Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey        
February 8, 1998                                       
                                                       Philippians 1:1-6
                         WHAT'S TO BE HAPPY ABOUT? 
                         =========================

  I. Introduction to series on Philippians.
      A. Paul in prison.
          1) Location not certain:  Rome, Caesarea, Ephesus.

      B. Writes to young church in Greece.
          1) He was founding missionary, in answer to dream from God.
          2) Opening refers to a local church: saints, overseers, deacons.
              a) As we would say: members, deacons, trustees.
          3) We need other Christians.
              a) Paul was in prison but not alone.
              b) We have brothers and sisters around the world.

      C. Focus is on Jesus.
          1) Servants and saints "of and in Jesus."
          2) Speaks of a spiritual relationship and focus.
          3) Churches don't exist to make people happy.
              a) We exist and work to bring glory to God.
              b) When you have this purpose, you will be a happy person.

 II. A heartfelt prayer.
      A. Almost all of Paul's letters begin with a prayer.

      B. He has wonderful memories of their church.
          1) Sometimes we need help with our memories:

             Arthur Fry, a chemist at 3M Corporation, was having
                problems in the choir loft.
             The pastor's sermon was especially boring.
             So Arthur began putting slips of paper in the hymnal
                for upcoming songs.
             But the slips kept fluttering to the floor.
             Then he remembered researcher Spence Silver's discovery.

             Silver had mixed an unusual amount of monomer into a
                polymer-based adhesive he was working on.
             The result was a "tacky" adhesive.
                It stuck, but not well.
             The company had no use for it.
             Arthur Fry went to work, dabbed some of the adhesive on
                slips of paper, and stuck them around the office.
             They stayed, yet not so strongly they damaged surfaces
                when pulled off.

             Today Post-It notes are found in every office in America,
                and pull in big bucks for 3M.
             It seems a lot of people need help with their memories.
             It also shows you that even boring sermons can be
                profitable!
                                                                 #538
          2) Paul's post-it notes:
              a) Lydia.                                  Acts 16:14
              b) Philippian jailer.                      Acts 16:30

      C. Joy is his predominant feeling.
          1) Are you a happy person?
              a) Glenn Gunderson - "This is the BEST grilled tuna I've
                    ever eaten!!!"
              b) (I don't respond like this.  Especially in morning.)
          2) Major theme in letter is joy.
              a) Happiness that comes from God.
              b) Happiness that is in spite of circumstances.
                  1> He didn't whine at conditions.
              c) Happiness that is shared with other believers.

III. Side by side.
      A. Paul was happy because Christianity did not depend on him alone.
          1) God gave him other Christians like the Philippians.
          2) He uses the term, "koinonia."

      B. Two primary meanings:
          1) To SHARE TOGETHER in the sense of partnership.
              a) Ancient Greeks used it of business relationships.
                  1> Our business is to spread the gospel.
                  2> This requires a concerted effort.

              There is a story about a woman who lived in a Philadelphia
                 neighborhood that was going downhill very fast.
              The area was becoming increasingly over-crowded, noisy and
                 dirty.
              It was a bad situation.
              The woman decided something would have to be done about it.
              She knew that money would be required to change the
                 situation.

              Consequently, she started a fund-raising drive.
                 She called people.
                 She sent letters.
              She got some financial support from private foundations.
              She finally raised $85,000 -- then promptly used the money
                 to move to another neighborhood.
                                                                    #2949
              b) Christians don't escape world, but band together to
                    make it better.

          2) To SHARE WITH in the sense of giving what we have to others.
              a) The Philippians were very giving people.
                  1> They started early.  They didn't let up.
                  2> Ledgewood is good at this.
              b) Any genuine Christian will want to share what they have.
                                                                    #4031

 IV. Confidence in the future.
      A. Paul sees God at work in their lives.
          1) Whatever God does, he does well.
          2) Christ has started something, he will accomplish it.
              a) (Billy Graham autograph)
              b) Has God begun with you?  [stress start of Christian life]

      B. There is still work to be done.
          1) Don't be saved from damnation and then keep living in
                hell.
          2) Focus on the "NOW."                  

      C. The end product is someone who perfectly reflects Jesus.
          1) Day of Christ.
          2) Woes of world lead to pessimism.
          3) Christians can be optimistic.   (prophecies)
              a) We believe in completion, an end.
              b) Not endless cycles like reincarnation.

      D. We can be confident - but not dogmatic.
          1) How you end up counts.  [Glenn]
          2) "He who stands firm to the end will be saved."    Matt 24:13
          3) We need to help people be firm and challenged to grow.

  V. What is the guiding purpose of YOUR life?
      A. Paul knew he was part of a great thing.

      B. We can be, as well.

         One of the great intellects of the 20th century has been
            the psychologist Abraham Maslow.
         Ever since Freud, psychologists and psychiatrists focused
            all their attention on people who were mentally unbalanced
               and sick.
         They figured these neurotic patients could reveal the forces
            that shape human development.

         Dr. Maslow took an entirely different approach.
         Instead of sick people, he studied people who were vitally
            alive and fully functioning.
         He wanted to know what made them radiantly happy and whole.
         In the process, Maslow developed a theory he called
            "self-actualization.

         In his search for what made people self-actualized and happy,
            he found this secret:
         He writes, "WITHOUT EXCEPTION, I found that every person who
            was sincerely happy, radiantly alive, was living for a
               purpose or a cause beyond himself."
                                                                    #4254


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