The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength - Philippians 3:1–11
Rejoice Always – Part 13: The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength
Philippians 3:1–11 (NKJV)
"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe... For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (vv.1, 3)
Part One: Again I Say It — Rejoice!
Paul opens this chapter by repeating something he’s already said multiple times: "Rejoice in the Lord." (v.1)
Why does he repeat it?
"For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe."
Because rejoicing is a choice, and it has to be reinforced again and again.
Paul has already emphasized joy:
Philippians 1:4 — "...making request for you all with joy."
Philippians 1:18 — "...in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice."
Philippians 1:25 — "...for your progress and joy of faith."
Joy is not shallow. It’s powerful.
Nehemiah 8:10 says: "The joy of the Lord is your strength."
When you choose to rejoice:
You can’t complain — joy magnifies Christ, not your circumstances.
Philippians 2:14: "Do all things without complaining."
You can’t fear — joy and fear are opposites.
Philippians 4:6: "Be anxious for nothing... with thanksgiving."
You can’t envy — rejoicing in Christ protects you from comparison.
James 3:16: "Where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion..."
When we rejoice, we get stronger.
Part Two: Rejoicing Keeps You Safe
Paul says: "For you it is safe."
Joy is more than a feeling. It’s spiritual protection.
"Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!" (v.2)
Paul warns of three spiritual dangers that steal your joy:
Dogs — hostile voices, mockers, those who treat holy things with contempt.
Evil workers — those who normalize sin or stir up division.
Mutilation — legalism that replaces joy with performance-based religion.
When I was in a car accident, the airbag and seatbelt kept me safe.
Paul says: when people hit you, rejoice — it’ll keep you safe.
You can’t control what people say or do. But you can put on joy like a seatbelt.
"Remember, though you are persecuted, the persecutor is in God’s hands." "The rougher the road, the sweeter the rest."
Part Three: Joy That Runs Deeper
"...rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (v.3)
This joy is not surface-level. It doesn’t depend on comfort, status, or approval.
Habakkuk 3:17–19: "Though the fig tree may not blossom... Yet I will rejoice in the Lord... The Lord God is my strength."
It’s the kind of joy that can’t be stolen because it wasn’t created by this world.
Many people live off joy from temporary things: attention, approval, success, social media.
But all of that can be bombed, hacked, canceled, or fall apart.
Think about Israel’s transformation:
In the 1990s, 70% of their electricity came from coal.
By 2010, Egypt supplied 40% of their natural gas—until terrorists bombed the pipeline.
Then in 2010, Israel discovered the Leviathan Field—one of the world’s biggest gas reserves offshore.
Now they export energy to Egypt and Jordan.
From dependent to exporter.
That’s what happens when you dig deeper.
If your joy is coming from shallow sources, the enemy can attack it. But if your joy is in Christ, you become a source of joy to others.
You stop depending on joy. You start distributing it.
Final Thought: The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength
Don’t just wait for joy to come to you. Choose to rejoice.
Put on your joy like a seatbelt. Dig into the deep well of Christ. Let your joy be a strength to you and a light to others.
Because the joy of the Lord is your strength.