EnJOYing People (unlock JOY – PT1)

‘The JOY of the Lord is your STRENGTH…’

Today’s American culture needs a JOY boost. Now is the time to unleash your strength and UNLOCK JOY!

Read PHILIPPIANS 1:3-11 (NIV)

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Four Keys To Enjoying People

1. Be grateful for the good in people. (vs. 3)

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”

•  Lesson #1: Remember the best – forget the rest.

“…you have helped me … from the very first day until now.” (vs. 5) GN

2. Practice positive praying. (vs. 4)

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy …”

•  Lesson #2: The quickest way to change a relationship from bad to good is to start thanking God in prayer for people.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” (vs. 9-11)

What to pray for others: Pray they will . . .

• Grow in love. (vs. 9)
• Make wise choices. (vs. 10a)
• Do the right thing. (vs. 10b)
• Live for God’s glory. (vs. 11)

3. Be patient with their progress.

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

•  Lesson #3 – God is not finished with people!
•  Our Mistake: We judge others by how far they have to go rather than how far they have come.

4. Love people from the heart.

“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you since I have you in my heart. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

“God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us.” Rom. 5:5 (GN)

• Lesson #4: The secret of enjoying the people in my life is to be filled with God’s love.

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