SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Stand firm in the Lord (vs 1)
(2). Stand Firm in Unity (vs 2)
(3). Stand Firm in Trust (vs 4-7)
(4). Stand Firm in Practice (vs 8-9)
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• He was born Erich Weisz on March 24, 1874, in Budapest, Hungary,
• But he moved with his family to America, changed his name to Harry Houdini
• And became one of, if not the greatest grand illusionist;
• Performing daring and spectacular escapes,
• His acts made him one of the most famous magicians of all time.
• Harry Houdini, the famed escape artist issued a challenge wherever he went.
• He could be locked in any jail cell in the country, he claimed,
• And he could set himself free quickly and easily.
• He always he kept his promise, but one time something went wrong.
• Houdini entered the jail in his street clothes;
• The heavy, metal doors clanged shut behind him.
• He took from his belt a concealed piece of metal, strong and flexible.
• He set to work immediately, but something seemed to be unusual about this lock.
• For 30 minutes he worked and got nowhere.
• An hour passed, and still he had not opened the door.
• By now he was bathed in sweat and panting in exasperation,
• But he still could not pick the lock.
• Finally, after laboring for 2 hours,
• Harry Houdini collapsed in frustration and failure against the door he could not unlock.
• But when he fell against the door, it swung open!
• It had never been locked at all!
• But in his mind it was locked;
• And that was all it took to keep him from opening the door,
• And walking out of the jail cell.
• TRANSITION: According to research and statistics,
• As high as one in three people experience the locked door of a mental illness!
• Now don’t miss that stat:
• As high as one in three people experience mental illness.
• Or episode in the course of a year.
• Look at the person sitting at each side of you:
• If it is not one of them, it may be you!!
Every person will have mental health, just like we all have physical health.
• Both mental health and physical health change throughout our lives.
• And, like our bodies, our minds can become unwell.
• Mental health problems might actually be more common than you think.
• And we or someone we know, may well be affected by mental illness in any year.
• The effects are as real as a broken arm,
• Even though there isn’t a sling or plaster cast to show for it.
Question: What is mental health?
Answer:
• The most common conditions are probably:
• Major Depression, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorders,
• Alcohol and Substance Abuse and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
• Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
• It affects how we think, feel, and act.
• It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
• Mental health is important at every stage of life,
• From childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems:
• Your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected.
• Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
• i.e. Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
• i.e. Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
• i.e. Family history of mental health problems
• Many factors contribute to mental health problems;
• And it affects far more people that we realise.
ill:
• How many of you have read the book ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’?
• Pilgrim's Progress is one of the great works of Christian literature.
• Originally composed in the 17th century,
• But the message is bang up to date for any Christian today.
• The main character in the book is called ‘Christian’,
• He is on a journey, from the city of Destruction to the Celestial City,
• And as he journeys, he comes across various obstacles;
• And these hindrances can’t be avoided.
• One such place they come across is called ‘the slough of Despond’
• Where pilgrims can find themselves sinking in the mire,
• And depending on the size of the burden they have on their back,
• Can find it very difficult to get out.
Now, ‘Christian’ had this problem;
• Until a man named ‘Help’ (who represents the Holy Spirit);
• Comes along and pulled him out.
• ‘Christian’ asks ‘Help’ why has this place not been fixed;
• So that this journey might be easier and more secure for the other pilgrims.
• ‘Help’ responds that this place cannot be mended.
• The point being that places like these are inevitable;
• And no matter how mature we are, no one is immune to these places.
• But these places cannot be mended, only travelled through.
• Don’t miss that sentence:
• These places cannot be mended, only travelled through!
• And for some people that can be a very long journey!
• TRANSITION: As you can see from this classic story:
• It’s not by our own effort that we get through them,
• We need help.
• i.e. Some people made need medication to help;
• i.e. Others may need the assistance of counselling services,
• i.e. Others the support network of friends and family,
• But all of us with or without those additional supports,
• We all need ‘the helper’, that is the Holy Spirit of God!
• Because the experts tell us that our attitudes, choices, and actions;
• Are often the instigating factors;
• That trigger or sustain mental and emotional upheavals and volatility.
• TRANSITION: Now this session is not how to cope with the mental health issues
• We have mentioned;
• As I said a few minutes ago;
• For that you need may need medication, counselling;
• As well as the support of family & friends.
• But as Christians we have our own set of mind battles.
• We battle with temptations, as old habits and lifestyles start to resurface;
• We battle with embracing the attitudes and values of the world.
• As Christians we want to be people of good mental health;
• Those who live in victory over these enemies.
Ill:
• One evening, an old Cherokee Indian;
• Told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
• He said, "My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all.
• One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, greed, and arrogance.
• The other is Good - It is peace, love, hope, humility, compassion, and faith."
• The grandson thought about this for a while and then asked his grandfather,
• "Which wolf wins?"
• To which the old man simply replied, "The one you feed."
• In this passage Philippians chapter 4 verses 1-9 we find a number of factors;
• That result in mental and emotional problems.
