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THE JOY OF
PHILIPPIANS
(Conclusion)


We've taken Philippians apart into 8 lessons. I want to attempt to put it all back into one picture for us today with a chart. Look at the consistency throughout the book.

CHAPTER 1

    JOY

      4. Remembrance of them
      3-6. Mind
      7-8. Heart
      9-11. Prayer
      18. Christ proclaimed
      19. Christ honored

    IN SPITE OF:

      CIRCUMSTANCES
      8. Separated
      14. Prison
      15. Wrong motives
      21. Life endangered

    MIND SET

      SINGLE MIND
      21. One focus
      Not living to enjoy circumstances - to serve Jesus
      Fellowship strong
      Gospel furthered
      Faith guarded

    DAY OF CHRIST

      6. Work to completion
      10. Pure/blameless love abounds

    KEY VERSE

      21. For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.


CHAPTER 2

    JOY

      2. Same mind, love, accord
      17. Their faith
      18. Salvation
      28. Reunion
      29. Receive him

    IN SPITE OF:

      PEOPLE
      21. Look after own interest
      14. Grumble/complain

    MIND SET

      SUBMISSIVE MIND
      5-11. Jesus' mind
      17. Paul's mind
      19-24. Timothy
      25-30. Epaphroditus

    DAY OF CHRIST

      16. Others rejoice at your faithful living.

    KEY VERSE

      3. In humility esteem others better than yourselves.


All of us live in Philippians 1:21 OR in Philippians 2:21!


CHAPTER 3

    JOY

      1. Happy in the Lord

    IN SPITE OF:

      THINGS-11 times
      3. Tangible-birth, circumcision, money
      Intangible-status, religion, politics, achievements
      13. Forget past
      19. Earthly things

    MIND SET

      SPIRITUAL MIND
      Heavenly Things
      1. I count-value
      12. I press-vigor
      17. I look-vision
      Aliens

    DAY OF CHRIST

      7-12. No hinderance to reaching resurrection
      20. Christ return transform us to His likeness

    KEY VERSE

      20. Citizenship is in Heaven,
      We await a Savior... Lord Jesus


CHAPTER 4

    JOY

      1. Brethren
      4. Command X 2
      10. Concern

    IN SPITE OF:

      DEFEATS WORRY
      (wrong vision)
      6. Have no anxiety

    MIND SET

      SECURE MIND
      6. Right praying
      8. Right thinking
      9. Right living
      7. Peace
      9. Protection
      13. Power
      19. Provision

    DAY OF CHRIST

      5. The Lord is at hand.
      Redemptive plan completed.
      Nothing else happens before
      Lord returns.

    KEY VERSE

      7. Peace of God which passes understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When we develop the single mind in spite of circumstances around us and the submissive mind in spite of the people around us and the spiritual mind in spite of the things of this world, then we will find we have a secure mind that defeats worry and gives us the peace, protection, power and provision that God promises us.

It is possible to live a life of Christian joy in spite of circumstances, people, things and worry that rob us of vital energy better spent in use to the glory of Christ. How?

  1. Be sure you are a Christian. Christians are "set apart" for God's glory. In the first verse of each chapter is the phrase "in Christ" or "in the Lord." A non-Christian may be able to have a single mind focused on only one thing. But she does not have a submissive mind given only to Christ. Therefore she is deprived of the spiritual and secure mind and deprived of God's peace and the Christian's joy.

  2. Surrendering of the mind is a daily task. This is done in prayer - putting Christ first and others second - looking to their interests because that is what Christ would have done. We are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, not conformed to this world.

  3. If you find you are losing your joy during the day, take a spiritual inventory. Am I trying to function with a double mind? Have I been selfish, looking after my own interests? Am I grasping for things? Am I looking backward instead of pressing forward toward the goal? Am I worrying about the future which I do not hold? If so, pray, spend time in God's word and press on toward the finish line that really matters.

  4. Guard the gates of your mind. Think on the true, honest, just, pure, lovely, gracious and excellent things. If the mind wanders onto baser thoughts, deal with it immediately, giving it no time to root and grow.

  5. Share the joy. It is not meant to be a selfish commodity. Give it away. Others will be blessed and God will be glorified.

Jeannie Cole

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Ladies Bible Class, Spring 1996

next lecture (Philemon)
previous lecture (Philippians 4:1-9) Spring 1996
previous lecture (Philippians 4:10-23) Spring 1988

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Jeannie Cole


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