A Healthy Outlook on Life
Philippians 4:4-7
* I begin with this well known statement, “Outlook determines Outcome.” This is not good news for many. Because these have bad attitudes, pessimistic tendencies, and generally find the bad inside the good.
* By the way, ‘if you are looking for the bad in this life, you can find it.’ Spoke to a friend of mine on Tuesday of this week. She told me of a phone call to get a reference on a pastor and, in her words; it was obvious that the caller was looking for dirt. May I offer you a couple of thoughts about this; a) If you are determined to find something, you will generally come to believe you have found it, whether in fact you have or not. In other words, the danger of a negative spirit is that you will become self-deceived. b) A negative, pessimistic, always looking for the bad ‘spirit’ doesn’t honor God & does not please Him. In fact, for the one who carries this attitude there is question about whether they walk with God or not, & c) a negative spirit is a dangerous thing. It tends to make one see the world through a fog. The world is depressing enough without you & me adding to the dilemma.
* If anyone would have reason (not excuse) to become negative, it would be Paul. Here he is sitting in a Roman jail, shackled to a Roman guard, & having a good idea that the end of his life on earth is near. And it is in this environment that Paul writes these words. Paul gives us 4 things-said:
1. Be Glad – (Verse 4) When I read the word ‘rejoice’ in scripture I am mentally always taken to scripture where I am reminded of the Wise Men in Matthew 2 seeing the staring and “REJOICING” with GREAT JOY. I am reminded in Luke 1 in the Magnificat of Mary where she sings, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Also, I am taken to the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says, “When people bully you for my sake, REJOICE and be GLAD, for did the same thing to those who came before you.” So we get to our Philippians text.
a. The Command – Paul writes to ‘rejoice’ and adds the word “always” (which means ‘no matter what!’) Might I suggest that ‘rejoice’ means that you experience joy once again? The “Joy of the Lord” is our strength (Neh) but it is also the badge we wear (Acts). Luke tells us the first century believers had gladness & sincerity. Here’s a secret; one doesn’t have to forfeit to possess the other. Paul, chained to a Praetorian Guard, still showed & wrote about “JOY”. Years earlier Paul wrote to the Galatians saying, the “Fruit of the Spirit is love, ‘joy’; & now Paul was living out this joy.
* I dare say that too many “believers” fold their arms demonstrating a deep seated unhappiness and just like Bro. Steve Hale reminded us; if a person carried unhappiness or unforgiveness within, over time it will begin to affect the looks of that person. This is why the command is to rejoice.
b. The Condition – Admittedly there is only one way to rejoice. If we set our own standards for rejoicing, then we will never get to the place of rejoicing because life is hard. If we only see through the eyes of our humanity, we will (most likely) never rejoice. However, here’s the condition Paul laid forth. He said, rejoice “IN THE LORD.” This is the way to be joyful. Consider this truth; we have many unhappy people who are ‘in the church,’ but seem to forget they are IN THE LORD. Our joy leaves us when we attempt to find our joy in choir, ss, church, or ministry. Only in Jesus is there “peace, joy, love, gentleness, etc”.
c. The Continuation - This is a big deal in the lives of most people. We can rejoice when we get saved or we recommit our lives or even when someone else gets saved. But how long does it or will it last? I submit that whether we regularly rejoice or not has a great deal of impact on our outlook on life. This is why Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS and I SAY IT AGAIN – REJOICE”. Jesus tells us “I will always be with you” and that “I will never leave or forsake you!!” What a promise to keep us joyful and joy-filled! Here’s the take-away; it is difficult to be glad if you are not talking, walking, and living in the Lord. So, what about your life?
2. Be Gracious – In verse 5 the HCSB uses the word ‘graciousness’ but this is a really interesting word. To read many translations is to get the idea of the significance of this word. It means mildness, patience, yieldingness, gentleness, reasonableness & even moderation. Dr. Macknight says it means, ‘meekness under provocation, readiness to forgive injuries, and sweetness of disposition. As I remember graciousness, it strikes me as forgiveness & compassion coupled with Christian love. It is certainly not a ‘me-first’ mentality like was seen & reported on black Friday.
a. The Expectation – It is expected that EVERY BELIEVER be gracious. This is listed as one of the fruit produced by walking in the spirit. By the way, these fruit found in Galatians are not just for the “SUPER Christian”, it is for EVERY BELIEVER!! It is expected that you and I, born-again disciples, put on this graciousness. We are to be purveyors of this behavior.
b. The Evidence – Let graciousness be ‘evident’ or ‘known’ or ‘be clear’ to all men. So here we are, once again, taking stock of the truth that our internal faith must affect our external life & influence. How can a true, authentic believer demonstrate a spirit of ungraciousness when our Lord has been so gracious to us? It impacts our life.
c. The Energy –I wanted to include this thought to give us a true ‘human’ perspective on being gracious because the culture in which we live does not make being gracious very easy. People are constantly taking advantage, being mean, and hard; and sometimes it is difficult. Just remember “The Lord is near.” He’s watching & taking notes.
