Remember And Rejoice

Remember and Rejoice

“I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.” Philippians 1:3-4, 12-19

Intro: Today I want to talk about reaffirming your faith and baptism.

Baptism is a necessary part of living as a Christian.

Reaffirming or renewing the vows of Baptism

is essential in the continued growth and experience of the believer.

It is important because as a Christian others need to see and hear what Jesus has done

and what God continues to do in your life.

It is equally important that you renew your commitment to the promises that were made to God

When you were first baptized.

It reminds us not only of who God is but who we are to be as a Christian.

You know God places certain people in our pathway and certain events in our life time

Who support and encourage us

and that helps sustain and build endurance and perseverance

so that when we are faced with difficulties

we are able to hold on to the promise of God through the storms of life.

After you survive the storm you have to figure out why you survived.

Life is difficult by design

That way when God brings you through a struggle or out of a problem

you want be confused about who is doing the great things in your life.

And you will give God the glory and the thanks and praise.

The Apostle Paul knew what it was like to be faced with hard times.

He had been accused of telling the Jews to disobey the Jewish laws.

And accused of defiling the Temple by bringing a Gentile into the church.

So he was arrested by the order of the Jewish High Priest

But because Paul was born a citizen of Rome the Jewish court had no authority to judge or pronounce sentence upon a Roman citizen and so Paul was being sent Rome to stand trial before Caesar.

What looks like a setback

Paul uses as an opportunity to share the Gospel of the cross, the tomb, and the risen Christ.

Later even when Paul is in prison, which we know was house arrest

But still Paul was limited in where he could go or what he could do

Paul continued to spread the Gospel

Did you ever wonder how Paul wrote so much of the New Testament?

He wrote the books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon while under arrest.

Even the book of Acts which tells about the end of his mission work

was written while Paul was still in prison awaiting trial.

Paul didn’t tell the Jews to disobey the law.

Paul was saying that there is a huge difference between being religious and being a Christian.

Being religious is simply following a list of dos and don'ts,

usually whenever it is convenient

usually because you have been taught and live by a certain moral norm of acceptable behavior.

There was once a Pastor who preached a sermon and in the message he said

“It is time to stop playing church.”

Several weeks passed

and the Pastor learned that a member of the congregation was now going to another church.

So, the Pastor called to see what was going on.

And the church member said that they were offended by the statement

“It is time to stop playing church.”

The Pastor had explained that being a Christian means that everything you do or don’t do

is because you truly love the Lord and care whether or not you are pleasing to Him.

Being a Christian means that you want to be like Christ

And that you want to serve in the church and community and do the will and purposes of God.

Being a Christian means leaving your selfish, desires behind

and staying focused on Jesus,

what Jesus wants you to do,

and whom Jesus wants you to become.

There is a world of difference between being a Christian and just playing Christian.

First the parishioner didn’t even try to talk with the Pastor before leaving.

Second the parishioner refused reconciliation and forgiveness.

Which of these two do you believe was right?

The bible says in 2 Timothy 4:3

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching.

They will follow their own desires

and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.”

I want always tell you what you want to hear

I will preach the truth and the Word.

First to myself

And then to you.

The Apostle Paul had been arrest for telling people there is more to pleasing God

than just keeping a check list of do’s and don’ts.

1. Don’t eat pork