Gospel-Colored Glasses

TURN to PHIL CH..1

PICKING UP in VERSE 12

BEGIN by READING TEXT

(T) THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

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PASSAGE READING: PHIL. 1:12-18A

Philippians 1:12–18 (ESV)

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

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--- Open in Prayer ---

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INTRO: TILT THE PICTURE

I’M SURE WE’VE ALL SEEN PICTURES LIKE THIS ONE BEFORE.

FIRST GLANCE:

TOUGH GUY

5 O CLOCK SHADOW

REST of PICTURE?? — PROBABLY LEAN-MILITARY KIND of GUY....

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(T) WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TURN IT??

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SECOND GLANCE:

HE’S NOT TOUGH, HE’S JOLLY!

5 O CLOCK SHADOW BECOMES RECEDING HAIRLINE

REST of PICTURE?? — PROBABLY LOOKS JOLLY W/ BIG BELLY

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THERE’S MANY EXAMPLES of FUNNY PICTURES—CHANGE HOW YOU LOOK.

FROG or HORSE?

LADY or LAMP?

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HELPFUL CONCEPT: LOOKING @ THINGS DIFFERENTLY,, YIELDS DIFFERENT RESULTS.

CHANGING YOUR PERSPECTIVE = CAN RESULT in a WHOLE DIFFERENT PICTURE...

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(T) ANALOGY for LIFE:

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU CHANGE PERSPECTIVE—WHOLE DIFFERENT PICTURE...

TYPICAL EXAMPLES:

SUFFERING/STRUGGLING = = POOR ME

PROBLEM PERSON: THEY HAVE to CHANGE

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NEED/INTENT:

· BUT PERHAPS. . .WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE THE MOST. . .

IS ON OUR SIDE OF THE EQUATION, WHETHER WE REALIZE IT OR NOT.

--LOOKING @ THINGS DIFFERENTLY = = GETTING DIFFERENT RESULTS...

---- MIGHT BE LIFE-CHANGING ----

NEED:

TEXT CAN HELP CHALLENGE US on HOW WE LOOK @ LIFE....

BOTH a CHALLENGE & ENCOURAGEMENT...

(T) BUT BEFORE WE DIVE IN, I WANT TO OFFER A SHORT RECAP FOR THOSE WHO WEREN’T HERE LAST WEEK.

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RECAP: “A GOOD WORK BEGUN”

Last Sunday:

BEGAN A NEW STUDY — PHILIPPIANS

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CHURCH = NEAR & DEAR to PAUL’S HEART....

CONVERTS from 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY

INCREDIBLY GENEROUS to PAUL...

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PAUL WRITES (KEY THEMES):

o NAMELY ON FINDING JOY DURING HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING,

o ON FINDING UNITY IN THE CHURCH THROUGH CHRISTIAN HUMILITY,

o ON THE PURSUIT OF CHRIST AS THE GOAL OF LIFE,

SUMMED UP: LIVING as CITIZENS of HEAVEN

(T) AND HE OPENS THIS LETTER:

WITH A GREETING,

WITH SOME ASSURANCE FOR THE PHILIPPIANS,

AND A PRAYER,

NOW: WE’LL SEE WHAT HE REALLY HAS to SAY...

LOOK W/ ME @ CH. 1,,, VS. 12....

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

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PREACHING PASSAGE: PHIL. 1:12-18A

THOUGHT 1: PAUL’S CLAIM

Philippians 1:12–18 (ESV)

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

INTRODUCTION = FINISHED.

GREETING

PAT on BACK

ASSURANCE

PRAYER

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--- COMING to BODY of LETTER ---

HE BEGINS: “I WANT YOU TO KNOW” (BROTHERS & SISTERS)

COMMON LETTER CONVENTION/TRANSITION

1ST ORDER of BUSINESS:

REST ASSURED.... MY LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES…NAMELY MY IMPRISONMENT…IT’S ALL GOOD!”

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I’M SURE — THIS CHURCH = WORRIED ABOUT PAUL...