Note:
• The apostle Paul gives the command at the end of verse 1.
• “So stand firm in the Lord.”
• Then in the rest of the chapter the apostle Paul:
• Will give them specific ways in which they are to stand firm.
Ill:
• This expression to “stand firm”
• This is a military term meaning to “hold your position.”
• You may be under attack but this is not the time for retreating;
• Hold your ground!
• And each of these instructions he now gives;
• Is related to an area in which we will be attacked by two of our enemies;
• The devil, and by our own sinfulness.
Let’s look at the commands:
(1). Stand firm in the Lord (vs 1).
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!”
• These words are a bridge between the chapter that has just ended,
• With all of its great doctrinal statements,
• And this practical chapter that requires our belief affects our behavior.
• So the apostle reminds them of all God has done for them;
• Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us – his life, death and resurrection;
• We also need to do something for him!
• He wants us to stand firm in him,
• United together as God’s people;
• Because we live in a hostile environment waring against us.
Ill:
At Duncan Road Church we have a ‘Friends and Members Address & Prayer Guide’:
• As well as being a handy reference booklet;
• When it comes to house addresses and emails and phone numbers etc.
• It is good and important that we regularly pray for each other!
• Now pause for a moment and think about what you pray for the Church family;
• But also, what do you pray for the other people you care about most.
• What is your greatest desire for these people?
• Note: as the apostle Paul thinks of these Philippian Christian’s,
• His greatest desire is that they will ‘stand firm’ in what they have been taught.
• There is nothing sadder for a parent to see one of their children ‘going astray’,
• And as Church leaders, it breaks our hearts when we see individuals or couples;
• Who also drift away.
Ill:
• Do statues stand firm?
• Does Rodin's statue of the "Thinker" actually think?
• The answer of course is no!
• They are placed, they are fixed, they are passive.
• The apostle Paul doesn't ask us to imitate statues but to imitate his active believing.
• The standing firm Paul speaks of is more like teams in a tug-of-war.
• They try to stand firm, not to give ground to the forces that oppose them.
• More than that they are attempting to pull the other team over to where they are.
• Teams that just try to hang on are likely to be defeated;
• By teams committed to pulling others toward them.
• TRANSITION: So when you use the prayer guide and pray for one-another;
• Please pray that we will ‘Stand firm’,
• That we will not give ground to the forces that oppose us.
• That the enemy will not pull us over to where they are.
• But we will hold our ground and find our strength – where?
• The apostle tells us, ‘in the Lord’.
(2). Stand Firm in Unity (vs 2).
“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.”
• The apostle Paul’s second request is that these Christians have;
• The "Same mind" or “same attitude” or that they "agree with each other."
• In this Church there was open conflict;
• It may have been personality clashes or it may have been deep routed hurts;
• We are not told but as a result disunity was evident.
• And it seems everyone knew about it;
• And so that is probably why the apostle names and shames these two women.
• Note: We might be out and out arguing with each other:
• But if we gossip, talk about people, if we speak negative things about them.
• Then our negative talking are all visible signs of disunity.
Ill:
• Stephen Hawkings is considered one of the great thinkers of this century.
• He inherited the modern mantle of Albert Einstein.
• Yet he can't even tie his own shoes, brush his teeth or comb his hair,
• Even though these are simple tasks that millions of youngsters do form an early age.
• The reason Stephen Hawkins cannot do these tasks;
• Is because Stephen Hawkings's body has been twisted and crippled;
• By an affliction commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
• This disease causes Stephen Hawkings's nerves to "disconnect" from each other;
• So that the messages from his incredible brain;
• Cannot pass through the nerve pathways to his body.
• There is nothing wrong with Stephen Hawkings's mind.
• He is able to hold and handle huge mathematical equations in his mind.
• He can do all of his thinking without the aid of notes;
• Typing for him is laboriously done through methods;
• That only a handicapped person could appreciate.
• i.e. He cannot use his fingers;
• i.e. He cannot even use an apparatus to be held in his teeth.
• i.e. All Stephen Hawkin’s can do is blow into a tube.
• Now here is my point:
• There is nothing wrong with Stephen Hawkings's head.
• It is his body that is dysfunctional.
• TRANSITION: The New Testament makes it very clear that:
• Christ is the head and we (the Church) are the body.
• But like Stephen Hawkin’s so often God has struggled with a crippled Body.
• For too long has God has been troubled by cells wanting to disconnect from each other
• Or refusing to connect in the first place!
• And every time we gossip or slander or speak negatively about a person;
• It is like introducing Lou Gehrig's disease into the body.
• There is nothing wrong with the head but so often we make the body dysfunctional.
(3). Stand Firm in Trust (vs 4-7).
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Ill:
• A man walked by a table in a hotel and noticed three men and a dog playing cards.
• The dog appeared to be winning.
• Noticing this unusual sight, the man stopped and commented;
• "That must be a very smart dog,"
• One of the players replied: "He ain't so smart,
• Every time he gets a good hand he wags his tail!"
