Untitled Sermon (6)

There is always a situation that requires action, especially for Christians. Sometimes it is a personal challenge such as cancer. I am a cancer survivor, and as such, my fellow workers, family, friends, and the church I served looked at how this Christian would face the biggest challenge of his life. (Looking back, I wish that has been the biggest challenge I have faced in my life.) There are other times when the challenge may be more widespread, involving many more people, Christians, and non-Christians. As we are aware, we are all amid a PANDEMIC. I believe we are all familiar with the term and the various responses from dread and fear to “I do not see a problem.”

Early Christians historically were reported that in the 2nd century faced a severe pandemic that likely killed as many as 60 to 70 million people. Eventually, this was a contributing factor to the fall of the Roman Empire. At first, Christians were blamed for the pandemic, but as the tide of popular opinion turned against Rome, the blame shifted away from Christians. Christians took it upon themselves to care for the sick provide food, water, and other assistance. The actions of the first Christians laid the groundwork for the spread of Christianity. The plague was the Antonine Plague. The same actions followed suit with the Cyprian Plague of the third century, and even in the middle ages, the Bubonic plague in Europe. Now in the 21st century, there is another global pandemic. We know what we as a church need to do. How will history report the church’s response to the crisis? I believe that history will repeat itself at some point, and Christians will be seen as stepping up and attending to the problem.

Here comes a question for us locally, how will we as Christians in 2021 respond to the pandemic. Some of us have been significantly affected, and there has been little effect on others. We have members of our community who live in fear and face extreme anxiety over the situation. How will this congregation respond to our community and our neighbors?

Examine our text

Philippians 1.12-18

Just like Paul, in all situations, we will teach the Gospel.

12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the Gospel,

13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,

14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from goodwill;

16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Gospel;

17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.

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

Yes, and I will rejoice,

Take notice in verse 12 what Paul says about his imprisonment “my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the Gospel.” The greater progress of the Gospel is what this is all about…

As a church, we know what to do, share the good news of Jesus. What are ways we can do this task? Over the years, I have seen people demand that the people they were trying to serve before they would bring relief had to listen to a sermon first. Then they would get help. That is wrong thinking.

What do we do?

· See that our shut-ins have their groceries.

· Make sure people get to the doctor if needed.

· If the church has a virtual church, make sure our people without internet access can have a way to connect with others.

· Phone calls, through-the-door visits.

In the presence of current circumstances, our purpose is to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the calling of Christ. (If we believe our world has gone down the tubes.) When someone asks us why we are presenting ourselves in the way we are, despite being tired, scared, or discouraged, we will confidently say that helping you is for God’s glory and your benefit.

As we look at our text and think over the situation Paul describes, let us bring it into our time and try and imagine how we would be visiting with Paul and getting direction from him on how we would deal with the crisis we see facing the church today.

We need to start with the end in mind. In other words, with the result and how it is, we have arrived at the result. Paul said that Christ is proclaimed, and we need to be excited. How do we get there?

The goal is for everyone we contact to hear, see, or feel the Gospel displayed in our lives. That goal has been achieved through seeing the love of Jesus demonstrated. A product has been to see lives changed.

Illustration:

Most of us have faced challenges that have been difficult to get around at one time or another. However, think about Paul’s immediate situation. Some in the modern church have possibly found themselves in dire circumstances. We are faced with choices either stop functioning altogether or pick up and step forward and work through the challenge. I have been leading a recovery group recently. The participants in the group most are veterans who have faced many challenges and are now having to make new life-changing choices. The goal will be to replace challenges (Paul in prison) with new events that turn the table. Paul pointed out that his disastrous situation has been an exciting boost for the church’s work with visible changes in the church at Phillipi.

We will see that many of the opportunities we face will have the same type of application. Just do it. As Christians, we should come together and brainstorm a response to our challenges. I had a boss in the Army who told me on several occasions that the final result will be that we have come up with a reasonable plan of action, and the results will be measurable. Do more than talk about it.

Moving forward is difficult at times, especially when we have extreme challenges during these difficult times. Churches are challenged with an inability to meet together. Some of our people may be quarantined many will be scared. As a church, we have an opportunity within our community to show the love of Jesus.

