Untitled Sermon (8)

Week One: “Living As If God Is In Control”

Key Scripture: Philippians, Chapter One

Living As If God Is In Control

Yes, in this world we will have troubles.

I’m very excited about this new series we begin today. We will looking at Paul’s letter to the Philippians and discover a joyful community living together in times of testing.

Today we want to talk about how to live during times of trial and believe that God is in control.

We are encouraged to practice social distancing… it has caused stress throughout our world, from community to community, home to home. The stress is cause by various things, such as unemployment; shortage of food; working from home while trying to watch your toddlers, or helping you children do online schooling. Some have loved ones who are currently facing the disease, some have lost loved one from the disease. stress comes in all forms and we are all facing them.

In these next four weeks, we will look at each one of the chapters in Paul’s letter Philippians. This letter shows us a community learning how to live together with one another—and in God’s presence—during difficult times. Throughout history, Paul’s letter to the Philippians has brought comfort and direction to God’s people all over the world. I”m hoping it will do the same for us now as we face this world pandemic together.

Near the end of his ministry the Apostle Paul said, “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12) How do we live a godly life in Christ Jesus during our time of trials… together

The Book of Acts (in chapter 16) records the roots of the church in Philippi. As you follow along in this sermon series, you can read about how God used Paul to start a brand-new work in this city that had never before heard the gospel.

Philippi was an agricultural city. Its first convert to Christianity was Lydia, the seller of purple.

In the first decades of this new Philippian church, they experienced both success and difficulties.

Acts 16 tells the story of how Paul and Silas found themselves in prison even as they shared the good news in the city of Philippi. There response while they were in prison was the fact that they sang! They sang! Even though they were in chains, they worshipped the Lord in the middle of their trouble and pain. Through miraculous circumstances, Paul and Silas were delivered from their imprisonment and even ended up baptizing the warden of the prison! There were exciting things that were happening.

It will be important for us to keep this recorded event in mind as we look at Philippians, because it reminds us that we will go through trials. And this phrase is important: we will “go through” trials. Trials are made to be gone through: we will not remain in them. Trials are made to go through because our God is bigger than any trouble man can dream up.

The good news that we talked about last week , we want to emphasis again this week. Even as we experience trials, we can have the confidence that we will pass through the trouble. Paul writes in the first chapter, verse six, “I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” This is living in the confidence that God is in Control. God will not abandon us and leave us stuck in our difficulties. In fact, one type of Christian maturity is our ability to rejoice, like Paul and Silas did, even when things are not going our way. We can rejoice merely in the fact that we are in the center of God’s will.

Warren Wiesbe, former pastor of Moody Church in Chicago wrote a number of commentaries entitled “The Be” series. When he wrote his work on Philippians he entitled it “Be Joyful.” The greek word Chara is used five times in the book of Philippians. It means Joy, gladness, great happiness. It also use the greek word Chairo 7 times meaning “rejoice” - “A state of happiness.”

This is why the book of Philippians is one of my favorite. It encourages us how to live a godly life and how to experience real joy, even in times of troubles.

Even if the trouble is of our own making because we’ve acted foolishly, it’s still true: trials were made to go through—not to remain in! Even if my trial is the result of my own sinfulness, I can rest assured that I’m the center of His love. God doesn’t abandon people in trouble.

So the church in Philippi, which was born out of persecution, takes root in this Roman town hundreds of miles away from where Jesus lived, and ministered, and was resurrected. This tells us that the good news of the gospel can grow in any soil.

Right now we the church, have the greatest opportunity before us… That is to share the Good News by living a godly life, with confidence, in the midst of this pandemic. By trusting that God is in control and in the midst of our own trials we will experience joy and peace. WE grow knowing that we have a Great God who cares about our spiritual well being and is using this time to speak into our lives, causing us to realize the importance of trusting in Someone greater than our selves or the government. The only one who is going to bring an end to this pandemic is God! Yes, he will use humanity to discover an antidote, but it is only because he is the wisdom behind it. He gives us the knowledge to know how to deal with it. For that we can give him praise and rest in peace.

