The Key to Contentment
” Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved….stand fast in the Lord…I beseech Euodias, and Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”
• Philippian’s division
• God’s provision
“Rejoice in the Lord always….Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known unto God. And the peace of God, that passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
(“Careful” – full of care, “Keep”- garrison – guard)
• Remember reasons to rejoice
• Practice prayer as a priority – the cure for care = prayer
” Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, ….honest, …just, …pure, …lovely, …good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
• Fear, Negative thoughts, Bad attitude
• Faith, Positive, Good attitude
Love y’all,
Reasons to Rejoice
“Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”
” Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright…Sing unto him a new song; ….For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth….the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”
• REJOICE in the word of the Lord (v 4)
• REJOICE in the work of the Lord (v 4)
” By the word of the Lord the heavens were made… let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.”
• Creator God (v 6, 7)
• Sustainer God (v 8, 9)
” The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought… The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”
• “Counsel”- Heb, etsah-means advice (v 10)
• “Counsel of heathen nought”- God frustrates
• His “Counsel stands forever”- Heb-olam (v 11)
• His Heart to all “generations” (v 11)
• God BLESS AMERICA! – make her BLESSABLE! (v 12)
“Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and shield…our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”
• Help us to wait (v 20)
• Help comes from the Lord (v 20)
Yet, for the TRUE believer like David, in a time of trouble, we can find REASONS to REJOICE!
It’s All How You Look At It
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Introduction: Does it feel like the OUTSIDE is wearing out? Aches & pains… what don’t hurt, don’t work!! It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand our bodies are decaying… but God is strengthening our inner being by His Spirit, according to Paul’s writing. Somebody said, “I’m at the place, where my belt won’t buckle but my knees will!” There are (3) reasons for believers to rejoice:
1. Bad & Good News that gives us REASONS to REJOICE! (2 Cor 4:16)
” For this cause we faint not; But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” The word “faint” means to lose courage.
• Our old body has a Limited warranty
• Our new body has a Guarantee through eternity
2. Bad & Good News that gives us REASONS to REJOICE! (2 Cor 4:17)
” For this light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The word “affliction” is thlipsis, which means pressure.
• Troubles seem to last
• Troubles & trials turn into Testimonies
3. Bad & Good News that gives us REASONS to REJOICE! (2 Cor 4:18)
” While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
• What you see is not what you get
• What you DON’T see is what you get
Love y’all,