HE LED THEM to CHRIST!

WITHOUT PAUL — NO CHURCH @ PHILIPPI

HE’S in JAIL: SCARY THOUGHT....

WONDERING:

§ WILL PAUL BE EXECUTED?

§ WILL HE BE IN JAIL FOREVER?

§ WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN???

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IMAGINE: BEING PART of PHILIPPIAN CHURCH...

EPAPHRODITUS FINISHED ((1,000ISH MILE)) JOURNEY

BROUGHT a PIECE of PAPYRUS… LETTER WRITTEN FROM PAUL

“GATHER ROUND!”

PREVAILING QUESTION:

“HOW’S HE DOING????”

PAUL OPENS:

NOT HOW HE’S DOING.

BUT WHAT GOD’S DOING.

— THINGS ARE GREAT! —

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WHAT??? PAUL, YOU’RE NUTS!

NOT UPSET?

NOT ANGRY?

“AFTER ALL YOU’VE DONE FOR GOD??”

CONTRAST ELIJAH: “I’VE BEEN SO ZEALOUS...”

***HOW MANY of US WOULD BE MAD @ GOD???

NOTICE: PAUL DOESN’T COMPLAIN or ACCUSE GOD of MISTREATING HIM

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PAUL CONCLUDES:

LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES—IMPRISONMENT = SERVED FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL!

GK WORD: , “A MOVEMENT FORWARD TO AN IMPROVED STATE.”[1]

GOSPEL = SPREADING THROUGHOUT the WORLD....

THE GOSPEL CONTINUES ITS MARCH THROUGH THE WORLD...

NOT IN SPITE OF PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT,

BUT IN PART DUE TO HIS IMPRISONMENT.

THIS ROAD BLOCK & DETOUR = A FASTER ROUTE!!

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EVEN MORE AWESOME:

PAUL’S EYES WEREN’T on HIMSELF.

ZONDERVAN BACKGROUNDS COMMENTARY:

PAUL OFFERS UPDATE on WHAT GOD is DOING,,

RATHER THAN HOW HE’S DOING!!

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***WE DON’T GET NEWS/DETAILS of HIS IMPRISONMENT,,

>> SCHOLARS STILL AREN’T 100% SURE of LOCATION

“WHAT’S it LIKE PAUL??”

DAY-TO-DAY LIFE??

CHAINS??

FOOD RATIONS??

WHAT’S it LIKE????

INSTEAD of DETAILING HIS SUFFERING— PAUL DETAILS GOD’S DOING

(T) SO PAUL CLAIMS ALL THIS IS GOOD AND THAT IT’S FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL,

WHAT BASIS DOES HE HAVE FOR THIS CLAIM?

LOOK WITH ME @ VERSES 13 AND 14. HE WRITES,

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THOUGHT 2: THE RESULTS/BASIS FOR THE CLAIM

13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

2 REASONS/RESULTS SUPPORTING HIS CLAIM....

GOSPEL IS PROGRESSING ---- AND WE SEE THAT NOW THE WHOLE IMPERIAL GUARD ((PRAETORIUM)) HAVE HEARD.... HIS IMPRISONMENT IS FOR CHRIST.

PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT, EMPOWERED OTHER BELIEVERS: BE BOLD SPEAKING OF CHRIST WITHOUT FEAR.

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I. IMPERIAL GUARD HEARS--- PAUL = IN JAIL FOR JESUS!

GOSPEL = PROGRESSING ---REACHING NEW PEOPLE!

TDNT: προκοπή THE GOSPEL, “CONTINUES ITS VICTORIOUS MARCH THROUGH THE WORLD IN SPITE OF PAUL’S ELIMINATION.”[1]

WHOLE PRISON GUARD/STAFF (MORE or LESS) HEARS of PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT

IF PAUL WERE in ROME (LIKELY): PRAETORIUM— 9,000-12,000 SOLDIERS!!

PAUL’S GUARDS = CAPTIVE AUDIENCE!

CAN YOU IMAGINE!!

