Sermon Notes 10-21-07

Sunday, October 21st 2007 “Joy In Your Struggle”

Today’s Scripture is Phillipians 1:18

Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians from JAIL!
Paul was falsely accused and put into Herod’s praetorium jail (Acts 23:35).
Paul was in jail because he had preached Christ!

Verse 18—“I will rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”

I. Four Essentials For Joyful Living

1st I Need Perspective To Live From!
Paul is speaking to his church “Life Groups” or house churches that he had established.
Verse 12
Many are in prison even though the prison bars are not as apparent as those who are in jail!
When I Face Problems Joyfully: It DEMONSTRATES my Faith to the UNBELIEVERS!
Verse 13
When I Face Problems Joyfully: It ENCOURAGES the Faith of other BELIEVERS!
Verse 14

Romans 8:28

Questions:
1. How could Paul be JOYFUL and REJOICE—in the midst of Jail?
2. What kinds of “prisons” are we sometimes in?

II. Four Essentials For Joyful Living

1st I Need Perspective To Live From!
2nd God has a purpose behind EVERY ONE OF MY PROBLEMS!

Do you believe that God is involved with the PRIORITYS OF YOUR LIFE?
Have you ever turned the wrong way on a one way street? Did God spare your life?

PRIORITY—What are the PRIORITIES of your life?
There will always be critics in our lives! Paul had his critics!
1. Paul was a Roman Citizen, but he was also a Jew and has studied at the feet of Gamaliel.
2. Paul became very zealous for the traditions, that is teachings, of his people (Gal. 1:14).
3. Paul was a Pharisee (Phil. 3:5).
4. Paul had created many enemies during his life

Acts 9:1-2
Proverbs 3:6 “Acknowledging God” is the main PRIORITY TO LIVE BY!

Questions:
1. Has God spared you for a purpose?
2. How do you decide on your priorities?

III. Four Essentials For Joyful Living

1st I Need Perspective To Live From!
2nd God has a purpose behind EVERY ONE OF MY PROBLEMS!
3rd Focus on what REALLY COUNTS!

Philippians 1:18
Paul is speaking about the “Real Power” for living!
Paul had the “Authority” of Caesar and the High Priest

Acts 9:1

Matthew 10:28
Paul met Jesus on the Road to Damascus—and got a “Heart Transplant!”
The prayers of God’s people
Paul’s second source of strength was the Holy Spirit

Questions:
1. What was Paul’s real source of strength?
2. How can you find your source of strength?

IV. Four Essentials For Joyful Living

1st I Need Perspective To Live From!
2nd God has a purpose behind EVERY ONE OF MY PROBLEMS!
3rd Focus on what REALLY COUNTS!
4th With God’s power, nothing can DEVASTATE ME!

Romans 8:35
When you are in Christ—nothing can separate you from God!
When you know what your PURPOSE IS—nothing can stop you!
God says before you were even born I had holy plans for you.

Isaiah 49
There is a life mission that God has for you that nobody else on this planet can do!

Jeremiah 1
God had holy plans for you before you were even born.
Before you saw the light of day, God had all these plans designed for you.
All of us need a PURPOSE to live for!
Paul knew what his PURPOSE was!

Philippians 1:21
I hear people say all the time—“I don’t have a reason to live!”
Paul’s reason for living was—“Christ”—who had died for him and he knew it!
Most of us are caught up with our PAST! All of us have a PAST!

Philippians 3:13-14
The Secret of Joy…is Living for the ONE who died for you!
The Secret of Joy is Living for the ONE who died for you!
The Secret of Joy…is JESUS! The ONE who died for you!

Questions:
1. What is your reason for living?
2. What gives you joy?