Preaching through Philippians
TOPIC:“Paul - The Rejoicing Apostle”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Philippians 4:1-19
“Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown” (4:1)
Some years ago I came across this statement regarding the book of Philippians: “The Epistle of Philippians resounds with the note of joy. It is one of the priceless treasures of the Christian Church. To countless pilgrims on the way of life it has brought comfort and strength, and it will continue to do so long as time shall last.” What a marvelous description of this Epistle!
As we have detected in recent weeks the one dominant theme that runs through the entire book is Christian joy and rejoicing in Christ. Paul strikes the joy note no less than sixteen times in four chapters. Now as the beloved Apostle starts to draw his letter to a close, he still continues to strike this happy note of joy. His call for continuous rejoicing is found in the words of verse 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice.” Again in the words of verse 10: “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly.”
Paul was always rejoicing. Despite all outward circumstances, whether in sunshine or shadow, suffering or strength, no matter how dark the night, there was a constant, steady, stream of joy flowing from his heart. He was the joyful Christian in chapter 1 and he continues to be the rejoicing Christian in chapter 4. Let's now find out the reasons for Paul's continued rejoicing.
I.
Consider, to begin with, Paul is rejoicing over the PHILIPPIANS who belonged to Christ. Notice again his words in verse 1: “Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown.” The Philippians themselves now become the cause for Paul's rejoicing. He calls them “my brethren” and then reveals three wonderful things from his heart about them.
First, Paul DISPLAYS a LOVE for them - “dearly beloved and longed for” (v. 1). Before his Damascus experience these Philippians would never have had such a place in Paul's heart. Remember, they were the ones earlier who had flung him into prison and fastened his feet to the stocks in the inner dungeon.
But Paul's conversion was so transforming that his love for souls carried him to the lost, the last, and the least. His whole outlook toward the Philippians was changed. They now came within the scope of his love. Christ made the . . .