Latest / Admonition Podcast / Joy In Our Savior - Philippians 4:4 - Aaron Cozort - Nov 02, 2025 011
Transcript
- 0:04Good afternoon.
- 0:06Take your Bibles, if you will, and open them to the book of Philippians.
- 0:10Philippians chapter 4.
- 0:22The church at Philippi was one who loved Paul, and Paul loved them.
- 0:31They were diligent to send support to Paul time and time again as they had opportunity, though there were occasions where they were not able to send the support, though they
- 0:45desired to do so.
- 0:49They were not without their problems.
- 0:51There's mention even within the text in the beginning of chapter 4 of two ladies within the congregation that were having problems with one another, and the congregation was
- 1:02instructed to help them work through that problem.
- 1:08But the church there at Philippi doesn't seem to have many of the issues that some of the other congregations had.
- 1:18There isn't a strong focus in the text of Paul setting correct things that were wrong.
- 1:26Rather, it was more an exhortation to continue doing what was right.
- 1:34But over in Philippians chapter 4, we read in verse 4, rejoice in the Lord always.
- 1:44Again, I will say, rejoice.
- 1:48This afternoon we're going to talk about joy in our Savior.
- 1:55As Paul writes to the church at Philippi, he calls upon them to rejoice.
- 2:01He calls upon them to have joy.
- 2:06As we go through life, we will encounter individuals, some of whom will be joyful, some of whom will be
- 2:14curmudgeonly, some of whom will just be downright angry at the world.
- 2:20But Paul calls upon Christians to rejoice.
- 2:24He doesn't just say, rejoice, he says, rejoice in the Lord.
- 2:33Is it true at times that there will be things in our lives, circumstances that we're surrounded with,
- 2:40things that we go through that we will not enjoy.
- 2:43certainly.
- 2:45Will there be circumstances at work or circumstances at home or circumstances among relationships we have where those circumstances don't bring us any joy?
- 2:58Certainly.
- 3:00But there's one relationship in which
- 3:03if we are Christians, if we are faithful to Christ, if we are faithful to His commandments, we ought to always be able to rejoice in.
- 3:14And that is our relationship with Jesus Christ.
- 3:18And so I want us to spend some time here in this text looking at what Paul tells this church to do as he commands them to rejoice and to do so
- 3:33always.
- 3:34You begin down in verse 6 and you notice that Paul says if we are to have joy in our Savior that we need to guard that joy by supplicating.
- 3:45If we're going to keep the joy that we have, if we're going to maintain the joy that we have, we're going to grow the joy that we have in Christ, we are going to have to pray.
- 3:56Paul will write to the church in verse 6 and says, be anxious for nothing.
- 4:02but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God as Paul influences and encourages and exhorts this congregation he tells them
- 4:17that they need to be communicating to God
- 4:24Sometimes people will wonder, well, why should I pray?
- 4:30After all, Scripture tells us that God's all-knowing.
- 4:34Certainly if God's all-knowing, then He knows what I need, He knows what I want, He knows what I should have and what I shouldn't have.
- 4:41Shouldn't I just expect God to do His part?
- 4:49Jesus will teach us that though God knows what we need, God desires for us to ask for what we need.
- 5:02God desires for us to build a relationship with Him.
- 5:09As we look at our lives, as we examine our actions, our choices,
- 5:15our path in life, and the things that we strive to do every day, are we thinking about those things in view of discussing those things with God?
- 5:29Are we bringing the things that we desire, the things that we are looking towards, the plans that we are making, the questions that we have, the uncertainties that we deal with,
- 5:41are we bringing those things to God?
- 5:47Jesus would teach his disciples concerning prayer.
- 5:53If you'll turn uh back to the book of Matthew.
- 5:57Jesus in Matthew chapter 6 will say beginning in verse 5, when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.
- 6:11He gives a matter-of-fact statement in the form of a command.
- 6:19You shall not be like the hypocrites.
- 6:25He says, "'For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.
- 6:33Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.'"
- 6:39There is a time for public prayer.
- 6:42There is a time for private prayer.
- 6:45But there is never a time to pray to be seen by others.
- 6:52To pray for reputation's sake only.
- 6:59I've seen occasions where individuals will pray in public, maybe in a restaurant somewhere, and they'll be praying because they were embarrassed because somebody else was
- 7:10praying.
- 7:11And they wouldn't normally do it, but because somebody else was praying, they're kind of embarrassed into doing it.
