Three Challenges To Living Above Your Circumstances
Dr. George Bannister
Living Above Life's Circumstances • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2,468 viewsThis message helps the believer to understand the importance of attitude and focus upon successful navigation of negative circumstances.
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Three Challenges To Living Above Your Circumstances
Philippians 1:12-18
12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.
13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ.
14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.
15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives.
16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News.
17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.
18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.
INTRODUCTION:
A- Opening questions:
1. If you had the power to change your circumstances, would you?
2. If you could change any of your circumstances, what would you change?
B- Biblical background:
1- Paul’s negative circumstances:
a- in prison for the cause of Christ.
b- Paul had negative circumstances but never got under them.
C- Probing question:
1. On what am I to focus when enduring negative circumstances?
TS: Notice three challenges that will enable you to live above your circumstances.
I– The first challenge is to focus on Christ and not your circumstance. (Philippians 1:18).
I– The first challenge is to focus on Christ and not your circumstance. (Philippians 1:18).
18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.
A- What the answer is not:
1- Escape
2- Complain
3- Blame
B- What the answer is:
1- Focus your attention upon Christ instead of the negative circumstance.
a- Paul’s circumstances were very negative.
· Riot at Jerusalem
· imprisonment in Jerusalem
· imprisoned in Caesarea for 2 years
· threats on his life
· perilous trip to Rome
· house arrest and restricted freedom
· impending trial before Caesar
b- in spite of this, Paul rejoiced in his circumstances. (Verse 18 b).
C- When you focus on Christ:
1- He lifts the veil and you see circumstances differently.
a. Negative circumstances are seen as opportunity.
b. negative circumstances are seen as a privilege rather than a burden.
II- The second challenge is to focus upon the sovereignty and power of God and not the will of man. (Philippians 1:15 – 18).
II- The second challenge is to focus upon the sovereignty and power of God and not the will of man. (Philippians 1:15 – 18).
15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives.
16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News.
17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.
18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.
A- Often times, the will of man seems to be in control of our circumstances.
1- It seemed that it was because of man’s will that Paul was injuring his hardships.
a- The Pharisees and Sadducees had incited a riot in the temple, resulting in Paul’s imprisonment there.
b- The Jewish leaders desire for Paul’s death caused to Caesarea and imprisonment and the need to appeal to Caesar; and thus, his Roman imprisonment.
c- Paul’s opponents were preaching the gospel in order to make it rough on him (vs. 15 – 16).
B- Only that which is under the control of God can touch the believer. (Philippians 1:17).
1- Circumstances Our in our lives either by the permissive will or the perfect will of our sovereign, Almighty Lord.
a- Paul’s situation was both:
· It was God’s perfect will – God had set Paul where he was for the purpose of defending the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:17).
17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.
· it was God’s permissive will –God had allowed the preaching of the gospel out of improper motives by Paul’s enemies.
o All of this was still under God’s permissive will (Romans 8:28).
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
III- The Third challenge is to focus on the positive results of the circumstance and not the personal pain. (Philippians 1:12 – 14).
III- The Third challenge is to focus on the positive results of the circumstance and not the personal pain. (Philippians 1:12 – 14).
A- Promotion of the gospel (Philippians 1:12).
A- Promotion of the gospel (Philippians 1:12).
12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.
1- When the child of God keeps the proper focus and lives above the circumstances, it results in a growth in the testimony of the power of the gospel.
a- As Paul lived day by day, rejoicing and then testifying of the risen Christ, it got people’s attention.
· This likely resulted in a number of them getting saved (Philippians 4:22).
B- Positively impacting lives that would otherwise be impossible to touch (Philippians 1:13).
B- Positively impacting lives that would otherwise be impossible to touch (Philippians 1:13).
13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ.
1- Paul’s circumstances placed him in the middle of the praetorian guard – elite soldiers who guarded Caesar. if he had not been placed in his circumstances, he could never have been able to reach those men.
2- The big question: who is life or lives are you in a unique position to reach because of your circumstances?
C- Encouraging other believers (Philippians 1:14).
C- Encouraging other believers (Philippians 1:14).
14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.
1- Fellow believers are encouraged by a brother or sister who is living above their circumstance.
a- Paul’s fellow believers were encouraged to boldly stand and witness of Christ because of Paul’s handling of his circumstances.
D- The name of Jesus is lifted up (Philippians 1:15 – 18).
D- The name of Jesus is lifted up (Philippians 1:15 – 18).
15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives.
16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News.
17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me.
18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.
1- Christ was exalted and lifted up in preaching by brothers and sisters in Christ.
2- Jesus is always honored as we show the world that he makes a difference in our lives.
Conclusion:
A- Whatever your circumstances are, the challenge is to:
1- Focus on Christ and not your circumstance.
2- Focus on the sovereignty of God and not the will of man.
3- Focus on the positive results and not the personal pain.
B- Whatever your circumstance, it is your choice to live above them or beneath them.