Michael continues, that in each chapter of Philippians there is a thief that will steal your joy. Also, in each chapter is a remedy to restore the joy of the Lord.
In the first chapter, the joy thief is circumstances and situations. The antidote to defeat this thief is “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” When the storms of life are raging and there is panic, pandemic, and pandemonium all around us, the remedy is to keep the main thing the main thing: Jesus Christ and Him crucified, plus the saving power of His resurrection from among the dead.
In Chapter two, the joy thief is “people”. The antidote is, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Even though being in the form of God, He made Himself of no reputation. Instead, He humbled Himself and took upon Himself the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, even unto the death on the cross.” Humility to God in serving others is the antidote to overcome the world’s criticism and condemnation as the devil’s minions attempt to steal our joy.
In chapter three of Philippians the joy thief is “things”. The antidote is the spiritual mind. Finally, brethren rejoice in the Lord. Paul said this is a reminder that there are false prophets and preachers who will lead you astray by telling you that salvation is by works and the things of this world, not of grace. However, we put no confidence in the flesh, not having the circumcision made with hands but having our hearts circumcised to receive the truth of the Word of God.
Paul said that from an earthly perspective, he had the right credentials to rely on the things of this world; his own works and the things that the world holds dear. Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews, who could trace his lineage through the honored tribe of Benjamin. He had been trained in the right synagogues and by the right Rabbis. He was a leader of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of Judaism. However, Paul acknowledged, “those things I counted as precious to me, I now count but dung compared to the righteousness I have in Christ.”
Jesus said, if you abide in me and I abide in you, then you shall bear much fruit. He is the vine and we are the branches. Unless we are attached to the vine, there will be no fruit, there will be no purpose in life. Where do you make your humble abode?
In the first chapter, the joy thief is circumstances and situations. The antidote to defeat this thief is “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” When the storms of life are raging and there is panic, pandemic, and pandemonium all around us, the remedy is to keep the main thing the main thing: Jesus Christ and Him crucified, plus the saving power of His resurrection from among the dead.
In Chapter two, the joy thief is “people”. The antidote is, “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Even though being in the form of God, He made Himself of no reputation. Instead, He humbled Himself and took upon Himself the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, even unto the death on the cross.” Humility to God in serving others is the antidote to overcome the world’s criticism and condemnation as the devil’s minions attempt to steal our joy.
In chapter three of Philippians the joy thief is “things”. The antidote is the spiritual mind. Finally, brethren rejoice in the Lord. Paul said this is a reminder that there are false prophets and preachers who will lead you astray by telling you that salvation is by works and the things of this world, not of grace. However, we put no confidence in the flesh, not having the circumcision made with hands but having our hearts circumcised to receive the truth of the Word of God.
Paul said that from an earthly perspective, he had the right credentials to rely on the things of this world; his own works and the things that the world holds dear. Paul was a Hebrew of Hebrews, who could trace his lineage through the honored tribe of Benjamin. He had been trained in the right synagogues and by the right Rabbis. He was a leader of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of Judaism. However, Paul acknowledged, “those things I counted as precious to me, I now count but dung compared to the righteousness I have in Christ.”
Jesus said, if you abide in me and I abide in you, then you shall bear much fruit. He is the vine and we are the branches. Unless we are attached to the vine, there will be no fruit, there will be no purpose in life. Where do you make your humble abode?
Philippians 3:10 “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
The goal in Philippians 3:10 is that we will know Him and the power of His resurrection being conformed to His death. The power of the resurrection is the power that raised Jesus from among the dead. Part of knowing the power of His resurrection is to know the fellowship of His suffering. Through the tribulations He will refine us according to the good pleasure of His will. The end result of this refining through tribulation is hope and love. For tribulation works patience, and patience experience (character), and experience hope, and hope maks not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us. Only through suffering and the trials of life can we understand the grace of God. Paul learned this difficult life lesson after he prayed three times, “Lord please remove this thorn in the flesh.” The third time he prayed, God answered, “My strength is made perfect in thy weakness, my grace is sufficient for thee.”
The devil will sidetrack our thoughts and condemn us into thinking that we love those whom God has blessed us with, even more than we love God himself. God’s answer, “you don’t love her more than me. You love others because you love Me.” According to 1 John 4:12b, “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.” The love of others is a reflection of the love of God. Jesus Himself said, “in that you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
The purpose is that we will be conformed to His death ... that we will reckon our old sinful nature dead and our new spiritual nature alive in Christ. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me, and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. If God needs to break our hearts for what breaks His, then thank Him for breaking our hearts that we may be conformed to His will, not ours. He’ll pick up the threads of our broken hearts and weave them together again, conformed according to His will and His purpose.
Matthew 13:7,22 “And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
The antidote to the joy thief of “the things of this world” is to set our affection on things above and not on things of earth. For our citizenship is in heaven from which we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies at the resurrection. The hope of the resurrection keeps everything in proper perspective. Our hope is that the best is yet to come. According to Romans 8:18 ... the sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
As children of God and as Americans, we hold dual citizenship, but in the “right” order. We’re Christians who happen to be Americans and not Americans who happen to be Christians. Even though we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, our first allegiance is to the country of our “new” birth. We may be natural-born citizens of the United States, however we’re spiritual-born again as citizens of Heaven. We’ve been “born again” not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by he word of God which lives and abides forever.
Because He lives and because He lives in us, we can choose joy. This is a command: Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Our joy is not in circumstances, people, or things. Our joy is in the object of joy, the Lord himself. As the Christian hymn says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know who holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives!”
Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice ... that we may ever live to the praise of the glory To His grace!
The antidote to the joy thief of “the things of this world” is to set our affection on things above and not on things of earth. For our citizenship is in heaven from which we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies at the resurrection. The hope of the resurrection keeps everything in proper perspective. Our hope is that the best is yet to come. According to Romans 8:18 ... the sufferings of this present time are not to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
As children of God and as Americans, we hold dual citizenship, but in the “right” order. We’re Christians who happen to be Americans and not Americans who happen to be Christians. Even though we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, our first allegiance is to the country of our “new” birth. We may be natural-born citizens of the United States, however we’re spiritual-born again as citizens of Heaven. We’ve been “born again” not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by he word of God which lives and abides forever.
Because He lives and because He lives in us, we can choose joy. This is a command: Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Our joy is not in circumstances, people, or things. Our joy is in the object of joy, the Lord himself. As the Christian hymn says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know who holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives!”
Therefore, rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice ... that we may ever live to the praise of the glory To His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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