• TRANSITION:
• When we have joy in our hearts, it will be obvious to everyone!
• They should see us ‘wagging our tails!’
• Quote: Proverbs chapter 15 verse 13:
• "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face"
So often we look for joy in all the wrong places:
• i.e. to other people, for our happiness – various relationships
• i.e. Or to things, to possessions – ‘to things’ - materialism
• i.e. Or to experiences,
• i.e. Or to circumstances.
• And when those things are favourable we are happy, we have some joy!
• But when those things are not favourable, we are not happy, then we are joyless.
These verses tell us not to look for joy in those things alone!
• The command is ‘rejoice in the Lord’ (vs 5).
• The instruction is go to him in prayer (vs 6-7)
• Because unlike all those other things;
• The Lord is unchanging, he is always the same!
Ill:
• A bicycle wheel is solid, strong and useful;
• But of you remove the spindle, it suddenly becomes useless.
• The spindle gives the wheel centrality and makes it strong and solid and useful.
• TRANSITION: To know these qualities we need centrality.
• We need to make sure God is at the centre of our lives!
So in verses verse 6 & 7 we are given a command:
• "Do not be anxious about anything."
• “But”.......... in its place "Pray"
• And the result is verse 7: “And”…something happens!
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, WILL guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.
• When done right prayer is the answer to knowing:
• Stability. Harmony. Joy. Peace in our lives
Notice: The apostle gives us further instruction regarding prayer:
• He tells us to keep praying (vs 6-7):
• “But in every situation, by prayer…”
• ill: What petrol is to a car, prayer is to the Christian.
• ill: What food is to the body, so prayer is to the soul!
• Paul tells these Christians not only to pray but he tells them how to pray.
• Notice that he uses three different words.
(A). PRAYER.
• The word translated here as ‘Prayer’:
• Is the general word we use for speaking to God.
• The apostle says (vs 6); “In everything”.
• Every problem large or small we should try to take it to God.
• The word conveys the thought of going to one greater than ourselves!
(B). PETITIONS.
• This word refers to specific requests.
• ill: We can be like a shotgun or a sniper.
• We can pray generally or we can pray specifically.
(C). THANKSGIVING.
• Appreciation to God for his concern and love & his goodness..
• ill: As a parent I am forever telling my kids; “...and what do you say?”
• ill: One of the saddest stories in the gospels;
• Is the miracle of Jesus the healing of the 10 leapers
• (Luke chapter 17 verses 11-19).
• If you know the story ten leapers were healed;
• But only one came back to say thank you!
• Jesus said: “He was a foreigner!”
• In other words the others were good religious Jews who should have known better!
• But they failed to show gratitude, to return thanks to the one who had healed them!
(4). Stand Firm in Practice (vs 8-9).
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
• The mind is our valley of decision.
• It is in the mind that actions are formulated;
• And choices are made concerning the courses of action we will take.
• Paul’s next request is that these Christians have pure hearts & minds.
• Question: How clean / pure / wholesome has your mind this week?
ill:
• If you knew my thoughts I have had this week;
• You would not want me to be your speaker this morning!
• And if I knew the thoughts you all have had;
• I would not want to be your speaker!
These verses remind us that it is not enough to just learn, to increase in knowledge:
• It is good we know our Bibles, but that alone is never enough!
• We are commanded to put our knowledge to practical use.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,
or seen in me – put it into practice.”
• Contrary to popular opinion, knowledge alone is not growth.
• Growth only occurs as we take the knowledge we have gained;
• And begin to act upon it.
• Knowledge without action produces a state of mental and emotional confusion.
• We understand the concept but we have not made it a practical part of life,
• Which confuses or dulls our mind.
Quote: Francis Bacon.
“It is not what men eat but what they digest that makes them strong; not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich; not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned; not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians.”
Ill:
• George Campbell Morgan D.D. (1863–1945);
• Was a British evangelist, preacher and a leading Bible scholar.
• He was also twice the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London.
• If you read his books, even today they are acknowledged as quality works;
• They will if you take time to read them - bless ‘your socks off’.
• Now, Campbell Morgan had four sons. They all became ministers.
• At a family reunion, someone asked the question;
• "Which Morgan is the greatest preacher?"
• That’s easy to answer said Campbell Morgan; "Your Mother!"
• TRANSITION: Campbell Morgan and his four sons all had the knowledge;
• But it was there mother who was best at applying it!
In conclusion:
Ill:
• My mind seems to have a mind of its own,
• When I want to ponder (to mediate), my mind goes wonder.
• When I want to pray, my thoughts drift away.
• When I want to be pure, my wrong desires seem to be more and more!
• Yet notice that these instructions from Philippians chapter 4;
• Concern areas of our lives that we have some control over.
• In other words they are all doable!
• If we make the right choices and taking the right action in these areas,
• We can make great strides in developing strong, stable mental wellness,
• And… God will be glorified in the process.
SERMON ADIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=rYsIARONEssnAU5Cw6LAIPnryQ87hYZ3
