How can I get JOY?

Check out these notes based on a study of Philippians 2:5 by Warren Wiersbe in his book "Be Joyful" . Wiersbe begins by mentioning "joy stealers": People, Circumstances, Things, Worry.........(don't you agree with these - - think about them in your own life !)

Then he shares points on "joy attainers/maintainers":

• A single mind

• A submissive mind

• A spiritual mind

• A secure mind

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Joy Stealers

· People

· Circumstances

· Things

· Worry

4 Attitudes that maintain Joy:

· Single mind - · Phil 1:21 - "To live is Christ; to die is gain"

. Paul is not living to enjoy circumstances he is living to serve Jesus Christ.

· Paul is not a prisoner of Rome but a "prisoner of Jesus Christ" - Eph 3:1

· Paul is not wearing chains, he is wearing "my bonds in Christ" - Phil 1:13

· He is not facing a civil trial he is "set for the defense of the gospel" - Phil 1:17

· He did not look at Christ thru his circumstances; he looked at his circumstances thru Christ

· Submissive mind - · Phil 2:3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

· In ch 1 - Paul puts Christ first, In ch2 - puts people next and therefore himself last - J-O-Y (Jesus, Others, You)

· Spiritual Mind - · Paul uses things 11x in ch 3. "earthly vs spiritual things"

· Phil 3:20 - But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, · The person with the spiritual mind looks at things of this world from heavens point of view

· Secure Mind - · Worry is wrong thinking (mind) and wrong feeling (heart) about circumstances, people and things.

· Phil 4:7 - And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

· Spiritual resources the believer has in Christ:

· God's peace (1-9) · Guards our heart and minds

· Gods power (10-13)

· Gods provision (14-23)

· God comes to us when we practice:

· right praying

· right thinking

· right living

Warren Wiersbe