Life Lifters | Lakeshore Community Church

Aug 23 7:58 AM

Joy in the Spiritual Journey

Aug 23 7:58 AM

Monday, August 23, 2021

If you're always going to wait to get to the destination to experience joy, you're going to have a lot of dry seasons of joy.

Monday, August 23, 2021

Philippians 3:10-11

There's an old saying, and I believe it's true, that there's just as much joy in the journey as in the destination. This is true if you will pay attention to the journey, you know, smelling the roses along the way. It's not just the kill, but it's the chase that brings excitement, right? The getting there is just as much fun as arriving. There's a lot of truth to that. So many times we're waiting to get to a destination to find joy and not experiencing joy in the journey. I want to tell you that if you're always going to wait to get to the destination to experience joy, you're going to have a lot of dry seasons of joy. You have to learn to enjoy the journey, enjoy the process, enjoy the getting to wherever you want to go. If it's building a house, the joy of making the selections; if it's rising in your career, the joy of working where you're at right now; if it's making a friendship or a dating relationship, the joy of working toward where that relationship is going. And if it's a closer walk with Jesus Christ, which we'll never get to the destination of until we're in heaven, you have to find joy in striving to get closer to Jesus Christ.

I get that from Philippians 3:10-11, Paul's letter of joy. Look at what he says, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." What does he mean by "the power of his resurrection"? The Bible says that the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in every Christian. Like Paul, I want to know those great, powerful moments where God works, and I want to know the fellowship of his suffering. When Jesus Christ suffered, which he suffered so much in his life, not only on the cross which was the ultimate sacrifice, but during all 33 to 35 years, whatever it was, of Christ's life putting up with us. He suffered. And the Apostle Paul said he wants to know the resurrection-power moments of Christ, and he wants to know Christ through the suffering.

What's he saying? He's saying, "I want to know Christ through the ups and the downs." What is life? It's a series of ups and downs. Life is the journey of the ups and downs. And guess what? God wants you to get closer to him through the ups just as much as he wants you to get closer to him through the downs. Look again at what he says in verse 11, "becoming like him in his death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead." The Apostle Paul was not questioning whether he's going to make it to the end. Once you're a Christian, you're always a Christian. What he was saying is, "I will make it and the question is, what will that journey be, or what will the ups and the downs be?" So, he's not questioning if he'll rise from the dead because every true Christian will. He's questioning the journey. No matter what the ups and downs are, somehow through this journey of ups and downs, he'll rise from the dead. Here's what I want to say: Jesus Christ and the journey with Jesus Christ must be enjoyed every day. Not, "Well I had a good day so I can enjoy Jesus," or, "I had a bad day, he didn't do what I want and I'm not going to enjoy him today." Good luck with that life. That's called a yo-yo life, and you're never going to make it. You're going to be up and down. You're going to be bipolar, a spiritually bipolar person. Don't do that. Enjoy the journey. One person said, "Wherever God leads me, I will follow. Whatever God feeds me, I will swallow." All I want to say is that God has you on a journey, a custom made journey for you, and the whole purpose is to draw you closer to him on this spiritual journey. Will you find joy no matter what? Will you find joy in the ups when it's easy? And in the downs when it's hard?

It's up to you. Do you want to live a joyful life all the time? Or do you want to live a joyful life only when everything lines up? Joy has nothing to do with your circumstances. Joy has everything to do with your spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. If you're close to Jesus Christ, you will feel joy no matter what. But you have to enjoy the journey as much as the destination, the chase as much as the kill. Let's pray. Father, help us to enjoy the journey you have us on. Every one of us are on a different journey. right at this moment, every one of us is at a different place. And I pray, Almighty God, that we will see joy in our circumstances, whether it's the ups, the downs, the Midlands, whatever it is. Help us to see joy because we are on a journey you've created for our life. And we ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Aug 20 8:11 AM

Joy in Growing Closer to Christ

Aug 20 8:11 AM

Friday, August 20, 2021

The whole goal of becoming a Christian is not to say, "I'm done. I've got a relationship with Christ, I'm going to heaven!" No...

