Replacing Worry with Joy

Rejoice in every situation

Find your joy in the Lord

Always: in all situations

Paul’s imprisonment

Paul’s previous problems in Philippi

The slave girl with a spirit

Called before the magistrates

Beaten

Thrown into prison

The Philippian jailer’s conversion

Paul had experienced God turning trials into blessings

The Philippians were most likely also dealing with the same trials

Remain Reasonable

The greek word for reasonableness is often translated gentleness

What are are being called to is a reputation for gentleness and reasonableness

The idea here is two fold

First, to let our reasonableness be known, we must remain reasonable/gentle

1 Timothy 3:3 “3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.”

Titus 3:2 “2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”

2 Corinthians 10:1 “1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—”

Second, we are to let our reasonableness/gentleness be seen by everyone

Live In His Closeness

A continual theme in the New Testament is the closeness of Christ

This most likely has a double meaning

First, that Christ is always close

Psalm 34:18 “18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 145:18 “18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

The imminent return of Christ

Revelation 22:7 “7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.””

Pray

Requests

Thanksgiving