THEY MIGHT BE the GREATER HOSTAGE!

ONE COMMENTATOR: PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT = TROJAN HORSE

PAUL INFILTRATED HEART of GENTILE ROMAN WORLD!!

FULFILLMENT of ACTS CH. 1 VS. 8...

GOSPEL/ CHRIST’S WITNESSES = GOING OUT

JERUSALEM

JUDEA

SAMARIA

UTTERMOST PTS of EARTH

Matthew 16:18 (ESV)

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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REMINDER: WE’RE on the WINNING SIDE!

...WORLD = MESSY PLACE...

**BUT HEAVEN = MORE FULL TODAY THAN YESTERDAY!

GOSPEL & CHURCH = ADVANCING for 2,000 YEARS

GOOD NEWS is BEING PROCLAIMED & PEOPLE ARE BECOMING BELIEVERS!

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PAUL’S 1ST REASON: IMPERIAL GUARD HEARS — PAUL = CHRIST’S PRISONER...

WALTER HANSEN: “THOUGH THE MESSENGER MAY BE BOUND IN CHAINS, THE MESSAGE CANNOT BE BOUND.”

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II. PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT EMPOWERED OTHERS!! MORE BOLD to SHARE GOSPEL WITHOUT FEAR!!

1ST RESULT—GOSPEL = ADVANCING on WORLD STAGE,, REACHING MORE PEOPLE,, GOING WIDER

***2ND RESULT—GOSPEL = ADVANCING on PERSONAL STAGE,, GOING DEEPER

THE TDNT: “IT MEANS ALSO THAT THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL INCREASINGLY DEVELOPS IN THE HEART (V. 14), AND THAT IT DOES SO IN SUCH A WAY AS TO BECOME A MISSIONARY IMPULSE AND THUS TO SERVE THE PROPAGATION OF THE WORD.”[3]

GOSPEL = GOING WIDER in AUDIENCE & DEEPER INTO PERSONS...

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BELIEVERS GREW — CONFIDENCE in the LORD

SOURCE = GOD.

MEANS/TOOL = PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT

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SPORTS TEAM — COACH GETS THROWN OUT of GAME— FIRES TEAM UP MORE...

LAST RESORT—COACH GETS TOSSES OUT.

THIS is ALMOST WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE.

LIGHTS A FIRE IN the CHURCH

EMPOWERED the EVERYDAY BELIEVER

(T) THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE WAYS THAT GOD WAS USING PAUL’S TIME IN JAIL FOR HIS GLORY AND THE GOOD OF HIS CHURCH.

AND PAUL IS NOW GOING TO CONTINUE HIS COMMENTS ON HOW OTHERS = EMPOWERED TO SHARE THE GOSPEL,

LOOK W/ ME AT VERSES 15 THROUGH 17.

HE WRITES,

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THOUGHT 3: SOME EXAMPLES & MOTIVES

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

ADVANCEMENT of GOSPEL:

IMPERIAL GUARD = HEARING GOOD NEWS

MORE BELIEVERS = SHARING GOOD NEWS...

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NOW: FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON 2ND PART

SOME PREACH W/ GOOD MOTIVES & SOME W/ BAD...

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(1) SOME PREACH W/ GOODWILL & LOVE—KNOWING PAUL = PUT THERE for DEFENSE of GOSPEL

PUT = PLACED — SOVEREIGNLY BY GOD.

PAUL = DEFENDER of GOSPEL on INSIDE...

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(2) OTHERS PREACH W/ ENVY & SELFISH AMBITION!?

**PAUL WASN’T 1ST to TAKE GOSPEL to ROME...

PERHAPS: PAUL’S RENOWN THREATENED THEIR MONOPOLY/CELEBRITY STATUS

USING PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT FOR PERSONAL GAIN...

ADDING GAS to FIRE:

PAUL in JAIL

SOME “BROTHERS” USING it AGAINST HIM AS COMPETITION!

AFFLICTING HIM in PRISON

(T) SO, IS PAUL UPSET? HOW DOES HE RESPOND?

