TITLE: Rejoice, He is Coming
INTRODUCTION:
The United States is a diverse nation, and the more we can understand its diversity, the better we can reach others for Christ.
There are people here from all over the world. That is a blessing, but it can also be a challenge. Especially when we are trying to keep the nation together. Today’s society is characterized by divisions, segregation, and disunity. These divisions are the cause for lack of peace in the hearts of people. But how can we maintain peace and joy in a world full of hatred, war and instability.
In chapter four of the letter to the Philippians the apostle Paul presents a series of exhortations to the church in Philipi, and in this chapter we find 5 counsels or lessons to the Philipians that could help us have peace and unity as wait for the second coming of Jesus.
Text: PHILIPIANS 4:1-9
Because
THEME: “The Hope in the Second Coming of Jesus Gives us Peace”
The first lesson:
1. STAND FIRM: (Persevere) Dont’t let them move you. Phil. 4:1
“Therefore, my beloved and longed_for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved”.
What does it mean to stand firm, what is Paul trying to tell this people and why is he telling them to stand firm? In chapter 1:27 he gives them the same exhortation stand firm. In other words persevere” you know the time have come in which what can be shaken will be shaken. The devil is ready to shake people out of the church. Jesus warn Peter: “the devil have asked to shake you’” but I have pray for you
Luke 22:31-31 “And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." I have been in this church for more than 30 years and I have seen a lot of beautiful people coming in and beginning the wonderful journey with Jesus. But sadly and have also seen many fall by the wayside. It never ceases to amaze me how people leave the church for the most trivial things. “I came to church and nobody said hello to me therefore I don’t belong there.”
In the book of Revelation when the six seal is open a question is asked: "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" Rev. 6:17
Ilus/Aplication. I met a young girl who was brought up in the church, had all the advantages of christian home, loving father and mother. But she wanted to experiement the world. She wanted to have more freedom than what her parents were given her and so she came to NY and as she try to board train- subway somebody pushed into an incoming train, she felt and the tracks and was drag by the train about several yards from where she had fallen. It was a miracle that she survive, but her two legs had to be amputated and she was no able to walk again. It was an that hospital bed that she understood the love of God and the priviledge of being a Christian.
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Some people worried about the judgement if they are going to make through the judgement. But when you give your life to Jesus you don’t need to worry about your salvation, because:
The Hope in the Second Coming of Jesus Gives us Peace
The second lesson
2. UNITY- Agree with one another== Phil. 4:2
“I plead with Euodia and I Plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.”
I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
The lesson here is for unity in the body. Unity amongst members. Paul is saying here please agree to agree. To be at variance with one another is incongruent with the Christian life. Christ taught his disciples about unity his pastoral prayer found in John 17 calls for his disciples to be one in the Lord. Euodia and Syntiche had a problem. I do not know what the nature of the problem was but it was serious enough to drive these two dear ladies apart. They were divided, at odds with one another. And Paul said to them, sisters this cannot be please reconcile your differences in the Lord. The name Euodia means “prosperous Journey” and Syntiche means Pleasant Acquaintance or Good luck” and so I imagine that one day Syntiche sayd to Euodia have a prosperous journey and Euodia answer back “good luck”. And so they departed from one another. Now this women were leaders in the church. They were dedicated christians they were committed to the work of the gospel, preaching with the apostol Paul and he tells them. Please Euodia and Sintiche can you please kiss and make up. Phil. 2:4. A few years ago I read an interesting story.,,,
Ilustration: I read the story of nine special people participating in the Seattle Olympics.
And they call some of these people "retarded"...
A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt,tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry.
The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around went back... every one of them! One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and
> said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why?
> Because deep down we know one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.
> Ilustration:
Ilustration:
Few months ago I was in El Paso holding an evangelistic meeting and the young people were serving dinner to the mothers being that it was mother’s day. I was seating in a chair watching what was going on and right in front a four year old girl push a two year old boy who felt on the floor and started crying I pick him up and try to make him feel better, but he kept crying and so I call the little girl and say do you have something to say to him? Something like sorry, then she say sorry, and gave him a kiss on the cheeks. Would you forgive me? Uhmhu! And jump out of my laps and started playing with the little girl again as if nothing had happen.
No wonder Jesus say: If you don’t become like children you can not enter the kingdom of heaven.
> El paso
The third lesson
3. REJOICE IN THE LORD===
Phi. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
The third exhortation of the apostol Paul here is to rejoice in the Lord. Have fun in the Lord. I believe that we should the happiest people on earth. Don’t you think? I mean with have everything. We have Jesus and we have a hope that very few people have. Paul is saying here enjoy what you do in the Lord. The church should not be a boring church no even if it is located the boring town. The devil will try to take your smile off your face, but don’t let him.
Ilustration/aplication
The little girl walking to school in the middle of a thunder storm, stoping, looking up and smiling. Mother ask what are doing? I am trying to look pretty for God, he is taking my picture. As we face the storms of life let us not forget to smile.
“The Hope in the Second Coming of Jesus Gives us Peace”
The fourth lesson
4. BE GENTLE IN THE LORD==
“Let your gentleness be evident to all”... Phil. 4:5
What does it mean to be gentle? Was Jesus gentle. Was he a gentleman. Well sure he was. To be gentle in the greek means “to yield”. What happens when two vehicle approach an interception and none of the two want to yield? Well you will have a collision. Right? What happens when two opinionated persons argue and none want to yield? There is a collision. Pual saids this cannot be brothers and sister. We need to learn to yield. Be gentle with one another.
Be gentle with one another.
Ilustration:
A little girl pray this prayer: God, please help the bad people to be good and the good people to be nice.
The fifth lesson
5. PRAY IN THE LORD==
Phil. 4:5 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
“Don’t be anxious for nothing”
Anxiety and prayer are opposites. God wants us to present our problems and cares to him in prayer and thanksgiving. Verse 7
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” I like the way the bible version the Message puts it:
6Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 7Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
CONCLUSION:
Why this exhortations, why are we to persevere, to seek unity, to rejoice in the Lord to be gentle with one another and to pray? Why? The answer is found in Chapter 3:20-21
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself”. We thank God because the hope in the second coming of Jesus gives us peace.
