Opportunities, Joy and Challenges

Series: On The Way to Joy: A Study in Philippians

Have you ever had a bad day?

The following is taken from a Florida newspaper:

A man was working on his motorcycle on his patio and his wife was in the house in the kitchen. The man was racing the engine on the motorcycle and somehow, the motorcycle slipped into gear. The man, still holding the handlebars, was dragged through a glass patio door and the motorcycle dumped onto the floor inside the house.

The wife, hearing the crash, ran into the dining room, and found her husband laying on the floor, cut and bleeding, the motorcycle laying next to him and the patio door shattered. The wife ran to the phone and summoned an ambulance. Because they lived on a fairly large hill, the wife went down the several flights of long steps to the street to direct the paramedics to her husband.

After the ambulance arrived and transported the husband to the hospital, the wife uprighted the motorcycle and pushed it outside. Seeing that gas had spilled on the floor, the wife obtained some papers towels, blotted up the gasoline, and threw the towels in the toilet.

The husband was treated at the hospital and was released to come home. After arriving home, he looked at the shattered patio door and the damage done to his motorcycle. He became despondent, went into the bathroom, sat on the toilet and smoked a cigarette. After finishing the cigarette, he flipped it between his legs into the toilet bowl while still seated.

The wife, who was in the kitchen, heard a loud explosion and her husband screaming. She ran into the bathroom and found her husband laying on the floor. His trousers had been blown away and he was suffering burns on the buttocks, the back of his legs and his groin.

The wife again ran to the phone and called for an ambulance. The same ambulance crew was dispatched and the wife met them at the street. The paramedics loaded the husband on the stretcher and began carrying him to the street.

While they were going down the stairs to the street accompanied by the wife, one of the paramedics asked the wife how the husband had burned himself. She told them and the paramedics started laughing so hard, one of them tipped the stretcher and dumped the husband out. He fell down the remaining steps and broke his arm. Now THAT is a bad day.....

Worse is when one bad day turns into two bad days, then a bad week, bad month ...

That's the sort of month Paul was having when the church at Philippi got its start.

This is the Second Missionary Journey
The first was great
Paul & Barnabas together
Sharing the Gospel and Planting Churches

Second Journey didn't get off to such a good start

The first time the church prayed and fasted and boldly declared that Paul & Barnabas should go
This time Paul and Barnabas were in conflict
It was so bad that they stopped working together
No prayer or fasting recorded
Acts 15:40 ...Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
God help you Paul...only He can.
After one stop, they find themselves lacking direction
Acts 16:6-7 "Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to."
Trying their best
Nothing is working
Torn inside

That's a bad day.

Having a huge vision for what God can do
Seeing that you might have destroyed it with your own hands
Yet somehow Paul moved from this place of uncertainty to the place where he was able to write this letter of joy.

What happened?

Paul followed Jesus into an opportunity with joy and challenges.

1. Opportunities

A. Philippi

Call: Vision of Macedonian Man

Acts 16:6-10 "Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."

Philippi Was of Strategic Importance

Named after Philip of Macedon - the father of Alexander the Great

Philippi Was a Growing City on the Crossroads of the Empire

It was on the major Roman Road VIA IGNATIA
Main road between Eastern Provinces and Rome

Philippi Was More Sophisticated Than the Other Cities Around It

Important battle was fought on the plains around Philippi
After Julius Caesar was assassinated, Mark Anthony & Octavian stayed loyal and went to war against Brutus & Cassius.
Mark Anthony & Octavian won.
Octavian was crowned Caesar Augustus
Philippi was given honors
They became a Roman Colony
As such, Philippi became a miniature Rome
Every citizen of Philippi became Roman Citizens
Taxes, property ownership and other rights were given as if they were on Roman soil
They even had their own senate and magistrates, with Roman Law and the Latin language

This was the First Church in Europe

This growing, sophisticated city was the first city in this new frontier - EUROPE.

Paul's known world was the Middle East

That was his comfort zone

Early Lift spent in Tarsus & Damascus
Jerusalem was the "Center of the World"
All on the far right side of this map

It took a direct vision from the Holy Spirit to push Paul out of his known world and into the unknown.

B. CGS

As I think about Philippi, I see many similarities to the mission we have here in Seattle.

This Area is a Growing City on the Crossroads of the Empire

Seattle is now one of the 15 largest markets in America

Lynnwood:

Median age 36.2
Completed at least some college 65.4%
Married 49.3%
Divorced 12.7%
33% of the kids are age 6-11 (Children's Ministry)
33% of the kids are 12-18 (youth group)
Racial diversity index 123.4
(100 is national average; higher numbers indicate greater diversity)
% clear days in the area 16
Lynwood Growth Rate: 14%
Bothell Growth Rate: 25%
Mill Creek Growth Rate: 50%

This Area thinks it is More Sophisticated Than the Other Cities Around It

This Area is of Strategic Importance

My Call to CGS

Seminary - best times were reaching out to the homeless in coffee bars and downtown venues
Goth/Vampire culture (AIDS backlash in early 90's)
Sense regarding Seattle
Ad for non-denominational Church

[TS] That is the opportunity Paul had and that we have. The next thing Paul discovered in Philippi was JOY.

2. JOY

Philippians has often been called ‘The Letter of Joy"

A. Joy Stats

The language of Joy dominates this letter

The word "Joy" or "Rejoice" occurs 15 times in Philippians

only 4 x in 1 Corinthians
8 x in 2 Corinthians
9x in Colossians
9x in 1 Thessalonians

B. Definition of Joy

The experience and expression of joy are close to one another.