Friday, August 20, 2021

Philippians 3:7-8

I want to talk to you about one of the most basic things of the Christian life. And that's this: once you become a Christian, if you want to live a satisfying, joyful life, you have to get closer to Jesus Christ every day. When I graduated from RIT with my electrical engineering degree, Richard Rose was the president of RIT. And every graduating class would have a little reception at the president's house with some of their other classmates and with our department head. So Dr. Swaminathan Madhu was not only our department head of the electrical engineering department, he was my friend, because I worked for him as a technical lab assistant for the college. And I remember Dr. Madhu said, "Vince, now that you're graduating, you're ready to learn." And I said, "It's interesting, Dr. Madhu, because I've done a lot of learning." He said, "No, all we did was we taught you how to learn on the job." When I got my black belt in November of 1999, my karate instructor said, "Now you're ready to learn." I go, "Wow, I did all this testing. I passed all my katas, my basics, my sparring my upper and lower body basics, all these things and, and now you're telling me I'm going to learn more?" Yeah. I'm ready to learn. In other words, I had the basics. I knew how to do a basic block. But I had to learn shogi, or polish, on my technique, and chudan uchi, where I sprung back on a block and not just stuck it out there, and cover, and different things.

Here's what I want to say to you. When you become a Christian, it's the same thing as what Dr. Madhu and as my karate instructor, Kurt Sawyer, told me: when you become a Christian you're ready to learn. The whole goal of becoming a Christian is not to say, "I'm done. I've got a relationship with Christ, I'm going to heaven!" No, you want to love him more. That's what the Apostle Paul said - learn to love him more than anything. Look at what he says in Philippians 3:7-8, "Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

In other words, all the things Paul had before he was a Christian, the prestige of being a Pharisee and all of that. Nothing compared to the greatness of knowing Christ. Knowing, present participle, not "having known" Christ. Knowing. It's a process. He said he would lose everything if that's what it took to know Jesus Christ. And guess what? Jesus Christ demanded the loss of so many things for the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul experienced as much loss, or more, than any other human being ever has for the sake of Christ. And Paul said he would gladly suffer loss if it meant knowing Christ more deeply. He even says everything else is like rubbish, and honestly, the word for rubbish in Greek, which I've shared on Sundays here a few times, is the Greek word scubula. Excuse my crassness, but it is basically the word for for feces, dung, crap, whatever you want to say. And Paul says, all of that stuff that I had doesn't matter as much as knowing Christ. Do you want to know Jesus Christ at that same level? Do you want to know Christ more? You'd like to become a Christian? Great, now you're ready to learn, like my black belt and karate instructor, Kurt, said. Like the dean of electrical engineering, Dr. Madhu, said. Like Paul, now you're ready to learn more about Jesus Christ. You'll learn more about how to get closer to him. I want to know Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is infinite. That means that you'll never know everything about him. So I want to know more and more every day. Do you? How do you do that? Read the Bible every day. Pray every day, not only for yourself, but for others. Use your gifts to impact the world and share the good news in the church and in the world. Do these things and you'll get closer to Christ and you'll know him more.

Father, help us to know you more every day. Just like we know our spouses if we're married, just like we know our kids if we have kids. Every day we know them more, and we want to know you more, and nothing else. Whatever it costs, it's not worth anything compared to knowing you. Thank you for this. Help us to know you more in Jesus' name, amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Aug 18 8:12 AM

Joy in the Lord

Aug 18 8:12 AM

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Philippians 3:1

This is going to seem like a little bit of a cliche for those of you who are church attenders or regulars at church, but regardless, it'll be a reminder to you. And for those of you who are somewhat new, I want to say this: the only place of reliable joy is in the Lord. The only place you'll find joy in a consistent, reliable, never-ending way is to find joy in the Lord. I get that because in Philippians 3:1 the apostle Paul says, by way of reminder, which tells us we all need this reminder, "Finally, my brothers rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you."