LOOK W/ ME @ CLOSE of TEXT

BEGINNING of V18...

PAUL CONCLUDES:

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THOUGHT 4: PAUL’S CONCLUSION, “I REJOICE!”

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

1ST GLANCE TODAY — PAUL SEEMS a LITTLE CRAZY....

IMPRISONMENT = GOOD THING,, GOD’S at WORK...

NOW… HE’S LOST IT.

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CELEBRATING THOSE PREACHING W/ BAD MOTIVES????

SELFISH AMBITION = THEIR DRIVE???

PAUL RESPONDS: HALLELUJAH, PRAISE the LORD!! I’LL REJOICE!!

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“PAUL…THEY’RE PREACHING to MAKE a NAME for THEMSELVES… TO MAKE THEMSELVES GREAT....NOT JESUS....”

PAUL: THEY MIGHT BE SCOUNDRELS W/ BAD MOTIVES...

BUT THEIR MESSAGE is TRUE.

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**DISCLAIMER: PAUL DOESN’T CELEBRATE a FALSE GOSPEL.... READ GALATIANS…ESP. 5:12!! YIKES!!!

BUT a TRUE GOSPEL W/ FLAWED MESSENGERS??

THAT’LL DO.

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INSTRUCTIVE for US:

MANY CHURCHES & DENOMINATIONS— CAN BECOME MORE DEVOTED to THEIR CHURCH,, THAN THE KINGDOM..

IF WE AREN’T CAREFUL, WE SET OURSELVES UP AS COMPETITORS.

LOOKING @ OTHERS as COMPETITION—NOT ALLIES...

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THE CHURCH’S AIM SHOULDN’T BE to TRY & COMPETE

& TAKE MEMBERS of OTHER CHURCHES...

IT’S NOT LIKE BURGER KING VS. MCDONALDS—WHO CAN MAKE the LEAST LOUSY CHEAP BURGER...

WE’RE on the SAME TEAM.

WE AREN’T the ONLY ONES WHO’VE GOT it RIGHT.

WE AREN’T THE LAST BASTION of TRUTH....

***DISCLAIMER: I DON’T THINK ALL CHURCHES & DENOMINATIONS ARE CREATED EQUAL.

SOME CERTAINLY ARE FALSE CHURCHES WHO TEACH an UNBIBLICAL GOSPEL...

BUT ALL CHURCHES WHO PREACH the BIBLICAL GOSPEL of CHRIST-CRUCIFIED ARE OUR FRIENDS, NOT OUR ENEMIES,, OR COMPETITION...

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IF PAUL CAN CELEBRATE a TRUE MESSAGE W/ BAD MOTIVES...

HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD WE BE ABLE to CELEBRATE the SUCCESSES of OTHERS IF THEIR MESSAGE is TRUE???

WE’RE ALL ON TEAM JESUS...

IF WE HOLD to HIM ALONE as OUR HOPE for SALVATION…WE HAVE COMMON GROUND.

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IF THEIR CHURCH IS GROWING....

AS LONG AS THEY PREACH TRUTH,,,

THEN AMEN! THANK YOU LORD!

THE CHURCH is GROWING!!!

PAUL’S CONCLUSION = GREAT REJOICING.

GOSPEL is GOING FORWARD.

OURS SHOULD BE the SAME—NO MATTER WHICH VESSEL GOD CHOOSES to USE...

(T) AND SO, WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE TODAY, THE IDEA THAT,

HOM. IDEA:

AS BELIEVERS, WE OUGHT TO SEARCH TO REFRAME OUR OWN LIFE-CIRCUMSTANCES AND SEE HOW GOD is AT WORK

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GOSPEL:

PAUL’S PRIMARY CONCERN = THE GOSPEL...

EVERYTHING ELSE...

HIS LIFE

HIS CIRCUMSTANCES

HIS PRIORITIES

WERE SECOND.

WHY DOES it MATTER SO MUCH???