Now, when we get to Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, 10 years have transpired since the account in Acts 16. Some things have definitely changed. The church in Philippi is prospering and healthy. They are not only a thriving community, they are a community that looks after the welfare of others, people far away who may be in some kind of need. Once again, Paul finds himself in prison.

The church in Philippi sent a gift of money and a member of their church to help him, because prisoners at that time had to provide for their own means. And there, from his chains, Paul writes a letter to acknowledge their gift, to send back the helper they had sent to minister to his needs, and to teach them about the connection between Christian joy and suffering.

This letter is a model for how to live a godly life during tough times. Here is what we learn from this book:

We can learn how to live knowing that God is in control.

We can learn how to live as servants.

We can learn how to live a life of loss.

And we can learn how to live a life in generous friendship.

Let’s look today at the first chapter of Philippians, and learn to live believing that God is in control.

1. Prayer and Persecution Priority on Prayer

A concern for others. Remember, 10 years earlier, Paul was imprisoned in Philippi. Now, he is imprisoned in Rome and he writes this encouraging letter.

Early on in chapter 1, Paul prays for his friends back in Philippi. This is where our response should begin. In prayer, at the feet of Jesus. I have asked the question more often than i care to admit, “God, what can I do during this time?” You are in control. I can’t do anything? What should I do? The answer comes back the same, Yes, God, you are in control. That phrase has turned me to continue to seek God prayerfully as I have to learn day by day to trust that he is in control. I has strengthened me To pray for family and friends; to pray for you; to pray for the people on the front lines and their families; to pray that people will come to know Jesus through this whole ordeal.

One thing we can learn during these difficult days; whatever trials you face cannot keep you from thinking of others and praying for others! Paul continues his effective ministry even though his body is held captive. He prays for the people in Philippi, and he instructs the church in Philippi.

What does he pray? It’s there in verses 9-11, in chapter 1. He prays that the church in Philippi will be able to discern what is best for them, that they would be pure and blameless, and that they would be filled with the good fruit that is in keeping with a proper relationship with Jesus Christ. Lets read verses 9-11…

2. God’s Priorities

After praying for the well-being of the people in Philippi, Paul sets to the task of teaching in verses 12 through 18. He wants us to learn how to live as if God is in control. We do this by taking God’s view of things and by taking on God’s priorities. Paul tells the Philippians that although there are people outside of prison who are trying to make life worse for Paul while inside prison, Paul is actually pleased with the way things are. It may seem crazy, but there were people who thought that by continuing to preach the gospel in public, and by making money from preaching the gospel, that the authorities would make life even more difficult for Paul. That means those people outside were preaching the gospel from false motives. You would think Paul would be upset, or at the very least critical. But he is not.

Paul says that his situation is turning out for the advancement of the gospel. We might say that Paul is “Gospel-Centric.” He rejoices that the good news is being preached whether from good motives for ill motives. The gospel is more important than his reputation or his personal comfort. He understands his imprisonment is for the sake of the gospel and does not ask, “Why is this happening to me?” Instead he understands that God is in control.

Now, it’s easy to agree with a simple religious statement like “God is in control.” But the result of saying God is in control is that I am NOT in control. It’s actually liberating to realize that we are not in control. This is a joyful submission to the will of God. God is in control even beyond the nasty motives other people. This is how Paul viewed his circumstances. How do we view ours?

Sometimes we are surrounded by people who operate from ill motives or just plain ol’ meanness. I think our natural reaction would be to cry out to God and ask Him to intervene. “God,” we might pray. “Stop these people from trying to harm me or trying to profit from religion.” But no! Paul simply rejoices that God’s priorities are being accomplished.

