Last week’s message wrestled with how to choose joy in a way the makes it more likely for those around us while taking our own joy even deeper?
Like it or not our environment impacts us more than we realize. Perhaps more than we would like to admit. We all long for more joyful days, but they still seem so rare. That is what this series is about. If you are waiting for joy to just happen to you it will be a long disappointing wait. But if you learn to choose joy, not only can you experience it no matter your situation, your choice can also spill over to impact others. Here are three steps to make it more likely.
1. Intentionally Depend on Jesus to Care for You.
Phil 2:1-11 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose…
Idolatry is when we look to other people or things to make our hearts feel right. We act like we need other people to come through for us to be O, content or fulfilled. Too many parents make their kids feel this way.
Only Jesus can do this. When we look to others we putt unfair pressure on them, manipulate them, cling to or pursue in unhealthy ways, then get frustrated, upset, and angry when they don’t come through for us.
CORE TRUTH: Jesus meets our deep needs directly & through His people.
2. Put Other’s Needs Above Your Interests.
Phil 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
We have all heard that in an airplane emergency to put on your own mask first. So you are better able to help others right? But what if there is only one mask? What about the Titanic, there weren’t enough lifeboats or life vests on the Titanic. What did others do? some brave heroes sacrificed so others could live.
CORE TRUTH: God commands that we love each other with humble sacrifice.
3. Follow Jesus’ Example of Radical Sacrificial Love for Others.
Phil 2:5-8 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus… Cf. 6-11
CORE TRUTH: Our relationship with Jesus should drive our relationships with each other.
People have an impact on you… but you have an impact on them as well. What impact would it make if you got a handle on this. If you were intentional about letting Jesus meet your needs so you were free to think of others? What could happen if you found such joy in Christ that it led you to spread joy to others?
PARADOX… as you let Jesus minister to others through you, He will also minister to you through others!
Join us this weekend as we look look at another aspect of Choosing Joy.
John's sermon thoughts 