Rejoicing Through Circumstances

How do you respond to crisis? (Your own, or another’s)

Can you “progress” the Gospel in the midst of it, and through it? Ever really thought about that?

Easy to find crisis, to recall circumstances. How we respond depends on our attitude. Our attitude depends on our reliance on Christ.

1) Circumstances

Paul’s - Roman prison, test case for legality of Christian message (not yet illegal) How far could they go with prosecuting him?

In Rome, Paul is aware of Roman church and disunity

He assumes Philippian church is different, that they would be

V. 19 - He’s also responding to their gift, he knows they have been helping him

He is eager to report to them, because they support him (ASIDE: Our missions recipients should report to us, in true missions spirit)

Bible “Heroes” - and their circumstances

Paul- discussed

Stephen - tried and martyred for faith

David - threatened, chased, family, enemies, because he had a heart for the Lord

Jeremiah - preached the truth, harsh as it was, to a rebellious treatment

Job - faithful to the Lord, unaware of the test he was allowed to endure

Ruth - widowed, vulnerable, despairing

Hannah - faithful, and childless; mocked, ridiculed

Anna - faithful for decades; elderly, never stopped talking about Jesus

YOU - what circumstances are you facing?

Do they try your faith?

Tempting to say: “Why am I here? Why is this happening to me?

How have you responded? How are your responding? How would you like to respond?

QUESTION (to repeat later): What could God have for me, or have for me to do, in this situation?

Is the bad situation worth it, if Christ can be shared?

2) Attitude

Key point to remember: God can redeem ANY adverse circumstances.

REM: Rom 8:28

No matter what, the Gospel can move forward, be progressed.

Attitudes and responses of our Bible “Heroes”

Stephen

Acts 7:59 NASB95

They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!”

David

Psalm 118:24 NASB95

This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Jeremiah

Lamentations 3:22–23 NASB95

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

Job

Job 19:25 NASB95

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.

Ruth

Ruth 1:16 NASB95

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

Hannah

1 Samuel 1:10 NASB95

She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.

Anna (served faithfully, fasting, praying)

Luke 2:38 NASB95

At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Paul

Philippians 1:18 NASB95

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Paul stated: as long as the Gospel progresses, I can be joyful

People shred Christ out of envy, to be more special, more prominent, for wealth...

(What about) YOU?

All these people…God found them, sought them out, and He does that to everyone. John 12:32

They responded to Him, knowing it would not be easy - that is the proper response to God, and the saving work of Christ!

Their circumstances did not affect their attitude toward Jesus!

Jesus said

Matthew 5:12 NASB95

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

He tells us to do what Paul, and David, and.... do! REJOICE!

All these people, their circumstances were brought about in the middle of their faithfulness to God - (consequences for sin are different)

Notice: God did not help them and THEN they rejoiced! They already knew He was good, no matter the immediate circumstance

They could only respond with joy, because of their relationship with God - trusting in His promises

You can only respond with JOY if you have Jesus - anything else is a cheap substitute

QUESTIONS - TO CHALLENGE US

1) Is your bad circumstance worth it, if Christ is shared? Are you willing to undergo and endure something unpleasant or unpopular, if the cause of Christ can be progressed?

Really, is the cause of Christ important enough for you?

LOOK at who Paul intersects, because of his circumstance! Because of his response to Christ, and his surrender to HIM! (the root reason he’s there)

Officials, guards, soldiers, prisoners…the emperor!

He never would have met them if he wasn’t there

2) What opportunities do your circumstances present? (Ever think of that in the middle of a crisis or unpleasant event?) CAN YOU DARE TO HOPE IN GOD?

ILLLUST:

My call to STAC (conv. with David)

cross-cultural issue, unpleasant place to be and work

AND WE TALKED CHRIST - “What job did you do before this?” How did you know you wanted to be a pastor?

“I’m a good person, try to do the right thing...” I shared a tract

Conversation with suicidal lady

I passed a call and this one came up 5 minutes later

She said God hates her for this

I explained ho God had me come talk to her - NO DOUBT

There are people who need the gospel, and they need to hear it from YOU. And when you find yourself in a “yucky” spot, realize that God needs you there to be HIS WITNESS!

Acts 1:8 NASB95

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

CHALLENGE: Preach the gospel when circumstances are tough

Easy to do that when the circumstances are great - easy to love those who are easy to love. Easy to feel good about Jesus when life is very good.

God allows the “bad” - He allows choice

Jesus demands that we trust HIM, in all circumstances, and not just expect or demand “pleasant” times

Prayer on Twitter: “You will receive a financial blessing this month!” What???

This is a substitute for trusting Jesus

And…what if losing everything is the “blessing?’

POINT, regarding circumstances and responding attitude?

Q - What does it take for God to get our attention?

Q - How much of your present circumstance is due to living a life for Christ?

Q - Are you afraid of making some choices, because they might seem unpopular

Q - Why am I here? What could God have for me to do for Him in this situation?

PLAN AHEAD

Choose the response you have to God - be compelled to live for Him

Rehearse - plan for “bad” (don’t cause it) - and CHOOSE!

See Christ in the worst circumstance

Have to know Him

Need to be following and surrendered

Then you’ll remember

Jesus thought the worst possible circumstance was worth it for you!

Paul responds with JOY - He had Jesus. Do you? If so, you, too, can respond to ANYthing, with JOY. ANYTHING