How about us? Could we find joy in the middle of our difficulties or trials if we hyad the assurance that God’s priorities were happening? This is a call to a deeper maturity in Christ. It is a call to the kind of maturity that acknowledges the fact that our comfort and our safety are not the highest good in the earth. No. God’s kingdom is the highest priority, and Paul demonstrates that his priorities align with God’s priorities. When our priorities align with God’s, the result is peace and joy. Whether we are in prison or free we can experience peace and joy. Whether relationships, or work, or finances are going well or are going poorly, we can find peace and joy when we align our priorities with God’s priorities. You see, Paul was not merely teaching the church in Philippi. He is also teaching us, Make God’s priorities your priorities. What are God’s priorities? To Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, and with all your soul. And, Love your neighbor as yourself.

When we think of the needs we may have during this time, try thinking of the needs others may have and ask, How can I be a helpful servants for God. We’ll talk more about that next week.

3. Trust God for the Outcome Priority on God’s plan...

In verses 19 through 26, Paul says something very unusual and a little mysterious. He says that what has happened will turn out for his deliverance. In other words, Paul’s faith that God is in control is expressed in terms of outcomes, not events. The events did not look promising for Paul. But Paul looks beyond the events toward the outcome. And he concludes that the outcome will be glorious.

Whether in his day or in ours, here are the verifiable facts: sorrow, sickness, and suffering are at large in the world. But God shows His glory by bringing outcomes that are greater than any sorrow, any sickness, or any suffering. He will do the same as a result of this pandemic. We may not know the details, but we can rest assured God has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

In this first chapter of Philippians, we also see that Paul was not even concerned about his own personal outcome. He says, “I can die and be with Jesus or I can live, which will mean even more fruitful ministry later in my life.” Paul does not see his life as something to be preserved, but rather as something to be spent in the service of God’s kingdom.

How do we look at our lives? Why should we be afraid of death? It would only mean that we would be with Jesus. The sooner, the better! Or if we live, our lives are an opportunity to co-labor with God to bring blessings to others!

4. “Receive Suffering”

Finally, in verses 27 through 30, the Bible teaches us we can learn how to live as if God is in control by receiving and suffering as something that is sometimes granted by God to the community of faith. Please hear me: no one should go looking for suffering. No one should bring harm to themselves or act foolishly or irresponsibly. Instead, we order our lives in the way God teaches us to. But if suffering comes as a result of our way of life, and if our way of life is pleasing to God, we should learn how to submit to the will of God even in suffering.

In these last verses, Paul teaches us that we go through whatever happens-together. It's an expression not only of our individual confidence, but our confidence as one people. Nearly any pastor can tell you that churches grow stronger spiritually and become stronger during times of trouble. It is a community dynamic: the church comes together when things are tough. Paul actually says that the Philippians’ unified, bold response to difficulties, is a sign of the kingdom of God! Paul says something that we do not hear quoted very often: “For it has been granted to you not only to believe, to suffer for him.” The “you” in this verse is plural, not singular. Paul is saying, “You have seen me suffer while I was there with you in Philippi. Now I’m going through it again, and so are you!” The Philippians used Paul’s imprisonment as a chance for the community to express their love and support for him.

How can we live as if God is in Control? By faith, truly believing that he is. Our faith is expressed through Praise to God and prayer for one another; We grow and mature as we learn to Prioritize God’s priorities during times of trouble; We learn to trust that God is in control and we are not; we learn that He has a plan.

We may not see the whole picture but God does. And finally, let me remind you, trials are meant to “Go through,” not to stay in. Some people like to think that when we are going through trials we are not following God or we are not in his will. This may be true from time to time. However, as we learn to live a godly life, we will discover that even in times of success, there will be trials and trouble, meant to strengthen us and draw us closer to God.

Individually—and as a community—we can demonstrate that God is in control by living as if God is in control. Our actions become the message. Our lives—individually and corporately—become the Good News. We can demonstrate to the watching world that we confidently believe God is in control.

Next week we will look at Philippians chapter 2, where we will discover that in tough times we can learn how to live as servants.