Living A Joy-Filled Life In A Trouble-Filled World
Philippians 1:3-6; Selected Scriptures
By
D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D. Min.
July 12, 2020
Scripture Reading –
Psalm 138:1-8 (ESV) – I give you thanks, O LORD, with my
whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down
toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for
your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have
exalted above all things your name and your word. 3 On the
day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you
increased. 4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks,
O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the
glory of the LORD. 6 For though the LORD is high, he
regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. 7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me. 8 The LORD will fulfill his
purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures
forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
The FOCUS For A JOY-FILLED Life, Pt. 1
1. To live a joyful life you must PRAY with a focus on
the PERSON of God and OTHERS. (vv.3-4)
Philippians 1:3-4 (ESV) – I thank my God in all my
remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for
you all making my prayer with joy, . . .
Paul thanks God as he prays and remembers the
Philippian saints, and he prays with joy. HE CHOOSES
WHAT HE WILL REMEMBER AND FOCUS ON. Despite
the fact that Paul’s in prison, and despite the painful
problems he had in his past, PAUL DOESN’T FOCUS
ON HIMSELF. PAUL CHOOSES TO FOCUS ON THE
POSITIVE. HE FOCUSES ON GOD AND OTHERS. He
still prays for others.
Paul prays with joy.
Joy – cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight. An inner gladness;
a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a
cheerful and rejoicing heart.:-
Remember that Paul is in prison, yet he has joy in his
heart.
Paul teaches us that JOY IS A CHOICE, NOT LIKE
HAPPINESS, THAT HAPPENS BY CHANCE.
JOY IS ROOTED ON THE INSIDE, WHILE HAPPINESS
IS BASED ON WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE OUTSIDE.
Several things need to be said about the believer’s joy.
A. JOY IS DIVINE!
B. JOY IS INDEPENDENT OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
C. JOY IS ROOTED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP AND
FAITH IN GOD.
The FOCUS For A JOY-FILLED Life, Pt. 2
1. To live a joyful life you must FOCUS on the
PROGRAM and PROVISION of God. (v.5)
Philippians 1:4-5 (ESV) – always in every prayer of mine
for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Philippians 1:5 (AMP) – [I thank my God] for your
fellowship (your sympathetic cooperation and contributions
and partnership) in advancing the good news (the Gospel)
from the first day [you heard it] until now.
WHEN YOU SUPPORT THE KINGDOM WORK OF GOD
HE WILL MEET YOUR PHYSICAL NEEDS.
WHEN YOU ARE IN THE WILL OF GOD, SERVING AND
SUPPORTING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, GOD WILL
MEET EVERY NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN
GLORY.
The FOCUS For A JOY-FILLED Life, Pt. 3
1. To live a joyful life you must focus on the POWER
and PLAN of God working in and through your LIFE. (v.6)
Philippians 1:6 (ESV) – And I am sure of this, that he who
began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the
day of Jesus Christ.
A. God’s power and plan is evidenced in Him
SAVING you.
B. God’s power and plan is evidenced in Him
DEVELOPING you.
C. God’s power and plan will become evident
when He FINISHES and DELIVERS you from mortal to
immortality.
John 14:16-17 (ESV) – And I will ask the Father, and he
will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because
it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he
dwells with you and will be in you.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (ESV) – And it is God who
establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,
22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his
Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
2 Corinthians 5:5 (ESV) – He who has prepared us for this
very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a
guarantee.
Psalm 57:2 (ESV) – I cry out to God Most High, to God who
fulfills his purpose for me.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT2) – For I know the plans I have for
you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for
disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
2 Timothy 1:12b (ESV) – . . . But I am not ashamed, for I
know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is
able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (ESV) – Now may the God of
peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole
spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will
surely do it.
1 Peter 1:5 (NLT2) – And through your faith, God is
protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation,
which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
LIFE Group Questions
1. Who is the most confident person you’ve ever known?
Explain
2. How do you define confidence?
3. How important is it for a person to be confident in The
LORD? Explain.
4. Why is it important to know God has begun a good
work in you?
5. How important is it to know God can finish what He’s
started in your life? Explain
6. As you look back over your life can you identify times
God has been continually working on you? Explain
7. What is the relationship between joy and knowing the
power of God is working on, in and through you?
8. What is the relationship between the power of God
working through you and the fight for justice in the world
today?
9. What aspect of God’s power are you seeing
manifested in your life?
10. How does knowing God is not finished working on you
encourage you during the challenging times of your life?