GREATER>than (Part 1)
GREATER>than • Sermon • Submitted
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God is GREATER than ____________!
God is GREATER than ____________!
10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.
11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”
12 And Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.
5 The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods.
12 “Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Theme Verse:
1 John 4:4 (ESV)
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is GREATER>than he who is in the world.
Today: PROVISION>lack
Today: PROVISION>lack
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
How do we get from lack to supernatural provision?
How do we get from lack to supernatural provision?
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippi was an important hub of commerce during that time and was considered a leading city in the district. The women of the Philippi were heavily involved in the city’s business and trade and therefore enjoyed a higher status than most women in that area. According to scripture, the first personal interactions Paul had in Philippi were with the women (Acts 16).
The first Sabbath day after Paul, Silas, and Timothy arrived in Philippi they traveled outside the city gate to find a place of prayer. They found a group of women gathered near the river and decided to stop to talk to them about Jesus. Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, who was a worshiper of God and a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira. The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond to Paul’s message. After she and her household were baptized, she urged and persuaded Paul, Silas, and Timothy to spend the remainder of their visit in Philippi at her house (Acts 16:14-15).
During that first visit to Philippi, Paul and Silas were arrested for casting a “spirit of divination” out of a local slave girl. The girl’s owners were so furious that their money-making opportunities had vanished with the demon, that they seized Paul and Silas, stripped them, beat them with rods, and threw them into prison. As Paul and Silas were praying and worshiping God in their cell a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once the doors flew open and all the prisoners’ chains were released.
When the jailer discovered what had happened, he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul called out to him, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!” Upon hearing this, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:29).
The jailer and his whole household were saved that evening and rejoiced with Paul and Silas. The next day the men were released from prison. They returned to Lydia’s house to say goodbye and to encourage the newly formed Church before leaving Philippi.
Paul continued to train and encourage the Philippian believers through occasional visits (Acts 20:1-2, Acts 20:6) and through the letters he wrote. In return, they loved Paul, faithfully gave him gifts—even though many of them were poor (Philippians 4:14-16), and even sent Epaphroditus to minister to their beloved teacher while he was imprisoned in Rome.
1) Settle your disagreements and stop dividing the body of Christ.
1) Settle your disagreements and stop dividing the body of Christ.
It’s possible that Euodia and Syntyche were part of the original little flock of believers that Paul had personally led to Christ. According to Scripture, these women had labored directly with the Apostle to help spread the Good News to their city.
3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Euodia was one of the women Paul felt the need to exhort in his letter. But as with any conflict, it takes two—and Syntyche was her partner in crime. In the latter part of his written instruction, Paul pleads with these women to lay their differences aside and to unify their thoughts in the Lord. Paul also commissions the entire church to help resolve their dispute.
“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:2-3).
Although Scripture only provides two verses that specifically refer to Euodia, we can gather certain facts from context. We know that Euodia and Syntyche were true Christians who played an active role in spreading the Gospel to Philippi. But they allowed their disagreement to escalate to the point of impacting the whole congregation. The fact that Paul—who had suffered various beatings, trials, and imprisonment—would be made aware of their argument shows the volatility of the matter and its potential impact on the Church at large.
Paul tells Euodia and Syntyche to stop arguing because their disagreement was causing a rift, not just in their own relationship, but in the whole fabric of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:25-26). When he instructs them to be of “one mind,” the Apostle is not suggesting that the women should settle the matter by determining who was right and wrong in the debate. But that each of them should lay down their right to be right—and take up the cross of Christ.
Dave Ramsey’s definition of gossip:
“Telling someone about a problem that doesn’t have the ability to fix it.”
5 Treat one another with the same spirit as you experience in Christ Jesus.
6 Though he was divine by nature, he did not snatch at equality with God
7 but emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant;
8 born in human guise and appearing in human form, he humbly stooped in his obedience even to die, and to die upon the cross.
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
2) Shift your focus from people to God.
2) Shift your focus from people to God.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
3) Pray instead of worrying.
3) Pray instead of worrying.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4) Stop your stinkin’ thinkin’!
4) Stop your stinkin’ thinkin’!
Satan plants his seed thought in your head:
“But you don’t deserve God’s blessing!”
When you dwell on the thought the enemy plants, it takes root in your mind and becomes your thought:
“I don’t deserve God’s blessing.”
1 John 3:20 (NKJV)
20 For if our heart condemns us, God is GREATER>than our heart, and knows all things.
God is not surprised by your past! He already knew about it before He promised to save you, bless you, heal you, deliver you, provide for you........
God is not surprised by your past! He already knew about it before He promised to save you, bless you, heal you, deliver you, provide for you........
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
5) Just do it!
5) Just do it!
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
6) Practice contentment through thankfulness.
6) Practice contentment through thankfulness.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
7) Invest in the Bank Heaven and expect a return.
7) Invest in the Bank Heaven and expect a return.
15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Three accounting terms: Partnership, Giving, Receiving
Money market account of the day
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Ellen Witherspoon story.
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.