Having Joy when others seek your pain (2)
Notes
Transcript
Learn to Give God glory at all times
Learn to Give God glory at all times
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.
First, Look for the Good that can come from a bad situation.
First, Look for the Good that can come from a bad situation.
Paul is looking at the good that is working in his current situation. Remember now Paul is in prison for preaching the gospel. Yet, the very thing he is in prison for he continues to do and sees fruit from this work. Paul is like Jeremiah.
9 But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!
Paul is compelled to preach this gospel. He sees the gospel to be good and he sees the good in this bad situation.
Paul sees the benefit of the Gospel
Paul sees the benefit of the Gospel
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.
Paul’s boldness in prison makes strong the those who are free to not be ashamed of the gospel.
The other believers here speak God’s message without fear because of Paul’s boldness.
Your faith in God can encourage others.
Your faith in God can encourage others.
Paul’s faith in the gospel made others bold and confident.
You too can make others bold and confident by leading by example.
Second Focus on the Good more than the bad!
Second Focus on the Good more than the bad!
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.
Do not put too much energy in negativity…it’s draining!
Do not put too much energy in negativity…it’s draining!
Notice Paul points out the positive first. He finds Joy in those who are preaching Christ without fear.
He does acknowledge the ones who are doing it for envy, strife.
He also wants to point out that others are doing it from good will.
Paul sees the latter to preach out of love because they know Paul is defending the gospel.
Paul sees the latter to preach out of love because they know Paul is defending the gospel.
You can see how Pau gains energy from focusing on the positive and sees partners in the proclaiming of the gospel.
Paul could be disturbed and distraught over the former who preach in pretense (impure motives).
Paul choses to focus on those who do so in truth!
Rejoice in Christ when others are operating contrary.
Rejoice in Christ when others are operating contrary.
Paul’s joy in the Lord can not be defeated. This joy Paul has is because of his confidence in the Lord. Trusting in the Lord should give us confidence, hope and joy.
Confidence in knowing that whatever we face God will defend us and deliver us.
Hope in that God will give us strength because he is hope our promise of eternal life.
Joy is because death does not defeat us, because Jesus has give us victory over death.
Therefore, turn to God for your deliverance!
Therefore, turn to God for your deliverance!
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. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. 20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.
For I know This...
For I know This...
What is this?
What is this?
This is whatever adverse circumstances you are dealing with. So whatever you are experiencing I encourage you to turn to God for your deliverance.
Pray to God and solicit others to be in prayer with you.
Seek to know the power of God in your life that is able to deliver you.
Paul knows that the Spirit of Jesus will help him and deliver him.
Paul knows that the Spirit of Jesus will help him and deliver him.
We are in troubling times and we have to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. The enemy is seeking to steal, kill and destroy. We need to seek the Lord and preach this gospel to see lives changed and others encouraged to speak truth int the face of power. Now is the time to stand for what is right and speak life. We can not allow to enemy to drain our energy as we focus on what does not matter. We must seek the kingdom and do kingdom things. Let us be like Paul and focus on what matters.