““Be Be Joyful!” Joyful!”

Philippians 1:12-26Philippians 1:12-26

VICTOR FRANKLVICTOR FRANKL

““Everything can be taken from Everything can be taken from men men

but one thing: the last of but one thing: the last of human freedoms - the ability human freedoms - the ability

to choose one's attitude to choose one's attitude

in any given set of in any given set of circumstances.”circumstances.”

"...does not change "...does not change like shifting shadows."like shifting shadows."

(James 1:17)(James 1:17)

22ndnd Corinthians 10:7 Corinthians 10:7"...are looking only "...are looking only

on the surface of things."on the surface of things."

Isaiah 60:4-5 Isaiah 60:4-5 "Lift up your eyes and "Lift up your eyes and

[really] [really] look about you...then you look about you...then you

will look will look and be radiant, and your and be radiant, and your

heart heart will throb and swell with will throb and swell with

joy." joy."

Philippians 1:12-26Philippians 1:12-26

12 - Now I want you to know, brothers, that 12 - Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. to advance the gospel.

13 - As a result, it has become clear 13 - As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

14 - Because of my chains, most of the 14 - Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.courageously and fearlessly.

15 - It is true that some preach Christ out 15 - It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. good will.

16 - The latter do so in love, knowing that 16 - The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the I am put here for the defense of the gospel. gospel.

17 - The former preach Christ out of 17 - The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.I am in chains.

18 - But what does it matter? The important thing 18 - But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

19 - for, I know that through your prayers and the 19 - for, I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

20 - I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no 20 - I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.body, whether by life or by death.

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

22 - If I am to go on living in the 22 - If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!know!

23 - I am torn between the two: I 23 - I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;which is better by far;

24 - but it is more necessary for you that 24 - but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. I remain in the body.

25 - Convinced of this, I know that I will 25 - Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, for your progress and joy in the faith,

26 - so that through my being with you 26 - so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me."overflow on account of me."

I. I. BAD TIMES WILL DOBAD TIMES WILL DO

Acts 19:21 Acts 19:21 ““After I have been [to After I have been [to

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Macedonia, and Achaia] Macedonia, and Achaia] I must visit Rome also.”I must visit Rome also.”

In Romans 1:15 In Romans 1:15 “... I am eager to preach the “... I am eager to preach the

gospel gospel also to you who are at Rome.”also to you who are at Rome.”

verse 12 verse 12 "I want you to know brothers, "I want you to know brothers, that what has happened to me that what has happened to me

has really served to advance has really served to advance the gospel."the gospel."

A.A.GO FORWARDGO FORWARD (v. 12) (v. 12) "ADVANCE" and "FURTHERANCE" "ADVANCE" and "FURTHERANCE" = = "to cut before" "to cut before"

““woodcutters”woodcutters”

verse 14 verse 14 "...it has become clear "...it has become clear

throughout the whole palace throughout the whole palace guard guard

that I am in chains because of that I am in chains because of Christ."Christ."

verse 14verse 14"Because of my chains, "Because of my chains,

most of the BRETHREN in the most of the BRETHREN in the Lord Lord

have been encouraged have been encouraged to SPEAK the word of God to SPEAK the word of God

more courageously and more courageously and fearlessly."fearlessly."

"brethren""brethren" = LAY LEADERS = LAY LEADERS

"speak""speak" = everyday = everyday conversationconversation

B. B. GET INSPIREDGET INSPIRED

verse 18verse 18"..what does it matter? "..what does it matter?

The important thing is that in The important thing is that in every way, every way,

whether from false motives or whether from false motives or true, true,

Christ is preached. Christ is preached. And because of this, I am And because of this, I am

joyful."joyful."

C. C. BE POSITIVEBE POSITIVE

verse 19 verse 19 "...what has happened to me "...what has happened to me

will turn out for my will turn out for my DELIVERANCE."DELIVERANCE."

““deliverance” = personal deliverance” = personal well-beingwell-being

SCOTTISH: SCOTTISH: "sub pondere cresco" = "sub pondere cresco" = grow grow

under the burdenunder the burden

22ndnd Corinthians 4:17-18 Corinthians 4:17-18 "All this [suffering] is for your "All this [suffering] is for your

benefit. benefit. Though outwardly we are Though outwardly we are

wasting away, wasting away, yet inwardly we are being yet inwardly we are being

renewed day by day. renewed day by day. For our light and momentary For our light and momentary

troubles troubles are achieving for us an eternal are achieving for us an eternal

glory glory that far outweighs them all. that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, is seen,

but on what is unseen. but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."but what is unseen is eternal."

