Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:1-7 NASB

  

Joy is anchored in relationship to others.

  

Paul’s joy is connected through his relationship with the Philippians. Not his circumstance.

  

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

-Philippians 4:1

Joy: Chara: calm delight, cheerfulness, gladness…it also means rejoicing.

They were the convincing proof that he had not run the race in vain. They were his chief cause of rejoicing. The thought of them filled him with gladness as if he were sitting at a feast instead of lying in prison.

  

Paul’s joy is connected to how the Philippians treat each other. 

  

…make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

-Philippians 2:2

  

Joy is a relational emotion. It connects people at deeper levels of intimacy. It can override situations and circumstances. 

  

Joy is anchored in relationship with God. 

  

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

-Philippians 4:4

  

  

Best Version of You.

  

Joy can be robbed.

  

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

-Philippians 4:2-3

  

We were created to live out from Joy; The Best version of You. Paul calls it out: make my joy complete, you are my joy, rejoice in the Lord. But because we live in a broken world full of sin and sinful people, we experience joy robbers that block us from being the Best Version of ourselves; the Best Version of You.

  

  

What Is Joy’s Relationship with Peace? 

  

Peace guards our joy.

• We are commanded not to be anxious but to pray.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:6-7

• Worldly peace and the peace of God are two different things.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:7

Worldly peace is the absence of tribulation and is man-made, and does not last.

Peace of God is a result of deliverance from self and is God-given. It is a word that refers to quietness, and rest.

• God’s peace then will guard our hearts and minds.

Guard: Garrison: Mighty protection.

The heart is the center of emotions, feelings, moods and all passions including Joy…the heart’s function as the source of thought and reflection highlights its intellectual capacities. The heart understands, provides wisdom, discerns good and evil…it is the center for decisions, obedience, devotion and intentionality - it represents the total human person.

-Harper’s Dictionary

  

Joy is found in your heart.

• Therefore Peace of God is given to us to garrison the joy God gives.

Peace and Joy are both a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

-Galatians 5:19-21

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

-Galatians 5:22-23

  

The Best Version of You which includes Joy and peace.

  

  

Losing Peace Always Affects Joy.

  

The peace of God:

…will keep us from sinning under our troubles and from sinking under them.

-Matthew Henry

  

Complaining is evidence Joy is no longer central.

  

  

The Best Version of You is a person filled with Joy, who acts from Joy.

  

1. The Best Version of You seeks God’s peace and joy. 

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,...

-Romans 5:1

Peace with God means Joy in our hearts - the joy that you were created for that makes the best version of you.

  

2. The Best Version of You returns to joy quickly.

In which relationship do you not lead out of joy?

Do people walk on eggshells around you?

How long do negative emotions control your relationships?

What kind of person do you turn into during upsetting situations?

Tools:

• Quiet yourself when emotions get upset.
• Try and establish relational connections quickly.
• Seek a return to an authentic relationship … no tension

The best version of a Christian returns to Joy and leads from Joy in their relationship with God and others.

  

3. The Best Version of You is best guarded by God’s Peace through surrender.

The heart is the center of emotions, feelings, moods and all passions including Joy.

-Harper’s Dictionary

Prayer of Relinquishment is one that moves us from struggling to releasing. It brings us into this soul satisfying rest.

-Richard Foster

Battle: My will be done vs Your will be done. If my will overcomes God’s will, I will lose the peace of God.

“It surpasses all understanding because it is something given to us as a fruit of self-surrender” …it is a gift of the Spirit.

  

4. The Best Version of You is refilled daily by the Holy Spirit. 

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,…

-Ephesians 5:18

  

“Bring me to full measure.”

  

What impact would we have on our families, communities, country and the world?

When you look at your life right now, are you the Best Version of You? Do you lead with joy?

  

  

This best version of You is not about you. It is about what God can do through you.

  

  

  

  

What are your main takeaways from this sermon?

Make a Decision Rare Leadership by M.Warner The Joy Challenge by R.Frazee