Elements City Church
Joy Full week 2: Philippians 1:12-19
The Apostle Paul is set to report back on all that has unfolded in his journey the last few years and instead of having a life is unfair type attitude - he points out how the gospel of Jesus keeps advancing despite the hardships he’s personally facing. He’s modeling courage, perseverance and a kingdom mindset that measures God’s purposes over his preferences. He's got the 'spiritual binoculars' to see more of God's activity is happening then what is within his little scope of reality around him and he takes joy in that!
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
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https://share.fluro.io/form/6329f633da0feb00250cbd5fThe Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Philippi is a letter with profound biblical truths, great memorable verses and written to a group of people that were so dear to him. It has much to still teach us and to help us today as we seek to walk in the ways of Jesus.
In Paul’s time when people wrote letters whose primary purpose was to inform a friend or family member of their circumstances, the transition from the initial greeting to the letter’s crucial information was often made with the statement, “I want you to know that.…”
NOW, …if we were in his situation - in prison / under house arrest - chained to a guard…24/7
We might say: I want you to know that…: Life is Not Fair!
Something happens to us in life that is challenging, and we tend to say,
This isn't fair. Why is this happening to me?
NOW, …if we were in his situation - in prison / under house arrest - chained to a guard…24/7
We might say: I want you to know that…: Life is Not Fair!
Something happens to us in life that is challenging, and we tend to say,
This isn't fair. Why is this happening to me?
… flashback to HOW HE GOT HERE…
Can I paint that picture for us?….. see it thru Acts 21-28
(Acts 28:30-31 — see last 2 verses of book of Acts)
30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
He went through a beating and rescue in Jerusalem; shipped off to Cesearea for 2 years, shipped off to Rome on his appeal to Ceaser - survived a shipwreck and finally arrived in Rome under house arrest for another 2 years chained to guards...
Can I paint that picture for us?….. see it thru Acts 21-28
(Acts 28:30-31 — see last 2 verses of book of Acts)
30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
He went through a beating and rescue in Jerusalem; shipped off to Cesearea for 2 years, shipped off to Rome on his appeal to Ceaser - survived a shipwreck and finally arrived in Rome under house arrest for another 2 years chained to guards...
The thought might have occurred to him: This isn't fair. Why is this happening to me?
But that isn't the thought that comes to him.
Paul says that his imprisonment, surprisingly, has caused the gospel’s progress. The Philippians should not be concerned about Paul’s circumstances, for they have proven to be a vehicle for his ministry of reconciliation of which Christ entrusted him when he called him…
But that isn't the thought that comes to him.
Paul says that his imprisonment, surprisingly, has caused the gospel’s progress. The Philippians should not be concerned about Paul’s circumstances, for they have proven to be a vehicle for his ministry of reconciliation of which Christ entrusted him when he called him…
Persecution doesn’t prevent God’s purposes.
The question Paul asks is: Is what's happening to me accomplishing something for God? Is what's happening to me being useful to God in some way? Is it furthering his purposes in the world?
*these are good questions for us to keep in mind…
The question Paul asks is: Is what's happening to me accomplishing something for God? Is what's happening to me being useful to God in some way? Is it furthering his purposes in the world?
*these are good questions for us to keep in mind…
Grow a Kingdom mindset:
It’s not about me, Lord. It's about you first and foremost.
God doesn't promise that your circumstances will always be fair. But he does promise that there will always be something in them that can serve Christ's purposes.
It’s not about me, Lord. It's about you first and foremost.
God doesn't promise that your circumstances will always be fair. But he does promise that there will always be something in them that can serve Christ's purposes.
Trusting more into God’s sovereignty can help you & I to view seemingly out-of-control situations in our life… **note: that doesn’t make every situation you face, good; but God can bring good from it…for His glory.
(Romans 8:18 & 28)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
In our world - our culture says get control & keep control…but control is an illusion. We can’t engineer our own problem-free lives and we can’t make others live the way we want them to live.
About the only thing we can control is: our response to situations…
-Will we look for God in the midst of our troubles?
-Will we trust he is at work? (Trust His sovereignty)
-Will we keep doing the next right thing despite the circumstances not being what we’d like?
Paul is a great role model for just this kind of living and trusting in the sovereignty of God.
Paul didn’t pursue and champion his own agenda — He kept the gospel and the mission of God as the central focus of his life…look back at how he begins this very letter in chapter 1 / verse 1:
Paul, a servant of God --- NOT Paul the captain of my life.
Prayer:
Lord teach us the art of surrendering to your bigger and better purposes.
Show us how to experience triumph even in times of trouble by trusting you’re at work, you're FOR us and you’re up to something greater than we can see in our little scope…
(Romans 8:18 & 28)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
In our world - our culture says get control & keep control…but control is an illusion. We can’t engineer our own problem-free lives and we can’t make others live the way we want them to live.
About the only thing we can control is: our response to situations…
-Will we look for God in the midst of our troubles?
-Will we trust he is at work? (Trust His sovereignty)
-Will we keep doing the next right thing despite the circumstances not being what we’d like?
Paul is a great role model for just this kind of living and trusting in the sovereignty of God.
Paul didn’t pursue and champion his own agenda — He kept the gospel and the mission of God as the central focus of his life…look back at how he begins this very letter in chapter 1 / verse 1:
Paul, a servant of God --- NOT Paul the captain of my life.
Prayer:
Lord teach us the art of surrendering to your bigger and better purposes.
Show us how to experience triumph even in times of trouble by trusting you’re at work, you're FOR us and you’re up to something greater than we can see in our little scope…
Thanks for partnering with us...
Thank you for giving your tithes and offerings. They enable us to be the church, and they help fuel the mission of Elements City Church. Our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis is directly impacted by your support, and we are so grateful for it! You can give online at the link below, or through the Elements City Church app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveAren't you glad you came to church tonight?!
We're just getting started in our series so make plans to join us next Sunday for worship and stay up to date with all the latest events in the Elements City Church app. We're working on some events this fall that we'd love to have you participate in!
We're just getting started in our series so make plans to join us next Sunday for worship and stay up to date with all the latest events in the Elements City Church app. We're working on some events this fall that we'd love to have you participate in!