Joy Thief Number Three: Things
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 and 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 tough 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 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 and 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 an 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.
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 tribulaton worketh patience, and patience experience (character), and experience hope, and hope maketh 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. Pete loved his wife so much that he prayed, “Lord I think that I love my wife more than I love you.” God answered, “you don’t love her more than me. You love her 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 ye 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 liveth 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.
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 sons of God and as Americans, we hold dual citizenship. 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 citizens of heaven. We’ve been born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by he word of God which liveth and abideth 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.
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 alway, and again I say rejoice….
…That we may ever live to the praise of the glory fo His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
