INTRODUCTION
.SLIDE #1
How many times do we let things cause us to focus in on the difficult times of life?
We see war, murder, theft, and other bad things along with job uncertainties, families falling apart among other things.
There is so much going on around us that is ugly it can be hard at times to remember that life is beautiful.
We can look around us and see beauty; look at the majesty of the mountains! I wake up each day and see beauty when I look at my wife.
We see beauty in nature. If you have never been to Yellowstone National Park, you will see some things that will just put in you a state of awe.
I see beauty in my daughters and in my grandchildren.
There are times that the world seems to beat us down that we fail to see the beauty of life.
Life is too short to let everything ruin our lives; life is too short to allow circumstances and people to make us see life in a bad light.
Life becomes a chore instead of a pleasure.
As Christians, it is of the utmost importance for others to see that we enjoy life.
We will never win people to a Jesus who makes our lives sad and miserable.
Today, I want us to focus in on the forth chapter of the book of Philippians. We are going to look at verses 4-9 together as we look at how we can see life as being beautiful.
SLIDE #2
SERMON
Life is beautiful when we can:
I. REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS. (V4-5)
Let us look at verses 4-5 now to see what God is telling us.
SLIDE #3
Philippians 4:4-5(ESV) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
This can be difficult to do because we are told to rejoice in the LORD ALWAYS!
Paul is in prison when he writes this.
Our outward circumstances do NOT have to control our inner joy.
Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him.
Paul faced false teachers, severe people problems, and threats of death, yet several times in this letter, he urged the Philippians to be joyful, probably because they needed to hear this.
When you start to find yourself being about to have joy in your heart when the outward circumstances would tell you not to, you are starting to see that life is beautiful!
You know you serve a BIG God.
Do you remember the story of David and Goliath?
When Goliath was challenging the nation of Israel to send out a warrior to settle the fight man to man, the nation saw a how big Goliath was and thought they served a small God.
David by comparison saw how Big God was and Goliath looked small in comparison.
When you serve a BIG God, your problems are not so terrible because you know God is bigger and He can help you.
Paul did not call believers to an empty, put-on show of happiness, for Christians should not be insensitive to the sorrow of others; he called for genuine joy, which is possible only in the Lord.¨
It is only through a believer’s relationship with God that he or she finds joy even in pain, suffering, persecution, and sorrow. (Life Application Bible)
Joy is not always visible, but our gentle spirit will become evident as we deal with people.
We are motivated to joy and gentleness by remembering that their Lord is near. This "nearness¨ refers not to his presence in their hearts, but rather to the nearness¨ of the Second Coming.
The promise of the second coming motivates us to act as though we know He is going to return.
SLIDE #4
The second thing we can do in order to see that life is beautiful is to control our anxieties.
Life is beautiful when we can:
II. CONTROL OUR ANXIETIES. (V6-7)
This is something that is VERY hard for some people. I know people who get anxious over EVERYTHING even down to what they are going to wear the next day.
Let us see what verses 6-7 tell us.
SLIDE #5
Philippians 4:6-7(ESV) 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Be anxious for nothing. YEAH RIGHT!
Attitudes of joy and gentleness, combined with constant awareness of Christ¡¦s return, should dispel any worry.
How can we possibly do this?
In Matthew 6;25-34 Jesus tells us not to worry about things in life, each day has enough challenges without adding worry to that list.
SLIDE #6
Matthew 6:33-34(ESV) 33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
If we are seeking God’s will, then we have nothing to worry about.
When our lives are chalked full of anxiety, it will tear you up inside.
The key to dispelling anxiety is to be focused on God and who He is. When you are carrying out God’s will, He will be there for you even when you do not feel it.
When we start to feel anxious, the passage encourages us to take it to God.
Nothing is too big or small for Him.
Have you noticed when the drug companies are pushing a new drug they list a bunch of side affects. EXAMPLES.
There is a side affect for those who take it to God.
