Video Transcript: In Life and Death: Modern Family Series (Bob Bouwer)

Video Transcript: In Life and Death: Modern Family Series (Bob Bouwer)

Well the scripture today for the message is Philippians chapter one, if you have a Bible with you can turn to Philippians one, otherwise it'll be on the screen. I'd like to read verses three through verse 11 of Philippians chapter one, Hear the Word of God. "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership and the gospel from the first day until now, and I'm sure of this, that he who began a good work and you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart. For you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment, and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it's my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent. And so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with a fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory in praise of God."

Let's pray: Father in heaven, we thank you for the series that we've been on in Modern Family, looking at an ancient book, the Bible, how it speaks to our modern families. We thank you that the word of God is already stirred in many of us a call to make our homes more like little churches. Today, Lord, as we conclude this message. It is our hope and prayer that your word and your Holy Spirit would cause within us a deeper desire to leave a legacy, a legacy of joy in Jesus Christ. I pray you bless me as I speak and teach and preach this word. I pray that everyone who hears this, whether in the balcony or in the well or here in the auditorium, floor level that every one of us will hear from you. As we ponder and meditate on your word, we pray in Jesus name, Amen. 

To begin, I'd like to make a Joy meter. All right, so joy meter is going to go like this. And we'll put down here, Joy less, and up here we'll put Joy full and I'm separating the words on purpose. Then I'll go 1 2 3 4 5 and 6. And then I'm going to put some words here like I'll go a little, some, how did I do this? I put down, better, a lot, giddy, Alright. Here's the joy meter. And what I'd like you to do and your heart I don't want any hand raised. I don't want a numbers raised in your fingers. I don't want to shout now. But what I want you to do is right now in your context of what it means for you to be in Family, even if you're a single person, because you're in community with Jesus Christ at home, you single art in community. But whatever is your family, I want you to, in your mind, put an X on where your joy is in your house. Is that Joy less Joy full? And then is it a one, a two, a three, or four or five or six is it you know, little some you see that chart there, you can see it on the screen, or maybe up front, you can actually see it here. Take a second kind of put down where your little X may be.

All right, I've done mine. Well, I did it before today even because I wrote this. And I believe with all my heart that we are worshipping a God today. That no matter wherever you put your mark, he wants more Joy in your life, in your Modern Family. Absolutely convinced of that. I know also that many of us don't feel that we are fully engaged and the source of the increased Joy in our homes and in our families. I I'll be honest with you, when I look back now I may, an empty nester want to be. I'm kind of there, Lori and I have two that are married now. And we have two in college. So we're kind of like tweeners. We're empty nesters for the school year in college, and then they'll come home. So we're kind of like in between. And so it's caused within me a new chapter in my life of reflection upon how Lori and I meet, in particular how I was used by God to raise our children. And a lot of times you people have a misperception of me. Once in a while people will say in your mind, I know you say like, Oh, they have the perfect family. Hello, do I need to get like a videotape. And play it back. 

Please, that's not true. I'm just like you, I'm a sinner, I screw up, mess up. And so when I look back on my life, I I reflect oftentimes on what I should have ,could have, would have, done if I had to do over. Sometimes I feel regret about how busy I was in a certain stretch of children being raised. And so when I think about that, my Joy, fullness gets less. I'd imagine sitting here today many of you have your own set of feelings that you believe caused less Joy in your family or in your current situation, your home. Maybe some of you are saying like I said, I wish I hadn't done, blank. You maybe you're saying If only I would have done this. Maybe So are you saying, Bob you don't understand the situation circumstances that I've had to endure in your family and I agree, I do not know that. Maybe some of you are saying I wish there was such a thing as a a family do over a family Mulligan? Maybe somebody I wish it would have been a better dad. Or should have in our mom, step mom, step dad. I wish I had been a better child in our home. Maybe some of you going I'm so embarrassed. Whenever we bring up family, I've got these thoughts and I am embarrassed. Maybe some of you are saying you're shocked that your kids turned out so normal.

You're like, wow. Maybe some of you going like I've never had really a good model, or an example of what a Joy filled house should be like. You see all of these things can and sometimes and often do. Steal the Joy that can be in our homes. And today, I want you to know that your home can be no matter where you're at today, no matter what your circumstances. I believe in a God that can increase the Joy in your home. That's why I passionately want to communicate God's Word in Philippians because Paul's context speaks clearly into our context. Yes, as a church, but ultimately we know there are homes that are little churches. And understanding Paul's context will help us understand our relevancy today. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi. He loved that church. He started that church. With mostly women, It was the first church in the city of Philippi. The first European church, he loved them, friends. I can honestly say, I have Paul's love for Faith Church. I mean it I have emotion.