If we break that down, he says, "Rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again," which means that he said this again and again. If he keeps repeating this, it means that chances are, like the Philippians, we need that constant reminder. We have to find our joy in the Lord. Then, he says a second thing: "...and it is a safeguard for you." In other words, it is so you don't get taken in. If you read later in Philippians, it talks about being taken in by false teaching or by other things that glitter. Not all that glitters is gold. Not everything that you think is going to provide joy is going to provide joy. In fact, I'm here to tell you that things that might provide joy will only bring conditional joy or temporary joy. The greatest, undeniable, never-let-you-down joy is joy in the Lord.

Are you finding your joy in the Lord? I find a lot of joy in my wife - I married up so high I got a nosebleed. I love my children, I love my grandson, I love my staff, I love the elders, I love the trustees, I love the people of Lakeshore, I love my friends, I love my golfing buddies, I love my neighbors. I love so many people, but they cannot bring me unconditional, never-changing joy like Jesus Christ can. If I expect that of my wife, of my children, or my grandson, I'm going to be disappointed. My ultimate joy is in Jesus Christ. You say, "Vince, how do you find your joy in Jesus Christ?" Ultimately, it's when you look to him for everything. "God, what do I do? God, what do I say? God, How can I know you love me? God, should I make this purchase? God, should I go this way or that way? God help me." God wants us to have a dynamic relationship with Him. And when you have a dynamic relationship with him and you are taking your cues from him, you will find joy. The best way to have joy in the Lord is to facilitate a continual relationship with him. If I like golf, but I never go to the golf course, I really don't like golf. If I say I find joy in being with John, and I never hang out with John, that's really not my source of joy. The way you're going to know that Jesus is the joy of your life is when you want to be with him. People say, "Well, I'm a Christian and I love Jesus, but I don't go to church." Well, you don't love him as much as you think because Jesus said, "I'll build my church," and Jesus said through the Apostle Paul, "Don't forsake going to church." So, it's the same thing. Here's what I want to say: find your joy in Jesus Christ. When you make a decision, find your approval from him, even if not everybody agrees. When you find a need in your life that is so desperate, turn to Jesus Christ. He can give you joy, and you can have joy in the middle of a trial when he is your source.

Rejoice in the Lord. I'll say it again: Rejoice! Find your joy in Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Father, help us to find our joy in you by deepening our relationship with you, by wanting to get to know you, by thinking about everything you want us to think about, by making decisions that please you. Yes, we will find joy from other people, but other people will let us down even if they don't intend to. You never will. Help us to reevaluate where we're finding our ultimate, top joy. I pray for everybody reading, that that top joy would be growing in their relationship with you, Jesus. We thank you and pray in your name. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Aug 16 7:58 AM

Joy In Serving Others

Aug 16 7:58 AM

Monday, August 16, 2021

How would you like to be the Apostle Paul's friend where he says, "Man, I got nobody like this guy"?

Monday, August 16, 2021

Philippians 2:19-22

Today I want to talk to you about joy in serving others. You know, a lot of times when we talk about joy we talked about what happens to us. I have joy because I got a raise, or something good came into my life, or I got a new car, a new house, a new set of clubs, etc. It's always about what we get. But I want to talk to you about the joy you can give others because of what they get from you. This comes from Philippians 2:19-22. When writing the letter of Philippians, Paul was in a house arrest in Rome, very likely about 60 A.D. He needed a friend and look at how he speaks so positively of his friend, Timothy. Speaking to the Christians at Philippi, Paul says, "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interest, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel."

