Keeping A Proper Perspective
Philippians 4:4-9
October 30, 2005
Morning Service
Introduction
When I was a youth minister, one of my teens had earned his pilot’s license and offered to give me a plane ride. Honestly, I have to admit that I was less than enthusiastic. Here was a young man that didn’t even have his driver’s license and he was going to give me a ride in an airplane. I told Brandon that I would be more than happy to take that plane ride because I thought that it was never really going to happen.
One Sunday morning a few weeks later, I walk in the doors of the church and there’s Brandon with a big smile on his face. “The sky is clear and conditions are great. Today is an awesome day to go flying.” So, I went on that ride and it was great.
As we flew, I noticed several of the gauges and instruments. So, being the inquisitive person that I am I started asking questions about different things and what they were for. One of the gauges was the attitude indicator. The attitude of an airplane determines its nose position. So, if you have a nose up attitude, you’re climbing. If you have a nose down attitude, you’re descending. The attitude of the plane determines whether it’s going up or diving down.
The same is true of the Christian life. There are Christians who exhibit a nose up attitude and their walk with God climbs. Others, have a nose down attitude and dive into some most needless things of life.
It’s been said: Attitude almost always determines your altitude in life.
The attitude that we have as Christians also has a tremendous impact on the vitality and the success of our walk with Christ.
Positive Negative
Possibilities Problems
Opportunities Obstacles
Dreams Difficulties
See the best in people See the worst in people
Move forward Move backward
Praise others Criticize others
One of the greatest challenges in the Christian walk is to remain positive for Christ in a negative and confused world. Our attitude shapes the kind of walk with God that we will experience.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, 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. 9 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.
I. The perspective of joy
The action of rejoicing is allowing your life to be filled with the supernatural joy of heaven. It is allowing God to fill your life with your presence. It is allowing the atmosphere of heaven to flood your soul. To rejoice is to be given an undefinable strength and undefeated gladness. Rejoicing is allowing the unsurpressible spirit of heaven to spill over into every area of your life and then have it overflow to the lives of others. True joy can never be contained and it can never be confined.
When we read these words of Paul to the Philippian church, they seems to ring with an outpouring of true joy. These words just seem to give us a lift and help us to develop a positive Christian attitude. I believe it is vital to remember where Paul was when he penned this letter. He was in prison.
The word chains appears four separate times in the first chapter of Philippians.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 1:7
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 13-14
The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 1:17
Paul is either in a Roman dungeon or serving a type of house arrest. He was either chained to a wall in a cell or chained between two Roman soldiers. His plight was obvious to all but still he maintained an amazing attitude.
Real joy impacts the way that we live and changes us. Joy is transforming and inspiring. Real joy has absolutely nothing to do with situations, circumstances or anything of this earth. Real is the found in the greatness of knowing Christ, having His presence in your life and seeking His Kingdom with your life. It is this joy that gives us the ability to thrive in the daily grind of life.
Paul tells the Philippians to allow their gentleness to be evident. The word gentleness literally means to be fair minded. The term refers to a social or political justice and gives an understanding that there is something higher and better than earthly justice.
God acts above the mere letter of the Law and extends grace and mercy to us. Paul is telling the Philippians that they are given a justice better than what is on earth. Gentleness is a strength under criticism, harshness or personal attacks. Gentleness is not a lack of defending yourself but rather it is not giving a counter attack.
Peter says we are not to return evil for evil but overcome evil with good. Gentleness is rising above low behavior. We are never to strike back at those that hurt us.
The reason that Paul tells the Philippian church to live in gentleness and continuous rejoicing is that the Lord is near. This reminds us of two major realities.
1.) Jesus is present with us (Matthew 28:20)
Jesus promised the disciples that He would be with them to the end of the age. This promise means that jesus is present in our praises and our pains.
2.) Jesus is coming again
There has never been a time in history that shows the imminent return of Jesus like today. Our news is filled with the signs of Jesus’ return and we need to be ready each and every day.