- 7:20Number one, we should never be embarrassed to pray.
- 7:24We ought to be, as Paul tells Timothy to instruct the men in the congregation at Ephesus to be, we ought to be those who are holy individuals lifting up hands in prayer wherever
- 7:36we happen to be in appropriate times to pray.
- 7:41But Jesus says we ought to never pray to be seen by men.
- 7:46He further says, you, when you pray, go into your room.
- 7:51And when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
- 8:00And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions, as the heathens do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
- 8:08Therefore, do not be like them.
- 8:11For your Father knows the things that you have need of before you ask him."
- 8:16Jesus points out as he instructs his disciples and as he instructs those who are around him how to pray, he says you can do it in private.
- 8:27You can do it in secret.
- 8:30You do not have to pray openly before everyone so that everyone can hear, so that everyone can know what you're looking for.
- 8:42If we pray...
- 8:45and we pray for the people who are around us to hear and we're really just praying so they know what is important to us.
- 8:56We're doing it wrong.
- 9:00We ought to be praying so that God hears.
- 9:05We ought to be praying so that God can know what it is that we ask for and what it is that we need.
- 9:14We ought to be praying so that we communicate to the Father what it is that we are in need of and Jesus says the one who hears in secret knows how to reward in public.
- 9:32You remember the example of Daniel.
- 9:36Daniel was one who would pray.
- 9:40And the indication of the text is that every day he would pray.
- 9:44Three times a day he would go into his house to pray.
- 9:50Daniel didn't go to the king's house to pray.
- 9:55Daniel didn't go to the street corner to pray.
- 9:58Daniel went into his own house to pray, but when the order came from the king no longer to pray, Daniel didn't do a thing different about what he had always done.
- 10:11He simply went home and prayed.
- 10:15But consider as well, Jesus says in this manner therefore pray, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
- 10:23That is, holy is your name.
- 10:27Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- 10:32Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
- 10:38And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
- 10:47Amen.
- 10:49Jesus will teach us that God knows what we need and yet
- 10:55God desires for us to ask for what we need.
- 11:02And He also desires for us to ask for what we already have been given.
- 11:09Did you notice in the text there in verse 11, He says, you should ask for your daily bread from God.
- 11:15You say, well, wait a minute, I've looked in the cabinet, we've got seven days stored up, I don't need to pray for that today.
- 11:22Jesus says, yes, you do.
- 11:24Yes, you do.
- 11:27You need to recognize where everything from your daily provisions to your long set aside uh investments, where they all belong.
- 11:40They all belong to God.
- 11:42They are all that which he provides and he can remove.
- 11:46You remember there was the man who saw the crop come in.
- 11:51And the harvest came in and he realized there's not enough room in the barns for this harvest.
- 11:57God tell you what, go ahead, tear down the barns and build bigger ones.
- 12:02So we have room to store it up and then I will say to myself, self, eat, drink, be merry, because you have sufficient.
- 12:11Except that very night, God required his soul from him.
- 12:15So the question was asked, whose will these things be?
- 12:19Which you have provided.
- 12:21We need to be reminded that what we have every day belongs to God and every day should belong to God.
- 12:28And if we are going to maintain and to guard our joy in Christ, we are going to have to do it by praying and asking God for those things which we need, those things which we desire
- 12:43to have.
- 12:44But also, you remember Paul said that we are to offer thanksgiving to God.
- 12:53One of the struggles that we face in this life is satisfaction and contentment.
- 13:01One of the problems that we have in our country, but it's not unique to our country, it's a problem that exists in humanity, is that we're not satisfied with what we have.
- 13:13We're not content with what we have.
- 13:16Now, should we ever be satisfied with our relationship with God or should we always be seeking to make it better?
- 13:23we should always be seeking to make it better.
- 13:24But the idea of contentment is if this is what the Lord has said I have and this is what is sufficient and I can do His will, then I'll do His will with what I have if I have
- 13:35nothing.
- 13:37And if the Lord blesses me with an abundance more than I have ever had before, I'll do His will with what I have because it belongs to Him.
- 13:47And so Paul tells
- 13:49these brethren in Philippi he says rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice let your gentleness be made known to all men the Lord is at hand be anxious for nothing but in
- 13:59everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
- 14:06Let your request be made known to God." Paul makes it clear if you can't be thankful for what you have, then you should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
- 14:23And so Paul teaches these brethren to be thankful.
