“Joy in the Midst of Life & Loss”
Philippians 3 & 4
Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV)
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
How many of you are high achievers?
How about the MITTT Club?
A Vinyl Confession from a Rock Star…
The stage is set, the race is on. To drink the cup till every drop is gone,
And when you make it to the top, the hunger doesn’t stop. You climb the ladder to success, the way the world defines it more or less, you find the grass is greener still on someone else’s hill…to make it through the needle’s eye, you just can’t live a lie…
Ecclesiastes 2:21-23 (NIV)
For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. 22 What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? 23 All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.
Keys to Joy in the Midst
Philippians 3:12-16 (NIV)
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
The plan is progress…not perfection
The past is over…forget it!
The future holds out hope…reach for it!
The secret is a determined attitude…maintain it!
The need is keeping a high standard… together
“We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
~ Benjamin Franklin (As he signed the Declaration of Independence)
Philippians 4:8,9 (NIV)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
What does having Joy in the Midst give us?
It provides endurance through our trials
It cultivates resilience in us
It helps us to understand that the value of maturity is greater than the value of the trial
Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
What are the 3 takeaways from this series:
• Joy in the midst is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life
• Joy in the midst is not being a complainer, but a person who rejoices
• Joy in the midst gives us the capacity to be resilient and the determined choice to praise God in every situation…even in the midst of life & loss