II. The perspective of peace
If we truly experience the power of joy and gentleness combined with an understanding that the Lord is near, there is nothing to be anxious about. The Philippian church was experiencing intense troubles and trials. The church was being severely persecuted by the Romans. Christians were sought out, beaten, imprisoned and executed. Most of the things designated “difficult” by the church today are insignificant in comparison.
The church was also being struck from the inside. There was an intense disagreement between two women in the church. This disagreement spilled over into the church life and created division in the church.
The word peace means to be bound, woven together or united. The only way that we can ever truly experience peace is when our lives are bound and united with God through Christ. The reason that most people become negative and critical is because they lack this essential peace.
One of the biggest problems in the church today is that people try to replace God with a pastor or another person. People come and vent their frustration, fatigue and fear on others instead of going to God. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen people come into church and unload their baggage on others.
Far too often individuals never experience release from the burdens because they never give them to God. They just continuously share them with fellow believers. There is a time and a place for sharing burdens and difficulties. We are called to bear one another’s burdens.
Here is a good rule of thumb regarding concerns
1.) Pray - take your concerns to God
If something isn’t important enough for you to pray about then it isn’t important enough to complain or worry about.
2.) Talk - share your concerns
Molehills only become mountains if they are left over time. Most minor problems can be solved easily and are never given the opportunity to grow.
3.) Let it go
III. The perspective of being positive
The truth is that we will become what we think and how we think will shape our habits. Our habits shape the kind of life that we will live. Where you keep your thoughts is where your life will go
Men who look at pornography are more likely to commit sexual sins
People who watch violent movies and television shows are more likely to become violent
What you put into your mind will come out in the form of behavior. When you dwell on thoughts focused on sinful actions or attitudes, you are far more likely to live out sinful behaviors. Look again at verse 8
Finally, brothers, 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.
Paul is calling the Philippian church to focus on the positive rather than the negative.
1.) True - the ultimate Truth is the Bible, when you fill your mind with scripture, it goes a long way to building a positive basis for living. Often, we look at negative truths in the lives of those around us and become critical. It is easier to do than most will admit and all of us have done it. Most people criticize others to avoid dealing with the problems in their own lives.
2.) Noble - These are things that are given the dignity of holiness. They are things that are treated with a special respect or given a special treatment. Most of the things in this world are worthless and unworthy of special designation. This is keeping your mind focused on what is holy.
3.) Right - Our mind is to place its focus on things that are right. Paul is referring to those things that are deemed as righteous in the eyes of God. Our mind needs to be focused on the things that matter to God.
4.) Pure - Our mind is to be centered on things that are morally clean and unpolluted. How many of you here would drink water with 1% urine in it? None of us would do that. Why do you allow your mind to digest filth? Paul says the sinful nature is set on things like lust, hatred, jealousy, envy, selfish ambition and fits of rage. When you focus your mind on these kinds of things it’s like drinking water with urine in it.
5.) Lovely - This is not about beauty but rather is focused on kindness. When your mind is filled with unkind thoughts, it will lead to unkind actions. When you think about “getting even” with someone, you are far more likely to act.
6.) Admirable - These are things that are worthy or of high quality. Too often, people with bad attitudes will pass on negative statements about others. How much time is wasted by Christians listening to or repeating gossip or unfounded criticism? Do yourself a favor, if someone is being negative and critical with you, stop wasting your time and stop listening to them.
7.) Excellent or praiseworthy - Thinking about things that are morally excellent and worthy of giving God praise will help you develop a positive Christian attitude.
Conclusion
Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life. The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress... It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitude is right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me. - Charles R. Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip
The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. A journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this question, "What are you doing?" The first replied, "I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day." The next answered, "I’m putting in 10 hours a day on this job." But the third said, "I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals." Source Unknown.
The choice is yours today. Are you going to come into church each week with miserable attitude and make others around you miserable in the process or are you going to help Jesus build His church?
Are you going to keep living with you attitude indicator pointing down or are you going to look up and climb in life?
Your attitude is your choice. Why not commit your attitude to Christ and ask for His help and guidance?