- 14:26Verse 7 says, and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
- 14:35Consider in the second point,
- 14:37that to guard our joy in Christ we must always meditate.
- 14:44That is to think on the things of God.
- 14:48Paul will write in verse 8, finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
- 15:01whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy,
- 15:07think or meditate on these things.
- 15:14As we examine our lives, as we look at the things that we focus on, we need to be careful to examine the things that we dwell upon.
- 15:30Now we all realize we're going to experience things in life and we're going to
- 15:35ah observe things in life that are not always going to fall into these categories.
- 15:41Paul's not really discussing the nature of everything we see and hear.
- 15:47know, the see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil.
- 15:51That's not really what Paul's discussing.
- 15:55Paul's talking about where do we allow our heart and our mind to dwell.
- 16:03what things do we spend our time thinking?
- 16:09Proverbs tells us that based upon the things that we think, so we are.
- 16:18If we spend our time dwelling on things that are evil, we will become evil.
- 16:27If we spend our time dwelling on things that are unjust and things that are untrue and things that are not noble, we will become those things.
- 16:38But we might even bring this a little closer to home if we realize that it's not just the things that are evil, it's not just the things that are sinful that we are to avoid.
- 16:52But if you notice the list again, notice what Paul says.
- 16:56He says, whatsoever things are true.
- 17:02Have you ever thought about, have you ever interacted with someone who was notoriously bad about lying to themselves about themselves?
- 17:14They wouldn't accept a compliment if a hundred people lined up and said the same thing about them, if it was good.
- 17:25But if you say one bad thing about them, if they hear one negative thing, they're going to repeat it to themselves over and over and over and over again.
- 17:38Very first qualification, Paul says, for maintaining our joy in Christ is we're going to have to think on things that are true.
- 17:50Now if we look at ourselves and we examine ourselves and you know what?
- 17:54If I tell myself the truth about myself, I've got a lot of things to work on.
- 18:02That may be true.
- 18:05But do I give myself credit for the things that I do that are right?
- 18:09Do I give myself credit for the things that I do that are good?
- 18:13Or do I only give myself criticism for the things that I do where I fail and discount all the things that I do that are good?
- 18:22We ought to be those who are humble, that's true.
- 18:26But we also ought to be those who are honest about ourselves.
- 18:30Paul says we ought to dwell on things that are true, even about ourselves.
- 18:38But he also says whatever things are noble.
- 18:45Americans, we don't spend a whole lot of time thinking about nobility.
- 18:51Other cultures that have monarchs and have had monarchs in their past have a tradition of nobility.
- 18:59They have a history of nobility.
- 19:03We have a history of defying nobility.
- 19:09but noble is the idea that it is that which is upright, it is that which is honorable, it is that which is of good report, it is that which is kingly, if we could give it a
- 19:23description.
- 19:27And Paul says, you need to be thinking about things that are honorable, that are upright in their very nature.
- 19:36You need to be thinking about things that are noble.
- 19:41If you turn over to 1 Peter, Peter as he writes to the Christians will speak to them and he will encourage them to do what's right.
- 19:53It's actually 2 Peter that I'm going for.
- 19:55uh
- 19:58Chapter 1 in verse 5, I know this is maybe impeding somewhat on what some of the ladies are going to be discussing in their retreat, but Peter writes and he says, also for this
- 20:09very reason giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue.
- 20:17The idea of virtue is that strength which comes and is willing to stand up for what is right.
- 20:27It is the willingness of someone to say, because this is right, I will do it.
- 20:37Paul uses a similar concept when he says we ought to be thinking about that which is noble.
- 20:45He also says not only whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, but whatever things are just.
- 20:53Those things which are not only true, but accord with the very justice and judgment of God.
- 21:05You know, the thing that we need to remember is if we think about things that are just, we're going to think about things that are good for people and condemn people.
- 21:19Because the justice of God applies to both those who are righteous and those who are wicked.
- 21:27When you see the just nature of God, you see someone who will
- 21:33benefit and will uplift those who are righteous and will condemn and destroy those who are wicked.
- 21:42Over in Psalm chapter 15, the psalmist writer will ask the question, who will dwell in the holy hill of God?
- 21:56Psalm 15 and in verse 1, Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle?
- 22:01Who may dwell in your holy hill?
- 22:04He who walks uprightly and works righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart.
- 22:11He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend, in whose eyes a vile person is despised." Did you notice
- 22:22that?