Verse 7 tells us that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts.
The word translated "guard" is a military term that means to surround and protect a garrison or city. The Philippians, living in a garrison town, were familiar with the Roman guards who maintained watch, guarding the city from any outside attack.
When your heart is being guarded by God; that is something that can help us to realize how beautiful life is.
The third area I want us to consider is one that will do wonders for us if we will do it.
SLIDE #7
Focus on the beautiful things of life.
Life is beautiful when we can:
III. FOCUS ON THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OF LIFE. (V8)
I am not just speaking of the physically beautiful things around us in life, I am speaking of something deeper. Let’s look at verse 8.
SLIDE #8
Philippians 4:8(ESV) 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
This is a nice list of items to dwell on. Notice the end of the verse encourages us to THINK on these things.
Faith is centered in the human thought process; in its values and view of life.
What you think on or dwell on is what you focus on.
How many of us always think of the worst things that can happen in every situation?
What you dwell on affects how you act. This is the garbage in garbage out principle.
Many of the things we see and hear eventually affect what we do.
Let’s spend some time looking at what we need to focus on thoughts on.
Whatever is true,
Truth includes facts and statements that are (1) in accordance with reality; (2) sincere; and (3) genuine. Truth is a characteristic of God.
Whatever is honorable,
These matters are worthy of respect, dignified, and exalted in character or excellence. Movies used to extol the virtue of honor. If a person did things that were not honorable, you knew in the end they would suffer the consequences.
Whatever is right,
Thoughts and plans that are right (or "just") meet God’s standards of rightness. They are in keeping with the truth; they are righteous.
Whatever is pure,
Pure means free from contamination or blemish; these thoughts are unmixed and unmodified; they are wholesome. Paul probably was speaking of moral purity.
It is so hard to focus in on pure thoughts when we are inundated with what the enlightened society is offering to us in the entertainment field.
Here is a hint for you with music. The lower the level of talent, the skimpier the clothing the "artist" wears.
Whatever is lovely,
Thoughts of great moral and spiritual beauty, not of evil.
It could be translated "sweet", gracious, generous,or patient. Believers must focus their thoughts on what the Bible says is pleasing, attractive, and amiable before God. (MacArthur Jr.)
Whatever is of good repute,
Good repute describes what is highly regarded or well thought of.
It refers to things that speak well of the thinker thoughts that recommend, give confidence in, afford approval or praise, reveal positive and constructive thinking.
A believer’s thoughts, if heard by others, should be commendable, not bad.
The verse finishes by letting us know that anything that reflects these things are worthy of our thoughts and focus.
Can you imagine how different your life can be if you would focus on these things. Your thought life can either build you up or destroy you.
The beauty of life is all a matter of perspective.
SLIDE #9
The last thing we are going to look at that can make life beautiful is the concept of passing it on.
Life is beautiful when we can:
IV. PASS IT ON. (V9)
How many times has your day been changed by a smile? I believe joy can be infectious.
When you start to see the beauty in life, you will want to share that beauty with others.
Let’s look at verse 9.
SLIDE #10
Philippians 4:9(ESV) 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
If we want to maintain a positive outlook on life, we must continually work on the things Paul shares with us.
Look at the progression, Paul learned, then he displayed and others learned from him.
We have the GREATEST thing in the world to pass on to people.
CONCLUSION
What is the difference between life being beautiful and life being a burden? It is a matter of perspective.
If we spend all our time dwelling on the evil and negative, we will see life in that light.
If we think the worst of people, we will get the worst.
Folks, we have one life to live on this earth before we meet our maker.
How are you going to view your life, how are you going to live it, in sadness and negativity or are you going to treasure your life and all the beauty that surrounds you.
See the beauty in life, embrace it and enjoy it.
True beauty in life is found in Jesus. Are you ready to experience that beauty today?
As we are now in a New Year, let us go into this new year knowing the Life is Beautiful!
