Still Training

Opening Story

At the beginning of the year, I preached on training in Godliness.WIth COVID I was thrown off track but that is a horrible excuse. We all do it, we all stumble, get thrown off track, even get knocked down. But praise God that is not where the story has to end.

Question

How do we all struggle with this? We get discouraged. We get angry and upset but what should we do about it.

Text

What does the Bible say about this?

Philippians 4:4 CSB

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

If we are going to start somewhere, this is a great place to start.

Start with rejoicing in the Lord. Praise His Holy Name. Rejoice = Joice again. Do it over and over. As followers of Christ, we should be the most joyful and kind people on the planet.

Philippians 4:5 CSB

Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Let your politics be known to everyone?

Let your wisdom be known to everyone?

Let your attitude be known to everyone?

Our graciousness should be part of our reputation.

By displaying graciousness toward all people - believers and unbelievers alike - Christians reveal the gospel’s power to transform and reconcile.“The Lord is near.” Our motivation for what we must do is that the Lord is near.

Philippians 4:6 CSB

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Does this mean we are to look at life through rose-colored glasses, that we are not to face reality?

Are we to believe that sin is not real, that sickness is not real, that problems are not real? Are we to ignore these things?

No. Paul says that we are to worry about nothing because we are to pray about everything. Nothing is the most exclusive word in the English language. It leaves out everything. “Worry about nothing.” I confess that this is a commandment I sometimes break—I worry.

Philippians 4:7 CSB

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

4:7 The Greek word used here, eirēnē, conveys a range of meanings, including well-being, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, safety from harm, and deliverance from enemies.

Philippians 4:8 CSB

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.

True - Jesus is the way, the truth, the life focusing on these things brings peace.

Philippians 4:9 CSB

Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Practice what Paul practiced and we will have the peace of God. If we practice what Paul did others can see the example we are as we point to Jesus and His peace

Application

What should you do about this? What is in your life that you must stop focusing on?

Challenge

What should we all do about this? We must all focus on Christ and Christ alone.