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This is the audio from the December 28, 2025 sermon, “Exceedingly Great Joy: A Joy That Wins!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: Philippians 4:2-23

• Works:  Philippians 4:2-5

  • Living with a victorious joy is not easy.  In fact, a joy that wins is a joy that works.  We must allow God to work on us, in us, and through us in ways which help others.  Conflicts are a part of life even among those who work together for the cause of the gospel.  Paul not only desired for those who were in conflict to get along, he instructed their fellow believers to work together to bring unity through the share joy in Christ. 

• Inspects:  Philippians 4:6-9

  • Living with a victorious joy will lead us to inspect ourselves closely with God’s Word being the standard.  The things we dwell on tend to be the things which define how we think, talk, and act.  While we often like to inspect others and pass judgment on what we see in them, the joy that we have in Christ will lead us to inspect how faithful we are in letting the light of Jesus shine through us.

• Notices:  Philippians 4:10-13

  • Living with a victorious joy will open our eyes with a joy that notices the needs of others with attention being paid to how God may have equipped us to be a help to them.  Even when we don’t have the means to help with the exact need that we notice, God has called us to do what we can with what He has given so that we might be a help and encouragement to others.

• Shares:  Philippians 4:14-23

  • Living with a victorious joy will result in having a joy that shares all good things which we ourselves have received from God.  It is in the act of giving that we best notice what God has given to us.  The common selfish nature of mankind will do its best to convince us that we don’t need to share anything with anyone.  It is the Spirit of God within us that can fill us with a contagious joy that we can’t help but share everywhere we go.

Today, how will you live with a joy that WINS?