When God Changes Your Plans (7)
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When God Changes Your Plans
When God Changes Your Plans
Good morning. It is good, as always to be with you this morning and I am thankful for you being here. I also want to thank all who came out yesterday to serve our community.
Welcome to all those watching online. As always please like, share, and subscribe todays message.
Well, we are coming to end of our journey through Philippians.
We have been reminded that we make plans, but God is in control and can change those plans.
But, in the change God promises to finsih what He started in us and our church.
We were challenged to go from me to we, to serve each other over our preferences, and to go all in, in light of all Christ is.
We have been encouraged to audit our faith to ensure we are growing so we can finish well.
So, what is left? That’s today.
Please open your Bibles, phones, tablets, both electronic and stone to Philippians 4.
It is one thing to say I trust and believe in something, it is quite another thing to to put that trust in action.
In the summer of 1859, Charles Blondin, a world-renowned tightrope walker, dazzled crowds by walking over Niagara Falls on a tightrope 1,100 feet long and 160 feet above the roaring waters. Thousands of spectators gathered to witness as he performed this incredible feat multiple times, each time adding another dramatic stunt—like walking blindfolded, on stilts, or cooking an omelet. Each time he completed the journey, the crowd erupted in cheers.
At the end of one of his stunts, Blondin took a wheelbarrow and asked the crowd if they believed he could push the wheelbarrow across the rope. Everyone clapped, “Yes, you can do it!” Blondin then said, “OK, who volunteers to get into the wheelbarrow?” at which point the crowd fell silent. It’s one thing to say you have faith—that’s easy. It’s another thing to get into the wheelbarrow.
This is where I want us to go today.
Today we ware going to look at what it means to:
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Please stand with me as we read together the only words that can make a difference today.
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. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Let’s pray.
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Paul is giving his closing encouragements and challenges.
He is still in prison and dealing with all that entails, but he still more concerned about the people of the Philippi church than his own issues.
Paul knows there is still work to be done, ministry to happen.
He is not there and cannot do it, and even if he was there he could not do it all.
It has come to be a dreadfully common belief in the Christian Church that the only man who has a “call” is the man who devotes all his time to what is called “the ministry,” whereas all Christian service is ministry, and every Christian has a call to some kind of ministry or another.
Charles Spurgeon
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Serving is not only a mandate but there are so benefits through serving.
The work of ministry and the work of the Gospel grows us individually and blesses the world around us.
When we commit to the work:
The work builds unity.
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.
The work builds unity.
When we work side by side, coming from different places wioth different skills and backgrounds, it unites us.
When the church is united, the world see’s Jesus.
21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
The work builds unity.
We can disagree in the processes, but the goal is the Gospel spreading.
It is not about our preferences, it is always about what is most fruitful for His kingdom and bring Him the most glory.
The work establishes joy.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
The work establishes joy.
There is no better place to be than where God wants you.
There is nothing more fulfilling to do than what God wants you to do.
It is life giving. It gets you up in the morning and carries you through the day.
The circumstance do no dictate it. The never forsaking or leaving presence of Christ empowers it.
The work focuses our confidence.
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.
The work focuses our confidence.
It is so easy at times to be so focused on the circumstances that they seem bigger than the God we are serving.
The greatest enemy of our faith and joy is worry
When that happens the simple solution is pray.
Pray for and about everything - don’t try to quantify the importance, just pray.
Talk to God about it. Ask for yourself - supplication, ask for everyone else - intercession.
Then thank God because exactly what needs to happen will happen.
The result is peace.
Peace that does not make sense to anyone outside the faith, peace that guards hearts and minds.
Doesn’t that sound good.
When we are working, we see God moving, the evidence of His presence and power reveals his Person.
We can in confidence repeat with Paul:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
The work frames our thinking.
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.
The work frames our thinking.
We are commanded to love God with all of us. Our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
I believe our greatest battle is in our minds. Thoughts become actions if not dealt with.
I think this is why Paul challenges us to:
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
The work frames our thinking
What we fill our minds with, is what we become - teacher stuff, etc.
As we give ourselves away in ministry and service, it gives us the stuff of God to fill our minds.
We need it modeled for us
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.
We need to model it for those coming next.
The work generates generosity.
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.
The work generates generosity.
As we work, trusting God, pushing forward, we realize the circumstances do not define the success or out come of our work.
It is God working through us.
The source of every resource needed.
THat’s why Paul proclaims:
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
The work generates generosity.
We experience the truth that our time, talents, treasures are His to begin with. Investing in His Kingdom is the only guaranteed return.
When we invest in the work God is doing around the world, it is as if we are right there doing it also.
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.
You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. –John Bunyan
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Please hear me this is not work ing our way into God’s Kingdom
It is the opposite,
It is working God’s Kingdom into us.
It is not about how talented, educated, smart or anything you bring.
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.
Getting Your Hands Dirty
Getting Your Hands Dirty
God equips the called, not call the equipped.
Ther are no reasons not to.
We were creeated to serve, invited to serve, called to serve.
It is the only response to all Christ has done for me.
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. –John Wesley
It’s time to get our hands dirty.
LET’S PRAY