- 22:24One of the characteristics of the person who will dwell in the very presence of God is someone who despises the evil person in their evil actions.
- 22:38He says, in whose eyes an evil person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD.
- 22:45He who swears to his own hurt and does not change.
- 22:49He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
- 22:55He who does these things shall never be moved." The psalmist writer makes it clear that God expects us to view the world the way He does.
- 23:10He expects us to view people and their actions the way He does, and He is a just God.
- 23:20Paul says we're going to have to dwell on these things.
- 23:27Truth, nobility, justice, purity.
- 23:35It is a challenge to be pure in an ungodly world.
- 23:40It is a challenge to think pure thoughts when the world is continually sending incessant
- 23:49impure things at you.
- 23:55But as we examine the life that we are to lead, we are to challenge ourselves to dwell on things that are pure.
- 24:08One of the easiest ways that exists, if we would but use it, to avoid impure thoughts is to be too busy thinking about things that are pure.
- 24:24But as the saying goes, idle hands are the devil's workshop.
- 24:30If we spend too much time in idleness instead of dwelling on things that are true and noble and just and pure, we open ourselves up to temptation.
- 24:42Paul says, whatever things are lovely.
- 24:50Through some of the associations that I've had through the years, I've met a number of preachers and one of them, his background is in Ireland.
- 25:00And he just uses the term lovely.
- 25:03Well, isn't that lovely?
- 25:06And that's just not a phrase that ever existed in my growing up years or in my background.
- 25:11It's just not a phrase my family used to call something, I mean, you might see a uh flower and call it lovely, but...
- 25:19That's just not the way we talk about people.
- 25:21But it's a phrase he uses and it always makes me smile.
- 25:25Well, isn't that lovely?
- 25:28We need to be those who consider the things that God made, the things that exist around us, and the people, and the choices they make, and remember to appreciate and dwell on
- 25:42things that are lovely.
- 25:45They're worthy of
- 25:48love.
- 25:51But he also says, whatever things are of good report.
- 25:59One of the things that's always encouraged me about Brother Bill who spoke this morning is he always has something good to tell you about somebody.
- 26:11I've never ceased to be amazed at all the people he's met in his life and all the people he knows and all the places they've been, but there's always somebody doing something good
- 26:23that he can give you knowledge of the good that they're doing.
- 26:28Why?
- 26:28because he focuses on good reports.
- 26:31He dwells on good reports.
- 26:36And certainly that's something that I think is a characteristic of missionaries.
- 26:40They share encouraging and uplifting things because they go through some things that are very much not.
- 26:49And through the hardship you need good reports.
- 26:53You need good things to dwell on.
- 26:56But Paul then says if there's any virtue
- 26:59If there is anything praiseworthy, think on these things.
- 27:05Meditate on these things.
- 27:10Now does that mean Paul was certain that he was never going to have to deal with any of them that would cause his mind to stray into any thoughts that were unfortunate or
- 27:22untoward or events or circumstances where he would say that doesn't qualify under any of these categories?
- 27:30No.
- 27:32Paul dealt with the Jews and the Romans.
- 27:36Paul dealt with those who were persecuting him and who were persecuting Christians, and Paul had some memories of some things he had done that were also not described by these
- 27:49things.
- 27:52But as Paul focused these brethren, you go back to Philippians chapter 1 and Paul will remind them, beginning in verse 19, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance
- 28:08through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness.
- 28:20As always so now also in Christ will be, so also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death, for me to live as Christ and to die as gain.
- 28:31But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit for my labor, yet I will, what I shall choose I cannot tell."
- 28:43For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.
- 28:48Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
- 28:52And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you for your progress and joy in the faith.
- 29:02That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again." Paul has already written to them and has already told them
- 29:12I'm going to continue working for your joy, for your benefit, for your rejoicing.
- 29:21And so Paul is one who set the things that were behind him aside, and as he says, he pressed towards the mark of the high calling of God.
- 29:33But also we consider that to guard our joy in Christ, we must always imitate.
- 29:40We must be those who are willing to imitate others.
- 29:44Verse 9 of chapter 4, says, the things which you have learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do.
- 29:55And the God of peace will be with you.
- 29:59As Paul lived his life before others,
- 30:03He made choices, He determined actions, He set forward His path and the things that He would do so that He would set an example for others to follow.
