Gospel Centered Joy Regardless of Your Circumstances

Over the past few weeks in our blogs, we’ve read some great counsel and been encouraged in many ways.  That has been a huge blessing and joy in the midst of these troubling days. You could say that these blog posts have been some of the many good things that are taking place during this trial in our world.  “Good” things you might ask?! Yes, good things. I’m reminded of the Lords words to us through James.

Probably most of us can attest to the fact that it has been through fiery trials that we have learned and grown the most in our faith.  This should make us grateful. With that in mind, as you are going through this trial in faith (hopefully!), how are you doing in the area of joy?  

Trials aren’t unusual. We were reminded of this fact by Pastor Paul last Wednesday in his “vlog” post entitled “Nothing New in a Pandemic.”  Paul the Apostle reminds us of this too in his many letters that take on a “letters from the frontlines” posture.  One such letter is to the Philippians. We just finished a series from Philippians on Sunday nights. I’d like to give you one more assignment.

Read Acts 16:6 – 40 and consider Paul’s experience in Philippi.  

What experiences and circumstances (both good and bad) did Paul face?  

What was Paul’s response?  

Where did Paul find his hope and confidence?  

Next, read Philippians – in fact read it 3 times all the way through (it actually won’t take that long).  Ask the same questions as you did in Acts 16.  

David Powlison was my advisor at Westminster Theological Seminary.  He was a man who actually saw much suffering beginning in his early 50’s until the Lord finally took him home at the age of 69 last June. This was after a short (8 months) but intense battle with pancreatic cancer (Covid-19 isn’t the only illness out there that takes lives). His hope was firmly in the Lord throughout all of these trials. His trials were designed by God to produce a Christlike contentment and he received them in faith. His model of this steady, unremitting joy (and humility as I observed him) was a testimony to God’s grace and the truth of these passages.  He once gave us an assignment from Philippians, and some of my questions are patterned after his. In addition to my questions above, here are some directly from David Powlison as you consider the passage: 

“What rules the heart in godly responders?

What rules Paul? How is Paul's life determined by faith? What do Acts 16 and Philippians tell or imply about why Paul responds in such an unusual, "unnatural" way to the things he experiences in life? What ruled Paul? What controlled both his interpretation of circumstances and his response? What is his secret of contentment, the source of his peace, thankfulness and joy? What did Paul believe, trust, fear, hope in, love, seek, obey?

How does faith make the whole world look different? How does faith as a ruling motive reinterpret our circumstances for us, even when we are in the midst of suffering or success?

How does genuine faith change people in practical ways? How does faith change Paul’s desires and directly produce Paul's outward responses? For example, how do thankfulness, peacemaking and contentment flow directly from believing, trusting and fearing God in Paul’s exact circumstances? Draw the links specifically.

How is turning, repentance, and change portrayed? How does faith in God's message enable us to cross the line? How do we move from our natural reactions to a response of faith like Paul's? How do we move  FROM compulsive self-interest (1:17f, 2:3f & 2:21), 

FROM confidence in ourselves (3:3-7), 

FROM making our desires into our gods (3:19),

FROM living for what is before our eyes and all around us (3:19), 

FROM preoccupation with our anxieties or comforts or riches (4:6 & 4:12, and Acts 16:19), 

FROM fear of what people will do to us (1:28 and Acts 16:27), 

FROM willing and doing my own good pleasure (2:13-15), 

and

TO faith in the living, loving and powerful Savior, Jesus Christ, 

TO willing and doing God’s good pleasure? 

In other words, what happened to Lydia, the Philippian jailer, Paul, Silas, Timothy, and the other Philippian Christians Paul writes to? How is turning to God a once-for all-act?

How is turning to God a daily, ongoing process, a way of life? What happens once for all at conversion is a picture of what happens daily in Christian growth. How do Philippians 1:6, 1:9, 1:14, 1:25, 2:12, 2:15, 3:12-16, 4:2, and 4:12 describe this ongoing process of becoming different? True Christians are "disciples" of Jesus, who are in process (Luke 9:23).”

Finally beloved reader, as you consider Paul’s letter to the Philippians and seek to apply it to our current circumstances, what good fruit should we see as we repent and grow in faith during this trial?  This shouldn’t be a private endeavor, so share with someone (from 6 feet away or by zoom of course!) how the Lord is deepening your joy as he makes your more like Christ during this trial!