Lesson 5 - Paul's Guide to Joy Part 4

Let's take a look at Chapter 3 of Paul's letter to the Philippians. Please, read it in several different versions, if you are able.

I love the first verse in The New Living Translation! It reads, "Whatever happens, dear friends, may the Lord give you joy. I never get tired of telling you this, I am doing this for your own good."

For our own good, we are to be joyful, no matter what! Oh, but then we ask, "what about this?", and "what about that?", or "you don't understand all that I have to face in my life!". Oh, dear ones, read about where Paul is, what he had been through, what he was facing! He KNOWS hardship, far better than most of us ever will (even though it may not seem so).

As you continue reading this chapter, and re-reading it, let us ask oursleves some questions.

1. Our joy lies in our citizenship. Where is that, according to verse 20?

2. What did Paul say he counted as loss in his life?

3. What else did Paul call these things?

4. In verse 12, we are told to take two actions. Explain what they are:

5. Below, write out Verses 13 & 14 in your own words:

6. Please turn to, read and write out in your own words, Hebrews 12:2:

7. Can you tie these two verses together and apply them to your own life? Explain:

(you may also tie in Phillippians 3:8 with the above)We can, as our dear brother, Paul, and our Lord, Jesus, set our sites upon the glorious future we have with the Father in Glory. That place that was purchased for us through the Blood of Jesus Christ. That Heavenly Kingdom where there will be no more sorrow, no more tears, no more pain, no more death. That place where we will be in the presence of our God, worshiping Him along with His angels, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Oh, dear ones, does not that thought, alone, cause your heart to well up with His joy unspeakable and full of glory?!