I am Dutch inhibited. And I have emotion when I think of faith. I know Paul's yearning and his love and affection for this church. And Paul was in prison at the time of his writing. And while he was in prison, he was pondering this church called Philippi. And also not a blue and honestly, you know, this prisons in the Bible times, they were not our prisons. Really, if you want to Google anything, go back to Bible times prison, you'll realize it's not like our prison. Our prisons aren't aren't Hilton's. But they are comparatively speaking. I mean, history teaches us that they were dirt floors, they were often chained to the walls there were rat infested. They would literally just get one loaf of bread and some water throughout the day. 

That's it. But why was Paul in prison? Was he a bad guy criminal? No, he was there because he was a Christian. And he was proclaiming it in a pagan culture, and a pagan world. And he's in prison. Probably chained up most of his day. And in walks a care package from the Church of Philippi. When I was a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior in college, I went to college, like in the middle of nowhere Iowa, where the whole state is nowhere. But the whole part. There was a section I went to of Iowa. And in I remember, my mom would send a shoe box with like homemade cookies wrapped nicely. Other licorice and snacks and, and I'd go and then in my little mailbox, I'd say you have to go to the counter. And I knew right away it was going to be a care package. And I quickly hide it from the guys on my wing. I just loved the care package. Paul's in prison, he gets this care package delivered by a member of the church in Philippi. His name was Epaphroditus what were that parents thinking when they named him Epaphroditus you know, and he comes in, he gives us care package and it's this love fest. He's like, I can't believe it. 

You guys are amazing. You see the church and Philippi was worried that he was gonna be martyred in prison. He on the flip side was praying for them and all this love for them because he knew they were being swarmed by false prophets trying to get the church Philippi, I tried to change a liberal teaching about that it isn't only just Jesus, Jesus and something else. And what was happening in the Joy. The Joy meter in the church, Philippi is it becoming more Joy and Joy less, more and more. And Paul is in prison, he gets this visit by Epaphroditus. And then he writes a letter in the midst of this declining Joy in their church, and then their family and their church family. And through this letter, which was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he writes this letter to church in Philippi. And when they he they read it and Epaphroditus delivered, I don't know if Epaphroditus read it or the elders of the church read it there. But when they read it, there was an unexpected source of Joy that was infused in that church and their Joy meter went up, even though their context was down. Because these were the actual words of God, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And I believe in a very similar way. God's letter via Paul is alive today. And just like the church and Philippi, I receive it that first day and they're joining me on like, I believe wherever you are at this letter is written to you by the Holy Spirit for your home, and I believe that Joy can increase in your home. 

But how is that? How is Joy infused into our modern families? How does that work? Well, it's by knowing some things that this passage teaches us. We need to know that God has Joy for your Modern Family. God has Joy for your modern family at the very thought of you. Heard what I just said, at the very thought of you, God has Joy for your family, by the mere thought of you, that is pivotal understanding for you and for your family life. I want to read again, verse three, Paul says, I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. He's saying I have such incredible thoughts about you, Paul saying, When I think of you, I give thanks to God for who you are have this emotion, this, this affection, this Joyful bursting of Thanksgiving. And it's actually not just mine, Paul saying, oftentimes in this passage verses three to 11. He says it's because it's actually Christ affection. 

So when Paul saying, I have this great and fond memory for you, and the thoughts of you, he's actually saying, It's Christ in me. So it's really Christ, who has this affection in his thoughts of you? Do you know that every time God thinks of you, his heart burst with Joy? He looks at you, he knows the bad. He knows the good. And yet he's filled with Joy. In the thought of you today, you're going well, wait a minute. I don't feel that way. That's because the Lord looks at you through a Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is a filter. And he sees us covered in the glory of God through Christ. And that does something with us in us, that God is fond of us, that he likes us, that he chose us. You can have Joy, because the source of all this is actually God looking at you. He's saying, I know you've got flaws. I know you've got failures, I know that you have your flip out. But when I look at you, I look at you through my son, and the thoughts of you are filled with Joy. Friendship changes you this changes homes, because oftentimes we beat ourselves up and all the failures we've done correct.

