Week 4 – Friday – Progress and Joy

Read Phil 1:21-26
<> What two aspects of faith does Paul mention in vs. 26?
<> Do you have faith that is making progress?
<> Do you have increasingly joyful faith?

While we have been down here in Orlando, we had the opportunity to hear from a pastor named Darrin Patrick who planted a church called the Journey out in St. Louis, MO. He made this quote and I think it’s very applicable for what we’re studying in Philippians today:

“You need to have a deeply gospel centered identity. Your daily job is to cultivate a very deep gospel identity that you are jacked up beyond belief and that you can bask in the glow of Jesus’ love. In this manner you can walk in both the humility and the confidence of the gospel.”

In vs. 26 Paul states that he’s going to sacrificially stick around to help the church of Philippians working for their “progress and joy in the faith.” These are two aspects of faith that need to be held in balance with each other. Progress implies a need for change. Deep faith in Jesus and learning to walk with Him teaches us constantly how much we are in need of progress. Meanwhile, joy implies contentment and complete satisfaction right now. These two aspects of faith are not opposed to each other, but rather recognize that Jesus freely gives His righteousness causing joy, and that out of His love we seek to be transformed by His Spirit until we look like Him (progress).

Progress
Recognizing our need for progress means we know we’re not complete yet. Seeking progress combines humility in accepting that we need to change matched with a hope that change is possible. We aren’t content with our current growth, our current love for Christ, our current maturity, but we are confident that He is growing us, teaching us to love Him more and maturing us until the day of completion (remember Philippians 1:6). If you don’t think you need progress – you have a problem with pride. If you don’t think you can progress – you have a problem with doubt.

<> What are areas of your spiritual walk that you need progress in?
<> What steps do you need to take to see progress? (Beyond prayer, it may be as simple as asking someone smarter than you how you should get started.)
<> Do you generally struggle more with a lack of humility to see where you need progress or a lack of hope that Jesus can work in you toward your completion?

Progress always comes with a cost. If you’d like a lengthy discussion of this truth check out Mark Driscoll’s sermon entitled “Pain and Progress”. If you just want a quick example of this truth consider the cross of Jesus Christ. In order for your spirit to move from death to life it cost Jesus intense pain. The great lie of our culture is that you can progress with minimal effort and cost to yourself. The truth is that progress is always the result of painful pushing, labor and growing pains.

Joy
Joy and Progress are a powerful combination. Without joy, progress is tiresome. It becomes emotionally depressing and physically exhausting to continuously face our sin and pray, move and hope for Jesus’ righteousness to show up and transform our everyday lives. Joy is the foundational support that makes progress possible. It is the result of knowing that Jesus loves you right now! He’s not waiting for you to get better before He’ll start loving you. He wants you to walk with Him as He changes you. When you daily live out of the joy that is birthed from Christ’s love for you and your soul’s complete satisfaction in Him, progress becomes a much less strenuous task.

Go Read Romans 2:4.
<> How does God’s kindness lead us to repentance?
<> Reveling in God’s kindness is (joy / progress).
<> Repentance is (joy / progress).

If you are struggling to progress in your spiritual walk, it’s probably because you aren’t taking enough time to be overjoyed by God’s love. Seriously take a few minutes to remember what God has done in you.

<> What are areas of your life where you have seen God give you freedom?
<> What are areas of your life where God is giving you His heart?
<> How do you experience God’s love?

Whatever that is, go do it. Carve time out of your schedule to sit at Jesus’ feet and revel in the fact that He loves you exactly like you are, and too much to let you stay that way. As He washes you with His kindness and leads you to repentance, humbly accept the repentance that He leads you to. You need it more than you know.