The willing Christ-follower will eagerly live the Christian life, and part of living the Christian life will be overcoming their fear and moving forward.

Our explanation should be pretty self-explanatory. Most of the time, it only takes someone to take the first step and find a way we as a local church can make a difference by living a Christian example in the presence of the local community. The result will be seeing people following the example of assisting others as the activity is claimed in the name of Jesus.

In Harrison, a small church essentially was a missionary project. The congregation was not growing, so it eventually was decided by those who were giving the mission support that the support money could be put to better use somewhere else. The work being done was not apparent to those supporting this small congregation. The church operates one of the most active food pantries in the community. Despite efforts to discourage their ministry, it continues to make a lasting impact on the community. After speaking with their minister, I learned they provide food and other necessities for over 1,000 people each month.

Same as before, if we decide we will not allow the challenges to overtake us as a congregation, we will glorify the work of the Kingdom of God.

Here is where the plan starts to get feet and grow. Here comes one of the areas that may impact the church the most, finding an opportunity for service and doing it, and glorifying God. Remember the Christians from the early days, which, despite claims against them, worked and God was glorified, and the church grew.

Since the goal is always to share the Gospel with others, being creative may become necessary for that to happen. At times we need to get innovative and find ways to make things happen, just as the church mentioned earlier did in their community.

Christ-followers should not forget their first love but should continue to live a life that shows Christ’s influence and share the Gospel along the way. Forgetting their first love was an issue with Ephesus church as John related from Jesus in Revelation.

Jesus, in his farewell address, told the apostles that we would come alongside people and introduce them to Jesus to teach them and baptize them and teach them some more about the Kingdom. (Matthew 28).

In one part of the Great Commission, Jesus told His followers, “go therefore and make disciples.” The concept behind this is to come alongside and change their lives. We should do no different.

How good are we at coming alongside someone else and changing their lives?

Throughout this message, there has been a line of thinking that we will have challenges. Challenges are good. They provide an opportunity to learn to be innovative and imagine new ways to serve when there are what we see as insurmountable challenges.

It is extremely easy to get tangled up to get our good intentions wrapped around the axle; if you have ever done farming with old equipment, when weeds start getting tangled up in the axle of the equipment, everything starts to slow down and may eventually stop. Then it has to be untangled. Our good intentions are just that, but they are not always the best workable intentions.

Even if we share the Gospel for the wrong reason, the Gospel will continue. It is resilient.

There will always be people who will do the right thing for the wrong reason. Those preaching and serving for the right reason can always build on the truth. God will never allow a chance to share the Good News to go to waste.

Now is the time we stop preaching and go to meddling. This type of preaching is uncomfortable. It requires us to stand up for what we believe and know is correct and proper to God’s Word.

· Regardless of the opposition, stand up and proclaim God’s Word.

· No matter what, Christ is proclaimed, rejoice, and do not be discouraged.

· God always has a way of working things out. Even a pandemic will never stop us from spreading the Gospel. God remains faithful. God always wins.

Application is always about results. How do we make something happen? We make things happen by doing, not by sitting around and talking about them. To quote the Star Wars philosopher Yoda. Do or do not. There is no try.

The point is about concluded. What is not concluded is how everything plays out. As a church, we can change people’s lives. More importantly, as an individual, I believe we can change lives.

Most of us have our personal challenges getting our life on track. It happens. Getting back on track is not easy most of the time. What about putting your relationship with Jesus in order first. Some two thousand years ago, people in the city of Jerusalem were confronted by their sin resulting in the crucifixion of Jesus. Have you ever had something cut right to the quick and get your attention? When these people were confronted with their circumstances, Acts 2.37 says they were cut to the heart, cried out, and asked what we needed to do to get our lives back? Peter had an answer for them:

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”

41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

The goal is for the lost to see Jesus and come into a saved relationship with Him. Despite the challenges facing us, there can be significant changes for the Kingdom. Here is the hard part. Sometimes what people do not see is the change in your life to lead the way.

The action plan is to do something, to reach the people for the Kingdom, we must remember to give God credit. There will be many times when results may not be available for years.