Improbable Joy Por arte de portada

Improbable Joy

De: Carmel Baptist Church
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  • Resumen

  • Carmel's sermon series on the Book of Philippians.

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    Carmel Baptist Church
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Episodios
  • Improbable Joy - Philippians 4:14-23

    Improbable Joy - Philippians 4:14-23
    May 13 2024
    Philippians 4:14-23Although Philippi was a very poor church, they sent Epaphroditus 800 miles to visit Paul and give him a lavish care package to encourage him. In this conclusion of his letter, Paul writes about this encounter and how it has encouraged him. He says, "yet it was kind of you to share my trouble." In other words, they participated with Paul.
    The word "trouble" comes from the word "thlipsis", which speaks to the physical pressure on a man. It conveys the idea of being squeezed or placed under pressure or crushed beneath a weight (like olives in an olive press). Paul's persecution, affliction, distress, opposition, and tribulation all pressed hard on his soul. Paul is grateful to the Philippian church for bearing that burden with him in fellowship. He knows he's not alone.
    Verse 15 makes note that the Philippians were the only ones that entered into partnership with Paul. Paul loves their partnership more than the present that they gave to him, and it put a "pep in his step". In fact, at this point they have been supporting Paul for 10 years.
    Paul is excited for THEM because they gave him a gift. By their monetary gifts, they are storing up an eternal profit for themselves in heaven. Jesus had taught the same in Matthew 6:20. Their gift brought Paul joy not because of its personal material benefit to him, but because of its spiritual benefit to them.
    In fact, it has brought pleasure to God Himself (v18). Their giving serves a much higher purpose than simply meeting his needs. It is an act of worship that is being given to God. God's response is found in verse 19, which reminds us that we are completely dependent on Him, but that He lavishly loves us according to His riches.
    Paul's response (v 20-23) to this gift is an act of worship of God and His grace, which is found throughout his letter. He also encourages the Philippian church to realize that the gospel has spread to Caesar's household! Paul had led some of the praetorian guards that were assigned to guard him to Christ! They took the gospel back into the palace, and to the large amount of servants in Caesar's household. The gospel will always spread.
    Grace is unmerited, undeserved favor in the lives of God's people. It is the wellspring and the heartbeat of the Christian life. The believers in Philippi had already received saving grace at the time of their regeneration, but Paul desires that they know more of this sanctifying grace in their Christian walk. This will enable them to live in a manner that glorifies God, and to do so with joy...an improbably joy!
    Questions to consider:
    1. Are you a cheerful giver? How is that modeled in your life? Who do you know that gives cheerfully for God's glory?
    2. Who can you partner with to put a "pep in their step"? Who has been a blessing to you?
    3. Where have you seen someone exhibit "improbably joy" recently?



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    27 m
  • Improbable Joy - Philippians 4:4-9

    Improbable Joy - Philippians 4:4-9
    May 7 2024

    Robert Leahy, a psychologist, said the average high school student today has the same level of anxiety as an average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s. Anxiety and depression are rampant in our culture, and many point to the rise of the smartphone back in 2010. We are constantly aware of what we don’t have, who we are not with, and the decline of the culture. Paul speaks to this in his letter to Philippi when he says, “Don’t be anxious about anything…” In other words, stop perpetually (habitually) worrying because it will become a part of who you are. Anxiety involves fear or worry that you can’t control. Depression is a persistent feeling of sadness.


    Sources of anxiety and depression are: physical exhaustion, spiritual attack, brain chemistry, circumstances, loneliness, social media, and loss. In reality, a child of God who is always anxious and worried is saying that they don’t trust God. Worry is gazing at problems in self-reliance, rather than looking to the Lord in dependence.


    “But in everything”


    By prayer – this is general worship of the Lord

    And supplication – a cry for personal needs

    With Thanksgiving – even when it’s hard, have a grateful heart

    Present your requests – He already knows, but it is an act of humility and trust to share our needs and wants with Him. We are conformed to Him when we pray.

    “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Remember, Paul has been under house arrest for two years, chained to a Roman guard while he is writing this. When we “cast our cares” on the Lord, He will give us a supernatural ability to have peace in the most difficult circumstances. Jesus IS our peace (Eph 2:14),


    and every Christian has peace with God through justification by faith (Rom 5:1).


    Paul goes on to say, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” We must choose to think more on the Word, and more on Jesus.


    “What the mind attends to, it considers. What the mind does not attend to, it dismisses. What the mind attends to continually, it believes. And what the mind believes, it eventually does.” Isaiah 26:3 says, ” You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trust in you.”


    Questions:


    What is weighing you down (a burden) in your life? How much time do you spend thinking about that? Have you given it to God?

    How do your media habits impact your mind and your heart? Reread the quote about the mind above. What is social media causing you to believe? Is it true?

    How can you practice thinking about “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, etc…” as a family? What you read, what you watch, when you pray together, etc.

    What is a habit you can start this week to put your mind’s attention on the best things so you can “practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (v9)?


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    29 m
  • Improbable Joy - Philippians 4:10-13

    Improbable Joy - Philippians 4:10-13
    May 6 2024
    Philippians 4:10-13Paul had learned the secret of contentment, and it comes from our identity. The enemy wants to us to believe 3 mistaken identities. They are:
    1. I am what I do - contentment from accomplishments
    2. I am what people say about me - contentment from status and society
    3. I am what I have - the sum of my possessions

    If we are operating under these mistaken identities, then "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" becomes a favorite verse because not only can I have all these things, but I know I will have the strength of God on my side to help me get them. When I finally achieve either the goals, the accolades, or the things, then I'll be content. This is so wrong!
    Actually, Satan tempted Jesus with all three of these falsehoods while He was in the wilderness for 40 days. Jesus was hungry, lonely, and without any comforts. Again, Satan was calling His identity into question. BUT, Jesus knew who He was because immediately preceding His time in the desert, He was baptized in the Jordan River. God spoke over Him, "You are my Son, whom I love, in you I am well pleased." (Mark 1:11) Jesus knew who He was!
    Paul is having the same conversation with the church at Philippi, which had sent him a nice gift and a friend to give him some company during his imprisonment. In Paul's gratefulness, he is saying his identity is not found in what he does - he's stuck in prison and can't do anything except write letters. His identity is not in what other people say about him - he tells us people have been bad mouthing him, preaching out of selfish ambition, but he's ok with it because Christ is being preached! His identity is not in his possessions, so that when they give him a present, he can say I rejoiced greatly that you showed concern, but just so you know, even if you hadn't I would have been fine, because I've learned how to be content through my union with Christ!
    Being "In Christ" means being completely consumed by God's lavish love. Being "in" is the closet relationship one can have. As followers of Jesus, because God loves Jesus FULLY, God loves us FULLY. No more, no less. (John 17:26).
    As a result of knowing this secret to contentment, we should "rejoice in the Lord always". Rejoicing fosters the awareness of the relationship you have with Jesus.
    Remember, identity comes before contentment!
    Questions to consider:
    1. In what circumstances do you fall into the trap of trying to find contentment in A)what you do B)what people say about you C)what you have?
    2. How does that false view of contentment affect your life?
    3. Who does God say that you are? How does that impact you?
    4. What do you rejoice about today regarding the Father's love for you?



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    35 m
Espiritualidad
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