Sermon Nuggets week of Aug 30
Sermon Nuggets Mon Aug 30 – Hard times
Making it Through Hard Times
What hard times have you gone through or are going through? Loss job, loss of friends, maybe it is being misunderstood? Do you feel people are taking advantage of you, or worse yet, out to get you in some way? Trouble with the law? Trouble with other Christians?
There is one I want to thin about who went through hard times. He was jailed and beaten several times and under the threat to be killed. I call that hard times. Yet when you hear from him you would not imagine he was facing any of those things because of his positive spirit. I’m talking about the Apostle Paul and referring to his letter to the believers at Philippi. He is writing from a cold, cark, camp prison. Telling his friend Epaprodities what to say to the friends at Philippi.
Paul loved to preach and speak in synagogues he was taking the gospel were no other man has gone, to people others didn’t want to be with. But now he is locked in a cell unable to do any of those ministries. Yet God uses those letters as divine Scripture to instruct disciples for millenniums. I am sure that was not in Paul’s mind, but it was in God’s mind. He saw to it Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit not writing to just the particular needs in Philippi but indeed all the churches to come. He is writing to the believers at Stanchfield by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When I go through hard times, I complain wanting God to take care of it and right away if you please. Happiness tends to be so circumstance related. When good things happen I am happy. When bad things happen, I am not so happy. Happiness or pleasure is entirely dependent on circumstances. It is temporary
This man, Paul, by the world’s standards has nothing to be joyful about, yet that is the theme of his letter- JOY. Joy is of a different character. Joy is independent of circumstances. Joy is that which encompasses and transcends both happiness and sadness. Once endowed with joy, a person is not likely to lose it and in fact it grows with awareness of it. Happiness comes from humans, joy from God.
He writes to believers and many of these people he had the privilege of leading to Jesus Christ. So he refers to himself and Timothy as servants and the church as saints.
A saint isn’t a term for holier than thou , A saint isn’t a term some Catholics like to use for special people that deserve canonizing. No, Saint means they be have made pure by the blood of Jesus Christ. You and I are saints if you have make Jesus Christ your Lord in a personal way. If you have committed your life to Christ you are a saint.
There is no real joy for anyone ultimately without this precondition. If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart. If you are without Jesus and following your own pleasures or wisdom or priories of life this faith in Christ is the place to start today. All of us have going through hard times. I don’t think anyone is exempt. Some have had it worse than others. Almost all of you will say repeatedly, “If it wasn’t for the Lord, I don’t know what I would have done.” Most people will say that one key that helps is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. God is there to uphold and lift you up even when you do not understand why things happen the way they do.
The second thing mentioned is friends or family. People need people. As I begin a series from the book of Philippians this week we will look at how Paul demonstrates, not describes, but demonstrates joy in facing hard times.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues August 31, 2010
Verses Phil 1:3-6 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Memories Help when going through Hard Times.
Memories are something that are rich. No one can take them away from us. I think back on experiences or people, or conversations that are positive and it brings delight even in a bad situation.
Paul had a lot of time to think in prison. He thought back a few years when he first met the people in Philippi. They were mostly Gentiles. He was directed to go there through a Macedonian vision or call from God. He had an unusual call that so dramatically confirmed Paul’s direction in his life. This was a place for divine appointments. God moved in great way in Philippi.
But next to their faith in God, most will say how much encouragement they have from good friends and family. Certainly, the support I get from people means so much. Notice the people make a difference in Paul’s life. The past that he has shared with them gives him encouragement.
He no doubt thought of Lydia the seller of purple goods. He stayed with her for she loved God and wanted to find out all she could from Paul. He remembered another slave girl from the other extreme economically and socially. The slave girl was not selling clothing and making clothes for royalty and the rice, but was demon possessed and under the bondage of men using her Satanic power for tell fortunes and soothsaying, Paul said, “I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And in commanding those devils she was set from bondage, but also no longer profitable to her owners. They were very upset with Paul. People don’t usually get too concerned with Christians trying to influence others for righteousness until they are faced with some losing some money. When we take a stand against the works of Satan to keep people from bondage of alcohol, Tobacco, sexual addictions, gambling, abortions the industry and community howl and get very upset.
One of the nastiest letters I got was when I protested a video store in Cambridge renting X rated movies. I said I wouldl make public the video stores that agree to not rent X rated movies, so people in the church can choose to support those stores if they wish. Some people make lots of money off those industries that addict people. They want their money and don’t care who and how many are ruined because of it.
