Sermon Tone Analysis

Phil. 4:6-9

THE BASIS FOR EVERYTHING IN THE BELIEVER’S LIFE, INCLUDING PRAYER, IS TO FOLLOW PAUL BECAUSE HE IS FOLLOWING THE RISEN CHRIST (PHIL.

4:9):

THIS IS GOD’S TRUTH FOR TODAY—THE FAITH—THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY GIVEN TO THE APOSTLE PAUL.

Anything not done in faith is sin ().

Non-Pauline prayer is not a sign of maturity and spirituality but of immaturity and carnality—IT IS SIN.

Prayer is not our way to get God aligned with our plans and purpose.

It is His way to get us aligned with His plans and purpose.

Prayer is the bowing of the knees to the Lord, Creator and Savior of the universe ().

PRAYER IS COMMUNION WITH THE FATHER IN THANKFUL APPRECIATION FOR WHAT HE IS REALLY DOING TODAY IN AND THROUGH CHRIST AS REVEALED TO AND THROUGH HIS APOSTLE PAUL.

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It is thankful appreciation for our inheritance in Christ ().

2. It is thankful appreciation for His inheritance in us (in Christ) ().

3. It is without ceasing () and should characterize our lives.

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WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?

THE PATTERN FOR PAULINE PRAYER ().

Prayer is thankfulness for what God is accomplishing today—not what we think He should be doing, but what He is really doing as revealed in Paul’s Epistles ().

Thankful prayer results in joyful requests for their continued “fellowship of the Gospel,” which is another way of talking about the “fellowship of the Mystery.”

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Thankful prayer results in joyful requests that their continued defense, confirmation, participation and advancement of God’s Mystery Truth for today.

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Thankful prayer results in requests that their love would continue to grow in the “full-knowledge” and “judgment” of God’s Mystery Truth for today so that they can discern God’s excellent will for today.

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This is the only way believers will remain sincere, pure and without offense until the Day of Christ.

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This is the only way believers will be filled with the fruits of righteousness through Christ, displaying God’s Glory.

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WHEN WE APPRECIATE THIS IT REPLACES OUR FLESHLY WORLDVIEW WITH GOD’S SPIRITUAL DIVINE VIEW

Now, difficult circumstances and situations in life are not reasons for disappointment and despair, but opportunities for the advancement of God’s Program.

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2. Now, problems with people are not reasons for disappointment and despair but opportunities to Preach Christ (according to the Revelation of the Mystery).

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3. Appreciating this produces a rejoicing that will deliver (save) us from doing anything in this body that might result in shame, that might reduce our boldness to proclaim the Mystery, that might reduce our magnification of Christ—whether in continuing in life or going on into (physical) death.

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UNLIKE PRAYER IN ISRAEL’S PROPHETIC PROGRAM, PRAYER IN THE BODY OF CHRIST’S MYSTERY PROGRAM RECOGNIZE THAT DIFFICULTIES ARE NOT SOMETHING GOD IS GOING TO FIX BUT SOMETHING THAT HE POWERFULLY WORKS IN US AS WE GO THROUGH THEM.

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THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE GO OUT LOOKING FOR DIFFICULTIES.

DIFFICULTIES WILL COME ALONG ALL ON THEIR OWN AS WE LIVE OUT OUR LIVES AS GOD’S AMBASSADORS DOWN HERE ON THIS SIN-CURSED, FALLEN, DEATH-DECAYING WORLD.

If you can fix the problem, fix it.

But if you cannot fix the problem know that while difficulties can hinder your flesh’s plans and purposes, they cannot hinder the Plans and Purpose of God one bit!

(1 Cor.

7:8-24)

Serve God by serving others in the proclamation of Mystery Truth wherever you are in life!

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED AND RECEIVED, HEARD AND SEEN, FROM PAUL REGARDING PRAYER.

THIS IS WHAT WE MUST FOLLOW.