External Parasites.
- Head lice, Leeches & Ticks
- Makes you feel creepy crawly
Internal Parasites .
A parasite is something that exists by taking from another
They sneak in without notice & unexpected taking up residence in or on their host
Hookworm penetrate the skin
- Worms use their teeth to burrow through the intestinal wall and feed on your blood
Roundworms can lay 200,000 eggs a day
- Adults grow to 15 inches long.
- Cause blockage to the intestine
- Abscesses in the liver,
- Hemorrhage the pancreas
Tapeworms may grow to 35 feet long
- Can live ten years inside the persons intestines.
- Some tapeworms can lay as many as one million eggs
- Their bodies are in separate segments with hooks and suction cups on their skull.
Without Parasites .
- No worries
- Life is good
- Full of fun, happiness, & joy
Parasites Are Joy Suckers .
- Have you noticed that we live in a parasitic world?
- Tiny unexpected parasites creep in
- They are not supposed to be part of our life
- Sin comes in little by little bringing destruction
- Money problems, Relationships turn sour, Sickness of heart mind & body
- Wrecking havoc to our lives
James 4:1–4 (AV)
1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
> Matthew 24:12 (AV)
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Wax - goes back to the way candles are made.
A wick is dipped into hot wax
- Then taken out and allowed to cool for a few seconds,
- Now a thin layer of wax.
- Repeated again & again until the wick is buried deep within the wax.
- The same is true with the heart.
- The greatest need in man's life is the removal of sin
- If we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on the evil around us and it's circumstances,
- Layers of negativity harden around our hearts, and the love for God and others waxes cold.
An elusive word in Philippians is JOY.
Isaiah 26:3 (AV)
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
- The joy of the Lord is a thing that every believer ought to enjoy abundantly.
- Joy is not dependent on the circumstances.
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
- Joy is internal and comes from the Lord
- Happiness is external and results from happenings.
- There are parasites that eat away your joy
- Nurse & rehearse the hurt
FOUR PARASITES IN PHILIPPIANS
1.) The Unexpected Parasites s.
Philippians Ch. 1.
Philippians 1:12–13 (AV)
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds (imprisonment, chains) in Christ are manifest (known) in all the palace, and in all other places;
- Circumstances are things that happen,
- When your day does not go right
- Like: mechanical breakdowns, financial strain, health problems, lost articles of importance, etc.
- These parasites frustrate and eat away our joy
- Like wax building a candle our hearts become bitter as our focus is taken off Jesus
God’s Solution To Discouraging Circumstances Is The Single Mind.
Philippians 1:19–20 (AV)
19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Philippians 4:4 (AV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–23 (AV)
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- To deal with parasites determine to serve the Lord with gladness
- No matter what praise Him for His grace and the supply of the Spirit of Christ.
- As always, so now – Christ shall be magnified in my body.
Romans 12:1–2 (AV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2.) The Human Parasite .
Philippians 2
- Do you have someone that exasperates you?
Philippians 2:1–2 (AV)
1 If there be therefore any consolation (encouragement) in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels (tender compassion) and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Philippians 2:3–5 (AV)
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
- Every chapter has a people problems
Philippians 1:15–16 (AV)
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Philippians 1:18 (AV)
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence,(false motives) or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Philippians 3:2 (AV)
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, (TLB... watch out for those wicked men - dangerous dogs I call them) beware of the concision (those who insist you must be circumcised).
Philippians 3:18–19 (AV)
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Philippians 3:18–19 (NLT)
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.
Philippians 4:2 (AV)
2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
- Satan often uses those closest to you to eat away your joy.
- Why forgive when all I want to do is nurse curse & rehearse those who have hurt me
- To condemn, accuse, blame & maintain my rights
God's Solution Get Right With People
- It's time to give another chance
- Howbeit with caution
- Look for the positive points of people.
- Remember, Christ was wronged on the cross
- His first word was "Father, forgive them..." Lk 23:34
- Follow In His Steps.
3.) The Social Parasite .
Philippians Ch. 3.
- Don’t get wrapped up in stuff
- Stuff gets old, broken, wares out, lost, stolen
- The need for the next new thing comes along and we need to replace it
- Jesus talks about the best thing
- "Kingdom of Heaven is like in Mt. 13
- Hid treasure
- Precious pearls
Philippians 3:7–8 (AV)
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
- Things include: jobs, school, hobbies, social life, and even religious things.
- Remember the difference between fun, happiness and joy.
- Fun is flesh related.
- Happiness is a temporary gratification in your mind,
- JOY is an eternal thing in your inner most being.
God’s Solution For A Right Perspective On Things Is The Spiritual Mind.
Philippians 3:13–14 (AV)
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
- The rich man & Lazarus – Lk 16:19-25
- The riches of this world does not dictate our Sp. condition
4.) The Emotional Parasite.
. Philippians Ch. 4.
- God would not have us to be anxious about anything.
Philippians 4:6 (AV)
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Philippians 4:6 (The Message)
6 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
- Worry brings fear & doubt
- Worry is a lack of faith.
- Believe God! - His promise
Philippians 4:19 (AV)
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God’s Remedy For Parasites Of Worry Fear Doubt Is To Refocus On Christ
Philippians 3:8 (AV)
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 4:8–9 (AV)
8 .... think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
Philippians 4:13 (AV)
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13 (GNB)
13 I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.
Overcomer
Romans 12:21 (AV)
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
- Sailor Gutzler had more than parasite problems
- 7 yr. old Sailor Gutzler was on a Christmas vacation in Florida
- Fri. Jan. 2/2015 family were flying home to Nashville, Illinois,
- Their plane crashed partly on fire & upside down
- Killing both her parents her sister and her cousin
- Now lost & alone & in the dark
- Suffering a broken bone in her wrist
- She tried lighting a glow or torch stick to help illuminate her way out of the dense woods
- The stick failed to light
- She was dressed for Florida," wearing shorts and a short-sleeved shirt
- The temperature was 38 degrees.
- Navigating almost a mile in bare feet through thick trees, briars, and bushes
- Daring to knock at a stranger's door for help
- Can your situation be worst than this
Don't Allow Parasites Suck Your Joy Dry
- God’s people are a joyful & rejoicing – 18x.
- Paul's focus is upon Christ 38x in Philippians
- Be sure Jesus is foremost.
- You will know true peace and joy until then.
- Joy security is to maintain a mind like Christ’s.