- 30:17As we look at our lives, if we desire to maintain our joy in the Savior, if we desire to put our hearts and our minds in a position of rejoicing continually, then we're going to
- 30:30have to lead people down a path
- 30:32they should actually go.
- 30:36when Paul wrote to Timothy.
- 30:39He wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 1, and he says, verse 18, this charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies made concerning you, that by them you may
- 30:53wage a good warfare, having faith in a good conscience which some having rejected concerning the faith have suffered shifreq.
- 31:02of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I deliver to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme." Paul says of these two individuals, had caused their own faith to be
- 31:15shipwrecked.
- 31:19And Paul is making sure Timothy knows he can't follow in their path.
- 31:25He has to maintain a good warfare.
- 31:30He has to maintain a set of actions and a lifestyle so that others can follow him.
- 31:37He will give instruction to them in 1 Timothy, give instruction to him in 1 Timothy chapter 3 that Timothy ought to know how to behave himself in the house of God.
- 31:50how sad it is when Christians look back over their lives and they realize that the way they've behaved and the actions they've participated in and the lifestyle that they lived
- 32:05caused others to be lost.
- 32:09Because others looked at that lifestyle and it became a temptation to them and it became a stumbling block to them.
- 32:19When individuals look back through the years and they cannot identify those who they've helped bring to Christ, they can only identify those who they've helped lose their souls.
- 32:31It's a sad state.
- 32:34Paul says, things which you learned and received and have seen in me, those things you do.
- 32:45He's telling them not do whatever I do because I'm perfect.
- 32:49No, no, no, that's not Paul's message.
- 32:51He's telling them the same thing that he told the Corinthian brethren in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 in verse 1 where he instructs those at Corinth to follow me as I follow Christ.
- 33:05Paul is telling these brethren, you've watched it, and you've been told it, and you've heard it, and you've witnessed it, now go do it.
- 33:18And we need to follow the same path.
- 33:22Paul assures the church at Philippi, if they will do these things, then the God of all peace will be with them.
- 33:30They will be able to rejoice in the Lord always and
- 33:35again rejoice.
- 33:39They will be able to guard their hearts and their minds with the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.
- 33:46Why?
- 33:47Because they will be those who communicate with their Father.
- 33:52They will be those who dwell on that which is good, and they will be those who follow the path of righteousness.
- 34:03And if you'll do those things, communicate with the Father, dwell on those things which are good, and maintain good works, then you'll have something to rejoice in.
- 34:19And you may always be able to rejoice.
- 34:24We need to take encouragement from the lessons that Paul gives to Philippi.
- 34:29And we need to encourage ourselves
- 34:32to grow in these matters so that we might be able to have joy in our Lord.
- 34:40If you're here this afternoon and you're outside the body of Christ, if you're going to have joy in the Lord, you must first be obedient to the Lord.
- 34:49You must be willing to put His name on and wear His name.
- 34:54And you become a part of His body when you become obedient to His commands.
- 34:59to hear the Word of God and believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
- 35:03Why?
- 35:03Because Jesus said, except you believe that I'm He, you shall die in your sins, John 8.24.
- 35:09Because Jesus said, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.
- 35:13We're going to have to repent because, let's face it, we all realize that where we started is not where God would have us to be.
- 35:22We're going to have to change our mind to change our actions.
- 35:28But we also have to confess His name.
- 35:31If there is rejoicing that is found in Christ, it is most certainly true that there is not rejoicing found outside of Christ.
- 35:44Not the kind that God would have us to have.
- 35:47And so we're going to have to confess the name of Christ.
- 35:50And we're going to have to be immersed in water for the remission of our sins, because if we continue in our sins, we won't have joy.
- 35:57We won't have rejoicing, we'll have condemnation.
- 36:00And so we must be immersed in water for the remission of our sins that we might rise to walk in newness of life and having had all of those past sins washed away, we can have
- 36:11rejoicing.
- 36:13Because truly we can think about ourselves and think, you know what?
- 36:18If it was just me, I'm not worth much.
- 36:25But me with Christ.
- 36:28Now that's something worth something.
- 36:32If you're here this afternoon and you have need of the invitation of Christ to put Christ on in baptism, to wear his name, to have joy in the Lord and peace in our God, you can do
- 36:43that this evening.
- 36:43If you're departed from the right path and departed from God, you can come back and you can once again have joy in our Lord.
- 36:53If you have need of the invitation for any reason, why not come now as we stand
- 36:57and as we sing.