FHBC Sermon Notes

scripture: Philippians 4:4-7
What Kinds of Character Enables Us to Endure Hardship?
when we face troubling times, that is not the time to suddenly show Godly character where none existed before. It comes before that. God is our joy and salvation. There will be fires, there will be trials, but they will not overcome us. God supplies for us the character of Christ to be lived out. Saw this yesterday. Christ not as example but as our righteousness. Christ is more than just a good man to live like. he is our righteousness to live in.
Jim says the goal of the Christian life is Christ likeness.
1. Rejoice in the Lord.
This is mo than the joy of a promotions, the purchase of a new house, or s new baby. The only true joy is the joy in the spirit that comes from a life in Christ. All blessings should bring forth thannkfulness to God. Trials bring forth the discipline of the Lord, of the opportunity to declare his character,
His lovingkindness.
So, do you have joy! Examine yourself. what is blocking this joy. Only the Joy of the Lord is real joy. Remove the fluff, and seek that which is most valuable. Paul said it now just once but twice, "Rejoice in the Lord always!" but this is hard, so Paul says not to place joy in our circumstances but instead anchor your joy in the Lord, who does not change. let God be he object of your joy always. no matter the difficulty, the temptation, or the blessing, our joy in God continuous always.

2. Show gentleness to everyone. (4:5)
this is a distinctly Christian attribute. Part of he fruit of he Spirit. We can act in the confindece that comes from the wisdom of God, but since we live only in the the fear in he Lord we can speak not in continual Fear or reprisal from the world, but in gentleness we do not have go defend ourselves, but declares the greatness of God.

what is gentleness? the godly response to persecution. The "natural" response is to retaliate, to be an enemy. Christ calls us to love our enemies. this is not the worlds response, the "natural" response. To the world it is unnatural to love your enemies. Praise God!

3. Pray and be thankful. (4:6-7)
obsession with the future is not a personal quirk, but a sign of unbelief. worry is a spiritual issue, dealt with by prayer and thanksgiving.
Matthew 6 -do not worry. Do not worry about anything.
How do we ward off worry? We combat it with prayer. thanksgiving is our acknowledgement to him of his grace.