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THE GOSPEL is GOD’S MESSAGE of SALVATION

PEOPLE CAN’T BE SAVED WITHOUT RESPONDING to GOD’S GOOD NEWS--- AND THEY CAN’T RESPOND WITHOUT HEARING!!

Romans 10:17 (ESV)

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Romans 1:16 (ESV)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

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(T) WHAT is the GOSPEL/GOOD NEWS??

MESSAGE of CHRIST

GOOD NEWS of SALVATION in CHRIST

MADE a WAY FOR US to BE SAVED

DIED for SINNERS & ROSE AGAIN FROM the GRAVE—CONQUERING DEATH

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

GOSPEL = GOOD NEWS of GOD’S GRACE

NOT CLEANING OURSELVES UP to BE FOUND WORTHY

BUT FORGIVEN,, DESPITE BEING UNWORTHY...

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MANKIND = HOPELESS WITHOUT CHRIST:

ALL HAVE SINNED

ALL HAVE FALLEN SHORT

NONE ARE RIGHTEOUS

NONE CAN MAKE IT ON THEIR OWN

NO GOOD WORK CAN SECURE HEAVEN FOR YOU...

CHRIST PAID the DEBT—

Colossians 2:14 (ESV)

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

THE GOSPEL— HEARTBEAT of PAUL’S LIFE & MINISTRY

IT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING....

MEANS of GOD BUILDING HIS CHURCH

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HAVE YOU RESPONDED to the GOSPEL?

HAVE YOU PUT YOUR FAITH in CHRIST—SAVIOR

MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU’LL EVER MAKE...

**IF YOU’RE HERE & DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU STAND W/ GOD--- I’D LOVE to SPEAK WITH YOU AFTER the SERVICE TODAY**

(T) AND NOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU HERE TODAY WHO DO BELIEVE, WHO HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD, AND WHO FULLY TRUST IN HIM FOR YOUR RIGHT-STANDING BEFORE GOD…

I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU.... ON HOW YOU VIEW YOUR LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES,

IN LIGHT OF WHAT GOD TEACHES US THROUGH THE APOSTLE IN THIS TEXT TODAY:

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APP: LOOKING AT LIFE THROUGH GOSPEL-COLORED GLASSES??

PAUL’S LIFE = TOUGH…

MUCH HARDER THAN OURS...

BEATEN

SHIPWRECKED

STONED & LEFT FOR DEAD

JAILED NUMEROUS TIMES

**WHAT KEPT HIM GOING WAS the ASSURANCE THAT GOD WAS STILL @ WORK....

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SURELY IF WE WERE LIKE the PHILIPPIANS—WE’D WANT to KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON....

LETTER COMES....

PAUL DOESN’T DETAIL HIS CIRCUMSTANCES

DOESN’T FOCUS on HIMSELF

DOESN’T COMPLAIN AT ALL....

GOD WASN’T AT WORK IN SPITE OF PAUL’S CIRCUMSTANCES… BUT THROUGH THEM!

AGAIN: INSTEAD of DETAILING HIS SUFFERING— PAUL DETAILS GOD’S DOING

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ON THE SURFACE—THINGS WERE HORRIBLE!

HE WASN’T A FREE MAN.

TRULY… HE COULD REACH MORE PEOPLE ON THE STREETS.

HE CAN’T TAKE THE GOSPEL TO SPAIN AS HE INTENDED IF HE WAS IN JAIL.

BEING CHAINED ISN’T FUN.

LIFE WOULD BE BETTER IF HE WAS FREE…

BUT PAUL TILTS the PICTURE--- SEES it FROM a DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE....

HE ADJUSTS HIS ATTITUDE AND SEES SOMETHING ELSE THAT WAS TRUE:

GOD HAS USED THIS HORRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCE IN MY LIFE FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF HIS GOSPEL!!!

I’M a PART of WHAT GOD’S DOING

THE IMPERIAL GUARD = HEARING the GOSPEL

WE’VE INFILTRATED THEIR RANKS

&& THE BELIEVERS ARE NOW SHARING the GOSPEL MORE!!