Years ago, when I was at my the first church I serve was in Fort Lee, New Jersey. And in our church, there were a lot there were people in the the television industry, and one of the guys in our church was a guy who was a voice-over force, soap operas. And he said to me one time, he said, Hey, you got to read this book, the secular book is called self talk. And I'm going to tell you about the books you have to read it and buy it. save you a buck. Self talk, he's basically first part of book, clarify something that all of us know. But really clarify. The thing is, every one of us talk in our brains all day long to ourselves. You're doing it right now. You've been doing all service long. 

Somebody's going to offer I changed oil yesterday. At the laundry, go switch dryer, washer dryer. So we got, oh you know, I forgot this, you just do all day long. Let's be honest, we have constant messages going on in our heads. We're talking to ourselves, our brains are literally constantly having conversations. Now some of those conversations are about us. Not all of them. But some of the conversations we're having in our mind is about ourselves. And then the second part of the book is all about reprogramming your thoughts about you? Because most people when they have self talk that's not controlled and appropriate, beat themselves up. They always look and talk about their flaws like oh, I'm I'm not pretty enough, rich enough, smart enough, I don't die it right, I don't take care of myself right, or I wish I wouldn't in it. 

A lot of the self talk is negative in the book saying the real switch in life is when you switch and reprogram the thoughts concerning you now that's a secular book, but we know the answer. In Christ, the thought of us, if God looks at us through His Son, and he's, he's, I'm, I'm fond of you through your my son, he's covered it at all, it reprograms our thoughts of ourselves. And that increases the Joy meter. Some of you when you get home, you're negative. you're complaining a lot because you're not seeing yourself as God sees you. As he finds Joy in the thought of you, through His Son Jesus Christ. The Bible affirms and it says be transformed by the renewing of your mind, reprogram the thoughts of you, Paul saying, church, I know you feel beat up. I know the false prophets are coming in. I know you have this, these thoughts of yourselves in your family. But he said I want you know, I'm fond of view. I have great thoughts of you and I'm speaking on behalf of God. What else we need to know that would increase the Joy in our families. God has Joy for your Modern Family, because of your partnership with him. There's a partnership with God in the modern family. We're not alone. In fact, in verse four and five it says this. Always impulses always in prayer of mine from All of you making my prayer again with that great word with Joy. He's filled with Joy, because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now, Paul's saying I want to infuse in you a Joy from the Lord because I know that we're together in mission. 

The Philippian family took their stand with Paul, when Paul was being accused, they took their stand with Paul, when Paul was imprisoned, they continue to proclaim the gospel partners in the church of Philippi in a very pagan city, and Paul is saying, I have Joy for you because you are partners with God and Christ in the church and in your family. And this partnership with the gospel is a wellspring of Joy. Paul knew that they were co operating together in community. Again, this isn't just Paul's affection and heart, but it's Christ. Christ has Joy for you who are partners with Christ and the gospel. So take heart Christian, who's serving the Lord in any way that you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ, God has Joy for you, because you're partners in the Gospel. You may be handing out programs that adore. You are a partner in the Gospel, you may be serving in Celebrate Recovery your partners in the Gospel, you may be a sponsor with children serving in our children's ministry, youth ministry and catalyst, you may be a person in the kitchen, you may be a person who is greeting out in those cold January days, you may be a person who's bringing Christ into the community, serving the poor, the homeless, whatever it may be, but God's saying this be filled with Joy because I find Joy in you because we're partners in the Gospel.

And every time you do anything of the gospel, in your home, Joy is infused. So if you pray more, Joy is infused. If you read the word more Joy is infused. If you serve more, if you have thoughts of the Lord, in partnership, and it's sky's the limit, to bring the gospel into our home. And every time we do, Joy in the home. I remember crisis that I my teenagers would go through and teenage world you know, I remember one with our son broken, he was so broken, and my heart just ache for him. I went up in his room, you know, and he was a tough guy that is a high school for crying out loud, you know, guy and I got down, sat next to him. I said, Grant, I just want to pray for you. And there was Joy in that room. Because the gospel was brought in that row. 

