INTRODUCTION: The joy of the saint is counterintuitive to the mind of this world system. In fact, it’s typically diametrically opposite. We don’t express our satisfaction, contentment, peace and joy by the things in our lives or even of this world so much as by the Person of Christ. It’s why this truth resounds so powerfully in our hours of trial and woe:
“the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (NEH 8:10c; PSA 21:1).
This is also why we acknowledge the fruit of the Spirit as something apart from mere human emotion. I can be happy in my circumstances that are favorable – and equally unhappy about those that are not!
But our peace and joy are based on the grace of GOD that runs independently of our circumstances. This allows the saint who is walking in the Spirit to have a life of stability, on the ROCK of our salvation – even when the floor drops out from under their feet!
1 SAMUEL 2:2
"No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. (See EXOD 15:11; De 3:24; 4:35; 32:4,30-31; 2Sa 22:1-51; Ps 86:8; 89:6,8)
So we continue now in our study of PHILIPPIANS and take half of Chapter 3…
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