SOME DON’T EVEN PREACH W/ GOOD MOTIVES,, BUT THEY’RE STILL PREACHING!

I’VE GOT PLENTY OF REASON TO BE JOYFUL!! CHRIST = PROCLAIMED **IN THAT I REJOICE!!

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CHURCH…JOY is a CHOICE.

PAUL COULDN’T CHOOSE to LEAVE JAIL....

UP to ROME & ULTIMATELY GOD...

PAUL COULDN’T CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCES...

**PAUL COULD SEE HIS CIRCUMSTANCES FROM DIFFERENT ANGLE & CHOOSE JOY.

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EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

EASY to LOOK @ PAUL’S LIFE

YOUR LIFE

OTHER’S LIVES

**MUCH HARDER to LOOK @ OUR OWN...

OUR THEOLOGY = ALWAYS MORE DEVELOPED FOR OTHERS!!

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PAUL WAS ABLE to SEE HIS OWN SUFFERING—FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE…

THAT…FOR US…IS the CHALLENGE.

PAUL’S CIRCUMSTANCES = BACKDROP/LANDSCAPE of the PICTURE

SUBJECT—WAS CHRIST.

HE COULD’VE FOCUSED on the BACKGROUND & BLURRED the SUBJECT—BUT HE KEPT HIS EYES on CHRIST...

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HOW MIGHT YOUR LIFE BE DIFFERENT IF YOU LIVED THIS WAY??

HEALTH CHALLENGES:

YOU CAN:

GO to DR

TAKE MEDS

PRAY

TREATMENTS, ETC.

***YOU CAN TRY EVERYTHING,,

BUT THERE’S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN CONTROL....

**SITUATION MIGHT NOT CHANGE.

YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE REGARDING the SITUATION.

PERHAPS GOD = USING CONNECTIONS FOR SAKE of the GOSPEL...

HOW MANY BELIEVERS SPEND THEIR HOSPITAL HOURS COMPLAINING.....WHEN THEY COULD BE a WITNESS of GOD’S GOODNESS & GRACE in THEIR LIVES??

OR PERHAPS,,

HE’S MAKING YOU INTO A MORE GOSPEL-SHAPED PERSON,, WHO CAN ENDURE HARDSHIP??

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YOU MIGHT BE FACING A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT IN LIFE...

WHERE YOU APPLIED:

FOR A JOB,

OR TO A SCHOOL,

OR SOMETHING ELSE

PLANS HAVE FALLEN THROUGH....

A DECISION WAS MADE & YOU CAN’T CHANGE IT...

BUT YOU CAN CHANGE the WAY YOU LOOK @ IT...

PERHAPS GOD SPARED YOU FROM SOMETHING.

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FOR ALL OF US:

INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING...

OR DWELLING UPON WHAT WE CAN’T CHANGE...

WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT LIFE WITH THE QUESTION,

“HOW IS GOD AT WORK IN THE NEGATIVE CIRCUMSTANCES IN MY LIFE?”

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WE SAW LAST WEEK:

GOD’S BEGUN a GOOD WORK in the BELIEVER… & HE’LL COMPLETE IT....

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THIS WEEK: WE SEE,, ONE of MANY WAYS GOD WORKS IN the BELIEVER: SUFFERING.

LIVING AS A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN SHOULD CAUSE US TO REFRAME THE TROUBLES OF LIFE WITH THE QUESTIONS:

o “HOW IS GOD AT WORK IN ME?”

o “HOW IS GOD GROWING ME?”

o “HOW IS GOD SHAPING ME TO LIVE A MORE GOSPEL-CENTERED AND GOD-FOCUSED LIFE?”

HOW MIGHT THE GOSPEL COME OUT OF MY MESS?

IT’S NOT EASY, BUT WE MUST TRUST THAT GOD’S WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR WAYS,

AND THAT,,, TRULY,, HE IS AT WORK IN US. AMEN?

CLOSE in PRAYER