The theme of Philippians is not difficult to discover. Paul wrote about joy and rejoicing fifteen times in the four chapters of Philippians. The thesis is declared in this verse: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice” (Phil. 4:4).

The apostle exhorts God’s people to always rejoice. He explains why they should rejoice, how they can rejoice in spite of hurts and disappointments, and how they can experience the “peace of God which surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). -- Chapter one explains Paul’s reason for rejoicing and how one may rejoice in the face of difficulties in life. --Chapter two emphasizes the necessity of having the mind of Christ and the joy of hope and anticipation. Then Paul gives two specific examples of men (Timothy and Epaphroditus) who brought joy in their lives. --Chapter three encourages and incites children of God to center their lives on a right relationship with the Lord and, therefore, to have their minds focused on heaven. --Chapter four explores people and activities of people which bring joy, such as those who labored with Paul in the gospel and the possibility of sensing the Lord’s presence. Further attention is given to the right way of thinking. Finally, the church in Philippi is a source of joy to Paul.

While several of Paul’s epistles to congregations were designed to correct some problem or problems (1 Corinthians and Galatians), Philippians is different. The closest thing to a rebuke because of a problem comes when he implores Euodia and Syntyche to “be of the same mind in the Lord” (Phil. 4:2).

William Hendricksen analyzed Philippians as follows: --Philippians reveals the secret of true happiness; and how this secret may be obtained. --Philippians reveals the man who learned the secret and, hence, is one of Paul’s most personal epistles. --Philippians reveals Jesus the Christ as the One who taught Paul true happiness.

Merrill F. Unger offers this summary of the epistle of Philippians: --The joy of Christ our Life (Chap. 1). --The joy of Christ our Example (Chap. 2). --The joy of Christ our Goal (Chap. 3). --The joy of Christ our Sufficiency (Chap. 4).

If Paul could sing from a Philippian jail, he could also rejoice from a Roman prison. This epistle is full of joy in the middle of adversity. Joy is not at the mercy of circumstances. Joy floods the soul that is in a right relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. “Rejoice in the Lord,” Paul urged the saints in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:1; 4:4).

Henry H. Hailey observed: Joy is the predominate note of this epistle. Written by a man in prison, who for thirty years had been mobbed, beaten, stoned, and cuffed about, enough to make the angels gasp. Yet, he is overflowing with JOY. The very things which would naturally tend to make him sour only added to his happiness.

It is simply amazing what Christ can do in one’s life. Acts reveals a joyful people who comprised the church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:46). The gospel brought joy to Samaria (Acts 8:5). The jailer at Philippi who was on the verge of suicide was, after obeying the gospel, rejoicing the same night. It is time for God’s people to radiate from their lives, and even in the midst of their disappointments and trials, genuine joy!

God gives man warnings for his own good and to keep him safe. The Creator of the Universe graciously warns man what consequences will occur if man chooses not to heed His warnings. Yet, in spite of the warnings man often disregards God’s word at his own peril. Let us observe Four Bible Warnings that often go unheeded and yet have dire consequences.

(i)Warning # 1-Remember Your Creator in the Days of Your Youth: One warning that often goes unheeded is found in Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth...” There are at least three reasons we need to remember God from the days of our youth on.

(1)Remember Him for the Lord’s sake. We are commanded to remember the Lord’s sacrifice. I Cor.11:23-24 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” From the days of our youth it would do us good to remember the death of Christ for our sins. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper we need to reflect on the death of Christ for our sins. Also every other day we need to be mindful of His great sacrifice. How can one not be grateful for the sacrifice of Christ?

(2)Remember Him for our sakes. We need to remember Christ not only for His sake out of gratitude, but also for our own sakes. In Philippians 4:19 Paul states that God can supply our every need. He is the One that I can turn to and find comfort from in time of heartache (2 Cor.1:3).

(3)Remember Him for the sake of others. They need Christ! The lost need salvation. Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” The wise man warns against forgetting God.

(ii)Warning #2 is Against Covetousness: Jesus warns against covetousness in a plain manner. “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Lk.12:15) This is a very important warning for our day and time. Many desire and love money to the point they do anything to get it. Consider what covetousness can do to an individual.

(1)Covetousness will destroy our happiness. Happiness is to mind God, not love something in His place. This is one of the Ten Commandments found in Exo.20:17. Coveting what someone else has, tends to rob us of contentment and erodes our gratitude for what God has blessed us with.

(2)Covetousness will injure our usefulness. One way to be useful is to be generous, but covetousness keeps us from being generous and tends to make us selfish.

(3)Covetousness can cause us to lose our reward! One can be covetous to the point they love possessions more than God. Anything one puts before God is their idol.

(iii)Warning #3 is Against Drunkenness. In Proverbs 23:29-35 the writer warns against the sting of drunkenness.

(1)It is a costly sting. (Prov.23:29-30)

(2) It is a disgraceful sting. (Prov.23:31-33)

(3) It is an injurious sting Not only to yourself, but also to loved ones and others. (Prov.23:34-35)

(iv)Warning # 4 – is Against Transgressors. The wise man states in Proverbs 13:15 that the way of the transgressor is hard. Ever

consider what one can lose by unfaithfulness and transgression?

(1)Loss of a good conscience. (I Tim.4:2) Conscience seared with a hot iron.

(2)Loss of character. Adam and Eve were holy and pure, until they were overtaken in sin. They then lost character!

(3)Loss of usefulness. No longer useful in God’s kingdom, now one is a stumbling block instead.

(4)Loss of soul. Everlasting punishment separated from God for all eternity.

Let us heed the warnings of scripture.