Joy is not just inward. It has a cause and finds expression. It thus aims at sharing, especially as festal joy.

Greek words

Religion word: ἀγαλλιάομαι = rejoice

χαίρω is intrinsically a secular term

We should be shooting for a joy that is almost vulgar it is so joyful. So joyful it is scandalous!

C. S. Lewis -The Weight of Glory.

If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly to hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion has crept in from Kant and the Stoics and is no part of the Christian faith. Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased!

C. Joy Stories

Paul

Acts 16:16-25 - In Prison, singing

Acts 16:26-34 - Jailer believes in God

Writing this letter from Prison:

Kept in prison for two years in Caesarea, without trial
He was being held for an unknown amount of time in Caesar's jail in Rome.
He had survived a perilous storm on the Mediterranean Sea.
He had been deserted by most of his friends.
Others, even Christian leaders, had spoken against him, hoping to get him into even more trouble with the government.
He was facing possible execution for his faith.
It is not generally recognized how poorly Paul had been received in Rome.
Paul arrived in Rome as a prisoner, many of the Christians went out to meet him, just as we might go to the airport to meet a celebrity.
But then Paul went to prison.
Two years passed, perhaps more.
The pastors were jealous of Paul. They neglected him for that reason.
In time Paul was almost forgotten.
Proof - Onesiphorus, a visitor to Rome, tried to find Paul some years later, no one could tell him where Paul was. It was only by careful searching that this faithful Christian found him

D. Where does This Joy Come From?

You cannot hope and also think about hoping at the same moment; for in hope we look to hope's object and we interrupt this by (so to speak) turning round to look at the hope itself. . . . The surest means of disarming an anger or a lust was to turn your attention from the girl or the insult and start examining the passion itself. The surest way of spoiling a pleasure was to start examining your satisfaction. . .

I perceived (and this was the wonder of wonders) that . . . I had been equally wrong in supposing that I desired Joy itself. Joy itself, considered simply as an event in my own mind, turned out to be of no value at all. All the value lay in that of which Joy was the desiring. And that object, quite clearly, was no state of my own mind or body at all. . . . I asked if Joy itself was what I wanted; and, labeling it "aesthetic experience," had pretended I could answer Yes. But that answer too had broken down. Inexorably Joy proclaimed, "You want-I myself am your want of-something other, outside, not you nor any state of you." - C. S. Lewis

We saw a moment ago that this letter must be about JOY because the word is used more often than in any other.

Key Insight - Even Though Paul Mentions Joy A Ton, He Mentions JESUS even More

We see this most noticeably in the number of times Paul speaks the name of Christ. Did you know that the name of "Christ" or "Jesus Christ" occurs seventeen times in the first chapter alone, and that this represents a frequency of more than once every two verses? Paul speaks of joy many times. This is significant. But it is greatly overshadowed by the number of times he mentions Jesus. (James Montgomery Boice)

E. The Centerpiece of JOY (and this letter) Is Jesus

Christ Hymn of Philippians 2:6-11

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:6-11, NIV)

Paul found joy in Prison because of Jesus

Paul found joy in trails because of Jesus.

We can have joy because of JESUS

3. Struggles

I wish I could end the sermon there and say that Philippians only represents great opportunity and great joy...but there is more. Philippians also represents a great struggle.

A. The Symptom - Disunity

"I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord." (Philippians 4:2, NIV)

Euodia was the Choir Director & Syntyche was the Organist

Odious & Soon-Touchy

"Euodia and Syntyche are not an isolated phenomenon; they are a symptom of a malaise which could prove fatal for the church." - J. A. Motyer

Fatal is not too strong of a word.

ILLUSTRATION - treat symptom instead of problem: NIQUIL - treats symptoms of cold, not the cold

The common cold = a highly contagious, viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system
In the USA alone, the common cold leads to 75 to 100 million physician visits annually at a conservative cost estimate of $7.7 billion per year.
Americans spend $2.9 billion on over-the-counter drugs.
They spend another $400 million on prescription medicines for symptomatic relief.
More than one-third of patients who saw a doctor received an antibiotic prescription, which not only contributes to unnecessary costs ($1.1 billion annually on an estimated 41 million antibiotic prescriptions in the United States), but also has implications for antibiotic resistance from overuse of such drugs

B. What is the Root Problem? PRIDE

Look at the bookends of the Christ Hymn

Phil 2:1-4

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:1-4, NIV)

Phil 2:12-14

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing," (Philippians 2:12-14, NIV)

This is the anatomy of pride at its worse - selfish ambition

Pride = the world revolves around you in a way it doesn't revolve around others.

C. Solution = A Copernican Revolution of the Soul

Early thought was that the universe revolved around the earth.

1543 Nicolaus Copernicus, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

demonstrated that the motion of the heavens can be explained without the Earth being in the geometric center of the system

Copernican Revolution = shift the center from me to Jesus

If Pride = The World Revolves around you or me

Solution = My world revolves around Jesus

Daily Decisions should be made through this grid ...

If the world revolved around me I would ...
If the world revolves around Jesus I would ...

? Should I step in front of that lady at the check-out counter?

If the world revolved around me I would ... Step in front of her
If the world revolves around Jesus I would ... Wait

? Should I embezzle that money?

If the world revolved around me I would ...
If the world revolves around Jesus I would ...

? Should I have sex before I'm married?

If the world revolved around me I would ...
If the world revolves around Jesus I would ...

? Should I share that gossip?

? Should I launch that insult?

? Should I complain about that music?