So these angry men trumped up charges against Paul and dragged him and Silas into a market place and told the political leaders they are doing things against the new Roman law. Paul was taken and had his clothes ripped off his body and beaten with a whip, along with Silas. There they were in the Philippian jail, bloody and bruised, kept in stocks and bonds in the innermost prison and from the lips of Paul the other prisoners heard a most unusual sound. It was of singing praise to God. Joy in hard times? How can that be? Except his spirit was lifted beyond his circumstances counting it worthy to suffer for his Lord.
Imagine singing praises at midnight and preaching to the prisoners, when the great earthquake came. Paul even smiles now as he remembers it. The jailer was petrified. He was asleep and saw all the jail doors opened and chains unloosed. The Jail was so upset he was about to kill himself when Paul stopped him and told him that all was safe. “Men what must I do to be saved?” was his heart’s cry. It was in Philippi that these famous words are recorded for us. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” And that man responded and told his family and they responded and in the middle of the night they went right to the river and were baptized. Funny congregation wasn’t it?- Jailer, slave girl rich lady, these were the core members for a new church.
Paul is filled with joy, for even now he is remembering them and their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Memories are important for people unable to be where they want to be. Soldiers are encouraged by letters and photographs that caused them to rejoice with memories. Prisoners in Rush City and elsewhere find life is bearable when they stop thinking about their conditions and circumstances but center their thoughts on the members of loved ones and plans for their future.
I heard from a lady I had a hand in seeing come to Christ and now 35 years later she is still walking with the Lord. I was overjoyed. I went to the reunion of Olivet Baptist 50th anniversary and talked with some of the kids in the youth group and found they are growing in the faith and the problems they had at 18 now at 43 years of age having a Christian family and involved in their churches excited me.
Think back on how God has worked in your life with others and get perspective of your situation.
Pastor Dale.
Sermon Nuggets Weds Sept 1
Verses- Phil 1:4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
Phil 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,…
Prayer Helps when going through Hard Times
Paul found talking to God is a blissful activity in and of itself. The communication with the Lord is wonderful especially during the hard times. Unfortunately that is the only time when some people turn to prayer. But the focus of his prayer is also on the people. There is so much hope and excitement when there is positive things happened in lives.
Paul begins by teaching that prayer must be a first response rather than a last resort. Listen to vs. 3, "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy..." Then, in chapter 4, vs. 6, he says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Do you realize what Paul is saying? He is saying that whenever anything happens to him, whether positive or negative, he prays. That’s his first response. He prays, "God, thank you for the blessings that you give me. God, I even thank you for the troubles that come my way. Now teach me the lessons that I need to learn from them." Paul always started with prayer.
Paul could not be with them to preach, nor to teach other than by letters, but there was and is a present activity that is of the Lord it is prayer. Reflecting on what was right in the world rather than his bleak situation also reminded Paul that he was not alone. He knew that the Philippian believers were praying for him and thinking about him whether he was in jail or out evangelizing the nations.
But the encouragement with prayer is the recognition of the partnership each has with the gospel. We are not lone rangers in the Lord’s work. God designed us to be dependant upon Him and interdependent upon one another. Paul could not do the work alone. He needed people to give, and pray, and support, and help, like Timothy.
Dear people, regardless of your circumstances some of the best workers at Stanchfield Baptist are those who are unable to get out of their homes, but take the responsibilities of prayer very seriously, and very faithfully. Those prayer chain calls are marked and checks on them indicating the date and time of their prayers. The requests of the pastors and the people and leaders are prayed for. Some will go through their membership telephone book and pray for the people and their children. What a remarkable and joyful activity.
There are people who every day lift me up in their prayers as the pastor. What a wonderful blessing and privilege. But they also find joy in serving Jesus and having a part in the ministry. I remember one lady who when someone mentioned prayer for friend who didn’t know Christ they prayed for that person and when they accepted Christ they were so overjoyed as well because they worked on the evangelistic team of praying that person to conviction of the Holy spirit.
Do you pray for others that they know the best way to discern the will of God? The joy that Paul knew was to bring his friends into the mercy seat of Christ to communicate on behalf of others Paul shows bring joy even when it prison for he has a spiritual job to do and that is to keep on praying for the work and the people.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Sept 2 – Love
Verses- Phil 1:7-8 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.