How would you like to be the Apostle Paul's friend where he says, "Man, I got nobody like this guy"? Paul really trusts Timothy. He said, 'Timothy cares about me, and that brings joy into my life.' And then he says, 'Timothy cares about you and I know that brings joy in your life.' And the Apostle Paul said, 'It brings joy into my life when you help and serve other people.' You bring joy into their life, into the life of bystanders, like the Apostle Paul. And guess what? The text doesn't say it, but it's implied and it's evident in other scriptures, that when you bring joy into somebody else's life, you get joy back, because you get joy from seeing people joyful, and joy is a contagion. All I want to say is, if you're looking for joy in your life - there's no problem with having joy and getting something. You have to be careful not to get materialistic. There's no problem in getting joy from what God did for you. That's great, God did something for you! That's outstanding. But I'm telling you, there's another source of joy, which you're not going to see on a commercial for some new product. And that's this, you get joy in serving others. You know why? Because we're eternal. You're eternal, I'm eternal, God's eternal. Wen you help another eternal being somehow get closer to God, or deepen their faith, or come closer to crossing the line of faith, you've done something eternal. Nothing can bring more joy than the eternal.

When you get a great shirt, a week later you go, "I don't really like that shirt anymore." You buy something and really like it, but then month later you say, "I need a new set of clubs. These are better." You're never satisfied. When you build into the life of another human being and serve them, man, joy is contagious. Can you imagine that? Serving somebody and seeing a smile on her face, saying thank you. And other people going, Wow, that was cool. You're not doing it for the praise you get. You're doing it because it's right and God brings joy back into your life. I say this all the time and I mean it: The way to receive is by giving. Are you serving somebody today? Today can you serve somebody? Maybe it's somebody at work, maybe it's somebody at the grocery store, just a little compliment, a kind word. "God loves you." If you really want to do something amazing and bring joy to me, give them a Lakeshore invite card and invite them to our church, or to watch online. Serve people and you will have joy in your life. And guess what? One last thing - you know how you get joy? When you serve a lot of people, God sees. Then, you reap what you sow and people start doing things in your life to add value to your life and bring joy. It's like a contagion - the contagion of joy. But it all starts with serving people like Timothy did to Paul and the Christians at Philippi.

Father, I pray that all of us would have a servant attitude so that we can bring joy in other people's lives. These days are depressing. There's always bad news on COVID, there's always bad news on race, always bad news on the economy. Always means non-stop. It's always something, but God you don't ask us to live there, you ask us to live above the level of bad news. Live in joy. Give us a heart to serve more people in our everyday life so that will give them joy, and in return, we will get it ourselves, in Jesus' name. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Aug 11 8:05 AM

We Are One With Christ

Aug 11 8:05 AM

Wednesday, August 9, 2021

Sometimes you can feel like God is far off, like he's just way away from you. Sometimes the sky seems to be hard, our prayers seem to bounce off the clouds, and he just doesn't seem to be there. Well, there's good news if you have ever felt either one of those situations were true of your life and that God was distant.

By Pastor Brian Rathbun

Jul 30 8:05 AM

Joy Killer #3: Selfishness

Jul 30 8:05 AM

Friday, July 30, 2021

Today, I want to talk to you about a third joy killer: selfishness. If you want to kill your joy, just think about yourself.

Friday, July 30, 2021

Philippians 2:19-21

Over the last few life lifters I've talked about joy, and this week in particular, I've talked about joy killers, things you need to be aware of that can kill your joy faster than a pin can pop a balloon. Today, I want to talk to you about a third joy killer: selfishness. If you want to kill your joy, just think about yourself, just do what's good for you. Only think about yourself, only act for yourself, never do anything for anybody else, just do for yourself. If you want to kill your joy, be a selfish person. You want real joy? Be selfless. See, life is a choice. You can either be selfish or selfless.

The Apostle Paul talks about being selfless in his letter of joy, Philippians, which we have been using for these devotionals on joy. I get this idea from Philippians 2:19-21, where Paul talks about Timothy and his relationship with Timothy. Timothy was his young brother in Christ. Paul built so much into Timothy, and talks about Timothy in this passage and in other places of Scripture. He talks to Timothy in the epistles to Timothy, called First and Second Timothy. This was when Timothy was the pastor of the church at Ephesus. Paul just loved Timothy, and look at the joy he gets from Timothy when he describes him in verses 19 to 21. He says this to the Philippians, "I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive good news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone else looks out for their own interest, not those of Jesus Christ."