Brian Harbour: Brian Harbour: "When there is no calamity, "When there is no calamity,

there is no courage, no there is no courage, no hardship, hardship,

no hardiness, no stress, no no hardiness, no stress, no strength,strength,

no suffering, no sympathyno suffering, no sympathyno cross, no crown."no cross, no crown."

John BunyanJohn Bunyan: : (“Pilgrim’s Progress”) (“Pilgrim’s Progress”)

English Christian of the 17th centuryEnglish Christian of the 17th century

"If I was out of prison today, "If I was out of prison today, I would preach the gospel again I would preach the gospel again

tomorrow, tomorrow, by the help of God… by the help of God…

… PRISON is a hill from which … PRISON is a hill from which

I could see great things."I could see great things."

PAULPAUL

"In all things, "In all things, God works for the GOOD God works for the GOOD of those who love Him, of those who love Him, who have been called who have been called

according to His purpose.“according to His purpose.“

2. 2. BAD TIMES WILL NOT BAD TIMES WILL NOT DODO

Romans 8:38-39 Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced "For I am convinced

that neither death nor life, that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the neither the present nor the

future, future, nor any powers, neither height nor any powers, neither height

nor depth, nor depth, nor anything else in all nor anything else in all

creation, creation, will be able to separate us will be able to separate us

from the love of God from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our that is in Christ Jesus our

Lord." Lord."

22ndnd Corinthians 4:8-9 Corinthians 4:8-9"We are handicapped on all "We are handicapped on all

sides, sides, but we are never frustrated; but we are never frustrated; we are puzzled, but never in we are puzzled, but never in

despair. despair. We are persecuted We are persecuted

but we never have to stand it but we never have to stand it alone: alone:

we may be knocked down we may be knocked down but we are never knocked but we are never knocked

out!"out!"

verse 21verse 21"I eagerly expect and hope "I eagerly expect and hope

that now, as always, that now, as always, Christ will be exalted in my Christ will be exalted in my

body, body, whether by life or by death. whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ For to me, to live is Christ

and to die is gain." and to die is gain."

LIVING BIBLELIVING BIBLE "For to me, living means "For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, opportunities for Christ,

and dying... well, that's better and dying... well, that's better yet."yet."

"gain""gain" = = dividenddividend

Chuck SwindollChuck Swindoll on verse 21:on verse 21:

“For me, to live is MONEY, and to die is to leave it all “For me, to live is MONEY, and to die is to leave it all behind.behind.

For me, to live is FAME, and to die is to be quickly For me, to live is FAME, and to die is to be quickly forgotten.forgotten.

For me, to live is POWER AND INFLUENCE, For me, to live is POWER AND INFLUENCE, and to die is to lose both.and to die is to lose both.

For me, to live is POSSESSIONS, For me, to live is POSSESSIONS, and to die is to depart with nothing in my hands.and to die is to depart with nothing in my hands.

When money is our objective, we must live in fear of When money is our objective, we must live in fear of losing it, losing it,

which makes us paranoid and suspicious;which makes us paranoid and suspicious; when fame is our aim, we become competitive with when fame is our aim, we become competitive with

others, others, which makes us envious;  which makes us envious; 

when power and influence drive us,when power and influence drive us,we become self-serving and strong-willed, we become self-serving and strong-willed,

which makes us arrogant;which makes us arrogant; and when possessions become our god, and when possessions become our god,

we become materialistic, we become materialistic, thinking enough is never enough, which makes us thinking enough is never enough, which makes us

greedy.”greedy.”

""You do not want to leave too, You do not want to leave too, do you?"do you?"

(John 8:67 )(John 8:67 )

And Simon Peter replied: And Simon Peter replied: "Lord, to whom shall we go? "Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal You have the words of eternal life."life."

(John 8:68 ) (John 8:68 )

"God, open my eyes, that I "God, open my eyes, that I may see, may see,

wonderful things in Your law."wonderful things in Your law." (Psalm 119:18) (Psalm 119:18)

Deuteronomy 4:29Deuteronomy 4:29"If you seek the Lord your "If you seek the Lord your

God, God, you will find Him; you will find Him;

if you LOOK for Him if you LOOK for Him with all your heart and all your with all your heart and all your

soul."soul."