8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Love Helps when going through Hard Times
Love is one of the ingredients for joy. It is the love folks have for one another that keeps people going during hard times. Paul tells them that he has the Philippian believers in his heart. He loves the church very much and can be filled with joy because someone out there is think about him and praying for him as he is praying for them. Paul reflected on his connection with the Philippian believers. He reflected on how much they loved him and he them. Those thoughts filled him with the same joy that you get when you look at your child’s picture or get a mental image of someone you have a mutual love relationship with.
As we have been observing the drama of the 33 trapped miners in Chile they were encouraged not only when contact was made and they have the hope of rescue, but what is on their hearts and minds is their loved ones. The notes expressing love were sent up to the waiting families. The video cam as well as a phone line boasted their spirits during their hard times knowing they have a reason for living and keep preserving. They needed food and water and medicine. The best medicine was loved ones.
Victor Frankel the German psychologist was put in the SS camp at Auschwitz, during WW II. He developed the science of logotheraphy centering on the will of meaning in lives. Frankl may not be a Christian, but he looked at many Christians in the camp along with others who were motivated by a loved one at home or faith in God, or strength through these hope of reuniting and saw the tremendous strength that allowed these men to endure tremendous hardship.
I John 3:15 says, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remain in death.”
I know the people at Grasston and Braham Covenant and First Baptist but I don’t have the same feeling for them as the people at Stanchfield. There is an affinity and love that God gives. And time and again you have shown my family love that has been a great encouragement and wonder. Paul saw this and was encouraged when realized that he could love them and wanted to find out all about them and likewise realized that they loved him too. And that was adding his comfort while in prison. They were constantly on his mind. .
Paul said he was even willing to be in chains that they might so know the love of Christ
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Sept 3
Theme- Hard Times
Verses- Phil 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-- to the glory and praise of God. (NIV)
Growing in Christ Helps you Make it in Hard Time v.9-11
Paul saw that people changed. He saw the work that God was doing in their lives and his heart was so uplifted. People can change, and so can you as one matures and grows in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Perhaps in your life you are thinking it takes so long to be the person I want to be. Paul saw how the Lord was working in his life and how depending more on Jesus than circumstances established him in hard times. He continued to focus upward and outward instead of inward. He looked to the goal and not so much in the process of his faith. But as we allow Christ to have more of us, we become more like him.
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it. Isn’t that a great joy? God isn’t finished with you yet. God isn’t finished with me yet. Pastor Bob Grover would say to me, “The biggest room in the world is room for improvement.” I wonder why he keeps telling me that.
It’s true. There is the joy of knowing God has done a great work in our lives, but it is joyful to know that he is not done yet. There is more to do.
Paul looks at what God is doing in their spiritual lives and that lifts his spirits. People grow in the knowledge of the Lord and in the depth of understanding. We grow in the knowledge of God in reading the Bible in prayer and Sunday School, small groups, fellowship with the believers, and serving with our gifts. Paul took the time to refocus on his hope for the future. He saw what God did in the past. He looked forward to what was still to come. He refocused on his mission. Paul was excited by the prospects of the Philippian believers achieving Christ-likeness.
If you love someone you want to find out all you can about them. If they love Jesus they want to grow in the knowledge of Christ and that motivates them to know him more. There is confidence and hope. Growth is the hope that is yet to come.
When people are going through hard times it is joyful to know that this isn’t where it stops. Paul’s ultimate faith is in the Lord. He knows that the power of God is greater than he that is in the world.
Someone said if you like the changes you see in me now, just wait another 120 years. The spirit molds us into the fruits if we let him have his way in us. Gal 5:22-23. Paul is confident and excited because of gods work and the reward and goal. Vs. 10 the day of Christ, He knows that joy because those many don’t realize it there is a day coming when all will be completely well. Don’t worry about the future for Christian it can only get better. Complete joy in the presence of Jesus and that is what he is looking forward toward. He can’t lose. Even in a dungy cell it can be a place of worship and joy.
Paul’s confidence is in the promises of Jesus and the work to fruit of righteousness come through Jesus to the Glory and praise of God. Christian aim is to live such a life that the glory and praise are given to God. Christian goodness is not meant to win praise and credit and honor and prestige for self, bur rather praise for God. That is what gives Paul joy, not worried about self. But Kingdom is growing it is happening to Philippians whom he loves.
What are your prisons? Where are your dungeons that Satan would have you bound? Where are the potential problems that would bring disappointment and discouragement? Sickness. Family trouble, financial difficulty emotional uneasiness. May Paul’s joy be our joy, for it comes from the Lord.
Pastor Dale