That's why Paul loved him. Paul found so much joy in Timothy because he built into other people, so he wanted to send him. If you read later, he talks about another faithful servant named Epaphroditus, which was the same thing. Paul had so much joy because he saw Epaphroditus as someone he helped build into to help the Philippians. Here's the point: Paul was not selfish, he was selfless. Because he was selfless, he built in to others such as Timothy and Epaphroditus. Because of that, Timothy and Epaphroditus were going to build into the Philippians. This was a chain of selflessness. And what did it do? Paul said it brought him cheer. What's that? Joy. Paul had joy. Timothy had joy. Epaphroditus nearly died, and he was still willing to do the work. Why? Because he found joy in it.

Here's what I want to say: Sometimes, you and me can lose joy because we're too selfish. We have to be selfless. Life is not about us, it's about God and other people. In fact, I've said this before, the acrostic "JOY" is when you put Jesus first Others second. Yourself third. You say,"wow, Vince, if I put myself last I'm going to be terrible." I have found that when you put Jesus first, others second, and yourself third, you'll find more joy when you're in that third arrangement than if you said YOJ. It's not really a word, but it's yourself, then others, then Jesus, which would be the exact opposite. Do you want to find joy? Stop thinking about yourself - that's what we call narcissism - and be selfless. Sure, if you need a little help? I'm glad to do it. Need a little money, glad to give it. Need a little love, glad to provide it. Need to talk, glad to listen. But if you want to find joy, stop being selfish. I know people, friends, family who are so selfish. All they ever do is make decisions for themselves, and you know what? They're not joyful. Not even close.

Mother Teresa was filled with joy. She gave her life away. You don't have to be Mother Teresa, but you do have to learn to give your life away. Jesus said "if you lose your life, you'll find it" (Matthew 10:39). And when you find it, you'll have outrageous joy. So avoid that joy killer selfishness. How? By being selfless. Father, help us to be less selfish, more selfless, like Paul, like Timothy, like Epaphroditus. Most importantly, like Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us. Help us to trust that when we're selfless you'll fill us with so much joy we won't know any other way to live. Thank you for this in Jesus' name, amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Jul 28 8:09 AM

Joy Killer #2: Suffering

Jul 28 8:09 AM

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Today, I want to talk to you about joy killer number two, and that is suffering. If you don't handle suffering right, it will kill your joy.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Philippians 2:17-18

We have been talking about joy over the last few life lifters. All this week I am talking about some joy killers that the Apostle Paul shares will kill our joy. These are from his his letter of joy to the Philippians in the New Testament. Today, I want to talk to you about joy killer number two, and that is suffering. If you don't handle suffering right, it will kill your joy. I've seen people who had a pretty good walk with God, they go through a bout of suffering, and man, it wrecks their life or wrecks their faith. It wrecks their walk with God - they stop reading the Bible, stop giving, stop serving, stop coming to church. I see it again and again and again. They let suffering do what the evil one wants it to do: take away their joy. God wants suffering to do something better. He wants suffering to refine your life so you have even more joy, just like a plant that's pruned. Initially, you prune a plant and the plant is smaller, but by pruning the plant appropriately, it allows it to grow fuller and thicker. When you nail in a nail with a hammer, you have to bring the hammer back to go forward. Suffering is like that. It's like a pruning. It's like bringing the hammer back. It doesn't make sense, but when it's fully accomplished it changes us and fills us with joy.

