KEEPING THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVES IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.pptx

theology

1. KEEPING THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVES IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES PHILIPIANS 1:12-18 1

2. INTRODUCTION Apostle Paul is in a Roman prison but decides to write to the church in Philippi despite the harsh and unpleasant circumstances he finds himself: H e writes to the Philippians in response to a letter and gifts he received. He writes that he remains joyful that the gospel is being advanced despite his imprisonment (V.12 As Christians, there will be difficulties and sometimes we are distracted from our Kingdom work by those difficulties. In those circumstances Apostle Paul teaches us to have the right perspective. 2

3. SEVEN PRINCIPLES FROM PHILIPPIANS 1:12-18 The right perspectives keeps us on task The right perspectives keeps us on target Responding the right way to difficult circumstances keeps us on target Responding the right way to difficult people keeps us on target The right perspectives promotes unity of the church The right perspectives leads to encouragement in the midst of adversity The right perspectives reminds us of the purpose of our salvation 3

4. ILLUSTRATION At the beginning of this pandemic, a middle-aged man stood with his shopping cart in the check-out line and watched as a very old lady stood crying, wringing her hands, as she looked at the empty shelves. People rushed all around her grabbing what was left in the store. She turned and walked slowly out of the store. A small smile rested upon her lips. The middle age man with the over-filled shopping cart approached her and asked, Mam, can I help you with this to your car?” She looked at the shopping cart and softly exclaimed, “why dear boy, that is not my cart. I did not purchase anything. “ He smiled and said, “You did not have too." I saw you staring at the empty shelves in the store and then just walk out. I wanted to make sure you have everything you need." The little old lady smiled sweetly and touch him on the arm. "My dear lad, I was just staring at those panicking people and praying that God would restock those shelves so everyone could have what they need. I already have everything I need and want. You see," she said as she stepped a bit closer to him, "I have Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior and he provides for me always. Do you know him?" Why, no . . . not really," the man sputtered out. The little old lady smiled and said with great love in her twinkling blue eyes, "Well then would you like to ? " 4

5. APPLICATION We can view difficult people/circumstances with the proper perspective, which will change our thinking and our actions in our lives and in our ministry. We can promote the gospel and allow it to be promoted in whatever way God choses, even if we cannot see the possibilities of its reach immediately. God intends only good things for us, and God is love. Love overcomes all anger and bitterness. Love righteously changes our perspective. 5

6. CONCLUSION We can let the proper perspective demonstrated by Paul take us to the place where life is lived solely for the purpose of proclaiming Christ to the world in the advancement of the gospel. In our scripture today we see that Paul's perspective demonstrates that keeping on task and on target in the advancement of the gospel always produces right responses and right results, which encourages unity in the body and Christ proclaimed, always. 6

7. REFERENCES 7