Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Good morning, family! Today we are going to dive into the often overlooked, but incredibly powerful, letter of Paul to the Philippians. Our focus is going to be on chapter 1, verses 12-30. This passage, my friends, is all about living with joyful confidence, having a Kingdom mindset, and maintaining a Gospel focus.
The renowned Christian author, C.S. Lewis once wrote, "Joy is the serious business of Heaven." You see, joy isn't just an afterthought, it's not just a nice bonus to our Christian walk, it is serious business. It's a gift from God, one that we should strive to live out every day.
Living with joyful confidence is a concept that is deeply rooted in the Christian faith. It's not about a fleeting happiness that is dependent on our circumstances, but rather a deep-seated joy that is rooted in our relationship with Christ. This joy gives us the confidence to face whatever comes our way, knowing that we are not alone, and that our God is bigger than any challenge we may face.
A. Joyful confidence is not about denying the reality of our circumstances. It's not about pretending that everything is fine when it's not. It's about acknowledging our circumstances, but choosing to focus on the bigger picture - the eternal perspective. It's about knowing that our current trials are temporary, but our relationship with Christ is eternal. This perspective allows us to face our trials with joy and confidence, knowing that they are not the end of our story.
B. Living with joyful confidence also involves trusting in God's promises. The Bible is filled with promises that God has made to His people. Promises of His presence, His love, His provision, His guidance, and so much more. When we choose to trust in these promises, we can live with joyful confidence, knowing that God is faithful and He will fulfill His promises.
C. Joyful confidence is also about living with a sense of purpose. When we know who we are in Christ and what He has called us to do, we can live with a sense of purpose and direction. This gives us the confidence to make decisions, to take risks, and to step out in faith, knowing that we are living in line with God's will for our lives.
D. Living with joyful confidence is not something that happens overnight. It's a journey, a process of growing and maturing in our faith. It involves daily surrender to God, daily time in His Word, and daily prayer. It involves choosing joy, even when our circumstances are challenging. It involves choosing to trust in God's promises, even when we can't see how they will be fulfilled. It involves choosing to live with purpose, even when the path ahead is unclear.
Living with a Kingdom mindset is an integral part of our Christian walk ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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