I get that from Philippians 2:17-18. Look what the Apostle Paul says. He says, "But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." Paul says, "Even if my life is being poured out like a drink offering." What does that mean? Basically, even if I'm in the process of dying because I'm living out my faith, you should rejoice with me. What Paul is saying is, "I know what suffering is all about. I know this life is temporary. I know suffering is always fitting into a plan for good for me, for God's work, and for God's people, and for the people who will become Christians." Paul had an amazing attitude towards suffering. Other than Jesus himself, I don't know anybody who suffered as much as the Apostle Paul. He suffered so much for the Lord. And yet, I don't know anybody that had more joy, other than Jesus, than the Apostle Paul, because he learned that suffering was doing a great work. He even said, Don't you even worry about me, Philippians. Don't worry about me. Rejoice with me because the suffering is for God's glory. Even if I'm being poured out like a drink offering, even if my life is slowly being taken from me through these circumstances, rejoice.

Can you do that? Can you rejoice in suffering? You say, "Vince, how do I rejoice in suffering?" You see God's work in it. You see God working something good out of something which is uncomfortable and not good in your own eyes. The other way to do it is to have eternal vision. You see the future, you see a reward in heaven. You see your life five years from now, if you handle the suffering well today, and that fills you with joy. Again, when you're suffering you may not be happy, that's okay. You don't have to be, but you can be joyful when you make the choice to rejoice in your suffering. Are you suffering? I feel bad for you. But God is doing something in you, and for that I rejoice with you. And I hope you rejoice in that too.

Let's pray. Father, I pray that we would all realize that suffering is not fun - it hurts, it stings - but it's doing something good in us. Paul said, don't cry for me. Rejoice because I rejoice. What an amazing attitude. Help me to find joy in my suffering. Help those listening to find joy in our suffering, knowing that you're the God who either sent it if we sinned, or allowed it if we didn't. Help us to be more and more like your son Jesus, because that will bring us joy, and suffering is a part of that journey. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Jul 26 8:11 AM

Joy Killer #1: Complaining

Jul 26 8:11 AM

Monday, July 26, 2021

How many have ever had joy, maybe you found joy in Christ and what he's doing in your life, and somebody or something came along, and killed your joy. It was a joy killer.

Monday, July 26, 2021

Philippians 2:14-15

So many times we talk about what it takes to find joy. Last week, I talked about places to find joy from Philippians chapter one. During this week's Life Lifters we will look at the most common joy killers and how to overcome them. How many have ever had joy, maybe you found joy in Christ and what he's doing in your life, and somebody or something came along, and killed your joy. It was a joy killer. I want to talk to you about three of the biggest joy killers. Here's the first: complaining. Nothing kills joy faster than complaining. I know sometimes you have to vent stuff, and I'm the kind of guy that has a short account with stuff. So I just get it out. I complain, and it's better to complain a little than a lot, but better not to complain at all. So complaining is tough. And I find the longer I complain, the more I start to sap away my joy.

I get this because Paul gives us that admonition in Philippians 2:14-15. Philippians is Paul's letter of joy. He wrote it from prison, the last place you'd expect somebody to have joy, but joy is not happiness. You can be unhappy in prison and still filled with joy like Paul was. So while he's in prison, still filled with joy, he says this to the Philippians, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault and a crooked and depraved generation,' in which you shine like stars in the universe."

First, he says "Do everything without complaining or arguing." What's arguing? It can be a form of complaining sometimes. "I want this, I want that. I want this. I want that." James says it's competing battle of wills. Paul goes on and says if you do everything without complaining and arguing, then what happens is you shine like stars, you're filled with joy. If you don't, then you are like the crooked and depraved generation around us. How many know the crooked and depraved generation around us, which describes our generation, they're always complaining. They say, "I'm offended. I'm offended that you said that. I'm offended that you did that. I'm offended." Sometimes I just want to say "I'm offended that you're offended." Or people say, "My rights have been trampled." And unfortunately there's a lot of truth to that, but but sometimes their rights are actually their selfish needs. People are always complaining about something. And I'm telling you, I have never seen somebody that complains a lot filled with joy. Have you?

