Ph’p 1:12-30

Reading:  Philippians 1:19-26

Title:  To Live or Die in APG

 

There have been some very interesting laboratory experiments, many conducted by Dr. Walter Mischel at Columbia University, to measure the delay of gratification among young children. A typical experiment involves bringing a child into a room that contains, among other things, a bell. After the child and the experimenter spend some time together, the child is shown a pair of treats or small toys, one of which the child perceives as much better than the other.

The experimenter then explains that she has to leave the room for a few minutes, but that the child can call her back immediately by ringing the bell. The child is told that if he waits for the experimenter to return on her own, he'll get the better treat; if he rings the bell, he'll get the treat he doesn't like as much. Once the experimenter leaves, she watches the child through a one-way mirror or video camera.)

This experiment and others have found that those young children who are able to delay gratification the longest tended to approach the situation differently than those who rang the bell early and settled for the lesser reward. The children who waited usually distracted themselves by thinking about things other than the treats. Typically, they found something to play with while they were alone in the room.

Those who rang the bell early tended to focus their thoughts during the waiting period on the reward. In other words, it's easier for a child to wait for a cookie if he plays with a toy than if he simply stares at the cookie jar and thinks about how good the treat will taste.

 

v. 12, Joseph, “you meant it for harm, but God meant it for good”

 

v. 13, imperial guard; my imprisonment is for Christ

 

v. 14, most followers speak with boldness and without fear

 

v. 15, Preaching Christ

envy and rivalry—selfish ambition

good will—love

Christ, however, is proclaimed both ways (Paul would not condone false teaching, but would graciously tolerate false motives)

 

The Choices--v. 21, living is Christ (Gal 2:20)—dying is gain (“you take a life I cannot keep, and bestow a life I cannot lose”)

            Some say “to live is wealth, knowledge, fame, fortune, pleasure, prestige, power”

            We lose:  a sinful body, temptation, sorrow, sufferings, enemies

            We gain:  glorified body, personal presence with Christ, joy, reunion with departed saints

            Php 3:20

 

The Best Pick--v. 24, to remain in the flesh is better (Jn 17:14-18)

            Paul’s eagerness to be a channel of blessing to the Philippians outweighs his desire for personal gain.

            He wants to finish the work God gave him to do (2 Tim 4:6-8)

 

How to Live Now--v. 27, live worthy

            stand firm in one spirit—bickering, contention, and self-seeking hinder and mar the gospel witness; no individuals; Bulge story (Leadership, 173)

            striving side by side with one mind—synathleo; all are an important part of the team; if all did their part, every play is successful

            not intimidated by opponents—the church has a common objective, and a common adversary; Satan is here, not out there; 1 Jn 4:4

 

v. 28, soul sorrow

 

v. 29, privilege

            to believe

            to suffer

            Note the order; Christ had to go to the cross before He wore the crown

            2 Cor 4:17

 

 

Ph'p 3:5-6

What won't get you in Heaven

 

5a, Ancestry

 

5b, Orthodoxy

 

5c, Activity

 

5d, Morality

 

 

Preaching portion:  Philippians 4:6-9

Subject:  Peace

Theme/Proposition:  How can a Christian live in peace?

 

Introduction:

            (Two examples of worrying in the world.)  Right now every one of us has some urgent distressing problem on our mind that dominates our thoughts hour by hour. Problems with money, car, marriage, job.

            Bible people were no different.  Abraham didn't trust God to give him a son through Sarah.  Jacob and Esau.  Jesus told Martha she worried too much (Lk. 10).  And through all the distresses, through all the discouragements, through all the anxieties, the Bible offers as a simple alternative--Peace.

            In the book of Philippians, chapter four, Paul is writing to the Church he considered most effective in his ministry.  They were a giving church, but were going through rough times.  He wanted them to know the peace of God.

 

1A  By being anxious for nothing  v. 6

-  careful-to be anxious about something, worried

            1B  Worrying is something we can do without

            2B  John Wesley:  "I would no more fret than to curse and swear"

            3B  Worrying is like a rocking chair--it keeps you going but gets you nowhere

            4B  95% of what we worry about never comes to pass

            5B  Jesus said  "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"; a man cannot add--on the contrary he takes away.

2A  By praying for everything  vv. 6&7

            1B  Prayer

                        1C  Difference between prayer and supplication

                                    1D  Prayer--worship, praise

                                                1E  To respect God as your Creator

                                                2E  To revere God as deity

                                    2D  Supplication--to beg, or petition

                                    -  train set

                        2C  Everything--little, big, in between

                                    1D  Sparrow / Hair (Mt. 10)

                                    2D  Food in cupboard / left turn blinker / plan the future / special bargain / friends saved / enemies saved

                                    3D  "What a friend . . ."

                        3C  Thanksgiving--lost art

                                    1D  Lepers in Lk. 10--10%

                                    2D  When is the last time we thanked God for:

                                                1E  Material things

                                                2E  Answered prayer

                                                3E  Salvation

                        4C  Request (Ja. 4:2)

                                    1D  Woman at grocery store (Specific, to the point)

                                    2D  Sher wants slippers, gets house coat.

                                    3D  Bible requests

                                                1E  Publican:  "God be merciful . . ."

                                                2E  Peter:  "Lord, save me"

                                                3E  Bartamaeus:  "Lord, that I might . . ."

                                                4E  Not Pharisee:  "I'm not like . . ."

            2B  Peace

                        1C  "of", not "with" God

                                    1D  "with is positional peace

                                    2D  "of" is inward peace

                                                1E  only comes from God

                                                2E  only indwells believers

                                    3D  All Christians have peace "with" God, but not all have the peace "of" God

                        2C  Passes all understanding

                                    1D  Can't be comprehended

                                    2D  Cannot fathom its depths

                                    3D  Can only experience it

                        3C  "Keep"--guard

                                    1D  Marine guard duty

                                    2D  Peace "guards" us

3A  By thinking about excellent things  v. 8

            1B  Keep clean things running through your mind

            2B  Eight glasses of water/day

            3B  Sex offenders using pornography--Gal. 6:7

            4B  These things:

                        1C  True--aiming at reality

                        2C  Honest--dignified

                        3C  Just--holy

                        4C  Pure--modest; innocent

                        5C  Lovely--pleasing; friendly

                        6C  Good Report--good language

                        7C  Virtue--mental, physical, moral excellence

                        8C  Praise--a commendable thing

4A  By practicing the honorable things  v. 9

            1B  Jesus said "Happy are ye . . ." (Jn. 13)

            2B  Those things:

                        1C  Learned--taught in S.S., Bible, pulpit

                        2C  Received--church, conscience,parents

                        3C  Heard of--Pastor, Paul, Jesus

                        4C  Seen--perhaps Paul preached more effectively with his life than with his lips

            3B  Peace with you.

 

Conclusion:

            How can a Christian live in peace?  1-2-3-4.

            Think of something you have been worried about for a while.  That worrying is wrong.  That's not God's plan for you.  When is the last time you really prayed about it?--a specific and definite prayer.  Some people only think of the worst things.  Paul says think about excellent things.  Keep the best things running through your mind.  And just thinking about it is not enough.  The thing that ties it all together is when you practice those things you know are right.  Peace.