September 17, 2017

Joy in Growing Up

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Series: Living Joyfully Scripture: Philippians 2:12–18

Living Joyfully:

Joy In Growing Up:

Philippians 2:12-18

(To download and print blank sermon notes to complete while you listen, click HERE.)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28–29)

Joy is found as we become the person that God has created us to be!

How To Grow Into the Person God Has Created Us To Be

  1. Work Out What God Has Given You (12-13)

“work out”:  Not work for your salvation

Work out the implications of your salvation “your own salvation”:  Individual assignment – Unique

Accept personal responsibility

  • Obedience
  • Consistent – “always”
  • Mature – “not just in my presence”

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:3–6)

  • Attitude – “with fear and trembling”

Wholesome, healthy reverential awe for God

  • Dependent Responsibility – “God who works in you”

We are dependent upon God’s Spirit at work within us

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:29)

  • Pleasure – “for his good pleasure”

Working out our salvation brings pleasure to God and joy to us as we become the people God created us to be!

  1. Do Not Get Worked Up (14)
  • Grumbling – “private complaining under one’s breathe”
  • Disputing – “contentious spirit”

Attitude of the heart and a tone of the voice

  1. Live Distinctly (15)

Our lives should give compelling evidence that we are children of God.

But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:13–18)

  1. Live and Speak The Word (16)

“Just as right doctrine without right character is hypocritical and ineffective, so also is right living ineffective if believers are not proclaiming gospel truth.” 

John MacArthur

  1. Serve The Church (17)

Paul uses the OT picture of a “drink offering” to communicate their mutual life and serving of God and one another.

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16)

 

 

  1. Share The Joy (17b-18)

 

We are called to be channels of the Lord’s joy into the lives of others.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23–24)

Making It Personal:

  • Have you personally experienced God’s salvation working in you through repentance from sin and faith toward Jesus Christ?
  • Where do you need to obey God right now?
  • What is God saying to you about:
  • Grumbling and disputing?
  • Living Distinctly?
  • Living and Speaking the Word?
  • Serving the Church?
  • Sharing the Joy?
  • Who can you share these truths with?

other sermons in this series

Oct 15

2017

Joy in Contentment

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Philippians 4:10–20 Series: Living Joyfully

Oct 8

2017

Dealing with Joy Killers

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Philippians 4:1–9 Series: Living Joyfully

Oct 1

2017

Moving Toward My Future with Joy

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Philippians 3:12–21 Series: Living Joyfully