1. Practice
Champion golfer, Bobby Jones once said, "Have you ever noticed how much golfers practice? Smart businessmen have been quick to take advantage of that, developing public driving ranges where we can practice driving the ball, & putting greens where we can practice our putting."
"But why hasn't someone developed public sand traps? Sand traps are an inevitable part of the game of golf, & every golfer ought to practice ahead of time how to get out of trouble."
That's good advice for all of us. Even as we talk about being thankful for the blessings that come our way, we must admit that problems & troubles also come our way.
It was Norman Vincent Peale who said, "Problems are a part of life. All of us are going to have problems right up to the moment we die. And some of you are going to have problems after you die."
So it only makes sense, if we're going to find ourselves in sand traps, that we learn how to get out of them. The letter to the Philippians, written by the apostle Paul, can help us do just that.
2. Paul wanted to be like Jesus in every possible way. That included going before Roman officials and even giving his life for the gospel.
3. Paul writes this letter while imprisoned in Rome under what we would call "house arrest." Today, courts enforce "house arrest" by attaching electronic monitors on the wrist or ankle of prisoners. But back then, they simply chained the prisoner to Roman soldiers 24 hours a day. Now that was usually better than being in a dungeon, but "house arrest" was not something to desire. Yet, Paul's letter is filled with thanksgiving.
4. Notice Opportunities in prayer from Philippians 1:3-11
I. Prayer is an Opportunity to Express Joy -- vv. 3; 4.6
A famous motivational speaker was once asked about his most difficult speech. He answered, "Well, it was when I was asked to speak at a national convention of undertakers. My topic was to explain to them how to look sad during a $10,000 funeral." You see, when there is joy inside, it's awfully hard to keep it from showing.
A. Joy is a Hallmark Quality of Disciples of Jesus
1. The Make Up of the Kingdom -- Romans 14.17-19
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up-building.
2. The Kingdom is within you (Luke 17.21)
B. Joy is a Matter of Perspective -- James 1.2-4
1. Joy in Samaria with the signs and preaching of the gospel -- Acts 8.8 there was much joy in that city. (Good times)
2. Persecution in Jerusalem (Gamaliel's Advice) -- Acts 5.41-42 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. (Not so good times)
C. Our Joy is Expected by God
1. Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
Have you heard about the man who smelled good no matter where he was or what he was doing? His skin and clothing and very being seemed to exude a pleasant fragrance. He worked in a perfume factory and breathed its aromas every day. They filtered into his clothing, penetrated his skin, and even filled his lungs. He became a walking perfumery.
That's the way we should be as Christians. The Bible says, "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" (2 Corinthians 2:15). We exude the aroma of joy, for in His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.).
2. You might have heard that "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) is the shortest verse in the Bible, but that's only true in the English translation. In the original New Testament Greek, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is shorter--"Rejoice always." The two verses are related. Because Jesus wept, we can rejoice. He doesn't want us to live in perpetual discouragement, sadness, or doubt. The joy of the Lord is the strength of our days (Nehemiah 8:10). This is a season to rejoice.
II. Prayer is an Opportunity to Express Gratitude -- v.3; 7-8
The story is told of 2 old friends who bumped into one another on the street one day. One of them looked forlorn, almost on the verge of tears. His friend asked, "What has the world done to you, my old friend?" The sad fellow said, "Let me tell you. Three weeks ago, my uncle died and left me $40,000.
That's a pot of money.
But, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me $85,000 free and clear. Sounds like you've been blessed. "You don't understand. He interrupted. Last week my great aunt passed away and I inherited a quarter and a million. Now he was really confused. Then why do you look so glum.
"This week. . ..nothing."
A. Complaining can be Destructive to Our Prayers --
1. Children of Israel in Wilderness Complaining About Food/Quail
2. Sometimes God gives us EXACTLY what we ask for -- Numbers 11.18-21
18 And say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt." Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat. 19 You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, "Why did we come out of Egypt?"'"
B. Gratitude is Powerful
1. It Lifts God -- Psalm 30.4
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.
2. It Lifts Us -- We realize the change in our lives -- Romans 6.17-18
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin,have become slaves of righteousness.
3. Which do we do--complain or express gratitude?
Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act. It is a habit." So what kind of habits have you developed in your life?
III. Prayer is an Opportunity to Express Glory to God-- vv. 9-11
A. God's Glory is Our Purpose -- Ecclesiastes 12.13
Remember the Purpose
The nineteenth-century historian Thomas Carlyle wrote that "The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder--a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life and having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you." Simply stated, God created man for a purpose.
That purpose was revealed immediately at the dawn of creation. Man was to be an earthly steward of God, being a caretaker of creation and filling the earth with people who reflect His glory.
When sin disrupted God's narrative, an additional purpose was added: populating heaven with people who reflect the image of Jesus Christ. Christians are part of the Church, the Bride of Christ, and are called to fulfill Christ's own purpose of bringing "many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10). Just as Adam and Eve were to be fruitful and multiply.
A Single Thought: Each of us has a purpose that only we can fulfill--a specific role originated by God and designed for His glory.
B. God's Glory is Eternal -- (24 elders) Revelation 4.11
11 "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
1. Mountain Moving Faith
A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard. This would be a case for MOUNTAIN-MOVING FAITH!
Undaunted, the preacher announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain moving faith." They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week.
At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the preacher said the final "Amen." "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled," he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too."
The next morning, as he was working in his study, there came a loud knock at the preacher's door. When he called, "Come in," a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered.
"Excuse me, Preacher. I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge new shopping mall over there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly."
The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members with "mountain moving faith" on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!
2. Do you think this congregation expressed Joy; Gratitude and Glory to God?
