriage.

b. Faithfulness to Christ and the gospel.

c. Loyalty to the church.

d. Personal evangelism of others.

3) “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

4) This brings joy.

2. For Sincerity

1) What is sincerity?

2) It is when the heart matches our actions and words.

3) It is the desire to do godly things for the sake of godly things.

4) Being a Christian because you want to, not because you “have to.”

5) No ulterior motives.

6) “For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:17).

7) This brings joy.

3. To be Without Offense

1) Paul is not speaking of being without offense toward the world.

2) Christians will offend the world by the righteousness of the cross.

3) “but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

4) The word here means that no one has anything to strike against one morally.

5) “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him” (1 John 2:10).

6) This brings joy.

1. The fruit of righteousness are acts of righteousness.

1) We must practice righteousness.

2) “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7).

3) Practicing righteousness brings joy!

2. What are righteous actions?

1) Romans 12:9-16

2) Ephesians 4:25-32

3) Colossians 3:5-17

4) When we do these things, we are approved by God which brings joy.

3. Righteousness is also not being unrighteous.

1) 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

2) Romans 1:29-32

3) When we practice unrighteousness, it creates guilt and takes away joy.

1. Joy begins with love that . . .

1) Abounds More and More

2) Approves what is Excellent

3) Is Filled with the Fruit of Righteousness

2. Invitation