The Joy of Belonging to God -- Phillipians 4:19-23

August 1991

Phillipans 1:18 I will rejoice
4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!

Happiness = happenings minus circumstances (is risky)
Joy = part the responsibility is our, but we cannot control people or circumstances. The world says "you have the power to create your own life joyfully" but that is vanity. Joy comes only from God and our relationship with Him.

Joy because of:

  1. God's abundant supply (verse 19). He's our Father, our Provider (verse 20). We often feel joyful when we feel secure...Phil. 4:5 - the Lord is at hand.
  2. The brotherhood of the saints (verse 21). Phil 2:17 - desire to serve others.
  3. God's sovreign control (verse 22)
  4. The grace of God (verse 23). See also Phil 1:2

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