JOY IN THE FAITH

MESSAGENOTES

JOY IN THE FAITH

NOV 28/29, 2020

Philippians 1:12-27 (NLT)

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. 15It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. 20For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.  25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me. 27Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 

Choice Number #1

Paul made the choice (and it is a choice) to look beyond his crummy circumstances to see what God was doing in the midst of them!

VERSES 13-14 (NLT)

Application:

You can gaze at your problems and glance at the Lord!

OR

You gaze at the Lord and glance at your problems!

What choice are you making right now?

Where are you gazing right now?

Choice Number #2

Paul made the choice (and it is a choice) to care about his own personal holiness!

VERSES 20-21 (NLT)

Application:

You should make the choice (and it is a choice) 

to care about your own personal holiness!

1 Peter 1:14-16 (NLT)

So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

Choice Number #3

Paul made the choice (and it is a choice) to serve and care about others!

VERSES 21-25 (NLT)

Application:

You should make the choice (and it is a choice) to serve and care about others!

Matthew 22:36-40 (NLT)

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”