Philippians Pt7- Prayer in Action!
Pre-introduction
On the average Americans spend $94.32 for Father’s Day and $126.90 for Mother’s Day.
I like this quote- (in light of our study of Philippians)-
None of us decide our own future; instead we decide our habits and then our habits decide our future.
Continue- Philippian Experience- convey/impart life.
COTRM Mission Statement-
Encounter God, Love People, Share Life
It all begins w/encounter w/God- a transfer of His life to us which we then pour out on others- love/share.
By way of review-
Chap 1 Joy in suffering
Chap 2 Joy in serving
Chap 3 Joy in believing
Chap 4 Joy in the Lord
The world does a great deal to find joy- there is much money spent by people to make themselves happy.
At many local bars/restaurants you have- happy hour-
we need such a hour here at the church,
we could call it- attitude adjustment hour.
Phrase- in the Lord- occurs 9x/Philippians, 4x/chap 4
We have looked at-
Trusting in the Lord
Putting our hope in the Lord
Last week-
Standing firm in the Lord
Living in harmony in the Lord
Finding our joy in the Lord
Two important thoughts-
In the Lord we find relational peace.
In the Lord we find inward peace.
v4.6-7 (Isa26.3, Jn14.27, Col3.15, 1Pet1.5, 2Cor 10.5)
For- Philippians- not only the worries of everyday life, but they put their lives as risk to become Christians.
You may feel like you have the spiritual gift of worry.
Somebody said- I am worried about the economy, my hair in a recession, my waist is in an inflation, and I am in a depression.
(Sad fact- next election- determined by- state of- economy)
How do we define worry-
Worry is the sin of distrusting the promises and power of God. (Craig Groeschel)
Either I do not believe in God’s promises or I do not trust in His ability to act on those promises.
God never panics/never surprised- why should we panic
Be anxious for nothing- to have a distracting care.
1 Pet 5:7 (NASB) casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
How do we do that?
Mat 6:25-27, 33-34
In everything by prayer/supplication/thanksgiving-
this is an important key to dealing with anxiety.
Paul often connects thanksgiving with prayer-
1 Thess 5:17–18 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (Col 4.2)
Thanksgiving- is expressing gratitude to God for-
who He is,
what He has done, and
what He is about to do.
Paul’s attitude implies- thanksgiving/submission to God.
Rom 8:28 (NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
This verse apples to those who submit to God’s will.
Be anxious for nothing- are we to believe or pretend that sin, sickness, problems are not real?
Do we just ignore the reality around us? No!
We worry about NOTHING, because we PRAY about EVERYTHING, with THANKSGIVING.
This means we talk to God about everything in our lives.
Some believe we should only take big problems to God.
Let me ask you a question- what is big to God?
None of our problems are big to God.
Whatever matters to you matters to God, there is nothing too small or too big to pray about.
When you make your requests to God, right then and there, thank Him for hearing and answering.
Instead of believing God does not answer our prayers, why not believe He does answer prayer, but the answer is NO or NOT NOW?
Three things helpful to remember when we pray-
1. God’s Love-
God desires only what is best for us.
2. God’s Wisdom-
God knows what is best for us.
3. God’s Power-
God can bring to pass what is best for us.
Let your requests be made known to God-
God has in some way constrained Himself to our prayer.
James- you have not because you ask not (Jam 4.2).
Moses- Ex 33:18- “I pray You, show me Your glory!”-
because he asked God showed Him His glory.
Another element in our prayer life is persistence-
Mat 7.7-11 (ask, seek, knock), Lk 18.2-8 (judge)
v4.7
Peace of God-
Much talk about peace- peace comes in many forms-
world peace
peace in the sense of- tranquility or quietness
The Bible not only tells us how to find peace in our lives, but we meet peace itself in the Word of God-
Isa 9:6 (NASB) For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
An encounter w/God is-encounter w/peace itself (Jn 14.27)-
Jn 14:1 (NASB) “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
Peace of God- (the peace God gives)- harmony, tranquility, peace in relationships (and w/God).
In the OT- shalom- speaks of wholeness, welfare.
Isa 26:3 “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.
Before we can experience- peace of God- must first be reconciled to God and experience peace with God.
Rom 5:1 (NASB) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Surpasses all comprehension- God’s peace is-
better than human reason, and it
goes beyond human reason.(Eph 3.20, Isa 55.8-9)
Shall guard your hearts/minds-
God’s peace-like a soldier guarding- human heart/mind.