The problem is sometimes we look in the mirror and we find somebody who's doing a lot of complaining. Stop complaining. Accept it. Voice your concern, say something's wrong, challenge it, wish it were better, but don't camp out in complaining land. It'll rob your joy. Do less complaining and more contemplating. What does God want to do in your situation? Then, you will not be like the crooked and depraved generation around us, but you'll be, as Paul says, like shining stars. I think of that song by Earth Wind and Fire, "Got to be a shining star." Paul says, be a shining star. What does that mean? When you're a shining star you're filled with joy. So you get the choice: complain or joy? It's like two rabbits. You can't chase two rabbits at once. Get rid of complaining and chase down joy. Father, forgive us for being complainers. I am one who at times struggles with complaining. Help me to choose joy over complaining. Help people listening to choose joy over complaining, and we'll find more joy as a result. We ask you this in Jesus' name. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Jul 23 8:13 AM

Joy in Others' Success

Jul 23 8:13 AM

Friday, July 23, 2021

Today, I want to talk to you about how you could find joy in another person's success.

Friday, July 23, 2021

Philippians 1:23-26

Over the past two Lifte Lifters, we've been focusing on the subject of joy and finding reasons for joy from the book of Philippians. Today, I want to talk to you about a third reason for joy. So far, we talked about how we can find joy because God is at work within us. We also talked about how we can find joy no matter what, because there is a difference between joy and happiness. Today, I want to talk to you about how you could find joy in another person's success. What I have found is that sometimes I get more joyful when I see somebody else succeed, someone that I've helped, than even in my own success. For instance, I love seeing my kids find biblical success. Love it. It makes me as happy - or happier - than if I had success. I kind of share in their success because I'm their dad. I love when my grandson find success. Love when my wife find success. I love when people in our church find success after we help them and we build into them. It's a partnership. There is a joy in helping someone else succeed.

Sometimes we live in such a self-absorbed, narcissistic world that we forget life is not about ourselves alone. It's about others, too. I mean, you wouldn't want to climb Mount Everest and accomplish such an amazing achievement and be there alone, would you? No, you want to be there with a bunch of friends and say "we did it!" Then, you're as happy for them as you are for yourself, because you did it together. That's what life's about - building into others, so that their success brings you joy. I get that from the book of Philippians 1:23-26. Philippians is the Apostle Paul's letter of joy that he wrote from prison in Rome. Paul says, "I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me."

What Paul said is that he would like to die and be with the Lord, but he does not mean commit suicide. More so, he would like to just give in to all the people that wanted to kill him because he's a Christian. But he says he can't do that because he has work to do here, so it's necessary that he remains here with the Philippians. What's really clear is that somehow Paul knew that he had a purpose in life to help the Philippians grow stronger in their faith, and help them reach their Philippian friends for Christ. Paul goes on to basically say, "My joy comes from being with you, and your joy comes from you being with me." It's like a partnership. In other words, they found joy in each other's successes. The Philippians found joy in learning from Paul and helping him be a successful apostle, and Paul found joy in building them to help them grow as more devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

We find joy in that type of thing. It's like when I see my kids, my grandkids, my wife, people at our church growing, man, I find joy when I see that. I saw someone at BJs. The other day. He used to go to our church moved to Florida and he said, "Hey Vince, I'm going to get baptized at my church in Florida next month." I say, "That is so great!" We talked and I remember how after one service, before he became a Christian, he started crying. He said, "Man, what you said today spoke to me. It gave me such joy," and now he's getting baptized. I told him to send me a picture of his baptism.

