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The Pursuit of Joy, Week 2: You Go First

For most, life is all about the pursuit of happiness. We chase after the boy, the girl, the car, the job and the American Dream only to find that happiness is a moving target.\\xa0 While happiness is short lived and good times are in short supply, there is still the pursuit of something better, something lasting, something called JOY. In this four-week study of the book of Philippians we will go on a quest to unlock the power of joy in our lives.\\xa0 You\'ll discover the secret to a happiness that doesn\'t change with the stock market or the weather.\\xa0 It\'s time to begin the pursuit of a lifetime\\u2014the pursuit of joy.

\\xa0"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV)

\\xa0"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:11 (NIV)

Joy Killers

1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Disunity

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV)

\\xa0"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace". Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)

\\xa0"What causes fights and quarrels among you?\\xa0 Don\'t they come from your desires that battle within you?" James 4:1 (NIV)

2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Pride

\\xa0"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

\\xa0"A man\'s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." Proverbs 29:23 (NIV)

3.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Selfishness.

\\xa0"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:4 (NIV)

"For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice." James 3:16 (NIV)

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5 (NIV)\\xa0\\xa0

\\xa0You\'ve got to be humble.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped." Philippians 2:6 (NIV)

"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." Philippians 2:17 (NIV)

"Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." Luke 17:33 (NIV)

You\'ve got to obey.

\\xa0"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!" Philippians 2:8 (NIV)

\\xa0"Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave." Matthew 20:26-27 (NIV)

In what area or areas is God asking me to be obedient?\\xa0

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

You\'ve got to love.

"Welcome (Epaphroditus) in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me." Philippians 2:29-30 (NIV)

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 (NIV)

For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.