In Christ- all benefits/blessings flow to us through-(Jn 15)
birth, life, teachings, death, resurrection, second coming, personal relationship, w/Jesus Christ.
(P Clyde’s Camp Mtg- Days of Heaven on Earth) P Tim Franklin- usually describe heaven on earth from our perspective- no pain, sickness, disease, no relational conflict, no economic worries, plenty of food. What if we had all of the above w/o Christ? Would it be heaven?
What is heaven-
what you see when you look up, and
the dwelling place (presence) of God.
Some people say prayer changes things, and it does- but is that the primary purpose of prayer?
Between worry and peace stands prayer.
Nothing has necessarily changed- but you found peace.
Joy is the source of our strength to live a Christian life, but prayer is the power that enables us to live that life. (Neh 8.10)
v4.8
Perhaps v4.8 is a short biography- Jesus Christ- He is-
true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute
Heb 7:26 (NASB) For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
Rabbi’s- believed that thought was the seed-bed of the human soul- what we think becomes who we are.
What is birthed in our minds eventually becomes acceptable in our affections and in our actions.
1 Cor 15:37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else.
Today we have a very high level of socially accepted evil (entertainment industry, politics, morals).
Paul challenges our thinking- which is the seed bed of our affections and eventually our actions- think on-
True- things that correspond to God’s Word- result in a lifestyle change- godly living. (Rom 3.4, Num 23.19)
Honorable (noble)- things that are morally excellent
An honorable man lives every moment as if he was in the presence of God.
Right (just)- things that conform to God’s standards
God’s character- standard by which all are judged.
Must allow God’s character to transform us- how?
2 Cor 3:18 (NASB) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Pure- those things that are free from the taint of sin
1Jn 3:3And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Lovely- virtues that make believers attractive- generosity, kindness, compassion, forgiveness
Good repute (report)- things that give a good reputation
Dwell on these things-
so they can shape our thinking/affections/living.
Dwell- ponder these things, think about, keep a mental record of, bear in mind, have an opinion.
To think about something taking into account its character or value- what will- add/subtract from life.
There are many things our flesh yearns for- difficult to say NO- our mind focuses on these things.
They feel good short term- ultimately lead to death.
1 Thess 5:21–22 21But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22abstain from every form of evil. (Pr 23.7)
Henry Ford-
Whether you think you can or think you can’t- you’re right. (thank Lauri McCown)
V4.9 (v3.17)
Walk like Paul walked as he followed God, walk like Jesus walked- you will experience the peace of God.
Practice- do, accomplish, act on, experience/engage in.
Important Thought:
In the Lord we find circumstantial peace
No matter what the circumstances in our lives we still can find peace- where- in the Lord.
What do you think on? What are we feeding our minds with? This will become our focus in life.
Conclusion
Never allow your Christianity to become a set of principles isolated from daily living.
Do not be hearers alone, but also doers- (Jam 1.22)
Lk 11:28 (NASB) But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
We are to put into actions what we confess w/mouths.
Challenge
An important part of a Christian life, as well as an important part of-successful prayer life- thanksgiving.
Having a grateful heart comes out of knowing God and His incredible love/mercy that He has shown you.
Challenge- next week- do not grumble/complain about anyone/anything- instead say something
about the person or situation you are thankful for.
I am going to give a $25 gift certificate to someone who clicks on my article in the church email, which will take you to our church blog, and who posts a comment about something you are thankful for- please identify yourself- random selection from those who post.
Prayer
Altar Call
Two types of people here- those who are in-
the Lord, the family of god, living for the purposes of God, or
what the Bible calls the world.
You are either in the world or in the Lord.
How do we step out of the world into the things of God?
When we see the-
fruitlessness of pursuing the things of this world,
and ask God to forgive us for striving for things that will never make us happy,
when we ask God to reveal to us the reality of His son Jesus Christ who died for our sins.
When you pray in faith God will give you eternal life.
You are acceptable to God, not because your are good, but because Jesus died on the cross for your sin.
When you pray- step out of- world into- God’s Kingdom.
This is why God has brought you here this day.
If- ready to pray that prayer-pause-give you time to pray.
Pause
If you prayed that prayer- raise hands- package of info.