Are you getting excited about other people? Are you finding joy and building into others? I'm telling you, you will find joy in reaching goals in your own life, but maybe one of those goals is to help somebody else. Help somebody who doesn't have a father or mother, help a neighbor, help a family member succeed, especially spiritually. And guess what? They're going to have joy, and you seeing their joy and their success will inspire your joy. Joy comes from other people's success, especially their spiritual success. So I encourage you to find somebody to build into. Watch God work, and it will fill you with joy. Father, help us all to get off the backs of other people and get on their team. Help us to know who we're supposed to support and love. And when we see great results, help us to find another source of joy from you in that. So whoever is struggling with joy, help them to stop thinking about their lack of joy and start thinking about helping somebody else find joy, and I know you'll help them find it themselves. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

Jul 21 8:03 AM

Joy No Matter What

Jul 21 8:03 AM

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

I want you to know that you can be joyful no matter what. Do you believe that?

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Philippians 1:12-14, 18

I don't know about you, but I need joy pick me ups. I need to remember why I can be joyful no matter what. And that's what I want to talk to you about - joy no matter what. It's the theme that I'm kind of using to carry these next few life lifters and we're getting it from Philippians, the book of joy. I want you to know that you can be joyful no matter what. Do you believe that? Do you believe that you can be joyful, no matter what? If you doubt me, let me give you a couple statements that may help you. I believe it's impossible to always be happy, but it's always possible to be joyful. Happiness depends on circumstances outside of you. Joy depends on God's work inside of you. You can't change the circumstances outside of you, therefore you can't always be happy. But you can always turn to and rely on God's work within you. And that is what joy is, and where joy comes from.

I believe this because the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Philippians, but he wrote it from a Roman prison around 60 AD. I find it ironic becuase if I was in prison, the last thing I would do is write an epistle and have it be centered on joy. I would have it be centered on suffering for the Lord, suffering for Jesus, but the Apostle Paul was contagiously, uncontainabley joyful. I get that from Philippians 1:12-14, 18. Look at what he says. Writing to the Christians at Philippi about his imprisonment, Paul says, "Now, I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly."

Paul didn't focus on circumstances outside of him. He focused on the gospel, which was what God wanted him to do, the work he wanted him to do inside. The happy part wasn't there. The joy part was. Then he goes on to talk about the effects of his imprisonment on others. He says, look, I don't like being in chains for Christ. I don't like being in prison. I'm not happy about it. But I'm joyful about it because now everybody knows why I'm in prison, why I'm in chains. I'm in chains for Christ. And he says, that's exciting. Look at verse 14, "Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly." In other words, because Paul was willing to suffer for Christ, a couple things happened. Number one, people who were not yet Christians were seeing Paul in chains for his faith in Christ, which must have been a bold witness to these people. They realized that he loves Jesus so much he's willing to go to prison for him. And I'm sure it helped Paul have an opportunity to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus, with others. Then he says that his imprisonment also encourages those who are already convinced to share their faith more. That's why he says in verse 18b, "Because of this, I rejoice."

He goes on to say that no matter what your motives are in sharing the gospel, at least it's getting out there. And so Paul said, look, because of what's happening to me outside, I don't have happiness. But inside what's happening to me is, because the gospel is getting out to more people and the people who are already Christians are helping get it out even further, in that I rejoice. So here's what I want to say: You can be joyful no matter what because God has given you unconditional Joy. He hasn't given you unconditional happiness. He doesn't promise happiness, but he does promise joy. Are you ready for that? For joy no matter what? I love being joyful and happy. That's a double win. But you know what, even if I'm not happy, I can go and I can be at peace with myself saying, I have to find the joy that the Lord has given me. He has given you joy. Have you gotten down on yourself? Have you gotten down on life? Are you unhappy? Stop trying to be happy. Let God take care of that. Do what you can do, because you can control joy. Joy is a choice because God has already given you that joy. You just have to turn yourself over to that joy.

Let's pray. Father, I don't know what people are going through. I don't know what wrestlings they might have. I don't know what threats to their joy are coming their way. I pray that you'll help them stop the losing battle to always be happy, but instead put that energy to fill their life with the joy which is always available in you, in their heart, through faith in Jesus. Encourage them now, fill them with joy, indescribable and incomprehensible. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

By Pastor Vince DiPaola

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