Every time we are partners, and we bring the gospel in our home, Joy is infused. When you worship at home when you pray at home. When you give, when you serve, when you witness, when you're spiritually grow, not perfectly. But when you stand together. I know some of you are broken and beat up and your families are challenges. But Christ heart burst at any gospel moment that you are partnering with big or small in your home. And when you do Joy erupts policies, you need to know this too, that God has Joy for your Modern Family because of what He has done for you. Paul was the real deal. God grabbed him with an amazing grace. Paul, remember was the anti christian. He hated Christians. He wanted him killed. He was the anti christian. He's walking along the road and God grabs him. God's sovereignty is interrupted, elected selected grace grabs Paul. Paul, why do you persecute me? Who are you? It's Jesus. Oh, I'm done. I surrender your I'm yours. Grace grabbed Paul and changed everything. He was the epitome of Joyless Christian, God grabs him and changes him completely. What is the same verse seven? It is right for me to feel this way about all of you all because I hold you in my heart for you are all partakers with me. 

There is a word, of grace. Both of my imprisonment and the defense and confirmation of the gospel Paul saying what gripped me has gripped you when grace gripped me, it changed my life I received this unmerited mercy of God, I've received this gift. And Paul saying, friends, you will find Joy, knowing that you have been gripped by that grace, for what God has done for you in Jesus Christ. And when you receive that gift, you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

And when you receive the Holy Spirit in your heart, guess what attribute is brought into you, Joy. The Holy Spirit's job description has a blessed, one of them is Joy. And when you receive this grace, gift, mercy comes in you in every one of us is a wellspring of Christ, which is Joy. God gives it to you freely you receive it, and you accept that Joy as yours. And it can be infused in your marriage, in your parenting, in your singleness into your children into your home, that even in the personal challenges you may face. Because God has a gift. Because he script you. And you receive that grace. We also need to know that God has Joy for your Modern Family because of what he will do in the future. Paul's in prison in a context that would you would think would be Joy less. 

But yet he's overflowing with Joy and affection for a Philippian family. Because he knew that no matter what the circumstances in life, in Christ, there's always Joy. That's why he's in prison to catch him having him sing. He's in prison, and he's witnessing. He's in prison. He's not thinking about himself. He's writing a letter the church of Philippi. And Paul knows that the Church of Philippi is a bright future, because of Christ. No matter what your circumstances at home, in Christ, you have a Joyful future. What is it saying? Verse six, and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work, and you will bring it to completion the day of Christ Jesus, God's reconstruction project never runs out of funds. God never boards up a home that he's a part of. He's never had an incomplete on any of his exams. He's always faithful. Paul knew it deep in his heart, because the Lord had told him that that church will make it that family will experience Joy, because of Christ. And the more they understand and receive that grace, the more they will reflect it. And God sees your family's future. 

And when he sees it, he sees it with Joy. He sees it with grace, perseverance, hope beyond what you can imagine. Because God is still working, he's still on the move. Because your story is God's story. Verse nine, what to say. And it is my prayer. Paul says that your love may abound more and more. He wants an increase of love in their family, and in your family, with knowledge and all discernment. Joy was coming. So what's the bottom line? The bottom line today is for you to know today that in your family, and in your life, you were created for Joy. If you miss it, you miss the reason for living. We know the story. God created this world in Joy, perfect Joy. When Adam and Eve sinned, Joy was zapped. But God in His mercy sent Jesus Christ, his life, his death, his resurrection, provided for us the grace and the transformation that we then can receive through Jesus Christ, the recreated Joy that would be at the beginning in the person of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit brought into our lives as a gift means that the Joy in us is our birthright. We have the right to experience this Joy in our life in our homes. Here's the issue. God's selected you. He's saved you, he's in you. But now we need to choose Joy, choose Joy. And when you do, it'll be infused, because the author of Joy is a new.

I don't think anybody, anybody here you're, you're, you're not like with reality. Life is not easy. It ain't giddy all the time. So wherever you're at, wherever you have moments of giddy, but not, that's heaven. I believe, with all my heart, that a simple yet profound prayer, asking the Lord to infuse Joy in us, which is already there can be brought home. And that's how I want to close. 

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the Bible. We thank you for the scriptures amazing clarity. When Paul wrote a letter to a church family in Philippi, that word is alive and it's written to us today. Lord, I do not know the family stories here. But you do. The Lord, we're thankful that you have great thoughts towards us through Jesus. We know in trust, Lord, that it's possible even in a simple prayer like this, that profound movement of your spirit could happen in us. So Lord, we ask that you will infuse in us an increase in our Joy meter and the person of Christ. Remind us your Holy Spirit. When the times get tough to choose Joy. And, Lord, we want to thank you for the greatest source of Joy. And that is that the cross and the resurrection when you covered our sin, we pray in Jesus name And all God's people said, Amen.