3. Be Grateful – Verse 6 gives us a way to overcome the down pull of this culture and stay connected to the Father so that we can be grateful.
a. Attitude – Nothing is as uplifting as an attitude of gratitude. Instead of mulligrubbing about the bad, why not be thankful about the good. Too many have the uncanny ability to look into an opportunity & see a problem; we need more who can look into a problem and see the opportunity. Candidly, the reason we worry is because we THINK we can change things. Jesus asked the question (Matt 6), “What good does it do you to worry?” And then answered, “So why do it?” Our worrying comes from an attitudes that God is not in control, we are. And if we think we can run God’s world, we will find ourselves frustrated, worrying, and honestly, not praying. When we accept that HE is GOD, and that all creation is HIS, He runs it (and HE knows how); then it becomes our task not to manipulate (His creation) but communicate with the creator.
b. Actions – Attitude always affects your actions. Practically speaking, my attitude affects how I respond to the circumstances which life deals me.
Two frogs fell into a can of cream or so I've heard it told
The sides of the can were shiny & steep, The cream was deep & cold
"Oh, what's the use?" said No. 1, "tis fate no help's around –
Good by, my friend! Good bye, sad world!"& weep still, he drowned.
But No. 2 of sterner stuff, dog paddled in surprise,
The while he wiped his creamy face and dried his creamy eyes.
"I'll swim awhile, at least," he said or so it has been said –
"It wouldn't really help the world if one more frog was dead."
An hour or two he kicked and swam not once he stopped to mutter,
But kicked & swam, and swam &kicked, then hopped out, via butter.
* At times circumstances tell us to quit, stop, run, criticized, or any other of several human responses. When our attitude is connected to the creator via prayer, our actions take on new meaning. Instead of becoming mean or negative, we look to find God’s hand in our life. One of the ways we keep ‘kicking against the cream’ to jump out in butter is found in verse 6 where it speaks of prayer & petition with thanksgiving; making your request known to the one who can fill them. Our attitude controls much.
c. Assessment –Are you grateful? Do you actually see God’s hand in everything, SO do you give thanks for everything? Paul writes “In everything give thanks.” Being grateful leaks out of every part of one’s life just like being ‘ungrateful’ does. What about you?
4. Be Guarded – Every life needs a life guard. Actually, I suggest every life HAS a life guard of some kind. Some people guard their life with a fiery temper, others with their pride, others with their resources (always ready to buy their way out), and the list goes on and on. What guards your life? We are told to guard our hearts – because the heart is the center of us.
a. By the right peace –Let’s connect the dots; (Read verse 7) When does this happen? When our lives are guard by the right peace. In John 14, we read the words of Jesus (in the upper room) giving us the indication that there is a right & wrong peace. He says the peace I leave with you is not like the peace the world tries to give you. He then gives us the feeling that the world’s peace will leave us troubled and fearful. If someone or something is going to guard me, I want a STRONG guard. In Colossians we are told that Jesus made peace through HIS blood & in Ephesians that His peace has torn down the walls. Romans tell us that the mind-set of the spirit is peace. (Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace; I know the Peace speaker). When our lives become “IN THE LORD”, we have divine peace.
b. By the right persona – What exactly is a persona? Simply it is one image or personality. Here is a very pragmatic guard for our life. When we gain divine peace, then embrace the right things (Verse 8), our life becomes untouchable. What are the right things and how do we embrace them? Look at verse 8 and read. My question is this; do we really spend our time dwelling on the truth, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable? Do we make sure that our lives are given to moral excellence and think worthy of praise? This is a lifestyle change. People know us by what we give our lives TO. These can either protect or pervert our reputations. They can guard or gut our hearts.
c. By the right person –Look at how Paul makes a play on words. In verse 7 he begins, “And the peace of God” which sounds great, but now he speaks (Verse 9) of the God of peace.” This speaks volumes to this old preacher. If I want the right peace (the peace of God) and the right persona (of dwelling on the right things so people can see them in me), then I must do it God’s way. I have to receive God in my life as my savior AND LORD, I must hear what HE says to me, learn what He desires to teach me, and show to others HIS message. When I do these things, my life is so full of HIM that my outlook becomes my inlook which becomes my uplook which becomes my focus.
Powerpoints are available (free) if you email me....however, many of these are NOT complex ppt.
